River Avon

A lock in the canal basin at Stratford-on-Avon takes us off the Canal and River Trust waterways and onto the River Avon.   We purchased a week's license for the river from the Avon Navigation Trust starting on Saturday.  Later we discovered the local rowing club was holding a regatta that day.  We set off early but still emerged from the lock in mid-race and were promptly stopped by officials until we had a clear passage. 

As there had been little rainfall recently the river was tranquil and pretty.  We had a view of the magnificent houses and their enormous back gardens which flanked the river at Welford-on-Avon.  The river flowed through woods, round hills and we passed stylish holiday homes raised up above flood levels .   A drawback to river cruising is the scarcity of moorings and we travelled further than we intended on that first day.  To compensate we stayed an extra day in the peaceful setting at Offenham Lock.  

Setting of on Monday we had a minor disaster.  As we lowered the wheelhouse down one of the back windows dropped against a door and shattered.  We removed the broken glass and sailed on to Evesham where we tracked down a business who were happy to sell us a sheet of perspex. Luckily it wasn't far to walk as it was a large sheet of perspex and having repaired the damage we now have plenty spare.  Hopefully we won't need it.  

Our next mooring was on Wyre Island, a small island next to the unusual diamond shaped Wyre Lock.  The island was well maintained by volunteers and made a good place to stop.  

Wyre Island.  The tall pale blue poles, on the far side, are the Avon Navigation Trust moorings.  There is a notice board at every lock giving safety information including the grid reference for the lock and a map of the River Avon showing the locks location.  

Diamond shaped Wyre Lock.  On this river boaters are asked to leave the lock gates open as they exit a lock which is easier for getting back onto the boat.

A long line of moorings stretched out next to a park at Pershore, an ideal place to stop.  The small town, with it's Georgian buildings and an abbey, was pleasant to stroll around and Bess and Brinny enjoyed chasing in the park.  Brinny surprised us by jumping clean over a 12 feet gulley and Bess gamely followed but not with a leap.  She made her way down the side and reappeared a minute or two later on the other side.  

Leafing through History - a carving on a beech trunk in the grounds of Pershore Abbey.

  Our last stop on the River Avon was Tewkesbury, another interesting town with an abbey.  I had a look round the sparse interior of a restored Tudor merchants shop and was surprised to see it didn't have a chimney.  The open fire was in the middle of the room and the smoke vented through the roof.   I also enjoyed browsing through the numerous antique/bric a brac shops but my only purchase was a modern day paperback.  

The row of restored Tudor merchant shops.   Glass windows have been added to all but the display house, in the middle of the row, as the rest of the properties are inhabited or used for businesses.  

Whilst browsing on the internet I came across a clip on Youtube showing the repairs at Holme Lock which held us up in May.  The end of the clip shows boats sailing in for the first lock up and there we are, last but not least, for our 1 second of fame.
Link for the Holme Lock clip


Our journey from Stratford-on-Avon to Tewkesbury