Tuesday July 6 Kidderminster to Stourport Basins ( 6 miles, 4 locks)
Working boat Holland and tug Cutter, both beautifully turned out, moored and breasted up by us as we finished breakfast.
We set off down the deep nearby Kidderminster Lock and under the tunnel-like wide road bridge, past Pizza Hut and the huge renovated old mill, now Premier Inn , with its engine house now Frankie’s and Bennie’s! The huge chimney still looms overhead. We took our time, especially at blind bends and bridge holes. 
The next two locks are a mile apart through wooded countryside, with the Stour not far away. Each descends only about six feet as the valley broadens and flattens.
Three more miles brought us through the Stourport suburbs, past decent visitor moorings to the lock into the basins.
On the way we passed bridge 10a, which once led to an arm and lock down onto the River Stour.
Here, it got lively, with two boats wanting to come up, so we soon passed down to the empty services mooring close by on the left, just before two (filled) visitor moorings. As we filled up with water and emptied loo cassettes, the two boats moved off, one up through the lock (crossing over with yet another boat), and the other towards the wide locks and the river. We moved up onto a visitor mooring with relief, ready for a coffee and a snack!
Later, we had quite a long walk, first, around the marina, where John checked with the CRT lock keeper, who said the river was only up a few inches, so we would be ok to travel downriver tomorrow.
After visiting the town centre to get cards and visit charity shops, we returned to Annie to read and watch Wimbledon. Yes, the tv is working ok for the Italy v Spain Euro soccer semi-final tonight!
And those two well kept boats arrived later, so may be travelling our way tomorrow?
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