Sunday 30th September - Bidford
We decided to spend the day moored in Bidford and went for a walk along the river to Barton where we had a delicious Sunday Lunch at the Cottage of Content.
We also found Harry, the proud owner of a beautiful 6.3 litre Rolls Royce, very similar to the one we had on our wedding day!
The tiniest thatched cottage, makes me feel like I'm in a fairytale.
Monday 1st October - Bidford to Stratford
A panoramic view across the fields as the sun rose on the first day of autumn.
Sunrise over Bidford, another glorious morning with a splendid day ahead of us for our cruise into Stratford.
We passed through the bridge at Bidford, passage was decidedly off centre and very clearly marked.
Some stunning properties along this part of the river, many of them built on stilts to avoid being flooded.
As we approached Stratford the bells rang out from this church, a wonderful welcome. This church, Holy Trinity Church, is where William Shakespeare was baptised and where he was buried on 25th April 1616.
We moored up for two days just opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and spent the time exploring the town and the surrounding countryside.
Tuesday 2nd October - Stratford Upon Avon
On our walk we found Stratford Upon Avon Racecourse, a national hunt racecourse. There has been a racecourse on this site since 1755 and apart from a few breaks during the 19th Century racing has been continuous.
An excellent opportunity for an enterprising person in a prime location, rent or buy, any takers?
We have come to the end of our time on the River Avon, it has been a wonderful experience and a delightful voyage of discovery. I know we have been lucky with the weather and the river has been very kind to us and we shall return to stop in those many places we didn't have time to explore this time.
This poem by Sir John Betjeman sums up our feelings:
He who by peaceful inland water steers
Bestirs himself when a new lock appears.
Slowly swing the gate: slow sinks the water down;
This lower Stratford seems another town.
The meadows which the youthful Shakespeare knew
Are left behind, and, sliding into view, Come reaches of the Avon, mile on mile,
Church, farm and mill and lover-leaned-on stile,
Til where the tower of Tewkesbury soars to heaven
Our homely Avon joins the haughty Severn.
Sweet is the fluting of the blackbird's note,
Sweet is the ripple from the narrow boat.
Your Majesty, our friend of many years,
Confirms a triumph now the moment nears:
The lock you have re-opened will set free
The heart of England to the open sea.
Wednesday 3rd October - Stratford to Wootton Wawen
We left our mooring and turned left, locking up from the river onto the Stratford Canal.
Back onto narrow locks for narrowboats.
Part of the Wilmcote Locks, a flight of 17 locks in total, hard work and in a poor state of repair.
We crossed the Edstone Aqueduct, the longest aqueduct in England and is supported on brick piers. It is unusual because the towpath is at the same level as the base of the canal.
There are two much shorter aqueducts at Wootton Wawen and Yarlingale.
A new marina has sprung up since the last time we came by, Hill Farm Marina opened in October 2017 and has 50 berths, with work on the building under way.
A beautiful mooring on a bend with open views across the fields. Very peaceful indeed!
We took a walk to The Yew Tree Farm Shopping Village and bizarrely enough, found balcony furniture for our apartment!
Also a lovely farm shop.
Thursday 4th October - Wootton Wawen to Lowsonford
We stopped at the end of this aqueduct to fill up with diesel before continuing on to Lowsonford.
It is an Anglo Welsh hire base and many of the boats were already moored up for the winter. Not many hirers at this time of year, apparently it is too cold and wet!
We found this poster attached to a lock beam. I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment, but "Two in a lock", made us laugh!
Very attractive barrel roofed lock cottages, the one at Lowsonford Lock is owned by Landmark Trust and can be hired out for holidays.
We moored up at Lowsonford opposite the Fleur de Lys pub and decided to stay for a couple of days. A lovely meal on Thursday evening, a walk on Friday and a quiet day on the boat on Saturday as it was raining!
We found a farm shop selling Dexter beef and Gloucester Old Spot pork...
and a ford for Toby to paddle in on our walk.
Map Key
Week 1 - Brown Week 2 - Purple
No comments:
Post a Comment