This is a first cut at our schedule.
Driving Route
Canal Route
Our Boat
Our boat is an Alvechurch Gull. The Gull is 66 feet long, and very similar to the Booted Eagle we rented in 2018. I really like the rear galley, as it keeps everyone together. I found the front galley created two distinct groups, often leaving the skipper way out back on his own.
Here is ABC Boat Hire link about the Gull: https://www.abcboathire.com/our-boats/6-8-berth/alvechurch-gull
Schedule
- Thursday, June 6
- Everyone flies to Gatwick (overnight flights arrive next day)
- Friday, June 7
- Pick up car rental at Europcar around noon.
- Find a Vodafone card somewhere enroute
- Drive to Bridgnorth (under 3 hours)
- Stay at The Down Inn
- Saturday, June 8
- Severn Railway
- Drive to Alvechurch (under 1 hour)
- Buy groceries, mostly breakfast stuff, munchies and maybe an emergency dinner. And drinks.
- Boat Training @ 2:30
- Start boating @ 4:00
- canalboat to Tardebigge Top Lock #58
- 1 hour 9 minutes (includes 2 tunnels)
- Sunday, June 9
- canalboat to Tibberton Winding Hole
- 9 hours 44 minutes (includes LOTS of time spent doing 42 locks, 1 tunnel)
- Monday, June 10
- canalboat to Holt Castle
- 7 hours 53 minutes (includes some river and 17 locks)
- Tuesday, June 11
- canalboat to Former Factory Entrance
- 7 hours 53 minutes (includes 13 locks)
- Wednesday, June 12
- canalboat to Awbridge Bridge #49
- 7 hours 53 minutes (including 2 tunnels)
- Thursday, June 13
- canalboat to Mars Iron Works Basin
- 7 hours 53 minutes (including 27 locks and 1 tunnel)
- Friday, June 14
- canalboat to King’s Norton Bridge #70
- 7 hours 54 minutes (including 3 locks and 3 tunnels)
- Saturday, June 15
- canalboat to Alvechurch Marina
- 2 hours (including 1 tunnel)
- Drop boat off at 8:30 am
- Drive to Cadbury’s (20 minutes)
- Cadbury’s tour and chocolatier
- Drive Bubwith (just over 2 hours)
- Evening with Don & co.
- Stay at Owl Hotel in Selby
- canalboat to Alvechurch Marina
- Sunday, June 16
- Play in York: Shambles?
- Drive to Gatwick (under 4 hours)
- Stay at Maple Manor in Crawley
- Monday, June 17
- Drive to Airport (10 minutes), drop everyone off
- Drop off rental car.
Canal Schedule
This is calculated based on 3 hours traveling before the first overnight stop, 6 full days traveling and 2 hours traveling on the last day starting at Alvechurch Marina. On average each full day will be approximately 7 hours and 53 minutes traveling but some overnight stops have been moved to avoid unsuitable stopping places and this has affected the lengths of the days. The shortest day is 7 hours and 53 minutes and the longest is 9 hours and 43 minutes (the maximum day-length is set at 9 hours).
Saturday, June 8 (Canal Day 1-Partial)
On the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (Diglis Basin to King’s Norton Junction), at Tardebigge Top Lock No 58 (to avoid stopping in a flight of locks). This is 2 miles, 7¼ furlongs of narrow canals and will take 1 hour 9 minutes. Today’s journey involves 1 small aqueduct or underbridge and 2 tunnels. You will pass through Shortwood Tunnel and through Tardebigge Tunnel.
Sunday, June 9 (Canal Day 2)
On the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (Diglis Basin to King’s Norton Junction), at Tibberton Winding Hole. This is 9 miles, 5 furlongs and 42 locks of narrow canals and will take 9 hours 44 minutes. Today’s journey involves 1 tunnel. You will pass through Tardebigge Locks, through Stoke Locks, through Astwood Locks and through Dunhampstead Tunnel.
Monday, June 10 (Canal Day 3)
On the River Severn (main river – Stourport to Worcester), at Holt Castle. This is 5 miles, 7½ furlongs and 14 locks of narrow canals, 1¼ furlongs and 2 locks of broad canals, and 6 miles, 3¼ furlongs and 1 lock of large rivers; a total of 12 miles, 3¾ furlongs and 17 locks and will take 7 hours 53 minutes. Today’s journey involves 1 moveable bridge. You will pass through Tibberton Locks and through Bilford Locks.
Tuesday, June 11 (Canal Day 4)
On the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (Main Line: Stourport to Stourton), at Former Factory Entrance. This is 7 miles, 4¼ furlongs and 11 locks of narrow canals, and 6 miles, 4 furlongs and 2 locks of large rivers; a total of 14 miles, ¼ furlongs and 13 locks and will take 7 hours 53 minutes. Today’s journey involves 2 small aqueducts or underbridges.
Wednesday, June 12 (Canal Day 5)
On the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (Main Line: Stourton to Aldersley), at Awbridge Bridge No 49 (a third of the way between Bratch Top Lock No 25 and Aldersley Junction). This is 12 miles, 3 furlongs and 16 locks of narrow canals and will take 7 hours 53 minutes. Today’s journey involves 4 small aqueducts or underbridges and 2 tunnels. You will pass through Cookely Tunnel, through Dunsley Tunnel and through The Bratch [see navigational note 2 below].
Thursday, June 13 (Canal Day 6)
On the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Main Line), at Site of Mars Iron Works Basin. This is 9 miles, 2¾ furlongs and 27 locks of narrow canals and will take 7 hours 53 minutes. Today’s journey involves 1 tunnel. You will pass through Wolverhampton Locks and through Wolverhampton Tunnel.
Friday, June 14 (Canal Day 7)
On the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (Diglis Basin to King’s Norton Junction), at King’s Norton Bridge No 70. This is 18 miles, 4 furlongs and 3 locks of narrow canals and will take 7 hours 54 minutes. Today’s journey involves 13 small aqueducts or underbridges and 3 tunnels. You will pass through Coseley Tunnel, through Factory Locks, through Galton Tunnel and through Edgbaston Tunnel.
Saturday, June 15 (Canal Day 8)
On the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (Diglis Basin to King’s Norton Junction), at Alvechurch Marina. This is 5 miles, ½ furlongs of narrow canals and will take 2 hours. Today’s journey involves 1 small aqueduct or underbridge and 1 tunnel. You will pass through Wast Hill Tunnel.
Packing List
Packing for narrowboat adventures hasn’t changed much. A few minor tweaks:
Wearing:
- Fleece jacket
- JackJones green jeans
- long sleeve Tshirt
- thick socks
- hiking shoes
Day Pack: (on plane, all pocket KNIVES removed)
- Phone (tickets in email) + charger + cable + usb battery
- Laptop + charger + tv shows
- skinny hd
- kindle with books loaded
- electronics connectors (usb sticks, connectors, chargers, UK adapters (x5), small extension cord, spare camera cards, etc)
- wallet(s): (British pounds + travel cards), (wallet box, usual cards)
- passport
- camera + charger + batteries + cleaned out card + float
- small and big headphones (with usb adapter)
- GPS with UK road maps.
- rental car insurance printout
Luggage: (Blue Granite Gear)
- Goretex jacket + pants + rain/sun hat
- jeans
- Fleece tights
- ~ 3 pairs of shorts
- ~ 3 long sleeve shirts
- ~ 4 Tshirts
- grey cotton fleece
- 8 pairs socks (3 thick, 5 short)
- 10 underwear
- swimsuit
- Canada flag + string
- Sandals
- Non-clothing:
- Toiletries kit (shaver, toothbrush, floss, deodorant, little toothpaste, aspirin)
- stuff sack for dirty clothes
- extra expanding tote bag
- Other boat/car stuff
- Canal guide book
- binoculars
- sunglasses
- inverter (for car charging of stuff)
- umbrella
- rain/sun hat
- GoPro pack + bits
- HDMI cable
More bits & pieces
Canal & River Trust
Here is a page you can poke around with info and dynamic maps:https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/planning-your-boat-trip/cruising-rings/stourport-ring
CanalRoute
This is one of the sites I am using to do the planning. This canal trip as a work-in-progress: https://canalplan.org.uk/journey/11534_cp