25th/26th/27th June
Untangling ourselves from our neighbours at the crack of 9am, we left Upton to travel to Gloucester Docks, our ultimate destination. The Severn is wide with high banks both sides and because there is little to see, a bit boring. We took it in turns to drive, only one lock to go through before the big one into the docks. The routine is that you have to phone ahead once you've reached the split in the river, to announce your arrival so that the lock can hopefully be prepared for you. We had been told horror stories of the weir stream to the right of the lock whisking you away with its speed. The Upper Lode lock keeper gave us careful instructions to stay close to the left high wall, and if we had to wait for the lock to tie to the chains there, stern first. He passed the instruction leaflet down in a bucket! So we were all prepared. Pete counting down the miles until the upper parting where we were to take the East channel of the Severn and phone ahead at that point. It was my turn to sit in the bow and relax with my book as there is nothing to see but soporific water, so I closed my eyes in the warm sunshine, only to be woken sharply by the boat horn in my ear!! We had travelled for 3 and a half hours with nothing to do, the minute I was supposed to be taking the tiller so that Pete could phone, I was snoozing ! Dozy twit. I missed the only point of interest! Pete had been shouting for me and had begun to think I'd gone overboard! Hey ho, thank goodness for the boat horn with my deaf ears!
Anyway, the cruise into the lock hugging the wall was superbly handled by my husband and we popped out into Gloucester Docks around 3pm, sun baking hot and an easy pontoon mooring beneath old renovated warehouses opposite big ships, seagulls wheeling above. Ani's engine had been going at max chat for some 5 hours, so we will rest her for a couple of days!
We visited the waterways museum in the docks, which was really enjoyable with lots of atmosphere due to all the old kit and clobber from old working barges and narrowboats. I learned that the colourful castles and roses designs we all know so well on narrowboats were applied by the hard working boatmen partly to show their care for their 'homes' and their profession. It was easy for others to see them as scruffy gypsies and to blame them for thefts and crimes, but a pride in their boats and belongings showed otherwise. I am guessing that the painted castle is aspirational or to show that their tiny living quarters were considered their castles. What a hard life it must have been, never letting up as they could not afford to stand still. There were parties of school children in the museum dressed up in their aprons and kerchiefs and having fun. Of course, Pete and I had to have a play with the brilliant lock system model too. How ridiculous when we do them for real every day!
Gloucester cathedral is even bigger than Worcester and it's surroundings just as lovely, but the town centre is the usual muddle of shops and Mac Donald's etc., fine to wander through and if you want to shop for clothes but not particularly interesting. The docks are the place to be.
The Upper Lode lock keeper and his dog giving Pete instructions
What else can you call a narrowboat that lives in Gloucester?
Ani on far right
Untangling ourselves from our neighbours at the crack of 9am, we left Upton to travel to Gloucester Docks, our ultimate destination. The Severn is wide with high banks both sides and because there is little to see, a bit boring. We took it in turns to drive, only one lock to go through before the big one into the docks. The routine is that you have to phone ahead once you've reached the split in the river, to announce your arrival so that the lock can hopefully be prepared for you. We had been told horror stories of the weir stream to the right of the lock whisking you away with its speed. The Upper Lode lock keeper gave us careful instructions to stay close to the left high wall, and if we had to wait for the lock to tie to the chains there, stern first. He passed the instruction leaflet down in a bucket! So we were all prepared. Pete counting down the miles until the upper parting where we were to take the East channel of the Severn and phone ahead at that point. It was my turn to sit in the bow and relax with my book as there is nothing to see but soporific water, so I closed my eyes in the warm sunshine, only to be woken sharply by the boat horn in my ear!! We had travelled for 3 and a half hours with nothing to do, the minute I was supposed to be taking the tiller so that Pete could phone, I was snoozing ! Dozy twit. I missed the only point of interest! Pete had been shouting for me and had begun to think I'd gone overboard! Hey ho, thank goodness for the boat horn with my deaf ears!
Anyway, the cruise into the lock hugging the wall was superbly handled by my husband and we popped out into Gloucester Docks around 3pm, sun baking hot and an easy pontoon mooring beneath old renovated warehouses opposite big ships, seagulls wheeling above. Ani's engine had been going at max chat for some 5 hours, so we will rest her for a couple of days!
We visited the waterways museum in the docks, which was really enjoyable with lots of atmosphere due to all the old kit and clobber from old working barges and narrowboats. I learned that the colourful castles and roses designs we all know so well on narrowboats were applied by the hard working boatmen partly to show their care for their 'homes' and their profession. It was easy for others to see them as scruffy gypsies and to blame them for thefts and crimes, but a pride in their boats and belongings showed otherwise. I am guessing that the painted castle is aspirational or to show that their tiny living quarters were considered their castles. What a hard life it must have been, never letting up as they could not afford to stand still. There were parties of school children in the museum dressed up in their aprons and kerchiefs and having fun. Of course, Pete and I had to have a play with the brilliant lock system model too. How ridiculous when we do them for real every day!
Gloucester cathedral is even bigger than Worcester and it's surroundings just as lovely, but the town centre is the usual muddle of shops and Mac Donald's etc., fine to wander through and if you want to shop for clothes but not particularly interesting. The docks are the place to be.
The Upper Lode lock keeper and his dog giving Pete instructions
What else can you call a narrowboat that lives in Gloucester?
Ani on far right
No comments:
Post a Comment