Travelling to Tewkesbury.

We were off a little earlier than normal and although it was nice and sunny it was a bit chilly in the wind. We were soon at the first lock, Blockhouse Lock.

The lock houses at Blockhouse Lock remind me of those at the top of the Wolverhampton 21 flight. Helen swore she witnessed a very slick drug deal going down under the bridge. But she didn't have anything to show for it. At least that is what she says!

Once we got through Sidbury Lock outside the Commandery museum we stopped at the water point to fill up. Again we were soon on our way to the first of the two locks down into the river. It seemed that the voluntary lock keepers had just come on so they were quite helpful in the wind. We crossed with a boat coming up in the pound between the locks and then were soon poking our bow out onto the river.

The signpost at the entrance to the Diglis Locks.

As I came out of the lock we got the best view of the Cathedral  despite the terrace of houses. I swung round and landed on the pontoon to pick up Helen. By then a rowing eight and coach had swung and the trod water just off the mooring whilst they had a session of technique. All the time I was waiting to come off and head down river.

Just down from the narrow locks is the Diglis river lock. We were on our own as we were penned down and soon out at the other side.

Just past the lock is a new pedestrian bridge that allows a round walk up both sides of the river by Worcester.

This boat at the Severn Motor Yatch Club doesn't look like it gets out much! Mind you it looks like the pieces are put together with velcro so maybe not to bad to remove. A bit of a jigsaw to put it all back mind.

Just a little further down the river you gets some good views of the distant Malvern Hills. Every now and then they can be seen all the way to Tewkesbury where there is a gap in the trees.

This is the 100 ft sandstone cliff at Clevelode. Just the other side of which is a trailer park that somewhat takes the shine off the view.

This lovely house can see down both reaches of the Severn. It was greatly improved by the Earl of Coventry in about 1780. It is said that the Queen Mother stayed her during the WWII. There are 8-11 beds, 6-8 receptions, 3-5 bathrooms and 23 acres. It was sold in 1980's reputedly to pay off gambling debts. It has recently been taken off the market priced £2,450,000!

It seems that there is still some commercial traffic on this part of the river, but not at the weekends. These boats Pike, Elver, Perch and Chub carry aggregates.

We zipped past Upton on Severn which looked like an interesting spot and we must stop if we pass this way again as there are public moorings here, including a pontoon.

We made the turn from the Severn into the Avon, being careful to keep clear of the bank on the north side and head up towards the lock. This was out first view of Tewkesbury. Healings mill is off to the right and the lock is off to the left.

We gave a toot on the horn at the lock and it was soon opening for us. The lock keeper soon had managed to sell us an Avon River Guide for £4 and two night moorings for £20! I suppose it all helps to keep the river navigable and will prepare us for the times on the Thames that we may need to be fleezed for a night. After a quick bowl of soup we went for a walk into town to get the lay of the land. We popped into the Information place and found a Town Walk so that is tomorrow taken care of. After that we went to see the Abbey. It is quite strangely proportioned as it is very wide and not very tall. Having said that it was lovely and much nicer than Worcester Cathedral. I will put some photographs on tomorrow as I don't want to over burden you today. On the way back to the boat we passed the Royal Hop Pole pub which was a cavernous Weatherspoon's and we thought it would be rude not to check it out. So we did.

A photograph from our mooring just below King John's Bridge. You can just see the lock on the righht above the two narrow boats and the Abbey is in the distance in the middle of the picture.