Sharpness

Sunday June 18th @ 11am. Moored at Sharpness situated beside the Severn Estuary.

Across the water is the hilly ‘Forest of Dean’, where my grandfather was born! We arrived here on Friday at around 1pm in gorgeous sunshine. We’ll remain here until Monday, (after the weekenders have returned home).
This is the most Southerly point of our tour this year. The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal was built to bypass this dangerous stretch of the River Severn between Sharpness and Gloucester. Pictured is what remains of the old 22-arched railway bridge that used to cross the river here, some of the piers can still be seen at low tide. The bridge was badly damaged one foggy night in November 1959, when a vessel collided with it; the bridge then stood with a whole in the middle until it was demolished and the iron girders sold to – of all places – Chile, where they now form a road-carrying viaduct.
On Friday we cycled down to the Sharpness docks and the 1 and only shop that services this area, it’s also a post office. Last night, Saturday, we barbequed. At around 7pm the huge hotel boat ‘Oliver Cromwell’ passed by and turned. To our amazement she moored just off our bow sending another moored narrowboat who’d been here all day, scurrying away into the distance. We didn’t mind we had free entertainment for the evening and enjoyed the company. She left dead on 8 am this morning.
The weather is cooler today and breezy. I’ve also noticed a sharp drop in the water height. Later we intend to visit the ‘Sharpness Dockers Club’ where you can get a good, reasonably priced meal.
Tomorrow we make our way back Northward and return to Gloucester, likely stopping at Slimbridge and Saul Junction once again. Traffic will start building come next weekend as the popular Saul Festival nears. We’ll be on our way towards Worcester and Stourport by then!

Slimbridge

Thursday June 15th 10am. Moored at Slimbridge.


After a couple of days we made our way down from Saul Junction on Tuesday morning stopping at Fretherne Bridge to visit the beautiful linear village of Frampton on Severn. The village is notable mainly for it’s green which is about 100 yds wide and fully half a mile long. The church of St. Mary at the South end of the village, near the canal, is mainly of the 14th C. Facing the village green is a Georgian mansion (1731/3) whose gardens contain a gothic orangery (1745) and an octagonal dovecote. Visits are only permitted by written application.
After 3 more miles we arrived at our next destination of Slimbridge in torrential rain. Here we plan to stay until after the next England match. We enjoy these moorings very much, firstly there only a 10 minute walk from Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust and secondly we can breakfast in the Boat Station Cafe and dinner at the Tudor Arms. Easy living!
One disappointing element to our visit this time around was the moorings. Last year we remember being able to moor either side of the canal after Patch Bridge but this year the West side is completely overgrown (pictured)! It’s also completely overgrown from Cambridge Arms Bridge to Patch Bridge, just short of a mile, prior to arriving. We managed to secure the last mooring. The East side of Slimbridge was taken solely by local boats, half of which had nobody aboard, and the 2 moorings on the West side, one of which was ours, the other being taken by a local boat, which also had nobody aboard. I’m all for wildlife preservation and BW’s initiative on not cutting certain stretches for this purpose but in my opinion these moorings should be 48hrs only (and enforced) and another half dozen established by good ground management! The swing bridge is also in a shocking state! (That’s my moan of the day!)
Yesterday, Wednesday, was a much cooler and overcast day but Dee prepared a packed lunch and we duly set off to visit the Wildfowl Trust, always a treat for us twitchers and had a thoroughly enjoyable time. We rounded off the day with dinner at the Tudor Arms. Today Summer has returned once again....

Saul Junction

If your an England fan like me you’l be baffled as to what occurred in the 2nd half however, it’s the 3 points that count and we will get better!


We spent a nice and I have to say quiet 2 days in Gloucester Dock (pictured), only 4 boats moored on the pontoons when we left at around 11am. This morning (Monday 12th 10am) we're moored at Saul Junction on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and where awoken at around 6am by a nice thunderstorm. I say nice as I really enjoy storms. The weather has now turned humid and I fully expect more storms later. Yesterday afternoon we inflated our dingy for the 1st time this season and duly went a rowing! We intend to stay on this stretch for a while and with no locks, only manned swing bridges, it’s an easy life. We’ll progress over the next few days to our farthest point South, Sharpness. Sharpness exists only for it’s docks and their tall cranes, old and new warehouses and ever-changing display of foreign ships. The Severn is wide here and wild: the tidal range at Sharpness is believed to be the 2nd biggest in the world (only the bay of Fundy, sandwiched between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, has a greater range) and the current is swift, especially when accompanied by the high winds that often race up the estuary from the sea. I think we’ll pass on locking through this time!

Gloucester Dock

Saturday June 10th moored at Gloucester Docks.(Pictured)

On Wednesday we moved from our spot at Wyre Piddle lock with the plan of mooring at Pershore for the night. However, after doing a spot of shopping and once again wall to wall sunshine we made the decision to move on around 2pm. We progressed further South and on towards our eventual mooring at Tewksbury, where we’ll end our journey down the Avon and enter the River Severn.
By the time we reached Eckington Wharf we decided it was time to stop, the heat was beginning to get to us both. Here we moored for the night and were later joined by ‘Willow’ a 70 foot hotel boat enroute to Stratford. We awoke to another beautiful cloudless day on Thursday morning and after breakfast set off on our final stretch down the Avon to Tewksbury. On this final stretch the river widens by comparison into open meadows and farmland. The river passes under the M5 motorway surrounded by flood plain and beyond you can see the village of Brendon, where the fine 14th – C tithe barn can be seen from the river.
We arrived at Tewksbury at 1pm and moored just prior to the lock. After a stroll around the town in 80 degree heat we crashed for the day under some trees which we were lucky enough to be moored next to.
Friday morning and more glorious weather. We locked through from the Avon to the Severn at around 10am and made for the huge, manned Upper Lode Lock. Once through we progressed to Gloucester, no tides or Severn Bore, (Huge 8ft tidal surges), to contend with! After a 2 hour sail, passing only 4 boats enroute we telephoned Gloucester Dock of our imminent arrival and upon reaching the lock everything was set in our favour. At around 12.45 we were moored in Gloucester Dock. Here we’ll stay until Sunday and are already preparing for the England Vs Paraguay game!!

The Beautiful Avon

Today June 7th we’re now on the Upper Avon on an idyllic lock mooring at the wonderfully named Wyre Piddle, just up from Wyre Mill which the traveller Charles Showell called ‘the ugliest, of which the Avon is ashamed’.
It’s now a sailing and social club. This lock is diamond shaped, the last of it’s kind on the river and is our favourite all time river mooring. Your literally marooned at this lock and free from the many gongoozlers (boaty term for onlookers) which are plentiful at Stratford.
Over the past week we’ve continued at a slow pace South-West from Stratford through Bidford-on-Avon and Evesham. We continued some of our journey with ‘Best O Mates’ who caught up with us once again at Luddington, where we moored at the Stan Glover Lock. We parted at Evesham yesterday having spent several days with Jennifer and Graham.
The Avon is a beautiful river and for me just out shines the Thames which we navigated last year. If you intend navigating the Avon the one thing one should bare in mind is the mooring availability. On the lower Avon from Stratford-upon-Avon to Evesham the mooring is idyllic and plentiful, from Evesham to Tewkesbury not so! After starting off from George Billington Lock yesterday morning and stopping at Evesham for lunch, we continued a further 10 canal miles, (our longest day to date), before finding a decent mooring. Fortunately having travelled the Avon last year we’re familiar with where the moorings are. Try to moor before the weekend! The moorings can fill up quickly with the many weekend cruisers which frequent the river.
One thing that’s surprised us so far is the lack of traffic. Not that we’re complaining. We’ve passed very few private boats, the majority of traffic being hire fleets. Even quieter this week after the school half-term. Both Dee and I don’t have any problems with hire boats but the one criticism we have of some irresponsible parties is the lack of respect for others. Speeding boats being the worst problem. Irresponsible mooring being the other. Enough said!
Last night we had our first barbeque, a feast of fish, burgers and sausages, my favourite food and Dee’s too provided I burn the sausages to a cinder!
The weather has been wall to wall sunshine and so at last our tans are starting to progress. The wildlife has been good but with nothing unusual to report. Plenty of Buzzards, Kingfishers, Cuckoo’s and Bats. We heard a Tawny Owl last night but still no Barn Owls.
Today we’ll move just a couple of miles to Pershore and then tomorrow on to Tewkesbury for a couple of days before leaving the Avon for the River Severn and Gloucester Docks.

Monthly Log (May)

Well June 1st has arrived and we've finally made it onto the River Avon at Stratford-on-Avon and moored across from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and yes it's raining!

Amazingly despite the major backlog of boats earlier the moorings at the basin and out onto the Avon were plentiful. Another mystery of where boats disappear to!

We’ve now been out for exactly 2 weeks. In this time we’ve completed our section of the Grand Union from Wigram’s Turn, turned South onto the Stratford Canal and arrived on the Upper Avon. 101 locks completed and 33 canal miles.
Our first fortnight has been dominated by the weather. Rain and more rain resulted in the closure of the River Avon for 9 days (in flood) and thus meant that our transit was a lot slower than anticipated. The River Severn, our next challenge in around 9 days time, was apparently 12 feet over height during this time!
Having said that we did manage to get some good cycling time in over the period. I don’t know whether it was this that caused my 18 year old mountain bike to give up the ghost on Tuesday! Fortunately we we’re able to walk to a nearby shop and purchase an ‘off the shelf’ replacement. God knows how many miles I covered on my old bike but I did manage to salvage wheels, tyres, seat etc. It’s now been laid to rest.
Quidditch has performed well and the central heating I installed over the Winter has already proved to be a success. As mentioned in earlier posts Celtic Kiwi who we discovered broken down at the Shrewley Tunnel is back underway passing us twice enroute, new prop shaft installed! To be fair the early stages of our tour have passed without much event apart from yesterday when I almost went for a swim in the Avon. I’m not offering much detail here but it involved a rowing boat, a passing site-seeing launch and me wearing only socks walking down the gunnels! Funny how these events seem to happen with about 15 tourists filming.
As keen wildlife enthusiasts we’ve nothing out of the ordinary to report. However, it’s already noticeable that so far we’ve yet to see any Barn Owls. Apparently it’s been a bad year for voles, their main diet. We have however seen good numbers of baby Mallard, Canada Geese, Swans and Moorhen.
Tomorrow (Friday 2nd June) we set off South-West down the Avon towards Evesham and Tewksbury. From here we’ll lock through onto the River Severn and make a 3 hours dash to Gloucester Docks. After a short stay in Gloucester we then make our most Southerly trip onto the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and down towards the Severn Estuary. Stay tuned!

The Aftermath!

Tuesday May 30th @ 22:40

As planned we moved off from Lowsonford at around 11am (Sunday) and progressed further South taking on water at Lowsonford Bridge.
Being school halfterm and Bank Holiday the canal was busy with holiday boats which only added to the termoil. As mentioned in earlier posts the River Avon remains closed so boats are now starting to back up. The news filtering down is that Stratford Basin is currently full!
We continued down and through Preston Bagot after completing 8 locks and managed to secure the one and only mooring available at Wooton Wawen at around 2pm.
Monday we decided to bike to Stratford to check out the situation for ourselves. Well that is to say we cycled to Wooton station and took a 10 minute journey by train into Stratford. After lunch at one of my old pubs (The Windmill) we checked out the basin which was indeed full. More so the backlog extended quite a distance back.
This morning (Tuesday) we progressed on to Stratford and so set off at around 10.30am. The Avon has finally receeded and re-opened but judging by the amount of traffic moving North it was still extremely busy! We continued our decent towards Stratford crossing the Edstone Aquaduct a half hour later. This aquaduct is around 200yds in lenth and is a narrow cast iron trough carried on brick piers across a shallow valley. Passing through Wilmcote where we moored last year and on past the famous Mary Ardens House we decended the 11 Wilmcote locks in good time and decided to moor just short of Stratford at bridge 62A, which turned out to be a good strategy. In the late afternoon we cycled into Stratford for a look and found the basin still full! The plan now is to set off early tomorrow (Wednesday) and try and secure a mooring on the Avon hopefully vacated by an early leaver. We shall see!!!

Delay On River Avon

Saturday 27th @ 7.45pm.

With each day the weather continues to improve. Our transit up the 21 locks of the Hatton Flight was only interrupted by the occasional shower.

After starting the flight of double locks alone we were joined by ‘Scruffy Fox’ who were ahead of us at the start but decided to wait after we were about 5 locks in. We then completed the flight together, entering the final lock in just short of 3 hours.
At the top lock we stopped to empty our toilets and bins, which we had to complete from inside the lock due to a hire boat moored on the water point having lunch! Not the done thing!! We then continued on through a wooded cutting towards the Shrewley Tunnel and moored for the night.
On day 6 we moved off around 11am after a heavy downpour. As we approached the entrance to the 433 yard Shrewley Tunnel we came across ‘Celtic Kiwi’ a time-share boat from our home marina that had passed us that morning. They had unfortunately broken down. After checking that help was on the way we continued through. The Shrewley tunnel was opened in 1799 with the completion of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal. After emerging, stopping briefly at Turners Green to take on water opposite a beautiful old beamed house, we continued lock free until our turn onto the Stratford and Avon Canal at Kingswood Junction. We were looking forward once again to getting back onto one of our favourite canals and single locks.
After turning South and locking through the canal pursues a fairly direct and wholly peaceful course, apart from passing under the busy M40 motorway! By lock 28 we passed a barrel-roofed cottage, typical of this part of the canal and was given some plant cuttings by it’s sociable owner. After chatting for a while we moved on and met coming in the opposite direction ‘Patience’ another boat moored at our marina. After a brief chat we finally moored at around 5pm at Lowsonford, opposite the Fleur-De-Lys pub, an attractive 13th century cottage which once incorporated a bake house. This was in fact the first day we hadn't got wet!
With all the recent rain we checked with the River Avon Trust to establish if the river was in flood. We’ll be joining the Avon next week. As we had thought it was and so currently closed to navigation. We took the decision to slow down and so we'll remain at Lowsonford until the 28th.
Here we have so far enjoyed some good pub food, decent weather and some excellent company with Graham and Jennifer off 'Best-O-Mates' who we met having moored next to. We've also got some good cycling time in over the 3 days visiting Henley-In-Arden and Hatton. Are plan is to move off tomorrow, Sunday..

Rain, Rain, Rain...

'Onboard Weather Station'

Current Temp @ 10.00Hrs : 10c
Current Weather : Scattered Cloud
Wind : WSW @ 8mph
Pressure : 1012mb
Sunrise 5:00 Sunset 21:04



Continuing down from Bickley’s Bridge the weather still seems to be the main theme so far. Rain, rain and more rain! Drought? What drought!

We progressed, Saturday, through Bascote Locks (4) and continued down mooring just prior to Fosse Lock, pictured, thus completing 8 locks today. This mooring was idyllic. Just prior to Leamington Spa with nothing but countryside in view. The idea was to moor here until Monday. We had a good Satellite signal and we wanted to watch the Leeds V Watford playoff tomorrow. Saturday evening we took a 5 mile cycle ride to Asda in Leamington to pick up a few supplies. Remarkably the ride was rain free!
Monday we made our decent through Fosse Lock and continued West passing to the North of Radford Semele. The Grand Union then carves a fairly discreet course through Leamington where we stopped quickly for food supplies.
Leaving Leamington the canal swings North-West under a main road and crosses the railway and River Avon on aqueducts, to immediately enter the outskirts of Warwick.
We then passed around the North side of central Warwick and started our climb at Cape Locks (2), where we took on water. After climbing the 2 Cape Locks, the canal swings South to Budbrooke Junction, where the old Warwick and Napton canal joined the Warwick and Birmingham Canal. A short section of the arm to the East of the junction has been restored and has a winding hole, moorings and other facilities. To the West of the junction , beyond a large road bridge, is the first of the 21 locks of the Hatton Flight, a daunting site which we’ll complete tomorrow!

First Tour Post

Days 1 and 2

The weather has not been kind for the start of our 2006 tour!

After leaving Wigram’s (pictured Right) and progressing up the Grand Union we arrived at Calcutt Locks (3) in torrential rain and thunder. I suppose it was the fact that we haven’t yet quite got our boating heads on that we both got totally soaked. Despite having our wet gear aboard we both only wore our jackets!
We moored soon after for the night to literally dry out. Phase one was complete though as we just wanted to get out onto the system on our designated date. Being out on the canals again is a pleasure. We had a full Indian meal for dinner on-board and just sat, chatted and drank until dark. Dasha unknowns to me had a bottle of champagne on ice to celebrate our voyage.
Day 2 and we think the weather has a grudge. After a blustery and wet night the morning was bright and dry but as soon as we left our mooring the heavens opened. Setting off around 11.30am we continued West and descended the Stocked Flight, (8) locks, in more torrential rain. The canal passes North of Stockton and you can see the remains of the old narrow locks beside the newer wider ones. There is a change in the landscape from here with the hills coming much closer to the canal, broken by old quarries and thick woods along the South bank. The quarries produce Blue Lias, a local stone and cement which was used in the construction of the Thames embankment.
We continued on through Long Itchington passing 2 more locks and moored just after Bickly’s Bridge for the night. An uneventful day really apart from the weather, we only passed some half dozen boats all day. Tomorrow and through the weekend we head for Leamington Spa, Warwick and on to Stratford Upon Avon. This is our first post this season and hopefully one of many. Stayed tuned!!

2006 Tour Details

'Onboard Weather Station'

Current Temp @ 10.00Hrs : 4c
Wind Chill : 1c
Current Weather : Scattered Cloud
Wind : E (80Deg) @ 8mph
Pressure : 1022mb
Sunrise 6:21am Sunset 6:10pm
Visibility 1.3Miles

We're finally agreed on this Summers Tour!

We've been debating whether to cover some canals we did last year, particularly the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. However, we're now decided on some back tracking and so here it is the 2006 itinerary.

Starting off on May 18th from our home base at Wigram's Turn and returning in October we'll head straight out onto the Grand Union Canal. We'll then be turning south later that week at Lapworth Juntion and onto the Stratford Canal for our 1st Waypoint of Stratford Upon Avon.

From Stratford we'll enter the River Avon and progress south-west thru' to our 2nd Waypoint of Tewksbury.

Below is a list of Rivers and Canals we'll be navigating during our 2006 Tour.

Canal /Rivers

Grand Union Canal - Stratford Canal
River Avon - River Severn
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal - Staffordshire and Worcester Canal
Shropshire Union Canal - Llangollen Canal, Wales
Middlewich Branch Canal - Trent and Mersey Canal
Bridgewater Canal - Aston Canal
Peak Forest Canal - Macclesfield Canal
Coventry Canal - Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
Oxford Canal

'View the above canals and river maps by clicking Here'.

The best laid plans etc... Well thats our plan anyway but sailing around the inland waterways can throw up many options and if it's anything like last year it wouldn't surprise us if the plan changes somewhat while we're en route! Our friends and family, or anyone for that matter, can follow our travels from this site as we post regularly during the tour.
We'll be returning in October, so roll on May 17th when we set sail.

Were Back

Current Temp @ 19.00Hrs 0c
Feels Like -1c
Current Weather : Clear
Wind : W @ 4mph
Sunrise 6:42am Sunset 5:54pm
Visibility 5.6Miles

Were back aboard!!!

I just had to post this picture. Dee was certainly taken by surprise when we ordered a couple of beers in Barcelona. A good time was had by all. The weather apart from last night in Torrevieja, where it was blowing a gale, was better than we'd expected ranging from 15 to 20c. The one thing that disappointed me about our visit to Spain was the amount of graffiti! I can't believe the Spanish government are not acting to curb this obvious epidemic! Or maybe I can!!

One thing I can remember from my last visit here are the street sculptures pictured below (1) who frequent La Rambla's. These guys are just unbelievable and some of the costumes are tremendous.

If you ever visit Barcelona take the bus tour. The architecture is superb and the Sagrada Familia (Church of the Holy Family) pictured below (2) is breathtaking.

After 3 days in Barcelona we took the train to Alicante and then on by road to Torrevieja. Our train journey was superb and puts our rail system to shame. The views are spectacular, especially the Sierra Nevada mountain range. 4 hours 30 minutes later we arrived 'on time' in Alicante.

1.2.

It's Holiday Time

Current Temp @ 17.00Hrs 4c
Feels Like -1c
Current Weather : Scattered Cloud
Wind : NE @ 16MPH - Gusting 29MPH
Sunrise 7:02am Sunset 5:38pm
Elevation 325 Ft
Visibility 6.2Miles
It's Holiday Time again!! If you've guessed the flag you'l know were off to Spain! Barcelona in fact for 3 days, then off to see Dee's dad in Torrevieja. Having visited Barcelona before I'll enjoy the long walks down La Rambla (pictured.. Top Right). This will be Dee's first visit so I also look forward to showing her the sites. The weather here has been very windy and cold over the past few days so I'm also looking forward to a slightly warmer climate. Having said that the current temperature over there is only just reaching double figures.


We look forward to posting our holiday snaps when we return. Espania here we come!!

As Normal

Current Temp @ 17.00Hrs 2c
Feels Like -0c
Current Weather : Overcast
Wind : NNE @ 12MPH
Sunrise 7:58am Sunset 4:39pm
Visibility 6.2Miles

Well thought it was about time to post another diary entry but there's not that much to tell really.
Last Sunday we took 'Quidditch' up to our favourite spot on the Grand Union/Oxford Canal at Bridge 103. There was a good bit of traffic due to the nice crisp day but not many stayed out. When we woke in the morning we were the only ones there. The journey back was bitterly cold though! We're currently planning our Summer 2006 route. We've decided on the Macclesfield Canal & Llangollen Canals so far but not progressed any further. The days are getting a little longer now and I'm gradully completing my Winter Works List. I've now upgraded our domestic water system, fitted our Mikuni Central Heating, which is great in addition to our Kabola diesel fire and I've built one of two front chests.
Were looking forward to a nice break in Barcelona next month!

First of 2006

Current Temp @ 13.00Hrs 1c Feels Like -2c
Current Weather : Snow
Wind : E @ 5MPH
Sunrise 8:16am Sunset 4:12pm
Visibility 1.9Miles

First diary posting of 2006.

After finally getting around to repairing my throttle cable, no choice really, I had to go for diesel and we had visitors coming, we were able, as planned, to take 'Quidditch' along to bridge 103 on the Napton to Braunston stretch for New Years Eve.
Unfortunately shortly after mooring, our domestic water pump packed in! The fortunate thing is, that our guests, John & Pat, are fellow boaties and are used to these slight boating inconveniences. Nevertheless, a good time was had by all and I have now replaced the offending pump. I've dumped Flojet and gone for a Shurflow.
Dee is unfortunately now back at work, a busy time in the holiday industry! Planning ahead we've now booked a short break in Barcelona for February, our usual month in Dubai, ('Look out Dave here we come') and a cottage in Scotland for a week in May prior to setting sail for the summer on May 15th. Who said boating life was dull?