Missing moorings.

With the proximity of the ASDA store Helen popped over the playing field whilst I watched some young lads playing football and get ready for the off. Just as Helen returned I spied a boat pulling off the moorings below us and recognised them as a boat we had come down some of the Stratford Canal with called 'Bodger'.. This was good for both of us as Pershore Lock was close by and we could help each other. We were soon down and setting off for real.

The next obstruction to our passage were the two bridges just round the corner. The first (and oldest) dates from the 14th century. The centre span was brought down by the Cavaliers following the Battle of Worcester. It is only one lane wide. The second and less lovely bridge was the first concrete in Worcester built in 1928. 

We were soon passing through the edge of Tiddesley Wood and this is where the 'famous' Pershore egg plum was found growing wild in 1833. It is a very attractive section of the river.

It is about now that that Bredon Hill starts to dominate the sky line. As the river meanders about it seems to be on either bow and then astern as our course boxed the compass. The tower visible on the top was built by John Parsons MP in mid 1700's. The actual height of the hill is 981 feet and his folly brings it up to 1000'. It was used as a summerhouse, but now has phone masts on it. There is an old iron age fort on the top too called Kemerton Camp.

Doesn't bear thinking about does it! Apparently it had been stuck across Eckington Bridge and when freed and travelling on this happened. A superficial search doesn't find much though. We had to wait for a boat coming up. That is the first time on the Avon.

Not much further on was the 'Swan's Neck' turn. As you can see from Helen's photo it is literally a 360 bend. The photo is not doctored or in a panorama and of course it is where we met the other boat of the day. You can also see our lock companion just approaching the bend too. 

It is quite windy today and on several reaches we were having to crab along to make a good course. I just liked this photo.

We were soon at Eckington Bridge. Our lock companions were stopping for lunch at the moorings here. The first bridge built here replaced a ferry in 1440. The current one was built in 1720's and is an ancient monument. It does look a lot less than the 18' it is supposed to be.

Once through though it looks bigger again. We had decided to stop for the day at the moorings indicated at Strensham Lock. However when we got there there were no moorings there! It seems that the Environmental Agency, who administer the sluices here, were not happy with the lay out of the private moorings so the public ones were sacrificed. We filled up with water though and then moved off to Twyning Green where new Avon Trust had been put in at the Fleet Inn where as before you had to pay.

Strensham Lock has a little basin after you come down which makes life interesting.

As the valley of the Avon widens and the banks drop there have been a couple of sailing clubs. They both looked well kept and seemed to have several boats. I think here they were just having a warming couple minutes. It must be bedlam on the river when there is a regatta.

As we approached the M5 motorway bridge we came across this boat using the wind to work upstream. It had no outboard so I don't know what he would do if the wind dropped as would be tacking like mad to get up current.

It is a much nicer photo looking up stream.

A little further on we tied up at the Fleet Inn mooring and were soon enjoying a bowl of soup. Soon after the rain started so once again we have dodged the worst of it.