This & That

We have had some serious downpours of rain since last weekend - I wish the warm weather would return!

The Warwickshire Avon is a really beautiful river. We came through Evesham Lock yesterday and I think the Lower Avon is even prettier than the Upper. It is certainly popular with fishmen! I think fishing must be one of the most popular pastimes. All along the banks of the river there are fishing platforms - there is obviously a lot of money to be made - there was even a special campsite for fishermen! The picture is taken from Evesham Town Moorings looking towards Evesham Bridge. The festival is held along here. I have been talking to locals and they have described the scene during the 2007 floods - unimaginable to you and I!!! Whole static caravans, cars, boats, sheds etc floating downstream and then

crashing into a bridge! Apparently, a lot of this type of debris is still on the riverbed.

The Evesham River Festival is on at the weekend and we have organised ourselves a booked mooring so that we can stay and find out what it is all about! John has worked out that there's a beer tent so needs no other encouragement! Me? I'm just after The Punch & Judy Shows with all the 'other' kids!

Today we got on the bikes and went for a cycle around some of the villages which I had read about and sounded lovely. This part of Worcestershire still has lots of thatched, half-timbered properties. The village of Cropthorne was especially gorgeous - take note Gary & Joan!

We saw lots of properties like this!! Lottery ticket?? Actually, where one is born, bred and reared is such a lottery isn't it? Having discovered lovely counties such as Worcestershire and Warwickshire I feel I definitely got the short straw being reared in Staines! I should have married a farmer or run a riding stables!!

DREAM ON!!!!

It only takes a second!

It only took a second for Maisie to drop a favoured chew overboard and a second for it to sink.

It only took a second for Maisie herself - halfway along the gunnel when the boat was midstream of the Avon - to fall in!! For a little dog who will not swim voluntarily, she swam REALLY well! When she reached the stern (with the help of the current) it only took John a second to hoist her out by the scruff of the neck! It took her several hours to recover from the trauma - she was SERIOUSLY upset! I don't think she'll do that again!

It only took a second for our lovely Buckby Can to be knocked off the roof of the boat by an over-hanging willow branch. It floated whilst we stopped and reversed but, as I reached out to grab it, it only took a second to sink in the deep water to the river bed. I know it was only a possession but I loved that can! We tried hard to find it with the magnet but to no avail.

Megan had no trouble finding us moored at Luddington Lock and she, Maisie and Grandma were all safely back in Staines by 5 o'clock in the afternoon. It's ironic isn't it? Last year when John's mum spent time with us it was too wet and sometimes cold with it. This year, if anything, it was too hot!!!

The Avon is a really beautiful but temperamental river. As with most rivers, the lack of mooring places is an issue. We are now at Bidford-on-Avon and intend to walk into the little town tomorrow. At this moment in time the river is anything but busy with boats.

94 degrees fahrenheit in the shade of the boat!

It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we have just arrived in Bancroft Basin, Stratford. We are here with a million, trillion others - boaters, locals and tourists from all over the world. John and I have never even been near a canal or river festival before - we usually do our utmost to avoid such things because we don't like being amongst crowds and crowds of people but this festival must be a very popular one judging by the amount of attention it is attracting.

The Basin is as special as I remember it to be - lots of statues of Shakespearean characters, fabulous floral displays and interesting trade boats. Since we were here four years ago a new bridge onto the Avon has been erected - apparently the old one didn't allow wheelchair access.

We have been SO lucky - a boat pulled out of a pontoon mooring slot just as we arrived so we grabbed it! We can stay here tonight and tomorrow but Friday, Saturday and Sunday other boaters have paid to moor so that they can be here for the duration of the festival. I think we will probably start to make our way down river then.

Talking of floral displays - the nasturtiums which I thought were only going to be leaves have decided to erupt with orange and yellow flowers! Thanks Glynis.

It Ain't alf hot Mum!

Yes! Mum has arrived to spend the week with us and .. yes, it's really hot! Just for a change the weather men have got it right!

We are on our way to Stratford and it could be a case of being in the right place but at the wrong time because, this weekend, it's the Stratford River Festival! We only found out yesterday from a friendly BW worker. Apparently all the mooring places in the basin are booked out to boats which have paid to be there for the three days. The festival itself sounds quite exciting with lots going on but I think it's going to be pandemonium! Oh well, we might just have to get in and out of Stratford as quickly as possible!

We will carry on down the River Avon but ........... next weekend it's the Evesham River Festival and where are we likely to be?!!!!!!! Watch this space!

An Ordinary Week

Loyal & faithful friends that they are ................. Annette and David helped us back up the Tardebigge Flight last Monday. Once at the top, we shared a barbecue together. Thanks Annette and David - hope to see you again soon.

Returning along the North Stratford Canal I have to say that we found it as unimpressive as the first time - very overgrown and not many inviting places to stop and moor. That is, until you reach the Lapworth Flight which, although hard work, is lovely - to Lapworth Basin, 21 locks. Lapworth Basin itself is especially nice.

Yesterday we moved on up the Grand Union to Knowle - we needed to do some shopping and it's the only little town around with access from the canal. It was, however, a long old trudge from the bottom of the locks and we had really heavy rain all day.

We are currently moored back at Kingswood Junction - where the Grand Union and the North and South Stratford Canals meet. Rodney is bringing John's mum to us and she is staying for a week's holiday. Some 'joker' on the TV last night predicted a heat wave somewhere in Britain!! Bet your bottom dollar it will be nowhere near Stratford which is our next destination!

Worcester

So . what do we think of Worcester?

Those of you who know me well know that I do not like large towns and cities so.........

As cities go, I liked Worcester! Why? It is small (for a city) and compact. It has some interesting old streets with some individual shops as well as the well known chain stores. Enough shops for me to feel over-whelmed! Being on the banks of the River Severn is rather special too!

The cathedral is amazing! It's huge and the architecture? Well! Just incredible! As a bonus, about 140 local schools were exhibiting art work - I really enjoyed the exhibits and thought how I could not enable children to achieve such good things any more.

Bonus:- A pair of peregrine falcons have successfully reared four chicks this year in a nest on a balustrade on St Andrew's church. We saw the one remaining chick sitting on one of the battlements - apparently he just does not want to leave and join his brothers and sister in their bigger and better residence - the cathedral itself!!

So, where are we today? We are in the middle of the Astwood flight of locks. Took the girls for a really good walk across the fields and along the lanes. Tomorrow we will set off and tackle not only the 6 Stoke locks but the formidable Tardebigge 30 as well! I ought to have muscles like Popeye and be as skinny as Olive Oil but ........ neither happens. Such is life!!

Funeral for some Friends

For the special attention of Anne Elliott who saw this sad day coming ........

These boots have been our faithful friends and served us well for many, many years but, yes Anne, yet again you are right! John's boots are now leaking and mine? ......... Worn out! The heels have almost disappeared and so have the circular grips on the soles. They also are leaking and are now b***** uncomfortable! Time to go to that great Millets in the Sky. We are now in Worcester so I'm sure they can be replaced here.

SO:-

"Goodbye Norma & Jean & Gladys & Doris

Though we love you and you have served us well -

JUST REMEMBER -

For years and years you never let the socks get soggy when the rain set in.

And your footsteps constantly tramped over miles of Britain's countryside

But, unfortunately, your soles wore out -

Long before your leather ever will!"

It has been suggested that you are permanently displayed on the roof of the boat! Planted up with flowers? !!!!!!!!!!!! John thinks we should advertise you on e-bay as Bygones and sell you on!!!