Shiralee Cruise 2011 #22

Monday 1st August.

I’m getting just a wee bit concerned about the depth of the Avon, in places it is quite shallow and where the water is deep directly underneath the boat, rocks and gravel can easily be seen to both sides. So it is necessary to steer a pretty meandering path in order not to ground. Of course the fine weather of late has to be blamed here, normal rainfall has not materialised this year.

When we arrived at Tewkesbury, the lock keeper gave us a new booklet that gives a great deal of useful information, such as obstructions in the water, moorings and which channel to take into and out of the locks in order to avoid the shallows. Coming out of the last lock before Bidford, the sign says to keep to the right. Under normal circumstances this would be a wise move but, with the current and unusual shallowness of the river, we would surely have grounded had we taken that advice.

The vast majority of boaters here, and on the Severn, are friendly and helpful, but there are a few who seem to go out of their way to be difficult. Occasionally we come across people who object to us running the engine, and I’ve mentioned one already, but our arrival at Bidford takes the cake for rudeness of some boaters.

The Park Moorings at Bidford are the main ones, with room for about five boats. As we approached I could see a space behind a small cruiser, but realised it was just a wee bit short. However, with the cruiser spaced back from another narrow boat I also realised that, if he were to move a few feet closer, we could just squeeze in.. So, like any sensible boater would, I asked him if he wouldn’t mind closing up to the narrow boat. His response was, “I’m just filling up with water, then I’ll be off, but there are more moorings just across the river”, and pointed us in the direction of the local pub. So, thanking him, I made for those moorings.

As we neared them Wifey pointed out the need to take Rusty to do her business, and we really didn’t want to do so in a pub drinking and eating area. So, we turned the boat around and hovered behind the cruiser waiting for him to move on. Did he move? Did he hell! OK, I can play that game, so I cruised further down river, turned around and hovered again, only this time I was facing him and he could not ignore me.

Eventually, when he saw we had no intention of doing as we were told, he very, very slowly, removed his cover at the stern and prepared to move off, as did the narrow boat in front of him. We then realised they were in this together and had been deliberately making us wait, for what reason I cannot imagine. Pretty childish I thought, since they had already been there overnight and these are only 24 hour moorings.

As the narrow boat passed alongside of us, no doubt to add insult to injury, the woman at the stern said, “You could have said thank you”, as if they deserved thanks for allowing us to use their space. Sheila remarked, “I did thank you”. I in turn remarked, “Not that you deserved any thanks”. End of this sorry saga of the sad attitude of some boaters.

Today we’ll be moving on to Luddington, the place we had to turn back from in 2008 due to flooding. That one cost us £50 for the licence. If the moorings there are full, we’ll have to move on to Stratford, where we will moor up on the river and just below the lock. We intend staying there for two nights and then pass through the last lock, through the basin and through the first lock to the Stratford on Avon canal.

In the main, of course, our journey along the Severn and Avon has been most enjoyable, not least because of the weather, only to be slightly marred by the very occasional light shower.

As it happened yesterday turned out to be a most enjoyable day, we walked across the bridge into town and found, to our delight, that the shops were close by. We then wandered up the High Street and found a pub called The Bull, where we enjoyed the usual drinks and snacks. On offer there were two meals for just £8, which we though very reasonable and, had we been able to stay another day, we would probably availed ourselves of that offer. We then wandered back and found a small loaf of bread at the local One Stop, then back to the boat.

This weekend has been Bidford’s Family Weekend and, as such the Park has been opened to cars so that local folks can enjoy a day out by the river, which they did in their hundreds. The kiddies play areas along this river has to be seen to be believed, with a 30 foot tall, pyramid shaped, rope climbing frame and another item of play that I’ve never seen before and begs the question, where are the Safety Police in this part of the world?

In Evesham we saw a Maypole type roundabout, where the kids could hang on to a bar and be whirled around at a decent speed. Here at Bidford they have a wire, strung between two poles, which is quite high up and from which hangs another pole with a small seat attached. The child climbs to a platform and grabs the bar, sits down and lets him or herself whiz along the cable, very much like a ski lift.

Across from the play area they had a band performing from the bed of their truck and there was an ice cram van and a snack van. All in all every taste was catered for and, as far as we could see, everyone had a good time.

We also noticed a few old cars parked here. I spotted a very old Bentley; the colour of which could only be described as army green; an Austin 7, and a Triumph Herald, to name but three.

Later in the afternoon, just as the boat behind us moved off, another one came down river and took its place. Talk about luck! Anyway, we got chatting, as you do, and it turns out that the owners also live aboard and have done so for the past eight years. Having recently retired this is their first season away from their base on the Kennett and Avon, which is where most of their family and grandchildren live.

It seems they have a problem with their engine at present, but they have called in RCR, who will be turning up later this morning. We may even have them for company at Mercia because they intend doing the Pennines next year and, rather than return to the K&A, want to moor up somewhere different, but within reach of the family, very much like we are doing.

I can safely say that, apart from the snotty welcome when we arrived here, Bidford has been a most pleasant experience, possibly the most pleasant of our river trips.

Tuesday 2nd August.

We had intended to cruise the five miles and four locks to Luddington yesterday, but after some consideration regarding these river locks, decided instead to moor at Welford lock, assuming we could find a space. This left us with just three locks and three miles, a much more comfortable trip we thought. Actually, although known as Welford Lock, this is really W .A. Cadbury Lock, presumably named after someone who was involved in its installation.

In the event the locks were quite easy and in our favour, with the gates open for us to enter. On the River Avon it is necessary to leave a gate, or both gates, open on exit, unlike canals where they must be closed. So, with the gates being in our favour, we made good progress and were moored up within two hours of leaving.

By the side of our boat is a small clearing, surrounded by trees and bushes. Not only did this give us shade from the sun, it also has a path down to the weir. (All locks have weirs beside them, which is why the locks were placed where they are.)
Naturally we opened up our canvas chairs and sat out under with a cold drink or two. Wonderful!

A short while later, the boat ahead moved on, its place being taken up by another narrow-boat that had been here when we arrived, but had turned around a gone back to Welford to pick some people up. Apparently they thought they would be able to walk into Welford from this lock, but there’s no way to get across the weir. We learned this from the lady on the boat when she walked past us to check on the lock. In fact we had a very long chat with her, so long that her husband eventually came to her rescue. It seems they were meeting their niece and her husband, who are over here on a visit from Oz.

Meeting up with other boaters who have experienced similar situations as yourself is a pretty rare occurrence but, when it does happen, you tend to take full advantage and natter on forever. Once we had exhausted our tales of trials and tribulations, these two returned to their company and we saw nothing more of them. No doubt we’ll say our farewells when we leave this morning.

This time we will make for Luddington, which is now only one lock and two miles away, so we’ll be leaving here a little later than usual, so as to give moorers at Luddington time to leave us a space.

For the first time in over a month we are unable to access the Internet here. Hopefully this will not be the case at our next stop, because I am already heading for my seventh page and I really do need to post this blog soon. No matter, we’re sure to get online at Stratford.

Wednesday 3rd August and we are now at Weir Brake Lock. At least, the Nicholson Guide refers to it as Weir Brake, but there is a metal sign by the lock naming it as Gordon Grey Lock, (1907-1994?), who was responsible in no small measure, for the restoration of the Upper Avon. The lock itself was built with the aid of a bunch of Borstal Boys. Well, it got them out and about!

Sadly we were unable to moor at Luddington, because the spaces there were already full, which is why we are now here, and not there. Simple!! With the expected bad weather for this region, I don’t know that we’ve missed out on much.

The five mile trip here took 2½ hours with two locks and we arrived just in time to see the Air Ambulance come in to land. To one side of this lock are some tall trees that grow on a hillside. Sheila took a walk up the footpath yesterday and found another path that runs alongside the top of the hill. Apparently this is where somebody fell down the hill and injured themselves. Of course, there were plenty of people on hand to help with the emergency as this seems to be a popular area for walking and watching boats go through.

Yesterday evening we saw a couple of young men close the bottom gates and, dressed only in swimming trunks, enjoy themselves by jumping into the river from the top. This is quite a drop, easily equal to the high board at a pool, and they didn’t have to pay to get in. Sadly they were unable to re-open the gate, simply because they didn’t have a windlass with which to empty the lock.

At this point Sheila came to the rescue and opened them up again. In case you are wondering why she bothered to do so, it is necessary on this river to leave the gates open when passing through locks. In fact, this is usually the case on rivers anyway, whereas, unless otherwise stated, it in equally necessary to close them on canals. I’m sure there must be a reason for leaving the gates open on rivers, but I have no idea what that can be. On the canals it is simply to save water.

We also saw the restaurant boat, The Countess of Evesham, which has got to be the longest boat on the river. This came through quite late and had all lights blazing. I have to wonder why they were too lazy to even close the paddles when they left the lock. If memory serves; well Sheila’s memory; this boat goes as far as Luddington, where it turns around for the return trip. It is actually moored at Stratford Basin and, because of limited space in the basin it has to be reversed into the lock for its upward journey into the basin.

This morning we’ll be off on the final leg of our trip along the River Avon, up to Stratford itself, which is only a mile away and takes in the final lock of 15 in total. That figure doesn’t include those coming on to the river at each end.

Since most boaters seem to leave their moorings quite late in the day, we won’t leave her until quite late ourselves, so as to guarantee a spot in Stratford. Had we left W.A. Cadbury Lock a bit later, we may have been able to stop at Luddington.

This blog is already eight pages long but, since we’re almost at the end of the river, I’ll post it from Stratford.

Cheers for now.

Thursday 4th August and it is now exactly four months since we left Mercia. For the most part this year’s cruise has been very enjoyable, with very little bad weather to complain about, and only a few moronic boaters to cloud our sunny skies. Talking of which, that bunch from Bidford are now moored up behind us.

Apart from the short, one hour trip to these moorings in Stratford, I do not have a lot to report. When we arrived here at 10.15 yesterday morning we had no difficulty finding a mooring spot, unlike the holiday boat that arrived at about 9.30 last night. They tried, and failed, to moor up on the last spot before private property, but they were a wee bit too long and finally headed up the lock into the basin. At that time of night it’s doubtful they would have found anywhere up there either, and they would have had to go up another four locks on the canal.

Today we will take a walk into town for shopping, Sheila already did so yesterday but it was far too hot for me. I’ll report back on any happenings tomorrow and, as this is quite a long blog, will probably post it in the morning, bringing to an end our 42 miles and 15 locks on the Avon.

Friday 5th August and it’s cloudy out there but, whatever the weather, we have to leave these moorings today.

Yesterday we headed into town and, believe it or not, the holiday boat from yesterday evening had found a spot in the basin. Not that it was a legal one, because they had moored at the approach to the first lock onto the canal. Still it was rather later and getting dark, so I doubt anybody else would be coming into the basin at that time.

I realise we are now at the height of the holiday season, but the throngs of people took me completely by surprise. Still, we managed to get the rest of our shopping without problems, although it was necessary to visit the Co-op, Sainsbury’s and M&S to do so. For major outlets these three stores are really quite small.

On our last visit the Shakespeare Theatre was still in the early stages of renovation, with scaffolding surrounding it. Part of the steel barriers also encroached upon the mooring basin too. Now the theatre looks as it should, all clean and shiny and a rather splendid edifice to the performing arts. No wonder so many visitors come here, with almost every one carrying a camera.

Naturally, for our last day here, we had some rain, but it has still been rather muggy. This morning we’ll be off as early as possible and will be making our way up the first six locks to Wilmcott, the home of Mary Arden’s House.

Well, that’s all for this blog. Back to normal today.

Cheers me dears!

Dave, Sheila and our lovable pooch, Rusty.