Date: 29th October 2024

Canal: Worcester and Birmingham Canal

Direction: Northeast

This week we had family staying with us for a couple of nights. Harry, Beth and Daisy came to the boat on Monday and stayed until Wednesday bringing their beautiful new puppy, Reggie, with them. This meant that there were 5 people and 2 puppies staying on the boat.

I have to admit that we were a little nervous about how this was going to work. We had always said that our boat could sleep 6 people, but we had never tested this out.

Although it was a little cramped and everyone had to be organised, moving bags etc. around to ensure that there was enough space, there really was enough room (just). We were able to seat 5 people at the dinette table for mealtimes and used both the dinette and sofa bed at night.

I’m delighted to say that Boasley and Reggie got on really well (thank goodness), chasing each other up and down the boat – Boasley taught Reggie the joys of barking, sorry Beth.

One of our concerns was how Beth and Harry would manage to take Reggie out during the night, but we needn’t have worried because they just put his lead on and lifted him out of the side hatch onto the towpath – this worked really well.

When John and I got up on Wednesday morning we could hear lots of laughter and found Beth and Daisy sitting in bed together with the side hatch open and feeding the ducks. Now THAT is boat life!

On Tuesday morning John drove the boat up the Tardebigge Flight whilst Harry, Beth, Daisey and I operated the locks. With so many people to help we made really light work of the whole thing. In total it took us 4 hours, which averages about 8 minutes per lock and that’s not bad – especially as the dogs also got a good walk at the same time.

We did meet some Volunteer Lock Keepers about halfway up, but it was clear that we didn’t need any more help, so they were able to go and assist another boat further down the flight.

All in all, it was 3 very successful days, we had a wonderful time with family and got through the locks without too much effort, I’m really not sure I’d have been able to do them all by myself. I should also mention that we had a really lovely meal at the Queens Head on Monday evening. We booked a table in the heated outside area and so took warm coats, but in fact it was a really well heated marquee, and we definitely were not cold! This was Reggie’s first visit to a pub, and he was so well behaved, just sleeping under the table the whole time. The staff in the pub were very helpful and the food was great.

We had a wonderful crew to help us up the Tardebigge Flight this week. Harry, Beth and Daisy (with their new puppy Reggie) made an amazing team.

Of course, having 5 people and 2 puppies staying on the boat for a couple of nights could have been really stressful – but it was great fun and we hope to do it again soon.

Links:

The Queens Head – Bromsgrove