Moored at Fish & Anchor

Sunday 5th July
After mooring up yesterday afternoon we had a walk into Pershore, not a lot to be said about this place really, there was a Brass Band event at the Angel Inn and it seems to be an annual event & there were lots of different bands taking part which is fine if brass bands are your thing! There is an Asda there so we topped up with a few things, the moorings here are quite good really with picnic tables all over and it was a nice grassy area, we had a few youths sat on a seat near our mooring and they were absolutely fine they were just sat talking although I think a couple of the lads were smoking something which wasn't tobacco! No problem to us but it was the mess they left behind, and in the morning the Magpies had been having a go at the takeaway they had  last night...

Would they like this outside their home!

A bit cooler this morning as we left Pershore at around 8am, while all the other boaters were still sleeping, we slowly passed them all so we didn't disturb any of them and we had the river to ourselves. Hey Gail (my Friend) here are some photos of properties etc I thought you would like...

These properties just outside Pershore

Waiting at lock

Kev getting his finger out!!

Well it has been a mixed bag of weather today sunny at times and then breezy, cloudy then rain!! It absolutely threw it down as we got to our last lock of the day George Billington Lock and after that we moored at the Fish and Anchor moorings. We had a walk for some food to the pub and it was lovely.

Off the Severn & Onto the Avon

Saturday 4th July
Last night we ended up having 2 boats breasted up to us, and so this morning we had to wait for the people on both boats to get up before we were able to leave. We probably could have managed to slip out and then tie them up but they were all up and about shortly after 7.30 am, so they were able to sort their own ropes out and we slipped away easily.

Passing gravel boats where they discharge their cargo here

Approaching the M50 bridge

This is where the gravel boats are loaded just 2 miles downstream

We got to the turning for the River Avon at Tewkesbury where we turned left and followed the little boat above and the lock for the river Avon is just to the left at the end of this little section. We got moored on the lock landing while Kev went to see the lock keeper about buying a license for the River Avon, he returned to the boat and said it was a woman lock keeper and she would sort the license when we were in the lock. We went in first and the little boat that is in the above photo came in alongside us, as we exited the lock we stopped at the water point which is just to the left of the lock and once filled with water we headed off on a breezy River Avon!

Passing the marina at Tewkesbury

One of several nice properties along the way

passed under this old bridge 

Then Pershore New Bridge & Pershore Great Bridge

The locks so far have been ok apart from Strensham lock which has an awkward lock landing to manoeuvre into the lock as it is set 90 degrees to the gate and when you are tied alongside of it your stern hangs out close to the weir.  We finally did the last lock of the day which was Pershore lock and moored upstream of the lock on the visitor moorings.

Worcester to Upton Upon Severn

Friday 3rd July
It was quite misty on the river early this morning but then it lifted to reveal a lovely sunny morning shortly before we left the visitor mooring. We waited until after 8am before we approached Diglis Lock as we knew the lock keeper would be on duty then.

The mist on the river

Then the sun came out

Looking back from the stern

Passing the now disused dock, new developments! 

Diglis Lock

After leaving the lock we enjoyed a pleasant cruise and along the way there were quite a lot of fish that kept leaping out of the river and when we saw an angler he told us that they were in fact Salmon, which just shows the cleanliness of the Severn.

We moored at Upton upon Severn on the visitor moorings at Upton bridge, in our Nicholsons guide it says there is water here but the only water is up on the bank and is just a tap that you push and is only good for filling a kettle! Mind you we still have half a tank so we aren't desperate! We had a bite to eat for lunch and then went into the town for a walk round, what a lovely place it is. The photos speak for themselves....

 We sat outside this pub and had a pint 

 R&R moored on the pontoon

So many pubs so little time!!

Onto The River Severn

Thursday 2nd July
Due to the lack of good internet connection for the last few days I haven't been able to publish a post until now. On Tuesday we left Kinver and we hadn't travelled far before we came across the same work boat that we had seen on Monday unloading house contents.

This time it was loading house contents!

 Debdale lock 

You can see Kev's reflection in the boat, he was taking a picture of the doorway cut into the rock at the other side of the lock, there is nothing inside there, although some people think it could have been somewhere to keep the horses that used to pull the barges years ago, I don't think so as the only way across to it is across the lock gates as the towpath is on side Kev is so perhaps it was for something else.

We had a pleasant cruise in the glorious sunshine but not a long one today, I had done a wash before leaving Kinver so once we were down through Wolverley lock we decided to find a mooring so I could get my washing hung out on the rotary clothes dryer so just before we got to Wolverley Court lock we moored up for the day and had a relaxing afternoon in the sun. We sparked the BBQ up later in the afternoon and had a few beers too. Lovely!

On Wednesday morning we were off quite early and stopped at the moorings outside Sainsburys, we did quite a big shop and managed to get the trolley right to the boat and so it was easy to unload the shopping, I did take the trolley back to the store afterwards. After a cuppa & a jam doughnut each Kev let the ropes go and pushed the bow off then he walked round to the lock to set it for me and as I got there a boat was about to leave so good timing.

I see no trains!

This short tunnel goes under a row of houses

We were going to moor for the day in Stourport but decided to go down through the locks onto the river Severn. It was quite busy here and there was a volunteer lockie on the locks leading onto the river there were 3 boats waiting to come up & 2 boats behind us but we weren't long getting down onto the river, the river wasn't flowing very fast and it wasn't long before we reached Lincomb Lock and shortly after we saw the moorings outside The Hamstall Inn and so we decided to moor there. Once we had tied the boat up we went into the pub for a refreshing cold beer and sat outside for a while. Kev asked the staff if we had to pay for our mooring but they said no as long as we used the pub. We went back to the boat and shortly afterwards another boat came and moored behind us, We were chatting to the couple and we noticed a hire boat across the river with its bow towards the bank, also another boat was coming in the direction of Stourport and went to help the couple on the hire boat.

Apparently a hose had blown off his engine and one of the men on the blue boat helping them managed to get it sorted for them and soon the hire boat got its engine started and then moored up on the pub moorings, and the other boat carried on its way. A drink was then the next thing for them & who could blame them!

Now then this morning... 

 We spied this woodpecker through the window(if you can see it)

Shortly after this we left the mooring, it was cloudy but we hadn't had the storms that some people had, although it was cool but dry and we were soon at the first lock for today..

Approaching Holt Lock

By the time were were through our last lock of the day which were Bevere Lock the weather was changing and it started to rain so Kev pulled the canopy up as we wouldn't be going under any low bridges and so we were nice and dry!

Approaching Worcester Cathedral

The rain had stopped now so we took the canopy down and cruised on till we arrived at the moorings just passed the entrance for the Diglis basin where we were able to get moored.

Sunshine and moored at Kinver

Monday 29th June
It was back to shorts & T-Shirts again this morning as the forecast was for a warm day, we headed to the top lock at the Bratch and while Kev stayed with the boat I went to find the lockie, who was down at the bottom lock as there was a boat in it coming up. The lockie was telling me that last Tuesday he had fell into the middle lock while it was filling and had a boat in it. He had been talking to somebody who was on the bridge above the lock chamber and lost his footing and went into the lock! So great care is always needed when around any lock and it just goes to show how a brief lack of concentration could have ended in tragedy but luckily he was fine. he said he has lots of jokes made about it since and can laugh about it now.

In the top lock

& into the next one!

We were soon down through all three of the locks and there were no other boats waiting to come up, it was very quiet here usually there are a few boats about but not this morning. We had a pleasant cruise and didn't pass another boat and met the first one at Marsh Lock.

mother on guard with her small chicks

This little donkey looked very relaxed

This property has a sign asking boaters not to moor opposite their property! If they don't want people to look into their home then they should put curtains up or don't buy a property on a canal.

We stopped at the services that are just before  Greensforge lock and did the usual emptying of the loo and we filled with water. We carried on in the glorious sunshine and by the time we reached Stewponey locks it was getting warmer still! 

Kev waited while I filled the lock

The old Toll House

After we had got through the next lock which was Hyde lock I walked on into Kinver while Kev slowly followed on R&R passing all the permanent moored boats along the way. As I was approaching Kinver lock there was a work boat moored just before the lock landing and 2 large white vans parked alongside it, there were a few men unloading boxes and furniture etc and putting it all in the van so I assume someone lived somewhere that it was difficult to get a removal van to and so the property must have been on the canal somewhere. Anyway I went to the lock and luckily there was a boat just about to leave the lock and that was good timing as Kev had just got there and was able to go straight into the last lock of the day. There are visitor moorings below the lock and there were a few boats already moored there but we managed to get a space.

All empty now

This is the boat that had been unloading the house contents.