arkholmethesecond: Offenham to Bidford-on-Avon

The Fish and Anchor served the best Red Wine Lasagna ever and in such wonderful surroundings so we savoured another day here.

Avon Navigation Trust work boat exiting the lock on our approach.

All the Upper Avon locks were originally named after individuals or groups associated with the restoration of the river. Robert Aickman founded the Inland Waterways Association in 1946 and crusaded for the waterways cause for a further twenty years. Returning navigation to the Avon was dear to his heart and he was on the council of both Trusts.

Why is this the only lock on the navigation to take three narrowboats???? It is believed that the landowner had two widebeam trip boats but who knows????

The Robert Aickman Memorial graces the lockside, paying homage to his achievement and more practically, the boater is thankful for the provision of free overnight moorings on most Upper Avon lock cuts, many in blissfully remote rural surroundings.

We meander on....

and before long we approach Marlcliff lock formerly known as the IWA lock.

Its getting busy...

so much so that Jola and Charlotte have caught up.

A "S" bend and weir to negotiate on exiting...

thankfully the river has been quite tame.

We soon arrive in Bidford- on -Avon

and more creative mooring!!!

So off to explore Bidford......

The Romans elected to cross the Avon at Bidford. Their Ryknield Street forded the river here on its way to the town of Alcester. Later the road was known as Buckle Street, and it was the monks of Alcester who erected the present bridge which dates from 1482.