Stratford-upon-Avon to Sharpness

During our stay at Stratford-upon-Avon Nic and Shaun came down to see us; it was good to see them and have a catch-up.  We also decided to start our long overdue diets and our cupboards were filled with healthy food as we sailed out onto the River Avon.

After stopping a night at Welford Lock we continued through Bidford-on-Avon whose road bridge was badly damaged last year.  The bridge has now been repaired and reopened to traffic.

The repaired historic bridge at Bidford-on-Avon

That night we stopped at Offenham Lock where there are plenty of moorings in a quiet setting.

Only Brent III on the moorings at Offenham Lock

On Tuesday we left Offenham and sailed through to the park moorings at Pershore, one of our favourite town moorings.  We stayed a couple of days and had a potter around the indoor market and the shops.  In the afternoon I walked Bess and Brinny across the meadows and up to the village of Wyre Piddle which has some attractive old beamed cottages.

The old cottages at Wyre Piddle

On Thursday we completed our journey on the River Avon by sailing into Tewkesbury, another attractive little town.

Tewkesbury Bridge with the old mill building in the background

When I took the girls for a walk on the Severn Ham we found it was full of sheep so their leads had to stay on.

These obstinate sheep refused to move off the the path on the Severn Ham

On Friday morning we left Tewkesbury, sailing through the lock onto the River Severn.  Half a mile downstream we came to Upper Lode Lock, a massive lock at the tidal limit of the river.

Waiting for the bottom gates to open in Upper Lode Lock

Once through the lock we had an excellent run to Gloucester averaging just under 6mph.  There were no other boats on the visitor moorings at Gloucester Docks so we picked a spot well away from the waterside bars.  Then we went on a spending spree. A replacement tablet for Kev was top of the list and while in Currys we bought some handy pocket sized binoculars which have variable magnification.  I also picked up some good trainers in Go Outdoors clearance sale and went back for some more the next day.   It was as well the visitor moorings in Gloucester are only for 48 hours.

Gloucester Docks at night

On Sunday we sailed south down the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal encountering the first of many swing bridges.  Luckily they are all manned by a bridge-keeper so all we have to do is wait for each bridge to open.  After 1 overnight stop on the canal we arrived at Sharpness.  The canal is parallel to the River Severn and the visitor moorings give an amazing view across the estuary.

We narrowly avoided rain on this walk.  A view of the canal in the foreground with the Severn Estuary on the far side of the wall and trees.

Our journey from Stratford-upon-Avon to Sharpness

Leamington Spa to Stratford upon Avon

We left Leamington Spa on Friday heading west towards the Hatton Flight.  We usually moor at the bottom of the flight but this time we went up the first 4 locks where we could stop in a long pound. The next morning we were up bright and early with the bike ready for the remaining 17 locks.  The sun was shining but rain clouds were gathering and we were pleased to be through Hatton Top Lock 2 hours later.  

British Waterways buildings and a lock viewed from the previous lock on the Hatton Flight 

We sailed further on to the embankment at Rowington and stopped before the rain started.   We then stayed another day before sailing to Kingswood Junction ready for the Stratford Canal.  Kev had unfortunately dropped the binoculars resulting in magnified double vision. He found a replacement pair on ebay, click and collect to Argos was available so he ordered them to be delivered to Stratford.  It was only after receiving the confirmation we discovered they were going to be sent to a previous delivery address in Yorkshire.  The seller was very helpful and cancelled the order so we could start again and this time we changed the default address to Mum and Dad's in case the Argos delivery request failed again.  Lucky that we did because once again the Argos delivery information was lost.   Later we discovered the cause of the problem was Kev's ancient tablet which is losing it's touch screen sensitivity.  

On Tuesday morning we started descending the narrow locks on the Stratford Canal; some of the bridges are also very narrow. 

One of the narrow bridges, just wide enough for a narrow boat

We stopped outside Wotten Wawen on Wednesday and the low banks made it ideal for painting Brent III's gunwhales.  We were pleased with our work over the next 3 days but needed some provisions.  The poor telephone signal ruled out an Asda delivery so we caught a bus into Stratford upon Avon.  The bus taking us into town was 10 minutes late but that was nothing compared to the journey home.  After standing for 30 minutes in pouring rain at an open bus stop we vowed not to rely on buses again.

The next day the weather was bright and sunny and we sailed over the small Wootten Wawen aqueduct and stopped about a mile further on.

The Wootten Wawen aqueduct with visitor moorings on the left and the green Anglo-Welsh hire boats on the right

We'd stopped just  before the Edstone Aqueduct so I was able to take some photos of the structure from the ground. 

Brick pillars support the narrow Edstone aqueduct 

On Monday we sailed over the aqueduct giving us a different view. 

The view from the bow as we sailed over the Edstone Aqueduct 

The canal took us through Wilmcote village and down the 11 Wilmcote Locks before we stopped for the day. 

Canalside buildings at Wilmcote

On Tuesday we had 5 locks to descend to take us  into Stratford upon Avon including the notorious Lock 53.  Due to it's proximity to a bridge the balance beam has been removed and replaced with railings at right angles to the lock gate which makes it difficult to open. 

The railing replaces the balance beam on lock 53 and Kev replaced me on lock duty!

We pulled into the basin at Stratford and the sun came out to give us another heatwave.  Bess has become accustomed to stretching out on the towpath and thought nothing of doing the same on the pavement in front of the memorial steps. 

Bess laid out on the pavement

Our journey from Leamington Spa to Stratford upon Avon 

Banbury to Leamington Spa

After being grounded below the lock we were relieved to find the water levels remained stable on our new moorings at Banbury. 

The canal from one of the pedestrian bridges, the shopping centre is on the right and the white bars crossing the canal are on the lift bridge 

Sarah arrived by train on Monday and during the afternoon we had a wander around the small town.  Next to Banbury Cross stands a statue of the Fine Lady on a White Horse. 

The bronze statue of the fine lady on her horse

The next day we travelled a short distance to Slat Mill Lock, the first of many rural locations.  That evening some cows  looked as if they were going to come across the canal from the opposite bank but luckily they changed their minds and left us to watch the sunset. 

The sunset lit up the sky through hazy cloud

On Thursday we moored up at Fenny Compton, a typical village in this region with it's older buildings constructed in a local brownstone.

The church of St Peter and St Clare at Fenny Compton

The Methodist Church was not so obvious, hidden behind some houses which left it only a narrow entrance.

The narrow entrance to the Methodist Church

The sun came out for us on Friday and we pulled up on an embankment giving us a good view across open countryside which seemed perfect for sketching.  Kev set up the telescope so we could scan the distant hills.    We stopped another day but the weather turned and a thunderstorm passed directly over us.  Bess and Brinnie were a little nervous; it's the first time they've encountered a storm at close quarters.  

On Sunday morning the dry weather returned and we sailed on towards Napton.  On the way we were pleased to see some hares crouching in their seats on an open field.  We stopped at the top of the Napton Locks and Sarah and I had a walk into the village, passing a herd of water buffalo on the way.   The village shop sold water buffalo ice cream so of course we had to try it.

Water buffalo in the field next to the canal

On Bank Holiday Monday the locks were busy and we were queuing to descend to the bottom and a mooring near the Folly Inn where we enjoyed a meal.  

Kev's photo of the Folly Inn

Kev was up early with his camera on Tuesday morning and took some good photos in the mist. 

Kev's photo looking down the locks in the morning mist

We then sailed around Napton's hill and onto the Grand Union Canal stopping near the top of the Stockton Locks.  This years sloe crop hasn't been very good but Sarah and I picked enough for our sloe gin.  That evening the sky was clear revealing the milky way and a lot of stars.  With the aid of Skymap on the tablet we were able to pick out some constellations.  

On Wednesday we had an early start to descend the 8 Stockton Locks and, with Sarah in front setting the locks, we made short work of them.  We carried on through the 4 Bascote Locks and pulled over at Welsh Road Lock where the former lock house made a good subject for a sketch.  

On Thursday we descended the remaining locks and sailed into Leamington Spa. Unfortunately the town centre moorings looked a bit dubious so we carried on a little way out and  moored near Morrisons, very useful for a big shop. 

Leamington Spa is famed for it's spring water which flowed from an uninspiring stainless steel tap outside the Pump Rooms.  Inside there was a small but interesting museum, part of which had housed the Turkish Baths and some treatment rooms with various contraptions to cure the sick.  

Attractive tiles in the Pump Room

Sarah and I picked up a historical trail leaflet which took us into Jephson Gardens which  had a glasshouse and some art galleries in a lodge gate.   The trail continued passed the many regency style houses in the town.  

Whilst in town we also called at the railway station for Sarah's ticket home as this was her last night with us.  


Our journey from Banbury to Leamington Spa