Cruising on the River Avon

After our first day out cruising on the Avon we couldn't find a mooring in Bidford, there are only three visitor moorings for narrowboats, even the pub moorings were full. It was a case of continuing on a little further where we landed in this great mooring next to Harvington Lock. While I was taking this shot in the morning there were six large fish out in the middle of the pound sunning themselves, just below the surface.

While at Evesham, our next stop, we headed over with our friends to the Pershore Plum Festival. Pershore is about a four hour cruise from Evesham but with the festival on there was no mooring space. This was the case still, when we cruised through three days later. This pic shows part of the huge car show.

Part of the festival was in the church yard where we were moving around the graves and headstones. Lots of food tents with lots of samples; I didn't need a big lunch.

Saw this deer feeding as we cruised past, not something you see everyday.

A lovely cruising day out on the Avon.

Cruising through Wyre Piddle (great name!) we passed this boat, the owner seems to have a sense of humour about his town's name.

We finished our day at Wyre Piddle, mooring at the visitor moorings at the lock. THis is a diamond lock and confuses the hire boaters somewhat, it's the first lock they do by themselves when they set out. Kept me busy, I had to help two boats through over a couple of hours. Across from our mooring was a two storey wide beam, great until you get to a bridge! Although, I don't think it moves very far.

Rachael with Serafina waiting for me to set the lock. The blue tipped poles signify 24hr Visitor Moorings. In fact, we moored here in 2017, picturesque and quiet!

This narrowboat wreck has been here for quite a while, my information is that it was dumped there by a flood.

A couple of pics from around Tewkesbury, a very old place, in fact mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1066. Lots of old buildings and plenty of little lane ways like this one.

And, The Royal Hop Pole is a JD Wetherspoons pub and part of the building dates back to the 15th century. There were plenty of these old buildings but I chose this one as it was mentioned in Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers. It became the 'Royal' Hop Pole after the visit of Princess Mary (later Queen Mary) in 1891 and thus displays the Royal Coat of Arms over the entrance portico.

No photos of the Abbey, but if you want to see some pics from our last trip here in 2017 go here.