Hedgerow Jottings: Hotter and Otter

Worcester

Morning Jotters

Here we are, moored in Luddington, just outside Stratford-Upon-Avon. We're relaxing in an almost chilly cabin with only the rushing of water over the nearby weir to disturb the peace. It’s certainly been one of the hottest weeks I can remember - every day we have boated early and looked for a shady spot to moor during the heat of the day, not always successfully.

Shady Lady

Last Monday morning, we cast off from our shady pontoon in Stourport early, but not before 'canoe man' floated by to send us off with his whistling repertoire. The sun was already hot in a clear blue sky, so we braced ourselves to sizzle on the river. Tewkesbury is a days cruise away and there are few places to moor along the way. The river looks beautiful on this summers morning, and a cool breeze fans us as we chug along, but we soon need the brolly up to get some shade. We reached Worcester late morning and buried the bows right under a willow tree, by the racecourse. The cabin temperature was just bearable under the tree so we made lunch and had a cup of tea while wondering if we should hang on to this tiny piece of shade or push on towards Tewkesbury. Our mind was mind up for us when the sun finally crept round the sky and burned up our bit of shade. Off we went again and sweltered along through the enormous river lock at Worcester knowing it was at least another 4 hours to Tewkesbury. The river locks are huge on the Severn but they are all manned by lock-keepers and electrically operated. All we need to do is secure the boat with ropes at bow and stern and hang on tight when the water starts pouring in. That’s sometimes not as easy as it sounds - threading a rope around a steel riser from a moving boat is like threading a needle without your glasses on. Carl has the most difficult job as he has to steer the boat, thread the rope through and watch out for Tricky, who insists on sitting by his feet whenever we go into a lock. We were all very hot and bothered by the time we spotted Upton – and miracle of miracles – a mooring spot, in the shade. Avoiding a fallen tree that was almost blocking the channel, Carl slipped alongside the pontoon and into the blissful shade of the trees. On another day we might have noticed the roar of the traffic on the busy road bridge nearby but on this hot day, we just thanked our lucky stars for the shade.

Upton-Upon-Severn

After a cold shower and a quick trip to the Co-op, we sat outside on the pontoon. We had chilled bottles of Thatchers Rose cider and the good company of our boating neighbours, who were all sitting out too, watching the twilight creeping up the river. There was some excitement when an otter was spotted crossing the river but we were too late and only caught a glimpse of the ripples it left behind. How very disappointing. We liked Upton very much and stayed another day in the shade, I spent the evening with binoculars and camera, waiting for the little blighter to show up again but he was hiding somewhere, laughing at me, I think.

Working Boat on the River Severn

Wednesday morning dawned hot and sunny as we set off towards Tewkesbury and we got out the Avon Guide so we could find the designated mooring spots – you can't moor just anywhere on the river!. Moorings are scarce on the Avon, the first few spots were full, including the much coveted ‘Swans Neck’ mooring, which is remote and peaceful and has lots of shade. We waved enviously at the lucky occupants as we boated by. It was hot enough for the lock at Nafford to be swarming with teenagers when we arrived. They were diving into the lock from the swing bridge and I didn’t waste my breath telling them it was dangerous as they were all muscly and loaded with testosterone due to so much showing off for the only girl present, who looked stunning in a red bikini. None of the brawny youths were keen to assist me with swinging the bridge, which was stubbornly resisting my puny efforts to move it. Carl came up and together we opened the gates, swung the bridge and Carl fetched the boat into the lock. I left the swing bridge open for the youths to close, I thought they might need to impress bikini girl!

Nafford Lock

It was mid afternoon by the time we found a place at Comberton Quay – not so much a quay as a grassy bank with mooring poles and rings. This would normally be heaven for us but today it's in full sun. There is already a boat on the moorings and we take the vacant spot with relief to be finally tied up. Carl puts up the panels and rubs his hands gleefully, as we are making many amps of free power. On the downside, the fridge is running continuously, as the inside temperature climbs steadily until it reaches 34 degrees. Once again we have the conversation that we have every year during a heatwave – shall we get a new fridge? Maybe we will get round to it this time! We took our chairs, books and cider outside, (this is becoming a regular theme) found a shady spot behind some nettles and stayed out until darkness fell. The peace was shattered when our neighbours struck up their engine at 9 o’clock, we stuck it for a while before retiring to the hot boat and a DVD!

Willows on the Avon

Thursday should have been cooler but the forecasters were wrong again! By the time we reached Pershore, just one lock away, the day had heated up again. The park at Pershore looked very inviting, lined with shady willows and almost empty. Even though it was still early, we called it a day and I nipped over to Asda’s for a lolly and topped up with rabbit food too. We had another day sitting out under the trees, chatting to everyone who passed by until even I tired of the ‘Isn’t it hot’ conversation and went inside to watch another DVD.

Silent Boat - Noisy Occupants

We slipped our lines and left Pershore at 5am, revelling in the coolness and gliding along quietly through the mist towards Wyre Piddle and Fladbury. The riverside houses along the Avon are splendid and I spot a newly thatched cottage with a row of straw ducks at one end and two straw owls at the other. A sign at Fladbury warns of “Bridge Works” and we blast our hooter, as per the signage. Boats coming downstream have priority over boats going upstream but because it was so early, I wasn’t expecting to meet a boat coming through the narrow channel (Carl had gone below at this crucial time - typical!). Luckily, Carl has fixed the stiff throttle lever so I was able to go hard astern and hover until the incoming narrow boat was clear. Carl and I are constantly amazed at how often a boat will appear at the most inconvenient times. You might have the full width of the river to yourself for miles but as soon as you get to a narrow, windy bit, you’ll meet the world and his wife, out for a cruise! The cruising guide we use for the Avon is littered with warnings - hidden weirs, overhanging trees, underwater ferry cables and precarious lock landings that are too high or too low to step onto without doing a full risk assessment first. In spite of this, we have really enjoyed the Avon.

Wyre Lock - unusual diamond shape

Our luck was in when we reached Luddington, this was the last lock of the day and seemed to take forever to fill up. There was a long expanse of empty mooring waiting for us once we were through and how happy were we to have secured such a very picturesque mooring with shade for me and sun for the panels. A local fisherman told us that there had been lots of trouble here because of ‘foreigners’ gathering at the lock, drinking. We did notice groups of young people but they were well behaved and took their rubbish away with them. The fisherman also told us of the local otter that had killed all the ducks which used to live on the lock island. He’d seen it that day but once again, I was unlucky and didn’t catch a glimpse. Richard and Mel came for a visit yesterday, and we sat outside enjoying the cooler day and watching the boats go by. A trip boat, a couple of private boats, a grumpy man who swore and ranted when he couldn't moor on the water point, in spite of our offers to let him moor alongside. Such language from the old man in front of his grandchildren! In the evening a young couple came down with paddle boards and set off up the river with their little kiddies sitting between their feet. I asked if they ever fell in 'Often' was the reply. No helicopter parenting there! The Countess of Evesham' arrived at dusk and turned round in the lock entrance. The passengers alighted to take photos of the weir and also of us waving at them from our hatch, I'm glad they couldn't see I was wearing my nightie.

Evening Cruise

So that's all from us for this week. Tomorrow we get to Stratford and from there we turn up the Stratford Canal towards Warwick. Stay cool everyone

Love from

The Floating Chandlers

Cool at last Tricky

ps I watched a couple of young lads pass by in a tiny cabin cruiser with an outboard. They were about 12, and seemed very young to be working the river locks on their own. I watched as they came in and docked the boat expertly, emptied their elsan and rinsed it out, then swung the big gates and wound the paddles to lower the cruiser onto the next stretch of river. I felt like cheering, real life Swallows and Amazons. I couldn't help thinking that somewhere there were two worried mums biting their nails to the quick.

Morning geese - careful you don't slip

pps Kingfishers have been spotted this week

Shady Luddington

pps I couldn't end without mentioning David Hutchings who 'Led Volunteers and Prisoners to Restore the river to Navigation' - its an interesting story. Click A River Reborn