Heading up the Avon

 On Saturday morning we dropped down Gloucester Lock in company with Calan Lan and Best of British, leaving the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal behind.

It was fairly slow going heading against the flow on the relatively narrow Eastern Channel, but as soon as we passed Upper Parting we were able to get on a bit.

Even though we made good speed we worked out that we wouldn't, as we'd hoped, make Avon Lock at Tewkesbury before the lockie knocked off for lunch.

So we pulled in at Haw Bridge for a half hour brew and comfort stop.

Chinese boat people a little off course...

Our travelling companions for a while, Ian, Carolyn and Milo.

After Gloucester Lock we only had the one at Upper Lode to go up before the confluence of the River Avon, but the wheels came off at little here. On arrival we found that the lock was out of action due to an electrical failure, so we turned around and stopped on the patrons-only pontoon at the Lower Lode Inn.

The landlord was sympathetic and said we could stay as long as needed. By 4 o'clock though the situation was resolved and we headed back the  ¾ mile to the lock.

As it was getting on a bit and I (mistakenly) thought that the Avon Lockie clocked off at half-four we stayed the night on the upper lock landing at Upper Lode.

A quarter past seven on Sunday morning at Upper Lode.

Sunday morning saw us up on the Avon by 10:00.

Not an ideal spot, a high bank and flood poles to bump against but it did us for one night.

Amber and I had a fine walk around The Ham first thing this morning.

The Saxon's were masters at the art of literary efficiency. "Water meadow in a bend of a river which suffers from periodic flooding". Shortened to Ham. Excellent!

Looking across to Tewkesbury Abbey.

We had a later start this morning, leaving the moorings near Healings Mill and heading out of town under King John's Bridge and  past the marinas.

The bridge is supposed to have been commissioned by the luckless King in around 1205. It was King John who lost a lot of the traditional Angevin holdings in France, drove the Barons into revolt leading to the Magna Carta, then lost a goodly proportion of the Crown's treasures in salt marshes near The Wash. Not a happy time.

The river twists and turns a bit, heading generally northward though, towards Bredon Hill.

Bredon Hill and the M5.

Strensham Lock, our first DIY Avon Lock

Now that's a big online order crossing Defford Railway Bridge!

We pulled in after 7 miles or so on the Trust moorings just above Eckington Bridge.

This one's a relative youngster, only 300 years old...

Since last post - Locks 4, miles 23½