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.

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