Avon Ring and the Grand Union

[Oliver]

Just back from 15 days cruising and have been struck by the lack of other people about, particularly over the Bank Holiday.

 

We went up the Grand Union to Kingswood. Hatton Flight had plenty of gongoozlers about but hardly any boats. 2/3rds of the way up we paired up with nb Rufford to complete the flight. Only met 2 boats coming down.

 

Onto the Lapworth Locks and there were a steady stream of boats coming up but that was it. Very pretty going down from Kingswood to Stratford. The basin at Stratford came as a bit of a surprise - right in the middle of the town and full of hustle and bustle - a shock after the peace and quiet of the previous few days.

 

Out onto the Avon - we had been warned that mooring could be a difficulty and that we might have to double up, but no problems in fact we had some moorings to ourselves a couple of nights. The Avon was so clear you could see the bottom and the Upper Avon was particularly beautiful.

 

Out onto the Severn at Tewksbury and moored at Upton on Severn - this was probably the worst mooring of the trip - we were 4 deep. Off the Severn at Worcester onto the Birmingham & Worcester Canal (Note that widebeams can't get through lock 3 at the moment as one of the gates is broken)

 

Tardebigge was very lonely - no boats going up and met only 2 coming down. We got to the top lock bar one intending to eat at the pub marked - Tylers Lock - but it was closed and speaking to some locals, it is now some kind of club.

 

South portal of Tardebigge Tunnel has a large BWB boat moored partly in the tunnel, there are a few lights on it and the notice at the North Portal was not very big.

 

Down the remaining Lapworth Locks back to Kingswood - again, no one about. These locks were leaking badly and the gates were very heavy - there were a couple I couldn't shift on my own. (There's a BWB pump out station at Kingswood which wasn't marked in Pearsons/Nicholsons).

 

Filling with water at Kingswood I went for a dive between the boat and quayside - don't know how it happened. Now have lovely purple yellow left foot and matching right ribs. Ouch!

 

Back out onto the Grand Union - spent a day moored between Bridge 62 and 61. A lovely spot.

 

Down Hatton Flight - no company, 2 boats coming up.

 

Until Saturday, we had 2 weeks of truly glorious weather - lived in shorts and strappy tee shirts - and then the heavens opened. We had company coming up the locks towards Bascote but the rain was too much just before the staircase, so we all packed up until the torrents stopped. Managed to do a three boat shuffle in the staircase - first time for all three crews. We gave up shortly after that and sat out the rest of the rain and the rest of the day.

 

Got back to the marina around mid-day. 209 locks (206 done by me, 3 by lock-keepers) about 146 miles. Lunched, packed, came home. Hope it won't be too long until we are out again. There will be a much fuller log up on the boat website in the next couple of days including pictures