Category: Cruising

We set off for a cruise upriver to Stratford. This usually takes four leisurely days. Whenever we go under the M5 we joke about seeing an Eddie Stobart lorry. This time we saw one!

We do just fit under Eckington Bridge

Time to admire Tony’s handiwork as we go past the new boarding at Comberton Quay.

Pershore Bridges

We like Pershore. Lovely moorings and a chance to catch up with friend Jenny. A very quiet, pretty High Street.

This visit we walked around the nature reserve to Wyre Mill

Paddle Boarding is increasingly popular. One lady almost fell in trying to look in Matilda’s windows! A strange inflatable with no paddles:

Evesham is our next stop with its lovely riverside gardens.

The Regal our favourite cinema is sadly not open yet. Below an interesting window display.

Now how did this happen?

Fladbury Weir above

Some lovely waterside properties en route to Stratford. Excellent stripes on the lawn.

Stratford was very quiet. No boats on the water. Few visitors in the Park but plenty of swans and geese.

Notice the reduced width of the road and the gold barriers!

Looking towards the closed birthplace. Happily Huffkins, our favourite cafe, was open but hardly busy. Their belgian buns are to die for! I like the new lighting feature.

Leaving Stratford

A few wildlife shots

And we didn’t see Eddie Stobart on the return just Tesco!

So leaving Lincolnshire behind we travelled to Norfolk to meet up with sister and niece and spouses. We stopped off on the way to visit Castle Acre. English Heritage had things organised with a one way system, but the car parking was not well signed.

And on to Sandringham.

A neighbouring camper took pity on us and helped with erecting the awning!

Ruth’s chalet above and Rachel’s below Both very smart and well equipped and close to the sea. Heacham beach below.

Plenty of warnings but very useful to know the tide times

We went off to Brancaster beach where Tony had dug sand castles some 60 years ago.

Notice the lack of crowds.

And how could he resist the urge to paddle? If only he had a bucket and spade…. Below is the pub in Burnham Market that he stayed in with his parents.

Fishermen landing the crabs at Wells by the Sea

After fish and chip lunch on the quayside we headed off to Fakenham but by car!.

Found my Grandmothers gas stove in the window!

Forget the scaffolding look at the decoration at the base of the tower. Quite unusual.

So off to Swaffham. Not met a butcher and grazier sign before.

Not sure how to pronounce this word but does it relate to the butcher and grazier?

Smart sign and smart house.

Above and below Covid 19 prep at The White Hart.

A most pleasant little town beautifully kept.

And finally the old folks holiday snap!

Saturday morning we visited the nearby village of Moulton

The windmill was not open.

Interesting statistic about this churchyard bench.

Wisbech certainly tries to attract shoppers!

The River Nene passes through the town and some effort has been made to make the area more attractive.

This was the most beautiful dancewear shop I’ve ever seen.

Have you ever noticed Lloyds Bank has some handsome buildings?

A lovely area around the church.

My favourite King! Died in Newark and is buried in Worcester Cathedral

Little Horsefair shopping mall. Note the hanging signs. So having refreshed ourselves at a cafe in the Market Place we set off for the village of Upwell. Tony was involved in the restoration of this waterway on 28 October 1972. The project’s name was Fenatic! Here are some photos taken then and paired with shots taken 10 July 2020.

So having established that this waterway called Well Creek is is now well used, we turned our attention to St Peter’s Church.

So clever displaying the kneelers to be seen from the gallery!

The wooden carved angels on the ceiling rafters were fantastic!

A little bit more of maritime history found within the church. Should you find the church locked then follow the instructions on the noticeboard!

So after his trip down memory lane we went downriver to Sutton Bridge.

An amusing sign below.

Built to last 123 years ago

The new Marina was mostly full of official boats but these three pilot boats made me think of the three bears!

We booked Henry into a beautiful lawned site named Hagbeach Manor in a small village called Holbeach, near Spalding. It had tall manicured hedges that stopped the wind whistling over the fens and had spaces for about 15 vehicles. We had been concerned that no hardstandings were available, but the neat striped lawn was firm, inspite of recent rain.

I had driven the Land Rover so we were able to easily go off and explore Spalding.

River bridge and riverside

I can’t imagine why JJ Rousseau would visit Spalding!

A minature sculpture.

We went off to the garden centre to find a plant for my sister. We failed! it was however next to a small shopping mall. Tony took advantage of the M&S sale to buy more clothing as when we set off for Derbyshire we had planned to return to Tewkesbury. However we changed our plans…

And what a surprise we had at the end of this walkway!

Various garden designers had created individual plots. The plan above and reality below.

My sister’s favourite gardener but his plot disappointed.

I liked this floating planter.

So a charming area of garden, with special 2020 (socially distanced) Route.

We met up with the mail at Cromford canal. It was cool and rainy but fortunately the cafe was prepared with umbrellas and marquee.

Little specialist shops occupy the old mill buildings, although only a few were open.

Zita and the postmistress feeding the ducks. This would make a really good day out in fine weather.

After visiting friend Lynda in Sutton in Ashfield we went to the outlet village close to M1. Nice gardening!

And the reason to make the journey was

Just had to buy more salted caramels!

We caught up with Turner cousin Paul & wife Cal in Nottinghamshire and Bramley cousins Ann & son Freddy in Lincolnshire and the rain continued! Despite this we explored the Chesterfield canal. It links the River Trent at West Stockwith to Chesterfield. En route we chanced upon St Peters Clayworth, and discovered the Traquair Murals. They were created 1904-1906 by Phoebe Anna Traquair to commemorate the safe return from the Boer War of a local gentleman.

With Covid barriers we couldn’t get close enough to get a good camera shot but the church website has photos.

So off to West Stockwith and the Chesterfield canal. We sailed past this junction in 2016, on our way to Newark.

Aided by the Chesterfield Canal Guide, kindly delivered by a Trust member, we explored:

And a campsite! Notice the washing line you don’t see many of them these days!

So we then drove along the route of the canal stopping at various villages and interesting sections of water.

Shireoaks above and below. One resident has a good sense of humour!

Turnerwood above the locks and below a small wharf Very pretty!

So this ended our visit to Staveley and then off to see friends in Burton Joyce. Notice the post box. I’m not quite sure why it was decorated or what the purpose was!

Then a quick stop at the Trent at Gunthorpe.

And off to Lincolnshire.

We decided to go and collect our post and tried to book a campsite in Buxton so as to be reasonably close to our personal post office in Cheshire! No luck at Chatsworth either so eventually we made a booking at Poolsbrook, Staveley in Derbyshire, convenient for Bolsover Castle (this is where Lucy Worsley started her working life) and Chesterfield. This site was very smart and well organised and is in a country park constructed on the site of the old colliery. Tony was pleased with the location as he would be able to explore a canal he had never travelled by water!

I have driven past Chesterfield’s crooked spire for many years always promising that one day day I would stop and visit. It was well worth making the stop.

The stained glass within the church was quite surprising – many different ages and styles but this modern one caught my eye as it shows the many industries, trades and crafts of the past.

Many of my ancestors fought in the Sherwood Foresters, This is the colours of the 6 Battalion. Below a view looking towards the altar.

Some amazing carvings. All in all well worth visiting and an extremely warm welcome. Sadly that social distancing meant we couldn’t climb up the steeple for the view, but it’s a good excuse for a second visit. And great satisfaction when you leave having learnt something new. See below!

A vast market area

This has to be one of the most attractive tourist information centres. Its’ exterior celebrates important people associated with the town.

We walked to find the beginning (or end) of the Chesterfield canal. It was a sunny and warm afternoon.

Some tranquil spots. Lads fishing. Nice to see boys doing what boys always used to do

New development.

Beautiful mooring basin.

Staveley town lock. This is work in progress as more cash is needed to complete the work

This completes our first day an so back to Poolsbrook Country Park

I love open gardens they are so inspiring. and I was so pleased when the NGS decided gardens could be open again. Good for the charity too. I booked for us to visit to several local gardens, We went off to White House garden calling at Alcester on the way. A lovely little place

The bunting made the town look festive but there were not many folk about

White Cottage garden was delightful.

A good shot of this butterfly

Then to Inkberrow. This village is supposed to have been the inspiration for the setting of The Archers and here is The Bull

The church stands has a commanding view of the countryside but the anthills are the main feature. Some if them are over a hundred years old! The Valley is the site of a Medieval farm and is now a nature reserve. If you enjoy wild flowers and wildlife the this is the place to come

This proved to be a super day out. Now to the next garden…….

Forthampton Court used to be part of Tewkesbury Abbey many centuries ago. It has lawns, trees, herbaceous borders, walled veg garden, stunning views across to the Abbey and so on. It has a head gardener and part time under gardener and it shows. It also has a large holiday cottage with a walled rose garden.

The stunning tapestry hedge: green and copper beech and yew.

And easy watering….

The Severn floods get into the grounds, but fortunately not garden or house.

Greenhouse with grapevine and amazing potting shed, so well organised:

The Old Vicarage has the most lovely sun terrace, croquet lawn, wild area etc

Compare 1962 with today

A very stylish fruit cage

Fabulous shot!

And the neighbours include llamas and:

We then had a little wander around and came to Hartpury. So interesting with its old buildings and history.

And in the churchyard was the bee shelter with beehives

Oak leaf seat and below the tomb of Thomas Sloper who died in 1676.

The Mill awaiting restoration

Now The Dell Malvern This garden had several wood carvings and a railway track on the old croquet lawn, old wendy house but was definitely work in progress

Dragon above and chessman below

Above Tony resting and below Tony the Tiger, more energetic!

And so to Brockworth Court The Tithe barn is marketed as a wedding venue.

The Church is next door

This is a beautiful garden, lots of greenery, shrubs and box hedges to set off the flowering plants but needed weeding!

As June ends we are looking forward to July and being able to travel again…….

Isabel and Simon our resident mallards have produced a family of nine. They love visiting at breakfast time and lunchtime well anytime really in the hope of food.

Various other ducks have visited and one brown one liked sitting on the mat and was always trying to get indoors!

Little Grey Rabbit has had four very lively bunnies.

Look how well camouflaged he is

They look very cute but when they decide to eat your newly planted runner be they become a nuisance! I have put chicken wire over the front as the beans climbed up the chain link fence and I couldn’t see how this bunny had got in until I saw it leap through the chain link fence Look at this little clip to watch how:

A walk around the Marina one afternoon we caught sight of a reed bunting? Watching too many episodes of Countryfile!

And always trying to get a perfect butterfly shot!

And now for a walk around Tewkesbury. Here is the High Street. Not many people about.

Victoria gardens The arch has wisteria and roses which are unaffected by flooding. And the Volunteers turn up twice a week

Probably the most photographed scenic view of the cottages by the mill

No medieval Festival this year but the hedge has been trimmed and flags are being put out

We decided to give Henry an outing and went off to Hereford for the day. It meant for a longer journey we had our own tea making and toilet, as such weren’t allowed to be open by then. Happily they have suitable parking close to the football stadium and town centre. Hereford has a charming town centre and lovely riverside gardens

A very striking and ornate cathedral

Famous people are celebrated here Nelson above and Nell below

An excellent start to the month as my runner beans had germinated! We also continued to tidy up the garden

Still no response to my offer to be a NHS telephone Volunteer.

Using Zoom we enjoyed a talk from David Dawson Director of Devizes Museum. We thought we were the most distant attendees but no, a lady from Australia was eating her evening dinner and a guy who had not yet had breakfast from Vancouver!

We put out bunting for VE Day.

More walking along the Avon, around the Ham, along the Severn, along the Carrant and finally the Nature reserve which during the winter was a huge lake.

On 12 May we heard the first Cuckoo of Spring whilst walking by the River Severn on the Ham which is a large common that floods in winter and by 17 May the swallows had returned to the Marina.

Now that we were able to travel I was able to retrieve my summer clothes stored for the winter in Devizes! Said Hello to friends James & Carol. We also went to Weston Super Mare park to meet up with friend Vanessa and enjoy a picnic. It’s a very well maintained park and volunteers were hard at work planting summer bedding.

These stunning flowers caught my eye. Don’t know the name of them

It’s now strawberry season in the Vale of Evesham and on the way home from Evesham we found this strawberry farm.

As we had responded to the call for Volunteers to help pick Britains’ crops this summer we asked if they need help but all their pickers (50-60 of them) had arrived, We just bought lots of strawberries and I made more jam!

We have had a few outings along the Severn in the inflatable.

The Fleet Inn at Twynning. Such a pity it is closed.

The new davits have been fitted and make life so much easier! We now need a new cover!

Had a surprisingly quick 2 hour visit to A & E at Cheltenham on Friday afternoon as our local MIU is closed. Tony had somehow cut his hand the day before. He was dealt with extremely efficiently and he is now fully recovered from his ordeal!!! I waited outside in the car as I was not allowed in. Happily I had taken my kindle!

An interesting fact: in April we drive 14 miles and in May 452! During the winter19/20 we averaged 942 per month.

A very quiet month.

I rekindled my interest in wild flowers and have made a garden using what materials were to hand namely logs and rabbit proof wild flowers. I have thistles, docks, cuckoo pint, huge verbascums, forget me nots, and poppies and I have added four foxgloves in the hope that they will self seed. I’ve also identified all the nearby trees.

Spot the enemy lurking under the garden table!

I planted runner beans alongside the chain link fence on Good Friday and my four tubs are full of pansies and violas and look very colourful.

We have done a lot of walking! Perhaps the highlight of our walks was meeting a cockatoo sitting on a garden wall. We had a good conversation!

This is the old railway- a lovely green corridor

And here is the M5 motorway on 3 April. Looking north

Looking south

We found a few jobs to keep us busy like refurbishing the garden table and chairs we inherited, cleaning the awnings and Tony painted the boat roof. I made cheese pastry (for a mince beef pie) for the very first time and it was so good I shall make it again. I found some frozen flaky pastry at the back of the freezer so made eccles cakes and strawberry slices. I ordered pies from Brocklebys located in the Vale of Belvoir. They came frozen with reusable ice packs and sheeps wool insulation. Arrived in perfect condition

The weather continued to be fine so we just had to buy a sun umbrella so that we could lunch in the shade!