Friday 31 July 2009
CONTRASTING BOAT DESIGNS
Near Parkend Bridge, Gloucester & Sharpness canal, Friday 31st July
It is official – we like this canal. It is good and deep, about 16 feet in the centre, at least 6 feet at the edge and there are plenty of places to moor; people walking along the towpath stop to pass the time of day or for a chat. The trip boat ‘Edward Elgar’ came by this morning, what an eyesore that is: it looks as if they bought a 40 foot ISO container and welded a point onto it for the bows. Compare that with the views of Kathleen and May.
We have travelled about three miles today and are close to Parkend bridge which is the middle of nowhere; another reason to like this canal, it is very rural and quiet.
The bridge keeper’s houses are of a standard design which I quite like; it is good to see local variations on a theme as in the barrel roofed cottages on the Stratford canal.
If you were to take the trouble to count them, I would estimate one boat movement per hour; as the bridges are manned only between 8am and 7pm that is not a lot of boats. We have a lovely open mooring with views to the Cotswolds and if you jump up high, you can see the Forest of Dean.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 739.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
It is official – we like this canal. It is good and deep, about 16 feet in the centre, at least 6 feet at the edge and there are plenty of places to moor; people walking along the towpath stop to pass the time of day or for a chat. The trip boat ‘Edward Elgar’ came by this morning, what an eyesore that is: it looks as if they bought a 40 foot ISO container and welded a point onto it for the bows. Compare that with the views of Kathleen and May.
We have travelled about three miles today and are close to Parkend bridge which is the middle of nowhere; another reason to like this canal, it is very rural and quiet.
The bridge keeper’s houses are of a standard design which I quite like; it is good to see local variations on a theme as in the barrel roofed cottages on the Stratford canal.
If you were to take the trouble to count them, I would estimate one boat movement per hour; as the bridges are manned only between 8am and 7pm that is not a lot of boats. We have a lovely open mooring with views to the Cotswolds and if you jump up high, you can see the Forest of Dean.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 739.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Thursday 30 July 2009
LONG DISTANCE
Rea Bridge, Gloucester & Sharpness canal, Thursday 30th July
Yesterday, we battened down the hatches and stayed inside. It rained, it poured then rained some more. Typical English summer.
Today, after Myra had done the shopping at Sainsbury's, where you can bring the trolley right down to the boat, we moved all of two miles along the canal to Rea Bridge.
The first two swing bridges today provide a sharp contrast between old and new.
Hempstead bridge has the original hand wound mechanical system; Netherbridge is hydraulically operated and was built on the new alignment of the canal during the road improvements to the A38.
We have been for a walk to have a look at the River Severn. It was along a narrow lane which forms part of the test route from the nearby driving test centre. Our presence will have certainly created a hazard for the two ‘L’ plate bearing cars that passed us; I wonder whether they passed? Myra has been scrumping apples; well not quite, she did ask the owner and was given permission to help herself to the windfalls!
The river was hidden by trees along the public footpath, no matter, we will have better views further along the canal; at least our mooring is sheltering us from the strong wind and squally showers. I should think that the Met. office have downgraded their forecast of a hot July and August: I am only surprised that they have not waited until the end of August, that way they could be 100% certain of their error.
The new digital seaweed is not as reliable, obviously, as the old analogue variety.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 736.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Yesterday, we battened down the hatches and stayed inside. It rained, it poured then rained some more. Typical English summer.
Today, after Myra had done the shopping at Sainsbury's, where you can bring the trolley right down to the boat, we moved all of two miles along the canal to Rea Bridge.
The first two swing bridges today provide a sharp contrast between old and new.
Hempstead bridge has the original hand wound mechanical system; Netherbridge is hydraulically operated and was built on the new alignment of the canal during the road improvements to the A38.
We have been for a walk to have a look at the River Severn. It was along a narrow lane which forms part of the test route from the nearby driving test centre. Our presence will have certainly created a hazard for the two ‘L’ plate bearing cars that passed us; I wonder whether they passed? Myra has been scrumping apples; well not quite, she did ask the owner and was given permission to help herself to the windfalls!
The river was hidden by trees along the public footpath, no matter, we will have better views further along the canal; at least our mooring is sheltering us from the strong wind and squally showers. I should think that the Met. office have downgraded their forecast of a hot July and August: I am only surprised that they have not waited until the end of August, that way they could be 100% certain of their error.
The new digital seaweed is not as reliable, obviously, as the old analogue variety.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 736.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Wednesday 29 July 2009
TRANSPORTED
Gloucester, Tuesday 28th July
I wanted to look at the Gloucester transport museum, which according to the leaflet from the tourist information office, was housed in the old fire station on Longsmith Street. We found the building, now occupied by Family Law Consultants.
Obvious when you think about it – the museum has been transported but where?
I settled for a building spotting excursion. As we had seen yesterday, there are a lot of interesting buildings in Gloucester. One of the more unusual ones housed the music and drama library. It was a well proportioned Georgian example, strangely tacked on to one end of the ruins of Greyfriars Priory. The other end is dominated by the Gloucester college of arts; at least it is not built on.
Robert Raikes House, former home to the founder of the Sunday school movement,
is a recently renovated, almost rebuilt, wooden framed building. It has taken two years and £4.5 million to complete; it is now a Samuel Smith’s pub. I suppose that is a better, if slightly ironic, solution than demolition.
We saw part of the Roman wall of Glevum; it was visible from the upstairs display room of a furniture shop, but none of it was for sale.
We have been on the basin pontoon for 48hrs, so we have moved to a spot just south of Sainsbury’s where it is a lot quieter. We may move tomorrow, if the promised heavy rain materialises we will stay put!
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 734.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
I wanted to look at the Gloucester transport museum, which according to the leaflet from the tourist information office, was housed in the old fire station on Longsmith Street. We found the building, now occupied by Family Law Consultants.
Obvious when you think about it – the museum has been transported but where?
I settled for a building spotting excursion. As we had seen yesterday, there are a lot of interesting buildings in Gloucester. One of the more unusual ones housed the music and drama library. It was a well proportioned Georgian example, strangely tacked on to one end of the ruins of Greyfriars Priory. The other end is dominated by the Gloucester college of arts; at least it is not built on.
Robert Raikes House, former home to the founder of the Sunday school movement,
is a recently renovated, almost rebuilt, wooden framed building. It has taken two years and £4.5 million to complete; it is now a Samuel Smith’s pub. I suppose that is a better, if slightly ironic, solution than demolition.
We saw part of the Roman wall of Glevum; it was visible from the upstairs display room of a furniture shop, but none of it was for sale.
We have been on the basin pontoon for 48hrs, so we have moved to a spot just south of Sainsbury’s where it is a lot quieter. We may move tomorrow, if the promised heavy rain materialises we will stay put!
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 734.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Tuesday 28 July 2009
AROUND GLOUCESTER
Gloucester docks, Monday 27th July
Looking around the docks today, there was another blast from the past for me. The schooner ‘Kathleen and May’ was in one of the dry docks for cleaning and painting the underwater parts of the hull. I saw her last in 1958 or 1959 when I sailed my dinghy around her off Shoreham as she was under full sail on passage to Plymouth.
In the next dry dock was a square rigged 3 masted barque named ‘Earl of Pembroke’; she was built in Sweden in 1948, engaged in the timber trade between the Baltic and the east coast of England until 1974 when she was laid up in Denmark.
We walked along the canal bank, noting a security problem with one moored boat; (see photo) and found the newly opened Sainsbury’s store next to Llanthony bridge. We investigated further and ended up eating a breakfast on the terrace overlooking the canal in sunshine – wonderful! I would have given them 10 out of 10 for the new store but for the hideous notice above the STAFF entrance.
It proclaimed ‘Colleague Entrance’. I must contact my broker without delay and tell him to sell my complete shareholding. Lord Sainsbury or whoever is running the show, please note: this is ENGLAND definitely not America.
A visit to the Gloucester Quays designer outlet produced the inevitable and predictable result. We spent some money. Myra bought a swimsuit and I bought a pair of waterproof trousers; you can work out which of us is the pessimist and which the optimist. For those of you with a sweet tooth, there is a Cadbury’s outlet shop; do not bother with the bags of mis-shapes. They contain only three varieties, toffee, strawberry crème and a fondant crème egg type. (or so I am led to believe)
In the afternoon, we arrived at the cathedral just in time for a tour of the tower.
This time, we climbed 265 steps and enjoyed the building and the information given by the two guides. This small corner of England certainly has some very beautiful cathedrals and churches, owing mainly to it’s importance in days of old.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 734 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Looking around the docks today, there was another blast from the past for me. The schooner ‘Kathleen and May’ was in one of the dry docks for cleaning and painting the underwater parts of the hull. I saw her last in 1958 or 1959 when I sailed my dinghy around her off Shoreham as she was under full sail on passage to Plymouth.
In the next dry dock was a square rigged 3 masted barque named ‘Earl of Pembroke’; she was built in Sweden in 1948, engaged in the timber trade between the Baltic and the east coast of England until 1974 when she was laid up in Denmark.
We walked along the canal bank, noting a security problem with one moored boat; (see photo) and found the newly opened Sainsbury’s store next to Llanthony bridge. We investigated further and ended up eating a breakfast on the terrace overlooking the canal in sunshine – wonderful! I would have given them 10 out of 10 for the new store but for the hideous notice above the STAFF entrance.
It proclaimed ‘Colleague Entrance’. I must contact my broker without delay and tell him to sell my complete shareholding. Lord Sainsbury or whoever is running the show, please note: this is ENGLAND definitely not America.
A visit to the Gloucester Quays designer outlet produced the inevitable and predictable result. We spent some money. Myra bought a swimsuit and I bought a pair of waterproof trousers; you can work out which of us is the pessimist and which the optimist. For those of you with a sweet tooth, there is a Cadbury’s outlet shop; do not bother with the bags of mis-shapes. They contain only three varieties, toffee, strawberry crème and a fondant crème egg type. (or so I am led to believe)
In the afternoon, we arrived at the cathedral just in time for a tour of the tower.
This time, we climbed 265 steps and enjoyed the building and the information given by the two guides. This small corner of England certainly has some very beautiful cathedrals and churches, owing mainly to it’s importance in days of old.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 734 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Monday 27 July 2009
MISTAKEN IDENTITY?
Gloucester docks, Sunday 26th July
Last evening, we joined a group of boaters sitting outside the lock cottage at Strensham; we were made to feel at home and enjoyed their company.
One of the younger children had asked her Dad if I was Father Christmas.
He told her to ask Myra: she took the girl to one side and explained that I was Father Christmas, but that I was on holiday and she must keep it secret. When she left with her Mum and Dad at bedtime, she smiled and gave me a big wave. Oh, the wonderful
innocence of the young.
This morning, we moved away down the lock at 8am for the run down to Tewkesbury and the River Severn beyond. There were a number of anglers setting up for a competition, most of them gave a friendly wave; I will really miss this on the canals.
We arrived at Tewkesbury where the lock keeper had just penned a boat up from the Severn, he took our front rope and warped us into the lock. He gave me a lot of useful advice for the trip and contacted the Gloucester lock keeper to tell him of our journey.
In no time we were leaving the lock and heading down the River Severn and Upper Lode lock which we left at 10am.
There was a bit of fresh water in the river, the journey took us just two hours for the 14 miles to Gloucester lock; we tied to a pontoon in the docks and later, we visited the Waterways museum where we spent nearly two hours. It was well laid out and interesting, the bucket dredger was one of my favourites, as it was identical to one that I knew at Shoreham where I was mucking about in boats some 55 years ago.
They have a ferro cement (concrete) narrowboat, only two were ever made; Guest and sons of Stourbridge did the work but the boats were too heavy to carry a full load and were easily damaged.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 734 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Last evening, we joined a group of boaters sitting outside the lock cottage at Strensham; we were made to feel at home and enjoyed their company.
One of the younger children had asked her Dad if I was Father Christmas.
He told her to ask Myra: she took the girl to one side and explained that I was Father Christmas, but that I was on holiday and she must keep it secret. When she left with her Mum and Dad at bedtime, she smiled and gave me a big wave. Oh, the wonderful
innocence of the young.
This morning, we moved away down the lock at 8am for the run down to Tewkesbury and the River Severn beyond. There were a number of anglers setting up for a competition, most of them gave a friendly wave; I will really miss this on the canals.
We arrived at Tewkesbury where the lock keeper had just penned a boat up from the Severn, he took our front rope and warped us into the lock. He gave me a lot of useful advice for the trip and contacted the Gloucester lock keeper to tell him of our journey.
In no time we were leaving the lock and heading down the River Severn and Upper Lode lock which we left at 10am.
There was a bit of fresh water in the river, the journey took us just two hours for the 14 miles to Gloucester lock; we tied to a pontoon in the docks and later, we visited the Waterways museum where we spent nearly two hours. It was well laid out and interesting, the bucket dredger was one of my favourites, as it was identical to one that I knew at Shoreham where I was mucking about in boats some 55 years ago.
They have a ferro cement (concrete) narrowboat, only two were ever made; Guest and sons of Stourbridge did the work but the boats were too heavy to carry a full load and were easily damaged.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 734 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
Saturday 25 July 2009
GOOD SERVICE FROM SMALL SHOP
Strensham Lock, River Avon, Saturday 25th July
I called in to the electrical shop yesterday on our return to Pershore; I wanted a suppressor as the new fridge interferes with the radio. They did not have any in stock, but the owner said that he had some at home, he could bring one for me next morning if that was of any use. It was; he did, and I left the shop a happy bunny.
You don’t get that sort of service from Currys, which is one of the reasons that I try to use locally owned shops whenever possible.
We called into Tesco Metro for a paper. There was one checkout womaned (how PC can you get!) and a queue almost one aisle in length. We put the paper back; Myra will just have to carry on using her 7 week old TV and Radio guide.
Returning to Martlet, we moved off and prepared the lock, there was a hire boat milling around and they shared the lock once we had done all of the filling and gate opening. They had eight people on board, they knew what to do; they were just lazy.
At the next lock a cruiser had joined us, and two boats were waiting to come up; the crews told us to stay on the boat and they would do it all. That evened things out nicely. We stopped for the day at Strensham lock, another mooring with open countryside views.
2009 Totals: 417 Locks – 715.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
I called in to the electrical shop yesterday on our return to Pershore; I wanted a suppressor as the new fridge interferes with the radio. They did not have any in stock, but the owner said that he had some at home, he could bring one for me next morning if that was of any use. It was; he did, and I left the shop a happy bunny.
You don’t get that sort of service from Currys, which is one of the reasons that I try to use locally owned shops whenever possible.
We called into Tesco Metro for a paper. There was one checkout womaned (how PC can you get!) and a queue almost one aisle in length. We put the paper back; Myra will just have to carry on using her 7 week old TV and Radio guide.
Returning to Martlet, we moved off and prepared the lock, there was a hire boat milling around and they shared the lock once we had done all of the filling and gate opening. They had eight people on board, they knew what to do; they were just lazy.
At the next lock a cruiser had joined us, and two boats were waiting to come up; the crews told us to stay on the boat and they would do it all. That evened things out nicely. We stopped for the day at Strensham lock, another mooring with open countryside views.
2009 Totals: 417 Locks – 715.5 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
WORCESTER, BY ROAD
As we are unsure of the mooring availability at Worcester, we decided upon a land based visit and caught the bus from Pershore this morning. We took the scenic one which went through a lot of villages; the driver did warn us that it took nearly an hour, but the journey was very nice owing to the greetings from each passenger as they joined the happy band of pilgrims on board. After passing through some beautiful countryside, villages and a torrential downpour with lightning, we arrived in Worcester. We headed for the cathedral.
We had thought that Pershore Abbey was a fine building.
Worcester Cathedral is magnificent. It was founded in 680AD and dedicated to St. Peter, in 983AD St Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery with a church dedicated to St Mary; this took over as the cathedral. The present building was commenced in 1084 by Bishop Wulfstan. The monastery was dissolved in 1540 and extensive damage was done by the parliamentarians during 1640 -1660; during this time they had troops housed and horses stabled inside. Around 1857, the victorians began an extensive restoration over the next 20 years. A further restoration was started in 1988 and is ongoing.
We spent over three hours on our visit; we will return as we were by then
suffering from an overload of information. The quality of craftsmanship is breathtaking. We had a very informative personal tour from Henry, not one of the guides on duty. He saw us admiring some fine stone tracery and politely enquired if he could show us something that he thought may be of interest. He showed us an unusual effigy of a knight.
There is a story which Myra raised and Henry chooses to believe: when a knight has been on one crusade, his effigy has legs crossed at the ankles. After two crusades, his legs are crossed at the knees; for a third crusade, his legs are crossed at the thighs.
Worcester cathedral has an effigy of a knight in the third category. Over the next 45 minutes, Henry shared some of his passion for this wonderful place, by showing us various little things that are not usually part of a tour. This lovely man made our visit that much more enjoyable; our visit to the top of the tower (255 steps) was another high point (ouch!). The weather was sunny and the surrounding area laid out beneath us was spectacular. The aerial view of North Road ground with the home team playing the last day of a match against Somerset was a scene that was essentially English. We travelled back to Pershore on the same circuitous route with the same friendly passengers; this time the sky was clear and we could see all of the views this time. We have had a really enjoyable day.
2009 Totals: 415 Locks – 707.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses
We had thought that Pershore Abbey was a fine building.
Worcester Cathedral is magnificent. It was founded in 680AD and dedicated to St. Peter, in 983AD St Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery with a church dedicated to St Mary; this took over as the cathedral. The present building was commenced in 1084 by Bishop Wulfstan. The monastery was dissolved in 1540 and extensive damage was done by the parliamentarians during 1640 -1660; during this time they had troops housed and horses stabled inside. Around 1857, the victorians began an extensive restoration over the next 20 years. A further restoration was started in 1988 and is ongoing.
We spent over three hours on our visit; we will return as we were by then
suffering from an overload of information. The quality of craftsmanship is breathtaking. We had a very informative personal tour from Henry, not one of the guides on duty. He saw us admiring some fine stone tracery and politely enquired if he could show us something that he thought may be of interest. He showed us an unusual effigy of a knight.
There is a story which Myra raised and Henry chooses to believe: when a knight has been on one crusade, his effigy has legs crossed at the ankles. After two crusades, his legs are crossed at the knees; for a third crusade, his legs are crossed at the thighs.
Worcester cathedral has an effigy of a knight in the third category. Over the next 45 minutes, Henry shared some of his passion for this wonderful place, by showing us various little things that are not usually part of a tour. This lovely man made our visit that much more enjoyable; our visit to the top of the tower (255 steps) was another high point (ouch!). The weather was sunny and the surrounding area laid out beneath us was spectacular. The aerial view of North Road ground with the home team playing the last day of a match against Somerset was a scene that was essentially English. We travelled back to Pershore on the same circuitous route with the same friendly passengers; this time the sky was clear and we could see all of the views this time. We have had a really enjoyable day.
2009 Totals: 415 Locks – 707.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses
PERSHORE
Pershore, Friday 23rd July
We arrived at Pershore Abbey knowing that the reformation had dealt harshly with it.
The monastic buildings, the Norman nave, the Lady Chapel and St Edburga's Chapel were demolished and their building materials were sold. The parishioners bought the monks' choir for £400 to be their parish church.
During the late 17th century, the north transept fell and the north buttress was built to support the tower. In 1861 during a gale, the east parapet blew down and a large scale restoration took place under the auspices of Giles Gilbert Scott. During these works, the belfry floor was removed and the ringing room replaced by a metal cage suspended high above the chancel crossing. The fine lantern tracery of the tower was exposed by this removal. A ring of eight bells hangs here. Altogether, a fine building.
The town itself has some good buildings, but suffers from a busy main road running through the centre. It has a few empty shops, but not as many as a lot of small towns we have seen this year.
2009 Totals: 415 Locks – 707.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
We arrived at Pershore Abbey knowing that the reformation had dealt harshly with it.
The monastic buildings, the Norman nave, the Lady Chapel and St Edburga's Chapel were demolished and their building materials were sold. The parishioners bought the monks' choir for £400 to be their parish church.
During the late 17th century, the north transept fell and the north buttress was built to support the tower. In 1861 during a gale, the east parapet blew down and a large scale restoration took place under the auspices of Giles Gilbert Scott. During these works, the belfry floor was removed and the ringing room replaced by a metal cage suspended high above the chancel crossing. The fine lantern tracery of the tower was exposed by this removal. A ring of eight bells hangs here. Altogether, a fine building.
The town itself has some good buildings, but suffers from a busy main road running through the centre. It has a few empty shops, but not as many as a lot of small towns we have seen this year.
2009 Totals: 415 Locks – 707.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Friday 24 July 2009
FRAGMENTED ENTIRES!
Pershore, Thursday 23rd July
Hooray! At last, decent signal strength on the modem. I am certainly discovering the areas that have a poor T-mobile reception; perhaps I should seek employment as a trouble shooter on their behalf.
Tuesday 21st – Evesham.
Plenty of space on the town moorings below Workman Bridge, named after a former Mayor rather than a tribute to the constructors. We were opposite Abbey Park, which helped us with the location of our main reason for visiting; we were not disappointed.
Evesham Abbey was founded in the early 8th century by Egwin, Bishop of Worcester.
By the 11th century, the Abbey had become dedicated to St Mary and St Egwin, growing rapidly from then; by the time of the Norman conquest it was one of the leading Benedictine houses in the country.
In 1540, Henry V111, taking a leaf from Dr. Beeching’s book, dissolved the Abbey; All Saints and St Lawrence churches, the 16th century bell tower and the 12th century Almonry building are the remaining buildings of the enlarged Abbey church.
All Saints, the present Parish church, has a lovely interior with many interesting features including an ornate pulpit and rood screen dating from the Victorian restoration. The gardens have a spring fed lily pond and a beautifully set war memorial looking over the gardens and the river.
Wednesday 22nd - Wyre lock.
Showers were the order of the day as we left Evesham for Wyre lock. I can remember looking at an atlas whilst at school and the schoolboy pleasure of pointing out to classmates the wonderfully named village of Wyre Piddle. Strange word; Wyre.
I noticed that the engine was ‘hunting’ occasionally and not running as it should. The stop for lunch enabled investigations to be carried out. The prime suspect was the fuel filter; it was indeed very dirty and once the replacement had been fitted and the system bled, normal service was resumed. We found the moorings above the lock in the weir stream, managing to tie up before the arrival of yet another heavy shower.
2009 Totals: 414 Locks – 706.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Hooray! At last, decent signal strength on the modem. I am certainly discovering the areas that have a poor T-mobile reception; perhaps I should seek employment as a trouble shooter on their behalf.
Tuesday 21st – Evesham.
Plenty of space on the town moorings below Workman Bridge, named after a former Mayor rather than a tribute to the constructors. We were opposite Abbey Park, which helped us with the location of our main reason for visiting; we were not disappointed.
Evesham Abbey was founded in the early 8th century by Egwin, Bishop of Worcester.
By the 11th century, the Abbey had become dedicated to St Mary and St Egwin, growing rapidly from then; by the time of the Norman conquest it was one of the leading Benedictine houses in the country.
In 1540, Henry V111, taking a leaf from Dr. Beeching’s book, dissolved the Abbey; All Saints and St Lawrence churches, the 16th century bell tower and the 12th century Almonry building are the remaining buildings of the enlarged Abbey church.
All Saints, the present Parish church, has a lovely interior with many interesting features including an ornate pulpit and rood screen dating from the Victorian restoration. The gardens have a spring fed lily pond and a beautifully set war memorial looking over the gardens and the river.
Wednesday 22nd - Wyre lock.
Showers were the order of the day as we left Evesham for Wyre lock. I can remember looking at an atlas whilst at school and the schoolboy pleasure of pointing out to classmates the wonderfully named village of Wyre Piddle. Strange word; Wyre.
I noticed that the engine was ‘hunting’ occasionally and not running as it should. The stop for lunch enabled investigations to be carried out. The prime suspect was the fuel filter; it was indeed very dirty and once the replacement had been fitted and the system bled, normal service was resumed. We found the moorings above the lock in the weir stream, managing to tie up before the arrival of yet another heavy shower.
2009 Totals: 414 Locks – 706.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Monday 20 July 2009
CAN YOU HEAR ME MOTHER?
Offenham Lock, River Avon, Monday 20th July
Radio 4 phrase of the day:
'Continuium of Civilianality'
Most of England embraces the year 2009. The river Avon seems to have its own time and charm to match; for the last two days we have been unable to receive Radio 4 and I am able only to receive a poor internet connection signal strength; once again, I will be posting photographs when the signal is stronger.
The Avon is beautiful, the locks are a real pleasure, paddle gear that is easy to move; gates that can be opened by one person and very small leakage past the gates.
Owing to the fact that all of the river banks are owned privately, moorings are a bit thin on the ground and tend to be close to locks. Most are in lovely surroundings.
Fortunately, there is so little boat movement at present that we have been able to moor at our chosen location each night. We moored above Pilgrim lock yesterday; Nb Jervaulx from Crick came by and we helped them with the lock and chatted to them.
They are going up the Severn from Tewkesbury, we are heading down to Gloucester so we will not see them again this year.
We wandered around Bidford this morning; a few good buildings and a nice church but lacked the small town feeling that I supposed we hoped would come across to us.
One fact worth a mention; all of the anglers along the Avon are really friendly!
They wave or smile first, chat as you pass them and I have lost count of the number of times that they have ended a short conversation with ‘enjoy yourself’ or ‘safe journey’
If only it was the same on the canals………
We have tied up above Offenham lock, some 3 miles from Evesham and I have been having a good chat with a fisherman on holiday from Feltham, Middlesex; an area that I know quite well from van delivery days.
2009 Totals: 410Locks – 693 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Radio 4 phrase of the day:
'Continuium of Civilianality'
Most of England embraces the year 2009. The river Avon seems to have its own time and charm to match; for the last two days we have been unable to receive Radio 4 and I am able only to receive a poor internet connection signal strength; once again, I will be posting photographs when the signal is stronger.
The Avon is beautiful, the locks are a real pleasure, paddle gear that is easy to move; gates that can be opened by one person and very small leakage past the gates.
Owing to the fact that all of the river banks are owned privately, moorings are a bit thin on the ground and tend to be close to locks. Most are in lovely surroundings.
Fortunately, there is so little boat movement at present that we have been able to moor at our chosen location each night. We moored above Pilgrim lock yesterday; Nb Jervaulx from Crick came by and we helped them with the lock and chatted to them.
They are going up the Severn from Tewkesbury, we are heading down to Gloucester so we will not see them again this year.
We wandered around Bidford this morning; a few good buildings and a nice church but lacked the small town feeling that I supposed we hoped would come across to us.
One fact worth a mention; all of the anglers along the Avon are really friendly!
They wave or smile first, chat as you pass them and I have lost count of the number of times that they have ended a short conversation with ‘enjoy yourself’ or ‘safe journey’
If only it was the same on the canals………
We have tied up above Offenham lock, some 3 miles from Evesham and I have been having a good chat with a fisherman on holiday from Feltham, Middlesex; an area that I know quite well from van delivery days.
2009 Totals: 410Locks – 693 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Saturday 18 July 2009
BATTERY TERMINAL
Luddington Lock, River Avon, Saturday 18th July
Instead of a whirr whirr broom; on turning the key starter this morning, I was serenaded with aaarrrhhh aaarrrhhh aaarrrhhh. I know that the engine does not have an inhaler; ergo it probably does not suffer from asthma. The conclusion therefore must be that the starter battery is in a permanent dysfunctional state. For the non technical readers amongst you, it is k*******d.
A telephone call to the efficient River Canal Rescue resulted in Sean arriving accompanied by a new battery. After it was fitted, he tested the charging circuit and pronounced all was in working order. For us, it was another satisfactory result and confirmation of the good service that they provide.
We moved off after lunch and headed for Trinity or Colin P Witter (of towing bracket fame) lock; a boat had just entered from downstream which made the job a bit easier and friendly as Myra chatted to the crew. Owing to the nature of the ground at the location of this lock, a steel framework has been incorporated to ensure stability.
Before the next lock, you pass under the new road bridge; care has been taken to soften the visual impact of the concrete by adding brick infillings. We thought that the end result looked good. We went down Weir brake lock and immediately we were in open countryside. We arrived at Luddington lock and tied up on the beautifully situated moorings above. We had a wander around the village and the church.
I spoke at length to David who owns the boathouse at the top of the moorings. He has a steel river launch by an unknown builder that was steam powered but now is electric. During our chat, it transpired that he had worked in The Causeway at Horsham and had kept a boat at Dell Quay in Chichester Harbour. Both of these places, I know very well and we reminisced about sailing and dinghies. Hooray for nostalgia!
2009 Totals: 406 Locks – 680.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Instead of a whirr whirr broom; on turning the key starter this morning, I was serenaded with aaarrrhhh aaarrrhhh aaarrrhhh. I know that the engine does not have an inhaler; ergo it probably does not suffer from asthma. The conclusion therefore must be that the starter battery is in a permanent dysfunctional state. For the non technical readers amongst you, it is k*******d.
A telephone call to the efficient River Canal Rescue resulted in Sean arriving accompanied by a new battery. After it was fitted, he tested the charging circuit and pronounced all was in working order. For us, it was another satisfactory result and confirmation of the good service that they provide.
We moved off after lunch and headed for Trinity or Colin P Witter (of towing bracket fame) lock; a boat had just entered from downstream which made the job a bit easier and friendly as Myra chatted to the crew. Owing to the nature of the ground at the location of this lock, a steel framework has been incorporated to ensure stability.
Before the next lock, you pass under the new road bridge; care has been taken to soften the visual impact of the concrete by adding brick infillings. We thought that the end result looked good. We went down Weir brake lock and immediately we were in open countryside. We arrived at Luddington lock and tied up on the beautifully situated moorings above. We had a wander around the village and the church.
I spoke at length to David who owns the boathouse at the top of the moorings. He has a steel river launch by an unknown builder that was steam powered but now is electric. During our chat, it transpired that he had worked in The Causeway at Horsham and had kept a boat at Dell Quay in Chichester Harbour. Both of these places, I know very well and we reminisced about sailing and dinghies. Hooray for nostalgia!
2009 Totals: 406 Locks – 680.5 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
EXPLORING
River Avon, Stratford on Avon, Friday 17th July
Judging by today’s performance, we will never get our long distance badge.
We moved a few hundred yards up river to the water point and having refilled the tank, moved on under Clopton Road Bridge (yes the boat did go underneath!)to have a look at the Bathing place further upstream. The river above Stratford is lovely as it twist and turns; then it opens right out next to a gently sloping grass area and a car park, about half a mile from the main road bridge.
There is a water point, rubbish and elsan disposal on the north of the grassed area I was surprised to see that the rubbish was just thrown into a gated compound. I am sure shovelling that lot into a bin must contravene some health and safety rules.
We moved back to a mooring opposite the church, slightly north of our previous one.
Walking back from another visit to the town, nb. My Gosh was in the basin with Gordon shouting a greeting from the cabin steps.
The heavens opened soon after we arrived on Martlet, a combination of luck and looking at the very dark clouds heading in our direction.
We will move down river tomorrow, weather permitting
2009 Totals: 404 Locks – 677 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
Judging by today’s performance, we will never get our long distance badge.
We moved a few hundred yards up river to the water point and having refilled the tank, moved on under Clopton Road Bridge (yes the boat did go underneath!)to have a look at the Bathing place further upstream. The river above Stratford is lovely as it twist and turns; then it opens right out next to a gently sloping grass area and a car park, about half a mile from the main road bridge.
There is a water point, rubbish and elsan disposal on the north of the grassed area I was surprised to see that the rubbish was just thrown into a gated compound. I am sure shovelling that lot into a bin must contravene some health and safety rules.
We moved back to a mooring opposite the church, slightly north of our previous one.
Walking back from another visit to the town, nb. My Gosh was in the basin with Gordon shouting a greeting from the cabin steps.
The heavens opened soon after we arrived on Martlet, a combination of luck and looking at the very dark clouds heading in our direction.
We will move down river tomorrow, weather permitting
2009 Totals: 404 Locks – 677 miles – 18 Bus pass uses.
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