A New Home for Thomazina

Taking the boat from Saul Marina to our new home in Gnosall

an adventure in itself

Leaving Saul mooring, Shaggy Ink Cap sandwich,
Saul Junction, Tall Ship puds

Friday/Saturday 23rd/24th October

We spent a night on the boat in Saul Marina, then John drove up to Gnosall to leave our car there, after a delicious breakfast sandwich made from Shaggy Ink Cap mushrooms picked in the field next to the marina. Thanks to good friends John and Joan Allway, John didn't have to do masked battle with public transport, as they drove up and fetched him back to the boat. It had been blowing a hoolie all morning, but when the wind dropped the rain started and we left it a little late setting out. We didn't quite make it through Hempsted bridge before closing — although I tried being ultra nice to the bridge keeper he insisted he had to close early because of extra cleaning. We do understand the restrictions surrounding this dratted virus, but we were probably the only boat he had seen that day in such foul weather. Hey-ho. We moored up just before the bridge and caught the bus to Gloucester docks to have a last meal in The Tall Ship, and to say goodbye to Pat and the team as they will be leaving the pub in the new year. All change. Smuggler came too, his bus fare cost a whole £1 — we were supposed to pay again on the return journey but the driver didn't ask. By not getting into Gloucester docks, we had missed the chance to get bread, but Pat saved the day for us with baguettes and chocolate chilli cake, wrapped up to take away.

Llanthony Bridge, lifejackets on, Gloucester Lock

Sunday 25th October

Through Hempsted just after 8am, as soon as the bridge keeper switched on the lights, then under Llanthony bridge and a last look at Gloucester Docks for a while. Straight into Gloucester Lock and we were onto the River Severn just before 9. Although there were no high tides there had been a lot of rain in Wales and the river was running high, so it was nearly 2pm by the time we got through Upper Lode Lock at Tewkesbury. Upton-upon-Severn is choked with boats in the summer and we usually hope we can squeeze in there, but this time the moorings were empty when we moored up just after 4. The clocks went back the night before, so it was already going dark.

Pubs of the River Severn

For over thirty years the pubs between Gloucester and Tewkesbury have been our waymarkers, and we we were sad to say goodbye to them. 

The Globe, The Boat Inn at Ashleworth, The Red Lion at Wainlodes, Haw Bridge Inn, Riverside, The Coal House at Apperley, The Yew Tree at Chaceley, the Lower Lode Hotel. 

Some are no longer pubs, and who knows how many of them will survive the turmoils of the current environment?

Right:

Autumn colours and changeable skies, Upper Lode Lock and Upton upon Severn