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.
