Richards visited, took me shopping.
We had planned to go to the circus but it was fully booked for everyday so we didn't get to see it.
Used the facilities at Saul Junction on the way past. On the way we saw a steam powered dingy and a swan killing another swan that had encroached on it's territory.
Checked out the possibility of a visit to Tenby. my travelling companion got pictures of a tall ship going through the swing bridge while I was out shopping for the plumbing fittings to install the new water heater.
Had a couple of drinks too many while watching the Olympics. This resulted in absolute silence, no whistling, no humming, no signs of tinnitus at all, even with my hearing aids in. Everything on screen was double, removed my hearing aids, still no noise. Well worth the other side effects for the brief respite from the noise.
Off to Tenby for the day. Would be nice to be able to afford a couple of days there and perhaps B&B for the night.
Purchased the fibre board to insulate the water heater from the wall and ceiling and fitted it.
D'fer to the vet, got his prescription.
Finished plumbing in the water side of the water heater.
Off to Paignton for the day. Took the Steam train to Kingswear.
Into Cheltenham to get Mason jars and alcohol for preserving. 12 jars, 4 litres of Gin, 4 bottles of brandy.
Went to the waterways museum, one of the exhibits was a 'sack batterer', but no-one could tell me what it is used for. Enquired from the lock-keeper as to the best time to leave the lock tomorrow and after a pause while he looked at me and had time to think he indicated that about half one would be good. At the time I did not question his introspection.
Topped up with water in time to leave Gloucester Docks at half one. Went into the lock with three other boats. With high tide at about half two we were struggling against the flow of water all the way to 'Upper Parting' where we joined the River Severn proper. By this time the tide had turned and we continued to struggle against the flow of water, so much so that both of our engines were starting to over heat. By this time we had only travelled two and a half miles. We both slowed down and engine temperature dropped acceptably, but now we were going quite slowly in comparison to the distance we expected to travel. Shortly after the junction we spotted a tree coming toward us, a whole full size willow tree, took up nearly half the width of the river. A couple of miles later approaching The Boat Inn at Ashleworth Quay we decided to moor up at their pontoon as we still had another seven miles and two locks before we could get to Tewksbury and not enough time to make it against the current. There was only enough room for one boat at the pontoon so we had to breast up against each other, Iowner on the inside and Olive on the outside as Olive is shorted than Iowner. Had a meal at the pub that evening.
Overnight the tide came in again. It rose a good eighteen inches over the pontoons leaving a thick layer of mud and silt on the walkway. By one o'clock in the morning the river was on the turn and I was confident that the worst was over. But we were still kept awake by banging and crashing as trees floated past, brushing the sides of the boats and the odd branch got lodged between the two boats. The Severn Bore is only about six inches here but it was still enough to make us start as it rushed past. By morning there was a tree stuck underneath Olive and a lot of debris piled up between the two boats. I spent most of the morning trying to clear the mud and silt off the walkway. First I had to sweep a patch clear whilst standing on the back of Iowner. If I had tried to stand on the walkway I would certainly have slipped over and probably ended up in the river, which was still flowing quite quickly. Then with a clear patch I could gingerly step onto the walkway to clear the rest of it. Took a couple of hours to make it safe enough to be confident. The landlord came along and helped us to remove some of the debris between the two boats and suggested that if we set off fairly soon we would catch the incoming tide which would help us along. This we did and t our delight we covered the 7 miles in a slightly more than an hour. Mightily relieved to get off the river. Looking back I realised that the lock-keeper had given me a funny sort of look as he was trying to access how competent I was and he had decided that I had asked the best time to leave the lock on Sunday so knew what I was letting myself in for. Had I said to him "When would you set off for Tewksbury?" he would probably have said, "Wednesday".
Found a launderette, a veg shop and a couple of book in a charity shop. Temperature well into the high 70's.
A vintage Daimler pulled into the car park and the occupants got out and took their dog for a walk.
A wonderful days cruising.
Richard visited
Moored at the canoe club mooring.
Visited the Almonry at Richards suggestion, most interesting.
