Here’s a vlog of two more days of cruising up the Avon, from Comberton Quay where the last vlog ended, through Pershore and Evesham, and up to Offenham. I went through a lot of locks, all of which were rather turbulent and one of which had a puzzle to keep you guessing.
This is the start of my trip up the River Avon from Tewkesbury to Stratford-upon-Avon. In this episode I leave Tewkesbury and go past three sailing clubs as well as the mooring our family used to use at Bredon, before tackling two ferocious locks and mooring for the night in a tranquil corner of the countryside at Comberton Quay.
Here’s a quick overview of the hasty oil and filter change that I did on the boat while waiting at Tewkesbury lock for the lock-keeper to return from lunch (as seen at the end of the last vlog). I’m not claiming this is a “how to” or “tutorial” because it was a bit shambolic but I got the job done and it’s fine, so it might be of use or interest to someone perhaps.
After 48 hours on the visitor mooring at Netherwich Basin in Droitwich Spa, I reversed my path up the Droitwich Barge Canal and headed back out downstream on the River Severn. I went through Worcester, past Upton-on-Severn and into the River Avon at Tewkesbury, having executed dramatic overtaking manoeuvres. battled loose logs and coped with any army of tiny spiders.
Moving the narrowboat from the top of lock 2 on the Droitwich Barge canal (near Hawford Junction) and up to Droitwich Spa itself. I end up on the visitor moorings at Netherwich basin and go for a walk around Vines Park.
At last there’s a sunny day and despite the wind it’s time to take the narrowboat off the canal and onto the mighty River Severn. Eventually I’ll go to Tewkesbury but today it’s only to the entrance of the Droitwich Barge Canal at Hawford Junction.
Moving on from Kinver, through Kidderminster in the rain and onto Stourport, also in the rain. Most of this vlog is about rain which may explain why it’s so short.
My journey down the Staffs & Worcester canal continues, picking up from Compton where I moored at the end of the last vlog, and heading south through Kidderminster and eventually ending up in Stourport. En route I see an unusual butty and get thoroughly whacked on the nose by another boat exiting a lock at an awkward angle.
After the fun and frolics of the Boat-Tubers’ Christmas meal (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzT6DEuK91o), we all decided to meet up again for a summer barbecue. By boat, train and car we all congregated a nice convenient spot in the Midlands and ate sausages. This is a very adhoc record of some of the afternoon.
High drama in this video as I become a sitting target for oncoming boats, stuck under a bridge when my propellor picks up something large and unpleasant. In journey terms, I come to the southern end of the Shroppie and turn right, heading south on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal.