Mike Stevens' UK Inland Waterways Pages

TRIP REPORTS : THE YEARS BETWEEN BOATS

BIRMINGHAM & SHARPNESS

August 1987

Part 3 : Gloucester to Stratford-on-Avon

The day started with heavy rain, competing with the noise of extremely loud seagulls. We decided to have a stationary and gluttonous breakfast, then continued the journey at 09:13. We took on water at a slow tap, then locked down into the Severn. Going up-river wasn't as difficult as we'd feared, more a battle of wills, wriggling round to find the least obstructive bits of current. At Tewkesbury we paid the Lower Avon toll to the lock-keeper (pleasant chap here), tied up above the lock and did some minor shopping followed by an excellent pub lunch at the Olde Black Bear.

After lunch we set off up the Avon, which wasn't in a fierce state at the time. We enjoyed the scenery, but saw few casual moorings, and those mostly full. We moored in the end above Wyre lock at 18:37, a lovely mooring on the "wrong" side of the lock island, with imaginative gardens - some very 'cultivated' plants, some less so like monbretia and marigolds, and some usually wild ones like mallow and water-mint. Considering the forecast we were again lucky with the weather, which was dry nearly all day after the early morning rain had cleared up, and with sunny spells. Again a barbecue was followed by Scrabble - revenge on me. There was a clear sky with a good view of the stars. We saw a bat and a shooting star.

Sunrise at Wyre lock		Chadbury
Evesham	Robert Aickman New Lock

There was a very beautiful morning view of sun, mist, cloud formations and reflections - everyone got up early to see it, so we were ready to start boating at 07:02. We made a leisurely start in pleasant weather, following an optimistic forecast. We took on water at Hampton Park sani station, then continue to Evesham lock where we paid the Upper Avon toll. A pleasant chap at Bidford Boats re-lit our fridge pilot which was being obstinate. We noticed that some of the lock-gear on this navigation is rather strange.

At Stratford-on-Avon we discovered great competition between boaters & anglers for space on the river banks. We had one altercation when we moored first (in one of the few spaces available), so moved later to a better spot. We dealt with shopping & launderette. Sod's Law operated. We found a Gateway and did our best with its pathetic selection, then, much further away, near Ye Olde Very Floral Launderette, found a Safeway. Boaters in the Basin told us that one can use River Lock as early as one likes and that the fee for the canal is paid at the cottage by lock 28 (Is that Pete Chamberlain's?)