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.

To Pershore

Then it was an easy day down to Pershore after the 'A' frame house and back to the normal broad locks with wooden beams on the Lower Avon, with still the lock gates fairly easy to move. But alas there had not so far been much attempt to increase lock moorings to accommodate narrowboats, for as we exited the diamond shape Pershore Lock, there was nowhere to pick up the 'crew' as there were only mooring on one side of the river that held the waiting two narrowboats, with the rearmost one well into the bushes. But luckily as we had long perfected the picking up at lock mouths, so a bit  of reversing brought the boat back by the side of the weir to get the crew.

I should imagine a hirer however with little experience would just have to 'hang about' until the two boats taking up all the moorings had entered the lock before it could get to the mooring to pick up anyone.

Dogs

Pershore, and memories of 'She Who Must Be Obeyed'—Jan, attempting to fly a kite on the playing field by the moorings. For you with dogs, who actually walk their animals, there is the vast Avon Meadows, on which we clocked just over two miles, much to the joy of the dog.

The reason for my comment about walking dogs, is that all too often I have seen boaters, with rather large dogs whose idea of giving their pets a walk is to just turn them out on the towpath, which really is most unfair to the animals, as dogs need exercise. Like some others we know, we make a point of looking up bridle paths and the like on the map when choosing an overnight stopping place, though I expect for many a pub is the most important.  Now that should  ruffle a few feathers!

The worst

The last of the three days cruising saw our normal early start and Pershore Lock—the worst lock gate to move of the whole waterway.  Poor Jan tried her hardest, but it just would not budge, so another body gave a push, and even then it was no easy task. It seems the Lower Avon Trust's answer is to extend the lock beam with a piece of steel in the hope of giving more leverage. Not good.

Though I must admit most of the lock gates were well balanced and easy to move, however the now 'normal' paddle gear sometimes left a lot to be desired.

Bridge over the lock

Then shades of the Monkey Marsh Lock on the Kennet & Avon Canal—a lock with a swing bridge over its middle!  This time however, not one for farm animals but a rather easy to move one for pedestrians worried about crossing on lock beams, though of course boaters have to as normal when the the bridge was opened.

Very wise

It is always very wise to take notice of the sometimes hidden entrances to the locks and of course evade the often more inviting entrances to the weirs.

Here is one boater who didn't, much to his/her cost.

Attractive

There has been a great deal of effort both on the Upper Avon and Lower Avon to make the locks attractive, with flowers abounding all the way across some.  And we did not notice a single unpainted lock on the whole trip.

The lock sides were all nicely mown, with the only downside being that some of the notices were rather tatty and in need of replacing, otherwise the whole picture was inviting.

Eckington Bridge

Work was progressing steadily on the repair to Eckington Bridge, not having to wait for contractors—there was only one workman chipping away at the sandstone, which gives the impression it will be a long job, a very long job!

It was just topside of the bridge that we moored by the caravan park last time, but no chance now as contractors' boats have taken up all the mooring space.

Tewkesbury

So we carried on to Tewkesbury, arriving rather early, but discovering from the locky that the nearest mooring upriver on the Severn was at Upton, so called it a day and moored just beyond the lock, giving up three quid for the privilege. A walk down the arm and we discovered a vast flood plain, so Rusty was happy and we had our exercise for the day!

Victor Swift