More than 7 for the Severn so far.

We went to the Old Black Bear and took part in their quiz but didn't do too well. What did a Fart Catcher do? and what can't you do with a washing line in Minnesota? where two of the questions.

Our time on the Avon has come to an end. We have thoroughly enjoyed it and the weather has been quite cooperative too. Like all rivers though at busy times it may well be a different thing as the moorings are always limited and this makes for a more stressful time. We filled up with water and then got penned down on to the river and away by 1000.

The only lock keeper we found on the Avon and the only electric lock too. The lock house is built on stilts giving you an idea of the height the river can come up. On to the Severn and making a fair speed without flogging the revs.

The sun was shining and the views to the Malvern Hills were teasing. We passed a few boats coming down river but again it felt like our own river.

As we came up to the M50 motorway bridge we also saw 'Elver' loading sand from the east bank.

Only a couple or three miles further up we came across the discharging point where 'Perch' was just completing her discharge and they swapped round. The other two don't look as though they have worked for a while.

We were soon arriving at Upton on Severn where we were going to stop as we missed it last year. The pontoon through the bridge was vacant when we arrived.

Straight away after mooring this blighter was looking for food and would have come right inside if we hadn't barred his passage.

The duck reminded me that it wasn't the only bird we have aboard, and I'm not talking about Helen here. I don't think I have shown a picture of our boating budgie called Skye. Not after the island but the colours in a summer sky and the 'Neighbours' character.

After lunch we went up into the town to find a bit of a time warp. It would make a great place for one of those WWII re-enactment days like at Stoke Bruene. The blue diamond plaque marks the height that the 2007 flood reached.

This is the bell tower of the old church now known as the Pepper pot. The church had a spire that was changed to this cupola and later the nave of the church fell down as it was not well built. In the end a new church was built at the limit of the village but the tower retained. The Pepperpot was also the site of the Battle of Upton in 1651. The Parliamentarians captured the bridge to secure it prior to the Battle of Worcester.

There are lots of old Georgian buildings and with little side streets etc. There are loads of music festival held here over the summer but none whilst we are here.

This is the site of the last bridge that was made of iron and had first a drawbridge and then a swing section. The other side abutments can be seen between the stern of the boats and the steps.

This graceful steel bridge was built in 1940 and was perhaps the last large steel bridge that was riveted in the country.

We have been joined by three more boats including 'blogger 'Fizzical Attraction' on their was south.