Victor: The Avon again

AFTER 11 years we thought it was time for the Avon again, so being able to pick up our boat at Stratford, it was the parting of 50 quid for the privilege and off on the river we went.

Cruising down the Avon, as doubtless many of you will be aware is a 'doddle' as the huge majority of the locks are well maintained with the gates easy to move and all the paddles working.

But one thing I just could not understand since the last time in 2005 when we last cruised the river, there were notices at every lock stating that boats must be tied bow and stern when either ascending or descending. Yet as boats stay absolutely still, with of course no turbulence whatsoever when descending as the water drains out, I just could not understand this rule.

Having witnessed one boat 'hung' by being securely so tied and pointing out the danger to two hirers when they re-tied as the boat was going down—both at Sawley Lock—leaving no slack to allow the boat to descend all the way, I'm afraid we took no notice of the rather dangerous advice.  Perhaps it refers to the cruisers that so populate the Avon and not narrowboats.

The Avon is a pleasant river, similar to the lower reaches of the Soar, and with a limit of six miles an hour, progress can be rather swift going with the flow and none of those 'Slow down past moored boats' signs that now abound on the canals, as I noticed that the moorers on the Avon seem to know how to tie their boats properly, being used to the quicker river traffic.

Joy to handle

And the lock gates on the Upper Avon with tubular steel 'beams' were a joy to handle, even though somewhat wider than our normal broad locks. In fact there was only one that was paradoxically very difficult—the Robert Aickman New Lock, that required two to close the top gate.

What I found strange that details of a lock were not always on a sign by the side but actually on a boat moored at the entrance to the lock, as pictured, taking up mooring space, meaning that with it being a mostly cruiser river it often has short moorings at the bottom of locks, that can rarely accommodate more than one narrowboat, though the above mooring was new and the exception.

Flood of July 2007

We did notice that the mooring poles were considerably higher than the last time we visited, no doubt the result of the drastic flood of July 2007.  And there were more mooring sites, many at the top of locks but only allowing one night's stay. At Evesham there are well over half a mile of ringed moorings and even a long length with long mooring poles in case of another summer flood, as shown.

Boaters either love or hate the Upper Avon paddle gear, for though it is exceptionally easy to use, alas it needs 30 turns to fully open the paddle, then there is no letting it slip down through your fingers, as it needs another 30 turns to close. I wonder why a more sensible gear ratio could not have been chosen.

Alan Tilbury

This first day we had the pleasure of our Principal Reporter Alan Tilbury with us once again, which meant our Thomas had a very easy day indeed, ner working a single lock.  Having accompanied us every year since May 2006 when we cruised the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, and having no few years as a hirer, he is a very accomplished boater indeed.

He is seen examining one of the many information boards by the locks on the river.