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.
