We made good use of our prime mooring next to King John’s Bridge in Tewkesbury, there was a shady tree next to us to shelter from the sun, and the town centre was just a few minutes away.
We look a bit lonely in the photo, but actually there was a coming and going of boats either side of us.
Neither were we lonely because we were pleased to welcome several Gloucestershire visitors during our stay, Allison, Edward & Hazel and Anj, a friend of our daughter whom we hadn’t seen in ages and who now works in Tewkesbury.
We also made use of the Buttercup Laundry & Ironing service in Chance Street. (note: NOT a launderette) 1
Whilst in the town we sampled a couple of the hostelries, Ye Olde Black Bear, dating back to at least 1308 and which serves up a nicely cooked All Day Breakfast and also Theoc House café bar, which has more of a wine bar/bistro ambiance and where we enjoyed gorgeous tapas, the Black Pudding scotch egg scoring a particular hit with Joy.
This morning we topped up the water tank, and it was off upstream passing through glorious countryside in the sunshine.
After our first Avon locks at Strensham (the only reminder of the eponymous motorway services being the bridge carrying the M5 above us) and Nafford (where a boat moored on the main lock landing forced us to moor on the short right hand landing where we were in the way of a broad beam coming down the lock) by that time we were glad to stop for lunch in the shady Great Comberton visitor moorings.
Suitably refreshed we tackled our last reach (is that the right word?) for the day, up to Pershore, though the old & new bridges and tackle the complexities of Pershore Lock which has a side paddle which must be used first, and a rise of 9ft, not appreciated when I had to climb back down (and up) the lock ladder because I had forgotten the windlass! I blame the heat!
We were happy to moor up for the night at Pershore Recreation Ground under another shady tree, then had a welcome warm shower to cool off before tea.
1) 5 Chance Street, Tewkesbury – GL20 5RQ 01684 273927