Day 42 to 44 Stratford-upon-Avon

A late addition to finish the 2019 blog:

Surprisingly, there's plenty of room in the canal basin and we're moored right opposite the RSC theatre.  After the quiet river, this is completely different; we're surrounded by tourists and the bustle of the town centre, including a busker singing showtunes and an evangelist preacher - all rather enjoyable (for Jan) and the definition of hell (Denis).  This is our base for three nights.

Our mooring in Stratford Basin

 

 The Avon Navigation Trust information boat on the jetty next to us

  Hello again to Roger, Pauline and Kezzie

...and lunch before farewell - until the next trip

 View of Statford's Big Wheel and Tramway Bridge

 Stratford in bloom

View of Catnap with Shakespeare statue in background

Tramway Bridge

 View of the RSC theatre from the opposite bank

Old buildings on the river

Trip boats

 Tudor, tourists, traffic

Amazing wooden framed house

 Shakespeare's birthplace

Our 2019 blog ends here, although the trip back doesn't as we travel north via the Stratford Canal, join the Grand Union through Birmingham then onto the Birmingham & Fazeley, the Coventry and from then retrace our route to Sawley.  Looking forward to next year...

Day 41 Bidford to Stratford-upon-Avon

Thursday 8 August the next and final section of our time on the Avon - our destination Stratford.

 Squaring up to the first bridge of the day, leaving our mooring at Bidford

 Lining up

 

 Looking back at Bidford bridge, with its assorted arches

 First lock of the day, Barton.  We decide we'll both get off the boat on these river locks, one to look after fore and aft ropes and the other to work the lock

Moored boats

 Nice signwriting

 Replica Dutch barge

 More moored boats behind the island

 Riverside trees often meet in the middle and it can be very narrow

 Picking our way around overhanging trees...

...and reed beds...

...not to mention rocky underwater shelves

Next lock is to the right

 

 Atmospheric bankside with gate

 A solar farm in the back garden

 Approaching Binton Bridge, navigable arch to the right

 Can just see it on the right behind the tree

 Yep, there's the arrow

 The tow of the current, even in dry conditions, is noticeable passing through these bridges

Sweet boathouse

 Cooling paddle

 Stan Glover lock

 Emptying the lock

 We first open the same side paddle to fill the lock - with caution, since the water gushes out with great force...

 ... meanwhile holding the bow line steady

 In the next lock, sharing with old companions Lisa and Judith on nb Kalamazoo

 Approaching central Stratford

 The river is suddenly busy with rowing boats, passenger cruisers and small motor launches!  The RSC theatre is on the left

 Turning off the river into the canal basin the lock is against us - so an awkward wait sticking out into the river and a rope round the only bollard.  Note the audience!

 Just upstream is Tramway Bridge, now pedestrian

 Into the lock and the attention from tourists is a bit overwhelming...

 

 though friendly

Day 38 - 40 Evesham to Bidford

Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 August was exploring Evesham and on Wednesday 7 we set off for Bidford.

Mooring up, with Workman Bridge ahead and Evesham centre to the left
 

Window display
 

The origin of Evesham, or 'Eof's hamm' (meaning land on a river bend)
 

The town square and Eof the swineherd's vision of the virgin
 

The old quay, still preserved.  Goods like malt, stockings and tobacco went by boat to and from Bristol along the river
 

Still life with courgette (grown on the roof)
 

Setting off upriver towards Bidford
 

About to shoot the bridge
 

Evesham lock and its A-frame cottage, sadly flood damaged and now unused
 

Using the services
 

Could be a good year for damsons?
 

Silvery foliage
 

Giant Scottish thistle in the lock garden
 

Waiting for the lock to empty
 

 Opening the gate
 

Working the lock
 

When the locks were restored, the machinery was brought in from many different places - these paddles are French
 

T-shirt weather (just!)
 

A stop at the (very helpful) Evesham Marina for diesel and repairs to the stern gland grease gun, which has been leaking
 

Spot the cormorant
 

Offenham lock and its quirky lighthouse shaped tower
 

Harvington lock with footbridge
 

 Chatting with this friendly multinational family, who helped with the lock gates
 

Adding to our collection of eccentric sheds
 

Sunlight on the harvest
 

Looks like this is recently fallen
 

Another not too warm day, but dry so far
 

Evening mooring just before the bridge at Bidford-on-Avon