Nearly in casualty

Currently on the southern stretch of the Staffs & Worcs, and as a single hander, finding some of it quite demanding. Gates and paddles in many locks could really do with some TLC and Stourport Basins have changed beyond recognition, writes Deborah Piekarski.

 

However, nearly ended up in casualty this morning— but of course, it was all my fault for daring to enter the 'tunnel' of vegetation on the towpath side to retrieve my boat and get into the lock at Kinver, which I'd been setting. I did call out to the Lycra lout that I was sorry to cause him to brake to avoid killing me, but I was trying to handle a boat from the towpath at a lock...

Trees and vegetation

However, realised why he thought I should have given way to him—he was shocked to find that out in the middle of nowhere where we boaters are having to navigate stretches that are only one width wide due to overhanging trees and other vegetation.

Fountains are cutting down trees in their score on the towpath and some kind contractor/CaRT has shored up and resurfaced the towpath on the Worcs/Staffs border to help the poor cyclists so that they can knock me flat when daring to use a lock.

When will this madness end? When there are no more boats on the waterside cycle way?