The June Rose: Monday 17 August 2015

We pulled pins at 9.00am and set off for Stratford upon Avon. The forecast for today said we would have sunny spells until 11.00am then it would cloud over. In fact it was overcast to start off with and at 11.00am the sun came out! We meandered along this peaceful stretch of river – we can’t believe it is the summer holidays – we only saw four other boats moving until we got to Stratford upon Avon.

In the first lock we bumped into a guy who has been living on his boat for a year now who told us that the River Avon had only had 2,000 visitors all year last year which does seem a shame as it is very beautiful and if it is self funded they will struggle to maintain this stretch. It is 49 miles from Tewksbury to Stratford Upon Avon and it passes through several nice little villages and the weirs on this river are very picturesque.

The locks on this river are quite deep and the gates are pretty hard to open. At the last lock I got one of the onlookers to help me – she was an American lady and seemed to enjoy the experience of actually helping – she was wearing white trousers and a white jacket though which worried me a bit. But with the paddle back open between the two of us we managed to open the gate although it was still pretty heavy to start of with!

Also just before we arrived at this lock we could see a little hire boat stuck on a weir – you see signs warning you of the dangers of weirs but this is the first time we have actually seen anyone stuck on one. It was a young couple and they said that just as they realised they were heading for the weir they had tried to turn the boat but as they got it sideways it was just swept away until it got stuck on the rocks – they are lucky it didn’t tip over! They had to be rescued by the boat hire company who didn’t seem too impressed with them.

Then we arrived in the middle of town and as it was a Monday we managed to moor right in the centre next to the recreation ground (we are told it is a completely different story at the weekend!). There was a rugby event taking place and then a band set up in the bandstand and played until it got dark. One old couple danced to every song and the rest of us joined in occasionally!

In the lock with a boat called Sam (our nephew!)

Pretty Weir!

Oh dear - a lorry hit this bridge so it was being repaired leaving only the right hand arch to go through.

There are some beautiful houses around here - look at that lovely stone windowframe!

Another pretty weir!

And a pretty lock!

And I thought I had big feet!

Funny place to keep your solar panels!

I was trying to work out why I had taken this picture - then realised I was trying to get a shot of the woodpecker for you! unfortunately being on a moving boat things just get in the way!