Thursday 11th August

A very dull and dreary morning as we set off up the River Avon which eventually turned to rain but not for too long J The Avon is a very attractive river with low banks which the Severn doesn’t have and you can see for miles. Bredon Hill seems to appears in front, behind and then next to you – it’s really strange! The locks are broad but you have to tie up with a bow and aft line which is extremely complicated as it means taking the aft line from the helmsperson then they have to dash through the boat to throw up the bow line, the shore person then has to wind the paddle whilst holding on to the rope! How anyone is supposed to manage single handed I don’t know – but it’s against the by-laws to do it any other way. We stopped for lunch at Eckington Bridge which is a 16th Century structure though it is closed to cars at present and having work done. We went through Strensham, Nafford and Pershore locks and had hoped to moor at Pershore Recreation Ground but there was no room at the inn! We went on to Wyre Lock and found moorings on the lock island where we moored up. There were a couple of picnic tables on the island so we had a BBQ and sat outside to eat.