Eckington to Pershore

Moving on and here Huffler is negotiating "Swan's Neck" which is a very sharp hairpin bend.

Bredon Hill is still with us.  It is 980ft high and is an outlier of the Cotswolds with the remains of a Iron Age fort on top.

The sluices alongside Nafford Lock and other similar works on the river are operated by the Environment Agency, which is responsible for the drainage of the Avon.  Much of their work is of benefit to the boater and are interesting examples of navigation and drainage working in parallel.

Nafford Lock

Exiting the lock the weir is on the left and we take the right hand channel.

I only usually take the tiller when nature calls for Trev....

girl power strikes and I am in control for 4 miles!!!!

The art of mooring up is next!!

Moored overnight at Pershore Bridge.

Tewskesbury - Eckington

Leaving Tewkesbury  and St Johns Bridge

and wow what a change.

A timeless landscape of lush water meadows

and our first glimpse of Bredon Hill.

The first landmark upriver of Tewskesbury is Twyning Fleet Inn

A spot of banter with the locals!

Huffler making its way under the M5, camera was poised for a Stobart moment but alas not to be!

Dicing with a yacht  doing some tacking.

These strange boxes under the caravans are a form of airbag designed to make it float in the event of a flood.

Strensham Weir.....

and Strensham Lock......windlass out of mothballs then!!!

More dicing, this time with something a tad bigger!!

Captains quote " we could have one of those"!!!!

Eckington bridge with its irregular arches of different sizes has stood since the 16th century.  What a tribute to the masons of those days, who built a structure still in good condition over 400 years later.

A delightful overnight mooring spot

Tewskesbury

Healing's Mill

Tewskesbury's waterfront is a delight with so many scenes to catch the eye. 

King John's Bridge

The backwaters of the Mill Avon with the towns towering Abbey

The town is a five minute walk over this bridge,

with many attractive buildings to see.

Catherdral- like in proportions, Tewkesbury Abbey is generally reckoned to be one of the finest Norman churches in the country.

The interior is no less splendid...

The flood of 2007 making is mark yet again.

We discovered some delightful alleys,

Just loved this!!!

We cruised down the Mill Avon to turn round.

The end of the line...

and these delightful buildings.

Next stop Eckington.