Purton, Gloucester & Sharpness canal, Monday 3rd August
Sharpness was our destination today. Having passed through Splatt bridge, I was waiting for Myra who had taken our rubbish to the bin. I have always been anti SUSTRANS taking over the towpaths, I have enough trouble walking without having to dodge low flying cyclists. Today, I discovered a use for one of their signs and have taken a photo in order that it may be of use to somebody.
We moored just past Purton in the middle of nowhere and walked the rest. At Sharpness junction, there were six or seven boats moored on the visitor moorings, two with generators on the deck. The generation game contestants produce the main reason for our choosing to moor away from other boats. The approach to the tidal basin locks now forms permanent moorings on both sides; the now disused tidal basin was very interesting as was the 40 foot plus drop to the water in the river outside. It was almost low water and the number of mudbanks in the river showed why it can be a treacherous place. At low tide you can see the bases of the pier supports of the Severn Bridge, the railway one of 1879.
The bridge was severely damaged in a tragic accident in fog on the 25th October 1960; two tanker barges were involved; Arkendale H was loaded with 300 tons of black oil and Wastdale H loaded with 350 tons of petroleum spirit. They both missed the entrance to Sharpness docks and did not know their exact positions. They were carried by the incoming tide into each other and then into a pier supporting the bridge which collapsed and brought down a girder onto Wastdale H causing severe damage and igniting the petroleum. The fire quickly spread to Arkendale H and of the crews, eight men in total, five were drowned.
The bridge was not repaired, eventually demolition took place in 1967 and the iron girders sold to Chile, where it has been reused in the construction of a road carrying viaduct.
Returning to our boat, we were not alone! One boats length in front was a narrowboat moored up. Well, there was only ¾ mile in front of us all good solid straight edge that he could have used. The icing on the cake appeared after supper. A generator was produced from inside the boat (sneaky), set up on the towpath at the back and started up! What on earth is wrong with people – are they really that insensitive or are they just plain old fashioned stupid? Anyway at 8.10pm it was still running, we knocked on the boat and asked him when he was going to turn it off. He did so there and then.
Hopefully he will not moor close to us again.
2009 Totals: 420 Locks – 746 miles – 20 Bus pass uses.
