Great Comberton to Tewkesbury Sunday 28-9-14

With the bells ringing out from Great Comberton's St Michaels church, views westward to the Malverns, and the Bards Avon under Stourbridge Lions keel it was a very Elgarian  setting to wake up to! Sun was out and the day set fair.

We were on the way at about 0930 with great views of Bredon Hill behind us.

Bredon Hill

Two locks to do the rural Nafford lock, Eckington's 16th Century bridge to be negotiated then Strensham Lock.

Eckington's 16th Century bridge

Near Strensham Lock

Strensham lock is fortunately a mile or so away from Strensham Services on the M5 although this morning it feels like its about a million miles away!  Then after the lock we encounter the hazard of sailing yachts! You dont really expect to encounter these unwieldy craft on the inland waterways but then why not? Managed to pass without hitting any!

Then before long we were under the M5 at Bredon and onto the home stretch to Tewkesbury. By this time, on this warm sunny Sunday, the river was alive with craft of all sizes from tiny dingy's to ocean going cruisers. The "masters" of these craft dont seem as friendly as the normal Narrow Boat crews. Maybe its because they are frightened you are going to run into them!  And so into Tewkesbury. A 3 point turn and moored up near the Avon bridge, a much better executed manouvre than what I managed when mooring in Stratford earlier in the week. Just luck really but a passer by said "I can see you have done that before"
"Its nothing really" I said trying to sound modest-but it made my day!

Craft of all sizes enjoying the late autumn sunshine in Tewkesbury

So we were moored up by 1330. Went to speak to the lock keeper to agree my mooring spot was ok then into Tewkesbury for afternoon tea.
This is the last blog until next Saturday. I am in work T,W,Th,F next week but hope to return to the boat with Joanne for the final push up the Severn next weekend. So it will be the Worcester bus in the morning followed by the Stourport bus and at Stourport we should have the car to get us back home.
Been a great few days on the Avon. A really charming waterway administered by a not for profit Trust. They are strapped for cash of course like many other similar bodies but despite that the waterway seems in reasonable repair although some of the locksides are a little unkempt. At Wyre lock yesterday a couple were strimming back the lockside grass. "Used to have a volunteer lock keeper at every lock on the Avon" He said "Just cant get the volunteers now"  He went on "but we do what we can and we look after this lock and have made it our own" As they were probably in their 70s I dont feel that, sadly, Wyre lock will be too long before it also looks a little unkempt, Oh well-none of this detracts from the general attractiveness of the waterway. Hope I can return soon.

Stourbridge Lion near the end of the Avon, sunny Sunday afternoon, Tewkesbuy

Bidford to Great Comberton Saturday 27-9-14

22 miles today along the Avon. Record for this trip by a long way. 8 locks as well.  Day started and finished dull but was quite bright in the middle. The Avon is very nice with an abundance of wildlife. We even thought we saw a turtle!

Joanne doing her stuff

 Passed through Evesham and Pershore getting our licence checked by a woman at Evesham lock. Evesham's riverscape is normally like a poor version of Worcester but today there were lots of people enjoying the river. Last time we came through the river was deserted. Perhaps its because today is Saturday. Tied up at Great Comberton at 1700. 7 Hours boating. And there isnt much more commentary for today just a few photos.

Evesham riverside.

Evesham riverside

Glorious countryside near Craycombe

Fladbury Lock

Pershore Bridge

London Interlude

 

The alarm went off at 0510 and at 0550 I exchanged the warmth of Stourbridge Lion for the dark, cold, fine drizzle on Bidford on Avon's hard paved streets. The little town was deserted but the church clock reliably chimed out six chimes and at 0615 the Evesham bus duly appeared. I was the only passenger at this hour. Don't give much for the chances of this service surviving. We flashed through dark unlit country lanes with just the occasional glimpse of half timbered houses until I was deposited by Evesham railway station. A cup of coffee from the delightful buffet there and just in time to step on board the 0649 London. Bacon sandwich from the Travelling Chef on the train. Pity Great Western are stopping this service in  few weeks. It now just remains for me to get my head from waterways mode to business mode-for a few hours at least.

Evesham station 0640 in the morning

So I swapped being the solitary passenger on the Evesham bus to strap hanging on the Hammersmith and City line underground. I counted 10 people in my bit of the train 7 of which were fiddling with mobile phones despite no reception. Not wanting to be left out I checked my phone for non existing emails.
Got the 1552 back from Paddington to Evesham and just missed the half hourly bus back to Bidford so had half to wait.
Boat was where I left it and Joanne was on board.

25-9-14 Stratford to Bidford

Quick walk into Stratford at about 0730 for coffee and croisant. Passed a 16th Centuary minstral going to work. (Where else but Stratford can you do that!) Then Andy and I were off about 0830 through the double lock onto the Avon. Like a bird set free from a cage Stourbridge Lion fairly skipped along now the water was wide and deep. May even have touched 6 mph!
Although the day had started grey the weather began to brighten. The Avon is a very different proposition to the canals with an abundance of birds. Andy, who is a bit of a "twitcher" spotted several bird species. He spotted a Raven,Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Cormorant, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, A Jay, Yellow Tit, Heron and a Buzzard. I spotted a pidgeon!
A few photos to give a flavour of the Avon.

The locks are quite heavy and very fierce but nevertheless some are in delightful settings.

 There are some very posh house on the way as well. Dread to think how much they are worth.

After about 4 hours our destination for today, Bidford on Avon hove into view.

Andy leaves us here via the number 28 bus to Stratford. Thanks Andy for he help wth all those locks! Good conversations too from being human, quantum physics, mortality, alternative reality and the quality of Midlands beer. And some of it to a backdrop of the music of Arve Henriksen-very atmosheric and another first for me!
Tomorrow there will not be to much to report on the blog as I am heading to London for a days work. Well it has to be done. 0611 bus from Bidford to Evesham Rrailway station for the 0649 to Paddington. Joanne is also coming back to the boat tomorrow afternoon so it will be the regular team of Joanne, me and the Stourbridge Lion from tomorrow evening.

Preston Baggott to Stratford on Avon 24-9-14 Wed

Today we are completing the journey down to Stratford. A shower of rain first thing but then it brightened. Highlight of this section has to be the Edstone Aquaduct near Wooton Wawen. It doesnt look much from canal level but from below it can be seen purposefully striding across the fields, a road and a railway.

After a short while the Wilmcote lock flight starts. A tough flight of 16 locks. We were delighted to see some volunteer  lock keepers at the top and thought, wrongly, that they would help us through. In the end they just watched the boats and chatted to the crews. Not a massive help really!!

But Andy did well and did a lot of walking. We got to Stratford at 1530. Ariving by boat is really the only way to arrive in Stratford as you duck under the last bridge and emerge into Bancroft Gardens with its tourists and atractions. Unfortunately as I was showing off my maneuvering skills in Bancroft basin in front of the assembled tourists,

A gust of wind caught us and the Stourbridge Lion completly missed the berth I was aiming for. Pride comes before a fall!

The Avon is a seperate navigation authority so another licence is required. Bought the licence for the Avon from the Avon Trust boat in Bancroft basin. Off out now for a bight to eat (Steak and Chips) Bidford on Avon is the destination tomorrow.

Lapworth (Kingswood Jnction) to Preston Bagott Tues 23-9-2014

First off, for you railway people out there, Yes, you know who you are! I am going to regress into railway world where Stourbridge Lion and myself were moored last night is about 50 Yards from the railway line between Birmingham and Leamington. Most of the trains are non descript modern units and locos. At 2025 precisely I heard a different note of a diesel train approaching. So different it made me look at the railway bridge over the canal even though it was dark. Then they appeared. Two class 20s built in the 1950s (Like me) thundered past. Their exhaust note totally unmistakable ferrying tube trains from Derby back to London Ruislip depot. On full power as they went by they only appeared as a shadow-awesome!
 0810 this morning they went past powering north.
Meanwhile back in the canal word: my pal Andy Cryer, who I worked with in Bristol, is joining today. Met Andy off the train at Lapworth and we crossed over the fields to the canal accompanied by a Canal and River Trust fund raiser!
After a quick sandwich we were off. 17 tough locks towards Stratford.

Lowsonford

We settled to a routine of Andy going ahead and setting the next lock while I bought the boat in and finished the lock off. Unfortunately when we got to the bottom of the long flight Andy didnt realise we were at the bottom and walked on for a further mile before realising there were no more locks!
Went into the Crab Mill, Preston Bagott for evening food.

22-9-14 Lapworth Top Lock to Lapworth bottom lock (Kingswood Junction)

Lit fire for first time of the year last night and overnight. Slept soundly in a nice warm boat! But up at seven. Yes I will make an attempt at doing some locks single handed., its a beautiful morning and I am ready to go. Underway by 0800.

Nice early sunshine with mist rising off the canal. A cup of obligatory coffee in hand and the Stourbridge Lion and me are off. First challenge-The lift bridge (see picture above). These are not difficult when there are two of you but on your own-my oh my-worse than doing locks on your own. The root of the problem is that having moored up at the designated point you then cross the bridge to wind the bridge up. Having wound the bridge up (About 50 heavy turns on the windlass) you are then on the wrong side of the canal to the boat. I sat and thought about the problem. The answer seemed to be either A)swim B)jump from the lifted bridge C) lengthen my rope so I could take the end of the rope with me and pull the rope through. D)drive into the bushes on the same side as the bridge as the winding mechanism and hope I could beat my way through the undergrowth onto the bank and back on board. In the end I did option D. I was exhausted after doing two bridges (dont forget there are 50 turns of the very stiff windlass thats 200 turns in total. So after that the locks started but they seemed easy in comparison. After 5 locks, though, things were going quite slow and I was beginning to think this flight would take me all day. Then like the cavalry coming over the hill a cheery lock keeper on his bike went past "Hi, you single handed" he said. "Yes" I replied "I will be back in a minute to give you a hand then" he shouted. So at lock 7 he rejoined me and we worked our way down te flight. I thought there were 14 locks in this section but it turned out there 19! Good job I had had help. "I struggled with those bridges on my own" I said. "Whats the secret for the single handed boater?" "I will tell you the secret" he said. "Make a cup of tea and wait for another boat to come along"
"Great to be working these locks with someone who knows what he is doing " said the lock keeper. I THINK he meant me. Made my day even if he didnt!
Moored up at 1205 at Kingswood junction. Phew! It would have taken me another 3 hours on my own. Caught train into Birmingham and treated myself to lunch!

Kingswood Junction

My old work pal Andy Cryer is hopefully joining me tomorrow for the trip into Stratford and a bit of the Avon. 17 locks tomorrow Andy!

Sunday 21-9-13

Woke at 0700 to sunshine. Scrambled egg on toast all round for breakfast. Turned boat and took on water. Steve is a very keen photographer with some quite fancy gear. Some of the following pictures and yesterdays pictures are by Steve.

 So we retraced our steps back to the junction with the Stratford canal at Kings Norton. Today though we had a more interesting time passing through the tunnels meeting two boats in Wast Hill.

 Its difficult to convey the impression of meeting another boat in the depths of a long tunnel and obviously, because its dark, photographs dont really show up the situation The picture above shows a boat coming towards us in the depths of Wast Hill and what you see in the photograph is about what you see steering the boat. The white bit is the light on the oncoming boat.. Of course you have no idea wether the oncoming boat has a experienced person on the tiller or not, All you can see is an oncoming headlight. There is no towpath, the tunnel walls rise shere from the water. ?The glare form the oncoming light means you cant see what the oncoming boat is. Added to this is the magnified sound of th boat engines -its really quite an experience!
But we survived and continued on towards Kings Norton. Bernadette and Steve had a go at steering.

 I had forgotton how restricted in width and by other moored boats the Stratford canal is. So we were soon running a little behind schedule. Steve did the famous Shirley drawbridge.

Shirley Drawbridge

Steve at the controls of the Shirley Drawbridge

A guy in the adjacent pub said "Where you going"
"Tewksbury" I replied.
"How long will that take"
"We hope to be there by the 1st October" said I thinking that sounded reasonable. The guy and his mates strted rolling about laughing!

Tied up at Hockley Heath at 1720. Steve and Bernadette caught the X20 back to Birmingham and I am catching up writing the blog!


Joanne had a day out with our John at Tintern Abbey.

Do I go on on my own tomorrow or stay put and have a rest day. I truly dont know at this moment!

Saturday 20-9-14 Birmingham to Tardebigge

Joanne caught the 0810 from New Street back to Bristol. At 0930 I was able to welcome my old school chum Stephen Owen and his wife Bernadette on board with a bacon and fried eg sandwich. Soon after we were on our way heading out into the Saturday morning drizzle. We are going to see the band "The Blues Band" this evening at Bromsgrove and Tardebigge, about a mile and a half away, will be the closest we can get. So we headed off. No locks, surprisingly in this tumbling countryside, but 4 tunnels. Edgbaston, Wast Hill, Shortwood and Tardebigge. Of these four Wast Hill is by far the longest at just shy of two miles. It has no towpath and this morning, due to some clinging mist in the tunnel, it was not possible to see either the portal where we had entered or the portal we were aiming for. Totally black behind us, about 25 yards in front where our single lamp illuminated the way  was visable, then black in front beyond this.

Gas Street Basin Birmingham city centre

Today being Saturday I was concerned about hire boaters who had just picked up up their boats for the first time being confused in the darkness about which side they were supposed to pass on in the tunnel leading to a collision. So Steve went up front to shout at any boats loomng out of the dark towards us to "steer to the right, pass on the left" In the event it wasnt necessary as we passed no boats in the tunnel today. Presently, and surprisingly, the west portal of the tunnel loomed out of the dark and we were in the clear. About 1500 we tied up at Tardebigge. Bernadette went for a walk by Tardebigge church and started a watercolour of the scene outside the front of the boat (Bernadette is an excellent artist) Meanwhile we cooked Joannes Cottage pie, ate it, set up the beds and waited for a taxi to take us over to Atrix Bromsgove.

At the venue we met some more of Steve and Bernadettes friends and settled down to the concert. The Blues Band are great live. Paul Jones is the most famous member (Manfred Mann lead singer for a while n the 60s) but the other members of the band are all virtuos's in their own right. Tom McGuness may be remembered by some of a certain age as leader of early 70s band "McGuiness Flint"  and guitarist Dave Kelly has played with many of the great blues names and is also a brilliant blues singer. Paul Jones is great at getting the audience joining in so all in all a very good nights entertainment.