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.
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