Bartimaeus

We had seen Stannator across the marina and knew it was an Ortomarine boat. He had clearly left the marina a little after we had and we had seen him come past us after exiting the large flood lock while moored in Droitwich Spa, in Vines Park and waved recognising each other as fellow Ortomariners.

Later while out on the bow, a man came over to us with two dogs in tow. He introduced himself as the owner of Stannator and reached out his hand. He shook our hands warmly. We had a fair chat about our boating history and a bit of life history too. Bartimaeus was built just before Stannator, but as we aren't the first owners, he has owned Stannator longer. He shook hands again before taking his leave. 

Having heard from Paul, we were quite surprised, but pleased, to be having visitors so soon. We met them at the station and walked back to Vines Park where we viewed the various links to the Salt industry, a statue, exhibits of Medieval tools and a mosaic. There was a photo opportunity for Paul to snap Richard beside the statue of St Richard. While I prepared food, Shane and guests got tables set up in the shade of a tree and unpacked our picnic chairs, so we had a relaxed lunch as cool as was possible on such a day. A man approached and engaged in conversation realising we were from the nearby boat. He introduced himself as Comfortably Numb, moored a little way along, by the Netherwich Basin. Richard was taken with this signal of community greeting, using their boat name rather than their own.

We set off to Droitwich Spa Marina with Paul and Richard taking turns to lend me a hand with the locks encouraging each other to have a go. It was hot work and the route has a confusing set of locks, some where only one side is worked, and some both, some with ratchets that hold all the way and others that don't. Several are very stiff. Some cold drinks were required.

While at one lock I saw a muntjac pop out of the bushes on to the towpath near the boat. Despite me pointing and calling "deer" no-one else caught sight of it before it turned and darted back. Richard was excited to spot a moorhen sitting on a nest in the reeds. He didn't get a photo straight away but after Shane had spun the boat round, he was keeping a look out for it and he and I both saw it.

Soon I took over driving and Shane did locks with either Richard or Paul. Both getting stuck in, or sitting relaxing are fully acceptable guest modes.

 Paul treated us to a fine evening meal and enjoyed further tourism before and after dinner of historical brine pumps and Tudor timbered buildings. Richard had stayed in Droitwich in a timbered building many years ago. We suspect it may be The Raven, now sadly a burnt shell, the charred rafters exposed, after a recent fire. Some other buildings are intact.

We made our fond farewells on the platform. The next day was a quieter day - on my part a bit of shopping and a bit of waste disposal. I chatted to a CRT volunteer, having her lunch below a tree, discussing recycling bins, eels and funding. Shane was hailed by a  man on a bench and sat down for a chat with him about boat names.

We decided today we would get going in the morning as there are some heavy locks on the way to the Severn. Last time we were buddies up with Ollie Owl, a boat converted from diesel to hybrid by Ortomarine, one of Cafwin Cruises' two hire boats. The Canadian hirers were delighted to share the load with another crew. We had Heather with us too so many hands almost made it light work.

Returning from the shops I spotted a message from my friend Gillian, who was holidaying in England and keeping an eye on where we are, proposing a visit, on their way back north, if they could find somewhere for the caravan. There seem to be a few caravan sites nearby so we welcomed the idea, suggesting possible places we could reach in the next couple of days.

We cruised on as planned. Again I saw a muntjac running just behind some hedges, but Shane didn't manage to glimpse it before it disappeared. He could have thought I was making it up. I didn't believe him when he pointed out an owl. The owl stayed perfectly stil

Gillian and I messaged back and forth in between locks. A plan formed to meet up tomorrow and once moored we had a walk to scope out parking and access.

Back at our mooring a boat passed and I recognised the logo on the back as an Ortomarine build, the other electric Cafwin hire boat, Arthur Owl, but this owl wasn't staying still. The owner of Cafwin Cruises always likes to hear about a spot so I let her know!