Got told off good and proper!

With Lizzie no longer at the helm (and a grand job she did of steering this boat) it was back to the usual routine of  taking it in turns to steer and make the tea. Before we did set off though, it was a trip to the Workman Garden moorings nearest the bridge to water up and wash the thousands of  tree seed heads off the roof. This time of year the trees are full of sap and cover the roof in a sticky film. What with the pigeons dive bombing us last night and depositing their poo up the sides and over the windows as well, a good hose down was necessary first. So we didn't get to Evesham lock until well after 10am.

Lock landing is on both sides but if you need to pumpout or use the elsan, make sure you take the left pontoon and do that before entering the lock. We got it wrong and was half way up the lock before we realised.  The Avon Trust guy wouldn't allow us across the bridge to empty our cassette.

 It was here that Ian and I had our hands slapped. It was all to do with roping up. Well, one of the Avon trust guys came out and told us we must rope up properly to the bollards on ALL the Avon locks, stern rope and bow rope, and me just holding the center rope would not do. Fair enough a rule is a rule but quite how I would hold the stern and bow ropes together was beyond me. Ian's off doing paddles and lifting them in such a way that the boat was held to the side securely so I assumed that was good enough.  Maybe there is an art to the roping up lark that we haven't mastered yet or maybe we need to get a VERY long rope to stretch from the bow to the stern. I did ask the question but he didn't give a satisfactory answer, just kept stating that this must be done otherwise the trust wouldn't be held responsible if anything went wrong. Ian told him that surely it was up to us to decide but he was having none of it. As FS was almost up we didn't do as we were told. Ian did a sterling job in keeping FS to the side, which should have proved to him that we were far from being novices! I was most relieved when the top gates opened and I could get away from that man. We still use the center rope only.... and yes we know... be it on our head if anything goes wrong!

Looking back toward Evesham lock

Left to Offenham lock

Lighthouse built by Eric Pritchard

Very low river levels at present

Center rope used. No need to worry, Ian was in complete control of the rope......honest!

The moorings tonight. Lovely stretch above Offenham lock

Gorgeous view

WW2 Bunker by the weir

Another first for me. Heard this cuckoo and located the sound. Cant believe how lucky I was.

This cheeky Magpie was by our moorings last night.

I never realised how brightly coloured the tail feathers were.

And at our moorings tonight