Last Blog of the Trip

So we are at the end of our trip.  We have been out for 23 weeks, we have travelled 404 miles and done 314 locks on several different canals and two rivers, some we have done before and some we haven’t.  We have been on a boat lift, done lift and swing bridges and plenty of locks.  We visited some really interesting places and lovely villages, caught buses and trains.  We made some new friends, Pat, Patrick and Poochie who we travelled with for a while and had a lovely time, and laughed a lot and Sue and Shaun who we had a lovely boozy afternoon and evening with!!  We hope to remain in touch with them and hope to see them all again and remain friends for years to come.  We also had time this trip to spend with our Audlem family, Jane, Malcolm, Dave and Anthea and had a great time as always and know we will see them again next year if not before.   Talking of friends, we couldn’t believe it, but our friends Chris and Mike rang this morning and said they were in Gloucester visiting Chris’ sister and asked where we were, when we said we were moored in the docks, they all came over to see us and we went out for a coffee, what a nice surprise, we couldn’t have timed it better, it was so lovely to see them and catch up.

We only had one incident fortunately,  when Gordanneus turned into the Gordanneus Celeste and we were like Laurel & Hardy, but hopefully we have learned from that!!

It has been such a great trip, the weather was very kind to us, we were only confined to barracks due to rain for about 4 to 5 days in the whole trip.  We have really enjoyed travelling around without any time constraints and can’t wait for next year’s trip.

It has been good fun doing this blog and great that our friends and family have been following our progress, so thanks to everyone who has had a look.  This will be our last blog for this year as we are now going to hibernate on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal for the winter, but we will be out travelling the canals and rivers next year and doing our blog and hope you will follow us then.

Bye for now, Kev and Sheila

Upton Upon Severn (River Severn) to Gloucester Docks (Gloucester & Sharpness Canal)

 Wednesday 15th October

Early morning at Upton

Into Upper Lode Lock

Well we are on the last leg of our journey today, off down the river to Gloucester, so we set off from Upton Upon Severn.  It was a dry morning with sunny spells and although the river was a bit high and running quite fast, although it had slowed a bit from yesterday, it was like a mill pond.    Down the river, past the junction with the River Avon and Tewkesbury and into Upper Lode Lock.  This lock is really big, but it all went smoothly and the lock keeper was really friendly.  On down the river, past the Yew Tree pub and the Coal House, the pontoon for the Coal House was under water, an indication the river levels were up, but it felt really calm and there wasn't much flow at all.  Past Haw Bridge and Ashleworth and onto the partings which takes us to Gloucester Dock.  

Approaching Gloucester Lock

We rang the lock keeper at Gloucester and he said he would have the lock open for us and sure enough we came around the corner and we had the green light and the lock was open, so in we went nice and smoothly.  Hooked onto the poles and up we went and before we knew it, we were out into Gloucester docks. 

Out into Gloucester Docks, our journey's end!

We moored up on the pontoons in the docks, there were a couple of other boats there.  And so we are back where we started all those months ago.  It seems funny being back, but it will be good to see everyone and catch up.

Chilled out for a bit, then went out for a walk as the showers had stopped and it turned out to be a nice afternoon.  We are staying here in Gloucester for a couple of days, then will chug off down the canal on Friday.

Moored in Gloucester Docks

Worcester (Worcester & Birmingham Canal) to Upton Upon Severn (River Severn)

We moved down into Worcester Basin on Saturday morning as we wanted a few days in Worcester.  It is a really nice city.  We had a wander around and went for a nice walk on Sunday down to Diglis lock, across the foot bridge and walked up the other side of the river to Worcester Bridge then back along the river past Diglis House Hotel back to the locks in the basin and back to the boat.  A couple of afternoons we sat in the garden of the Diglis House Hotel as it overlooks the river and it is a really nice place to sit and watch the world go by.  We have had a really nice few days in Worcester but it is now time to do the last leg of our trip. 

And out onto the River Severn

In Diglis Basin Lock

Heading into the 2nd Diglis Basin Lock

Leaving Worcester behind

We are off down the river today, so checked with the lock keeper at Diglis that the river was safe to go on, he said that it was okay although it was rising abit at the locks but nothing to worry about, so that was good to hear.   We got ready and set off to the locks in the basin that take you down to the river, there are two, they are double locks and the gates are really heavy, a boat was just coming out, so Kev took the boat in and then got out and helped me shut the gate, I opened the paddles and down we went, then into the next lock and soon we were out onto the River Severn.  It was very calm.   

Into Diglis River Lock

Diglis lock is not far away and as we had rung ahead to the lock keeper, he was expecting us and the lock was ready so in we went, hooked onto the wire poles and down we went and out the lock and on down the river.  There isn’t much to see on the river as the edges are mostly covered with tall trees so it is a bit boring.  

We had a couple or rain showers, but nothing much and within a couple of hours we were approaching Upton-on-Severn.  The pontoon was empty, so we moored up.  The river was running quite fast but it was still very calm.

Moored at Upton Upon Severn

Upton Upon Severn

 

We walked up into the town, it only has a few shops but they are mainly independent traders, it is nice to walk around.  Went for a drink, then back to the boat.  We are staying here tonight, then off down to Gloucester tomorrow.

Tibberton to Worcester (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

 

Thursday 9^th October

The forecast was not good today, but when we got up the sun was shining, so we had to decide to stay put or risk going on and not getting wet doing the 12 locks, so decided in the end to stay put and catch a bus to Worcester and do the food shopping.  Got ready and walked up the road to wait for the bus and it started raining and got harder and harder, we got very wet waiting for the bus but was really glad we weren’t doing locks in the rain and it was very windy as well.  The bus came along and we got on and off we went.  We got off at Shrub Hill Railway station and walked down the road and within 5 to 10 minutes we were at Asda and Aldi.  Did our shopping and it rained the whole time.  Walked back to the bus stop and caught the bus back.

Walked back to the boat.  The rain did go over in the afternoon and it brightened up a bit but we were glad we had made the right decision.  We will chug down into Worcester tomorrow.

.
Friday 10th October
 

Going under the M5

Into Offerton Top Lock we go

Six locks down, six to go!!

We are chugging off today and the sun was shining.  We have 12 locks to do, so set off early and chugged off to the Offerton locks, there are six in this flight.  The boat that was moored in front of us at Tibberton had set off before us and were in the lock when we got there, we followed them all down the locks, they were a bit slow and we caught them up at most of the locks, but I gave them a hand so not too bad, but we had to fill everyone today before we could go down, so that added a bit of time.  Also there was a hire boat behind us who gave us a hand every now and then, so that helped.  We used our Plan B on the locks as they had steps, so once again Kev was in training for Team Mabey in the tug of war!!  It worked really well and we got a good rhythm going.  Soon we were through all 12 locks and we were in Worcester.  We moored just past Bridge 5 before Blockhouse lock.  We will save that lock for tomorrow!! 

Lock No. 12 done, hurray!!

Walked up to the shops and got some more shopping.  Then back to the boat and just chilled out.  It turned out to be a lovely sunny day, the rain they forecast didn’t come, so we made the right decision staying put yesterday and chugging down to Worcester today in the sunshine instead of in the wind and rain!  Chugging down into the basin tomorrow and will stay there a couple of days before heading out onto the mighty River Severn!!