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