Last Blog of the Trip

We are now at the end of our trip for this year and back on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.  We have been out for 25 weeks, we have travelled 382 miles through 8 different counties, namely Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire and done 428 locks (some narrow and some wide beam) and 11 tunnels, most of which we did twice on nine canals and one river, most of this trip was new to us which was exciting seeing new places and sometimes a bit scary as not knowing quite what to expect.  A few lift and swing bridges were thrown in for good measure.

We visited some really interesting places like Coventry and Leicester and found some lovely villages and places some right on the canal and some a short walk away or train ride away.  We made some new friends, Book & Spud (aka Ian and Clare) who we travelled up the locks at Braunston with and had a laugh along the way.  We hope to remain in touch with them and see them again on our travels in the future and remain friends for years to come.  We also met up again with the three P’s, Pat , Patrick and Poochie and travelled with them down the Stratford canal and spent a couple of days in Stratford together which was lovely before they headed off down the River Avon and we went back up the canal.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see our Audlem family this year, Jane, Malcolm, Dave and Anthea as our travels this time didn’t take us that way, but next year we are headed up the Shropshire Union canal so will look forward to seeing  them all then.

We also met up with John, Sharon and Smuggler on Thomazina and spent a couple of days with them catching up and having fun as always.  Smuggler also came to stay with us near the end of our trip for 10 days while John & Sharon went abroad on holiday, we loved having him to stay even if I did have to give my chair up for him!!

We had visits from Steve and Ian who came roaring to see us in their lovely Morgan cars, and also a visit from Jon, Davina and James when we were in Warwick.  It was lovely that they all made the effort to come and find us while we were travelling around the country.

It has been such a great trip, the weather was very kind to us, we were only confined to barracks due to rain for about 3 to 4 days in the whole trip.  We have really enjoyed travelling around again without any time constraints and can’t wait for next year’s trip.

It has been good fun doing this blog and great that our friends and family have been following our progress, so thanks to everyone who has had a look.  This will be our last blog for this year as we are now going to hibernate on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal for the winter, but we will be out travelling the canals and rivers next year and doing our blog and hope you will follow us then.

Kev & Sheila

Upton Upon Severn (Rivern Severn) to Gloucester (Gloucester & Sharpness Canal)

When we woke up this morning, it was raining and very overcast, but when we were ready to leave just before 9am it had stopped and didn’t rain again and in fact got brighter the further down the river we went.

Passing under Mythe Bridge

We are off back to Gloucester today, we have about 19 miles to do and 2 locks.  The river was very calm like a mill pond and really low as well.

Inside Upper Lode Lock

We chugged along the river and didn’t see any other boats.  After a while we went under Mythe Bridge and past the turning to the River Avon and then we were approaching Upper Lode Lock.  We had rung ahead to the lock keeper to let him know we were coming and when we got there the lock was ready and in we went.  This lock is very big but they do it slowly so there is no problem.  

Passing the Boat Inn

Safely through there, we chugged on down the river past a couple of pubs and a caravan site and before we knew it we were passing The Boat Inn pub at Ashleworth and we were glad to see all of the pontoon this time as when we have been past there other times the river has been high and the pontoon underwater.

Approaching Gloucester Lock

A short distance from there we entered the partings which take you down to Gloucester lock.  The water was really low here and very calm.  We don’t think we have ever seen it this low and in fact the lock keeper said that the levels are even below the usual summer levels!

Gloucester Lock

Coming out into Gloucester Docks

We chugged on along the partings and soon we were coming around the corner, the light was on green and the lock gates were opening and in we went.  The lock was filled very slowly but soon we were up in Gloucester docks and back to where we started out all those months ago.

We went through Lanthony Bridge and moored just past Sula (the lightship) safe and sound after all our travelling.

Moored in Gloucester

Diglis Moorings, Worcester to Upton Upon Severn (River Severn)

Leaving Diglis Lock

We are off down the River Severn today.  We stopped just before Diglis lock to fill up with water, then signalled to the very friendly lock keeper when we were ready and he opened the lock for us and in we went.  All the locks on the River Severn are manned so you just go in and put your rope around the poles.  We put our ropes on the poles and the lock keeper said another boat was coming so we waited for him to come in the lock and he came alongside us and tied to us.  Then the lock keeper operated the lock and down we went.  It didn’t take very long and soon the gates were opening and we were on our way.

Lovely morning on the River Severn

It was a lovely sunny morning and the river is very low at the moment which makes a nice change for this time of year, in fact the lock keeper said this is the lowest the river has been all Summer which is really unusual for this time of year, but we aren’t complaining.

Bell Tower in Upton

We chugged on along the river and after a couple of hours we were approaching Upton Upon Severn where we were hoping to moor.  There was only a small cruiser on the pontoon so plenty of room for us .

Upton Church

We had lunch then went for a walk up into the village.  It is a nice small village with quite a few shops and most of them independent.  There is a 13^th-C bell tower referred to as the “Pepperpot”, it is all that remains of the church that was demolished in 1937.  The tower is now a Heritage Centre.  Inside they have the history of Upton which is very interesting.  We had a look around there and then had a wander around the streets and walked down to the present church and had a look inside there.

Main street in Upton

We wandered back to the boat along the path overlooking the river.  We are staying here tonight then off down to Gloucester tomorrow.

Moored at Upton Upon Severn

Worcester (Worcester & Birmingham Canal) to Diglis Moorings (Worcester) on the River Severn (River Severn)

Saturday 17^th October

Coming into Blockhouse Lock

Kev & Smugs in Sidbury Lock

We are going down two locks today and mooring in Diglis Basin so we had breakfast then set off to Blockhouse lock, there are no steps on these two locks so Smugs and Kev will stay on board and I will do the locks.  As we were approaching the first lock, a chap came up the towpath and said he would have opened the gate for us but the water had dropped down a bit, so I passed him my windlass and he went had got the lock ready for us.  There was another chap there and a girl, I think they sleep around the lock and they were having cans for breakfast!  They were friendly though and the other chap came and helped with the lock.  They said they love the canal and also help to keep it free of rubbish and one of them said he is sometimes a volunteer lock keeper for CRT but we did wonder!!  They said they would open the gates and then shut them behind Kev so I went on to Sidbury lock.

Kev & Smugs struggling to get to the Basin

It was empty so I had to fill it first then Kev came in the lock and down he went.  When you come out the lock you go under a road bridge and Kev got stuck under the bridge as the water was really low, so I let some through and he slowly got moving on along the canal and we moored at the water point in the basin but the water in the basin was about a foot down.  

While we were filling up with water, a chap on a boat opposite said that the water was low as they are working on Diglis lock and yesterday it had dropped about another foot.  Also there is a ledge along the moorings and some boats were stuck on the ledge yesterday, a bit disconcerting.  We filled up with water then moved back from the water point but didn’t really want to stay in the basin if the water was going to drop anymore.

Me & Smugs by the River at Worcester

As they are doing work on one of the locks leading to the River Severn, you have to have assisted passage by CRT.  We decided to walk up to the lock and see if we could go through and moor on the river. We couldn’t find anyone so we asked in the floating café and they rang the lock keeper for us and he said we could go through and he would come down and help.  Shortly after a volunteer  lock keeper and the resident lock keeper turned up and said they would get the lock ready for us, so Kev went and got the boat and we went through the two locks. The volunteer lock keeper was really friendly and a great help as they locks are big and the gates are really heavy.

Having lunch at The Anchor

Kev took the boat out onto the river and we moored on the floating pontoon opposite the weir.  The river is really low and you can see a line all along the bank where the water should be!

Smugs happy back with Mum & Dad

Three Cormorants going past the boat

Lovely view of the Cathedral from the River

John and Sharon got here around lunchtime and we all went to The Anchor pub in Diglis Basin for lunch.  Smuggler was really pleased to see his mum and dad.  We had a really nice lunch, the food is really good and they have a nice outside space to sit in.  We all then went back to the boat and had a coffee and then we packed up Smuggler’s things and walked up to their car with them and waved them off.  We will catch up with them again when we get back.   We were sad to see Smugs go, it has been really nice having him to stay and he was so good, the place is really quiet without him.

We are staying here until Tuesday then off down the river we go! 

Moored on River Severn at Worcester