Evesham

 We did not need to be up quite as quickly as some days as we planned to walk into Eckington village for the morning service at the ancient church. At first, Alice read another story to Mike. It was a pleasant morning and it took us less time than we thought so we were able to find the shop and buy some milk to replenish the one item in our food store that was running low.

Half timbered Houses in Eckington

Holy Trinity Church, Eckington

After the service we walked back to the boat and, by midday, made an immediate start on our journey to Evesham. Earlier this morning, Christine rang Sankey Boatyard just outside the town and booked a paid-for mooring. It might not be needed but the certainty of knowing that we had a place for the night that was suitable for the station next morning was worth it. (Their claim to be only 400m from the station was a bit of an exaggeration!)

Swan Neck Bend

It was a mixed day, an occasional light shower interrupted otherwise bright sunshine although there was at times quite a cool breeze.

We had five locks to negotiate and the latter three were all manned by volunteers from the Avon Navigation Trust. At one of them a lady who organises some of the volunteer rotas was bemoaning that a number of her regular volunteers had defected to the new Waterways volunteering schemes - but will they return?

Pershore Lock

Pershore Lock had an unusual ground paddle set back a little way from the lock.

The river is very scenic almost throughout the Lower Avon section - the original two trusts (Upper and Lower Avon - now combined) had very different approaches to the technical specification of the restored navigations. Sadly, almost all of the water and sewerage facilities were handed over at some stage to the Environment Agency who have decided that they are too expensive to maintain. As a result, there are almost no facilities at present between Tewkesbury (paid for) and Evesham.

Former Mill at Wyre Lock

As we cruised along the longer sections, Alice read a couple of Horrid Henry stories and made a presentation box with wrapped toffees as a holiday gift to her family.


Railway Bridge just outside Evesham Station

 By the end of the after noon we arrived at Sankey boatyard and checked out our mooring. We also learned that the sanitary stations we planned to use just a short distance away was now closed (ironic since it was attached to a sewage works!). As we were in need (let the reader understand) we had to make the much longer trip up to Evesham Lock. On the way we passed a party boat as well as the rope ferry at Hampton (where we spotted one of the volunteer lock keepers we had met earlier in the afternoon)

Party Boat at Evesham

We emptied the elsan and partly filled the water tank before turning around and setting off back to out overnight stop. Whilst Christine helped Alice ready for bed, Mike walked to the railway station - the ticket office was closed but at least we now know where we have to go ion the morning and how long it takes. Oh, and yes, the estimate of how far it is from Sankey was out by almost a factor of two! On the other hand it is a straight walk and not too far.