The end of our spring cruise

This has been by far our best spring cruising in Hunters Moon. The waterways have been surprisingly quiet and the weather has been so kind to us. We have needed some warm layers at times but  our waterproofs have remained firmly out of sight.  We have had  days of clear blue skies with temperatures soaring over the early bank  holiday. We have been reminded that it is still only May by a coolness in the air especially on the river. Aren't we lucky?

So, we are  now very near Great Haywood Marina on a beautiful  mooring  called Tixall Wide  from where we will walk, bus, train and bus back to Fenny Compton Marina to collect our car .

An Elizabethan gatehouse overlooking the Wide

Hunters Moon needs a good clean up both inside and out! She has a thick layer of dust  coating the outside due to the very dry countryside and she has been used as target practise by some  birds so we plan to have a day of cleaning and making her shipshape for our return in early June when we are heading further north to explore the Cheshire Ring.

First sighting of little cygnets

Photos along the way

A hairy caterpillar 

Little robin keeping Jenny company by a lock

An interesting garden gate

Suddenly slipped back to the 40's

Beautiful scented lilac blossom 

Sid discussing electric bikes 

Twelve little ducklings and mum!

Cooling down!

Jeremy Fisher?

Onto the River Severn and then the Staffs and Worcs

Thursday 17th May

From the Avon to the Severn

And so we venture onto the River Severn, a wide river much like the upper reaches of the Thames. Nor a great deal to see since the riverbanks are very high. The other strange thing is the lack of any markers on the way like bridges or landmarks  to give us some idea of where we are! We are so used to bridge numbers, or names or locks which indicate distances covered and here we  are with no point if reference.

Mythe Bridge our first on the River Severn

Gravel barges one laden the other empty 

Eventually we come across some gravel barges, which are indicated on the map do we are aware we are approaching the very pretty Upton-on-Severn. This was Our goal for a lunch break and an brief wander through the Union Flag lined streets, where most of the shops have displays for the imminent Royal Wedding of Harry and Megan. There is a holiday atmosphere in the town and it was a very pleasant break from the river.

Upton-on-Severn all dressed up for the wedding

The Pepperpot - a cupola-topped old church  in Upton-on-Severn 

Our plan was to moor in  Worcester that  evening and Worcester was the other side of our first Severn Lock. They are big! However,  being manned, except for getting our lines attached to the wires that are positioned down the sides of the locks at intervals we just have to sit together as hang on.

Diglis Lock

Having negotiated Diglis Lock we moored on a floating pontoon just above the lock. It was a lovely late afternoon so we had a bimble into the city along the charming and busy waterfront.  It was a beautiful evening with rowers on the river from the Kings School and a little later the Sea Scouts ventured out - much noisier than the serious oarsmen and women.

It's a long way down to Hunters Moon

 on the floating pontoon

We planned an early visit to the Cathedral in the morning.

Friday 18th May

Yet another bright blue sky  welcomed us this morning but still a rather chilly wind kept the temperature down.  We took a brisk walk along the river to the Cathedral and spent a hour or so feasting on the delights inside including the amazing crypt, which has a floor that in the 17th century was relayed with recycled gravestones. Who thought recycling was a 21st century idea? There was some beautiful stained glass windows including one designed as amazing memorial to Edward Elgar who had strong associations with the Cathedral.

A wall by the Watergate in Worcester which shows all the 

flood levels since the 1700's

We will definitely revisit  this fascinating city again at a later date but this was a very brief  glimpse as we had to get on our way in order to meet our very good friends in Stourport.

The river becomes a much more interesting stretch from hereon in. Then 3 more locks further on and many hours travelling brought us to the junction with the Staffs and Worcester  Canal at Stourport on Severn.

Approaching Stourport-on-Severn from the river

After the big, wide river it is a bit of a shock not only to be encountering a narrow canal but a double staircase.
We were just coming through the first chamber when Jenny spotted her great friend Bridget who was keeping an eye out for Hunters Moon . Much hugging and welcoming later we set about making our way through the locks and into the basin.

Hunters Moon coming through the staircase locks 

at Stourport on Severn 

A big welcome from Bridget 

Bridget and Dave live in Kidderminster so it was decided to meet up there later and  spend the evening together.

We found the moorings outside Sainsbury empty much to our surprise because the last time we passed through here it was full of junk boats. CRT have definitely been having a clear up.

We enjoyed a great evening catching up and drinking too much wine!

Saturday 19th May

Feeling and bit jaded we took the short walk to Sainsburys to stock up  with provisions then settled down to watch Harry and Megan's wedding over a  leisurely lunch.  The weather was warm and sunny so we had a pleasant afternoon cruise until we found a good mooring where we could enjoy a canal side bbq in the warm evening sunshine.

Sunday 20th May

Yet another beautiful day. We have been so lucky with this early section of our cruising season.  We continued along the Staffs and Worcs Canal in the warm sunshine as we head towards Great Haywood Marina,  where Hunters Moon is booked in for half term week as we return home for grandaughter minding, a wedding and family catching up.

Downstream on the Avon

As we progress downstream on the Avon the countryside is bursting into even more spring colours. The May blossom gives the effect of  snow covered hedgerows and the trees are now fully cloaked in an amazing range of green. The majestic sweet chestnut and horse chestnut trees  with their candelabras of white and pink and the fragrant lilacs and honeysuckle adorn the riverside.

Redundant St Lawrence Church, Evesham

Thriving St Andrews Church, Evesham

The Bell Tower, Evesham 

Views across the Vale of Evesham

We have enjoyed some good weather over the past few days, lovely sunshine with a chilly wind but no rain. Fingers crossed that it stays that way, maybe a little warmer would be nice!
Pretty towns pepper this part of Worcestershire and we have enjoyed exploring Evesham,  where it's Abbey no longer exists but it does have two fine churches side by side, one redundant ( such a shame because  it has such a peaceful atmosphere) whilst the other  is a lively, living church. There is also an imposing bell tower from which we enjoyed a wonderful peel of bells on Sunday evening. Pershore has a beautiful Abbey set in extensive gardens. People have been worshipping in this amazing building for over 1000 years and it is obviously a thriving community now.

Hampton Ferry

Pershore Abbey

Fascinating wood carving on a tree stump

in the Abbey grounds 

Swan wars

And so to Tewkesbury, where the Avon meets the Severn. It was a glorious warm day with lighter winds as we travelled from Pershore to Tewkesbury.  The ever changing scenery along the river was bathed in sunshine and after days of seeing hardly another boat we did actually pass several today. Jenny was even given a lock off when a cheery group of young people on an hire boat offered to work the lock for us with a promise to release the water gently and many complimentary remarks about Hunters Moon.

We were unsure what to expect of Tewkesbury but were surprised by the understated nature of the lock  and its surroundings which will take us down onto the River Severn.
It was such a pleasant late afternoon when we arrived that we decided to take a walk across Severn Ham Common to view the river. The common was awash with buttercups and there are fine views across the yellow fields towards the Abbey.

Playing tourists tomorrow  in Tewkesbury town!

Bidford-on-Avon Vintage Gathering

How lucky were we to happen upon this annual event in Bidford -on - Avon.  The sound of the fairground organ beckoned us from our mooring and although we had only planned a morning visit it became obvious quite early on that we would spend more than a couple of hours wandering through the many stalls, viewing the numerous static engines, reminiscing over many of the old cars and marvelling at the tractors and steam engines. It was fascinating seeing inside some classic caravans and some shepherd's huts, now used on the glamping scene.

Sid quizzing an exhibitor

This one has shrunk a bit!

Shepherd's Hut

Maybe!!??

Big kids and little kids having fun!

It was a great family day out with a lovely atmosphere and we both came away with new headgear!