Stratford

Mike and Jess had a short walk after breakfast - down to the lock keeper's lookout and also the one-time ford across the river - and then we were ready to leave. It was not far to the next lock and Jess was ready to help.

Lock Keeper's Lookout - George Billington Lock

Former Ford adjacent to George Billington Lock

The Upper Avon is a very pretty river and there are few interruptions, other than the occasional lock and a couple of ancient bridges.

IWA Lock

Bidford Bridge

Above Pilgrim Lock we pulled onto the overnight moorings to have lunch. Afterwards, Jess and Mike walked back across the lock to take a look at the waterfall (aka weir).

Weir alongside Pilgrim Lock

On again and before long Jess fell asleep and rested for the main part of the afternoon, coming back to life for the last couple of locks.

This sign amused us - charter for £75 and for a whole family?

The stretch below Luddington Lock (now renamed the Stan Glover Lock) is especially narrow and shallow - it was surprising how much our speed fell, more like some of the narrow canals.

All of the locks and many of the lock landings and bridges have been given names to commemorate a significant donor for the restoration or someone who worked particularly to achieve it. Hence most of the locks have longer names that replace the historic names such as those found in Edwards.

Old Railway Bridge

We passed under the old railway bridge that connected Stratford to the south - its line to the north remains so it is quite easy to get to Birmingham but much more difficult to go to London. If the connection had been retained it linked in with the Worcester to Oxford line which we travelled on yesterday.

The last lock has large girders to deal with the particular ground conditions

The final couple of locks, quite close together which we came up in the company of another narrow boat, brought us finally to Stratford and there was room to moor alongside the open park area.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Whilst Mike finished preparing the roast dinner, Christine and Jess walked, passed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and (to Jess's delight) a bandstand, to the town centre to find our where best to go shopping - but they decided to leave that until the morning when we could moor a little closer.

As we sat down to eat, a practice bell-ringing session at the nearby Holy Trinity Church started up. At first it seemed that one person was being introduced to ringing but then the whole peal started up and went on for some time . . .  (they finished at 9) Christine wanted a picture of the flood lit church but the best out little camera could manage does need you imagination as well:



Floodlit Holy Trinity Church

13.6 miles - 8 locks