Pershore - Tewkesbury (Sun 30th June)

Left at 09:20 arrived at 14:00.

Up to a bright cool day, the forecast says it will be hotter this afternoon.  We set off to the water point at 9 20, Derek said it was near the lock.  After filling up with water we set off  to the lock, there was a cruiser ready to go into the lock it was called French Leave, it was very windy on the approach to the lock, we had to go past it to fasten off on the right hand side. Myself and French Leave shut the bottom gates and FL opened the ground paddle, this lock is one of the only ones on the river with a ground paddle, it is quite deep.  Derek got off the boat and formulated a plan to put us both in, we were a bit dubious of sharing as we weren’t sure we would fit and we  didn’t want to squash French Leave.  When it was half full we did the gate paddles.  French Leave said he was sure we would be alright with them so Derek very carefully followed them into the lock and came to the side of them. They roped off so there was not much movement of their boat, Derek controlled our boat with gears and bow thrusters.  We went through nice and steady, letting them go first out of the lock, leaving these gates open is proving an advantage as they are very heavy.  As we entered the open river, French Leave was coming back towards us, we thought they had forgotten something at lock, they hadn’t, they had just turned round to go back to their moorings which where just after the lock.  There was a large property on  the hillside, very palatial but we’re not sure what it was but it looked lovely.  The river is shining like silver and is very picturesque, just the odd couple of swans courting, the hills (Malvern) in the distance are covered in a heat haze and Mr Heron has just glided past, ah, I suppose this is the idyllic setting people put with narrowboating, lazing along at 2 m.p.h.??  Dream over! A hire boat just went passed us in hurry, their bow wave came over the side of the boat and wet my deck!!!!!   We shared Nafford lock with NB Bramble, they were in the lock and waited for us to enter.  There was a group of people with kids and dogs and a really rackety footbridge that had been opened for us to get in.  We went through without much problem, Bramble did rope off fore and aft but the ropes got caught round everything, we didn’t of course, our boat literally filled the lock and we were going nowhere.  Chatted to lady and man who where dog sitting 3 lurchers for their daughter, told them we were heading for Tewkesbury, that was were the lived, they said it should be ok for mooring.  Passing through Eckington bridge there was a large Marina type set of moorings, a few bungalows and a clubhouse with cruisers and a few narrowboats moored up, a little further on there was  another clubhouse (it was Arden Sailing Club).  A Kayak was in the water and lots of small sailing boats resting on the grassy bank, it all looked  very nice in the sunshine and there were lots of people on the clubhouse balcony having  drinks and suchlike.  Approaching Strensham Lock, there were lots of boats (cruisers) moored down to the lock entrance, on the left hand side NB Bramble had pulled on to a pontoon, with a NB on the other side of it, there was therefore not really enough room for us to tie off.  Someone was in the lock, Derek tried to hang back but in the end we did a complete circular turn out in the very windy water.  I don’t think Derek was so amused, I thought it was quite amusing.  We twirled round like a ballerina and by the time we were pointing the right way, the NB in the lock was on its way out so we glided stately into the lock.  NB Bramble (Australian couple) the guy has a wry sense of humour and he enjoyed a giggle with me.  The exit to the lock was in a circular bay, 2 little boats were waiting to come up and there was a  swing bridge over the narrow opening out on to the water.  A young man with a wheelbarrow closed it and took his barrow to the other side, blocking our leaving the bay.  Derek decided to ask the young men with the little boats to lock us through as he wouldn’t be able to easily pick me up, they agreed.  The young man with the wheelbarrow opened the bridge as we left the lock and I had a ride through.  There were 10 or more cruisers coming towards the lock as we got back in the flow of the river, so it was going to be a busy afternoon at the lock.  I decided to make lunch as there were no more locks, I went out back and had lunch with Derek.  There were more moorings alongside a hotel, and a caravan and camping park, cruisers where coming thick and fast and boy do they make waves, we had lots of bumpy rides over the already windy wavy river, which is well and truly glistening  in the sunshire, it was 25 in the cratch with the flaps open.  We came upon an old guy tacking in his sailing dinghy, he seemed a bit edgy to me. Derek held back , he tacked across us, but then a cruiser was coming up the other side, very quickly.  I had just thought to myself that it was an accident waiting to happen.  We sailed by and Derek blew his horn, behind us the little boat was now being towed, unintentionally, by the cruiser.  He had caught the dinghys bow rope, thats what Derek had tooted for, to let him know what was happening.  They stopped and seemed to be sorting it out and then the rescue boat went speeding by to help them.  There were lots of boats, every shape, size and colour on various moorings in Tewkesbury.  Derek said he was heading for some further on. We found the moorings next to the lock, turned the boat round, reported to the Lockie (its £3 per night) paid our dues and fastened up.  I did the plants and decide to have arrest today as we’re both really tired, so we will explore Tewkesbury tomorrow.  NB Bramble eventually caught up with us, filled with water and moored at the back of us.  There are lots of comings and goings at the Lock, even though its Sunday, so its very amusing and providing this afternoons entertainment.

Evesham – Pershore (Sat 29th June)

 

Left at 09:15 arrived at 12:30.

The weather is cool today, we didn’t find a provisions store nearby, well tell a lie, Derek thought he found one next to the river, it was polish.  There are a lot of foreign speaking couples round here, Derek thinks they come here to work on the farms, fruit picking etc as there are a lot of poly tunnels on the farmland hereabouts, near the river.  Asparagus of “Gras” as they call it is a main crop, they even have a festival for it, although I thought that it had a very short season.  Fruit is of course grown round here as well.  Off for 9:15 full of water again. The man from NB Imagine (him and his wife and dog live here on the mooring above us) said to beware at the next lock and use 2 gates as there is a pretruberance!! On one side ? Passing permanent moorings and there was a marker on a gate 6 or 7 ft above the height of the boat roof, it was the flood marker for 2007, the water had reached the road above the mooring, phew.   Further along the river we slowed down, I realised that we were approaching Hampton Ferry, the guy saw us coming, he got his passengers to the other side in what looked like a metal bath tub type boat, it is worked by a pulley rope and he let us pass by.  There was a static/cabin style park, one of the caravans had a conservatory on it with a lovely landscaped garden.  They were raised up quite a way up from the river, hope they don’t end up floating if it floods !!  There was a big Marina it was full of mostly cruisers only saw 3 NBs.  At Chadbury lock a cruiser Hope was coming into the lock. Derek got off the boat and we did the lock for them.  They had been stopped yesterday as Mr Clarkson was doing his stunt (transit van on a float) it will be episode 6 on the new show.  No one was allowed through, they said he wasn’t a very nice man, very bad tempered, so nothing new there then?  I can see why they used this bit of the river, the weir adds a touch of danger but it is very picturesque.  At Fladbury lock, there were a pair of fussy volunteer lockies, made us rope off and gave some chat to Derek, he’ll just ignore them, its not really necessary as we were going down and don’t move around the lock at all. They had been saying people had not been double roping, using 1 gate etc. Guilty as charged but it is impossible to double rope when there is only Derek still on the boat and I have to do the lock paddles and gates and It is easier to only open one gate. We both did as we were told however, nodded in agreement with them and enjoyed the ride.  The river literally was long and winding, we saw Mr Heron, he flew off in front of us, there doesn’t seem to be as many water birds as I thought there would be, they do seem to congregrate in the towns, suppose its for the food.   The fairies were landing on the water as we sailed through.  A couple of NBs had passed us the last one was called Atease ? the lady was anything but! She was polishing the front deck as they went by ??  We passed through Wyre Piddle? It had an island nearby called Tiddle Widdle Island and a Piddle Brook, the kids would have thought that very amusing.  At Wyre Lock, it was a contrary one, it was diamond shaped and the weir was on the right hand side just after the lock.  We left both gates open as it was odd to get into.  There was a marina, caravan site and pubs by the side of the river running passed the lock, it looked lovely.  Arrived at Pershore, boats moored at the side of the Recreation ground, there was a regatta, loads of kids in double canoes racing up and down, they were a pleasure to see, they were all very excited and having a wonderful time.  The sun had come out big time now, the church bells were ringing it was lovely. As we moored up I chatted to some gongoozlers, they were English but had come from Perth Australia where they now live, they had come for the ladies mums funeral, she was 102 when she died so had had a good innings in anyones book.  I got changed, Derek cooked bacon, eggs and mushrooms, I fed the ducks and swans outside the window, Derek got TV so everything was fine and dandy for the rest of the day.  We had a rest, went up town and got provisions from ASDA and had a lovely afternoon inside the boat because it was red hot outside. 

Evesham (Fri 28th June)

Derek was up as usual, bright and early, me well I stayed in bed till 8 after all there was no rush, it was still raining and had been all night.  Got up and sorted out the dreaded washing basket, tidied round in general, did the plant pots and decided to wait for the rain to break before going into town.  We sorted out with Matthew and Sarah when and where we could be picked up to go home and come back to the boat again with Charlotte and Amelia.  Derek ran a check on where we could leave the boat, he rang Saul Marina for availability of a mooring and they said ring nearer the date and should be ok for a week or so.  The plan is home 16^th July ready for Isabella 1^st Birthday on the 21^st and back with girls (whoever decides to join us) on the 22^nd.  A NB moored in front of us set off and Derek then decided to move us back and forth to get a better tele signal ??  We then went into town and found some different shops!! Walked through Riverside covered shopping precinct. The precinct was a bit rundown with more closed shops than open ones. Home Bargains (one of my favourite shops) was there so I got a few bits and pieces particularly a box of chocs for this evening.  We had a toastie and coffee and walked through to the older part of the town, craft shop and a lovely old antique shop, I bought a couple of bits, they had dolls house bits plus bargain bits, I got talking to the lovely lady in there, told her what we were doing in Evesham, she lives near Tardebigge , a massive flight of  36 (wow) or so locks, we are supposed to be going up them later on, so we said we would wave when we got to the top? She was very interesting to talk to she knew all about the churches and the Bell Tower (remains of the Abbey after Henry VIII got his hands on it) and found out that she had 8 children, all girls.  She had lost count of grandchildren, amazing, told her of course about our families and she thought it was lovely that Sarah had 6 children and that we still had a baby, Issabella, as she loves babies but her grandchildren were all older.  After we had walked through the church, which was lovely, we found more antique shops, I had lovely chats with the owners and bought a few bits, got some more boat paints from ‘Magpies’ and came back to the boat. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing a bit of trouser washing, me a bit of sewing, Derek napping and generally lazing about watching the action on the river.

Bidford-on-Avon - Evesham (Thurs 27th June)

Left at 09:15 arrived at 12:15.

We didn’t have a bad night, woke to a bright breezy day.  Derek did is usual chores, shop, walked dogs, we then filled up with water and were on our way for 9 15 heading for Evesham.  One for the kids? We passed NB BOB at private moorings at the other side of the river.  Round the corner from the mooring was a little marina, it was mostly cruisers and looked quite tidy.  The river is a lot prettier than the canal, I think its the openness I like, Derek says its better sailing as there is plenty of water underneath us.  Did Moricliff lock with  a hire boat, chatted to a lady walking her dog, she said that 2 NB had been stuck in this lock for 2 weeks when the river was in flood last year, hope we’re not going to be doing that this trip.  There was a plaque at the side of the lock it said that it had been improved by engineers and prisoners in 1969.  After the lock I made a coffee and took it down to Derek and decided to have a little drive, well its wider than the canal and I had a little NB (driven by the lady of the team) in front so I could use her as my marker.  I did ok but as we were nearing the lock I went back to my other duties. At Harvington lock a broad beam was moored, the gentleman from it did most of the top gate paddles, then let us and NB Grasshopper have a ride through, he was coming down through the lock after us.  There seems to be a lot of Caravan/Chalet Parks along the river, one we passed was made of green coloured poles and had a private garden complete with water feature.  The owner was sat, like a very large garden gnome, fishing at the bottom of the garden.   At the next lock, George Billington lock, a NB was coming out so we had to close the gates, we were still with Grasshopper.  This lock was completed in 6 weeks so that its donor, who was terminally ill and only in his thirties, could see the effects of his donation before he died.  The lock is very well maintained with a little watch tower on one side and a plaque to George Billington with a pot of flowers next to it on the other side, thank you George.  We are winding along a pretty   pleasant. I made early lunch but it wasn’t long before we got to the next lock into Evesham, so needless to say I ate mine later. There had been a pair of white cottages with a steep field running down to the river, at the bottom where 2 fishermen and the most adorable Fallabella pony.  I shouted to Derek , I want one, I then relayed to the men I meant the pony not them.  !!!!   Evesham lock is very big, it is sometimes manned, but not today.  There was a large warning sign on leaving the lock and I told Derek some of the info on it, he was quite unperturbed and said to ignore it, its a commercial waterway so care should be taken? Arrived on mooring behind other boats, waved Grasshopper on their way and finished my lunch, it was 12 15.  We thought we wouldn’t be able to get tele, but in the end we did, got internet and intend to have rest and go into town.

Stratford on Avon – Bidford-on-Avon (Wed 26th June)

Left at 09:00 arrived at 13:30.

Up to a bright day, we had quite a good night thank heavens, not  too achey legs for me.  Derek walked the dogs and got the paper and milk.  All just about ready for 9, heading for Bidford-on-Avon just the first lock to do then, in centre of basin out on to river, we are early so hopefully no gongoozlers.  The lock went very well if not a bit heavy, Derek went to the water point I had to walk through the park to catch him up.  Told him to be careful on leaving the lock as there were already some little boats on the River.  The water point is next to a chain and rope operated ferry but its closed at the moment, probably opens at ten, we are opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company building.  We were off the water point for 9 44. All the benches along the waterside have plaques on again, my favourite was dedicated to someones husband stating “Centre Stage Always” it was directly opposite the RSC in the middle of the  building,they must have liked the theatre.  Through Colin Witter lock, it was a strange one, it went ok but on the river we have to leave the gates open on our exit!!  It doesn’t sit well with my, if you open it you close it policy, still whatever floats their boat (pardon the attempt at a pun)On leaving the lock you come out on to a lovely wide piece of river, the weir was on  the right hand side and of course there were some lovely properties leading down to the water.  Second lock, someone had come out, so the gates were open, Derek shut one for me, there was a boat coming up so he helped me do the paddles.  I got on the boat and he put his boat in.  The properties along this bit were really nice, not too grand, it was the gardens I envied, the housed were well maintained and mostly had large picture windows facing the water.  After Luddington lock a NB passed by and there was a caravan site on the left hand side.  We passed NB Muckle, they had come down the Stratford  Canal with us and moored in the basin for a couple of days whilst we were there.  We passed NB Uncle Brian!!  Funny name for a boat I thought. There were lots of caravans and cabins at Welford Boat Station and a lovely Broad Beam called Islay Mist, it was a long way from home. Further  along was a fantastic looking Broad Beam ‘Shirley Anne’, it was painted green with Leprachauns and a pair of Swans painted on the side, they were very well done, it was also for sale.???  More large  properties on the right hand side with even larger gardens, there were also some properties being built on various plots, one looked as if they had knocked the old property down and resited the new one.  Walford (WACadbury) lock was really deep and seemed to take an age to empty (we were only doing one paddle) the metal gates are really really heavy, it is also really hot now 12 05.  Saw only our second Kingfisher darting across the water.  Came through the next lock with NB Imagine, it was painted lilac (very lilac) with flowers on it.  I asked him if he was by himself, he said his wife was disabled so he had to do it himself.  The lady came onto the back deck, it had a cover over it and she sat in her disabled scooter to talk to Derek.  They were a lovely couple, they had a little dog with them, a Jack Russell. I thought she said she had a long dog, so was expecting a greyhound? Surprised by the dog I told her I had misheard her and she said he was a lock dog but they didn’t let him out on the river locks. !!!   We went ahead to set the next and our last lock for the day, so that we could share it with them.  Passing some boats moored we saw a little steamer type boat called Montmerency, it was so cute and I love that name it always makes me smile.  Shared the lock with Imagine, they told us bits about the waters round here, they moor at Evesham and we let them lead the way out of the lock, we all wished each other well and waved goodbye.  Mr Heron flew into a tree beyond us, I think I managed to catch him on the camera, just as he was taking off again.  Moored next to  the park at about 1 30. I had a little nap, Derek sussed the place out, I did a bit of painting on back doors, we have internet and tele so all set for the evening.  Oh and we were joined by Hazel Laphroaig who we shared some travelling time with before and at Stratford.

Stratford on Avon (Tue 25th June)

Derek up as usual to very sunny weather, he walked the dogs, got the paper.  Me well I had a bad night, restless achey legs so didn’t get much kip, having a warm drink at 4 a.m. and went back to bed and finally up after 8.  I saw the day break and heard the dawn chorus, the benefit was that the waterfront and town looked lovely and still in the street lights.  Derek said either too much shopping or lock withdrawal ah ah !!!!! Did some housekeeping, changing towels, sheets etc. the biggest problem is where to store dirty washing, but managed to stuff it bagged up in various spaces ???  A hire boat pulled up at the side of us but we had to politely tell them they couldn’t fasten to us, its the rule of the Canal Trust, not us being funny. The basin needs to be fairly clear as the boats may have to turn round to go back up the canal through the very narrow bridge hole.  They did get a mooring on one of the pontoons, it is a bit daunting as you arrive as the signage is not very clear and the pontoons look like they are for permanent moorings.  We had a young man practising his guitar for well over an hour sat on our bench, in front of the boat.  We went to Sainsburys in town for groceries and then came back to the boat for a cuppa before going to the Butterfly Farm. The Butterfly farm was lovely, if not a bit sweaty, but we both enjoyed it and had an ice cream sat on a bench outside when we had finished.  We watched a few boats go down through the lock onto the River Avon and  then went back to boat for lunch and a rest before going into town for a mooch round the shops.  We were back on the boat for 3, we really are showing our age I feel, my legs are killing me and Derek’s legs are aching, its all that climbing on top of the boat.  We did find an antique bit in a back street, a bit like the lanes in various other places, like Brighton etc. there was some interesting stuff and I got a few bits and pieces from a Chinese mans stall, not antiques I might add.  We had our tea in the Thai Boathouse, it was lovely and then Derek took the dogs for a walk and took some photos of some statuary and the Morris Men dancing on the green.  A good day all round but tomorrow we are on the move again heading down the Avon to Gloucester.