Canal Holiday: Avon Ring

7 June 2006, Day 5: Welford-on-Avon to Pershore

Today's segment of the Avon Ring was of a very different character to the canals - much broader, at times more constrained with persistent river banks, and sudden excitement and minor dangers when the wide locks and their weirs interrupt our passage.

The River Avon behind us as we make our way downstream.

One of the weirs on the Avon.

The impressive ancient bridge at Bidford-on-Avon

Riverside at Bidford-on-Avon

Waiting to enter one of the locks on the Upper Avon Navigation

Another weir

Alan just starting to move backwards to allow the left gate to be opened. It was slightly disconcerting that even when touching the bottom gates, the rudder of our 70-foot boat overlapped the white marker showing where the cill is located, and it was often necessary to nudge right up to the cill once the lock was empty to provide enough room to get the gates open.

Continuing down the River Avon

Alan and Stephen at the stern

The unusual lock cottage at Evesham. We have now passed onto the Lower Avon Navigation.

Another weir and lock

A weir and old mill

The diamond-shaped Wyre Lock

First sights of Bredon Hill (to be our constant companion tomorrow morning) as we approach Pershore.

We moored at the recreation ground moorings above Pershore Lock and had fish and chips from a nearby shop. Merry rejoined us and drove us back to Evesham where we went to the bellringing practice. Unfortunately the clapper of the tenor had cracked, but we rang the front ten which were very pleasant, and we were able to do some very enjoyable ringing.

Total today on the Avon Ring: 24 miles and 10 locks