The Sumpners Afloat

25th to 31st August to – Chadbury (R. Avon) to Upton upon Severn (R. Severn)

August Bank Holiday Monday was forecast to be hot, and as soon as we got up we knew the forecast was correct. This was in stark contrast to last ABHM, when it poured down. I remember it very clearly as we were on the Thames, just about to go back onto the canal system at Duke’s Cut.

We reluctantly left our lovely mooring at Chadbury and set off through the lock and down river towards Fladbury. It was boiling and we put the sunshade up to get out of the glare, somewhat. The river was in fine fettle and we enjoyed seeing it in its Bank Holiday best. I love how the water sparkles in the sunshine.

There was space for us to pull over at Fladbury – so we did. Just as a bit of respite from the sun as much as anything.

The water there was very busy with kayaks, paddle boards, swimmers – even a coracle and it was lovely to hear the sound of kids having fun on and in the water. Splashing and shrieking and laughing. I can clearly remember my Dad telling me not to scream when I was playing in the water otherwise – if I really got into trouble – people would ignore it. Odd how memories pop in to your head isn’t it?

We cruised on along the long pound between Fladbury and Wyre Lock, by which time it had got a bit breezy. Suddenly a big gust whipped up inside the sunshade and almost turned it inside out. Luckily, it wasn’t damaged, but there is a now a sewing job for me to do, as one of the arms ripped the stitches on the pocket it slips into. It’s not the first one I’ve had to do this!

We finally reached Wyre lock to find our hoped-for mooring free – our own private island! We quickly moored and settled down for a quick beepy. Is this what getting old does to you? Although – to be fair – I’ve always been a fan of a quick bit of shuteye.

We stayed the full 48 hours permitted on this spot – mainly because we need a good spot to meet friends and the river gets pretty rual after Pershore. So Pershore it is. We also had a night at The Anchor at Wyre Piddle – much quieter this time! And then on Thursday I brought the boat down to Pershore town where we took on ships rations, and did domestics, before moving down the moorings to the Angel Hotel, where we had a table booked for dinner that evening.

Friends Peta and Steve Reading were travelling up to meet us for dinner and weekend on board. Sadly, after a summer of wall to wall sunshine and no rain, this weekend looks a bit iffy weather wise. It’s also the Brinklow Bash weekend and I feel very sorry for them. The one thing you just can’t control is the weather, but I know we and the Dreamers at Brinklow will all make the best of what currently looks like a pretty bad job.

Our guests arrived at about 18:30 and we got all their gear on board and then Steve went off to put his car in the Your Parking space at the local Co-Op while we took ourselves up to the hotel, where we had a table for dinner.

It didn’t start well – we arrived and were ignored by a couple of harried looking waiting stuff for fully 5 minutes. Steve arrived and we still had not been seated although we were pretty sure we were standing right next to our reserved table. I heard one of them mention computer crash and maybe this was why they looked a bit stressed?

We placed our drinks and food order and this was not without stress, as the pie, which two of our party had chosen, was “off”. We ended up with a 50/50 split of sausage and mash and Porchetta – which is described by Google as ” a traditional Italian dish of deboned pork, typically a pork loin wrapped with pork belly, rolled with a flavorful mixture of herbs, garlic, and spices, then roasted until the meat is tender and the skin is a rich, crispy golden brown. It is a popular centerpiece for festive meals, slow-cooked for hours to allow the flavors to meld and to achieve a succulent texture with a satisfying crackling skin.” 

Somehow, I don’t think chef had read that description. It was described in the menu as being accompanied by “puffed crackling” – this should have been a warning to us. It arrived and the “puffed crackling” looked like sawdust. The meat was as tough as old boots and very unappetising. Clearly the Sausage and Mash had been the safe option!

We made our way back to the boat (through the pitch black orchard) and – after a bit of dessert and a catch up – toddled off to bed as we were all pretty tired.

Friday was a much better day than forecast and we had a lovely cruise along this beautiful river with Bredon Hill seeming to be omnipresent on one side of the boat and then the other. And later we got views of the Malverns, too. Like us, our guests were enchanted with the river and said how relaxed they felt. They lead very busy lives and it was nice to be able to give them a chance to kick back and be “in the moment”.

I had a plan in the back of my head, to moor that day at Swan’s Neck, between Difford and Birlingham, which is a very tight bend or meander on the river, at the curviest point of which is a mooring for one 60 foot boat. It is a dream location (to me) and I hardly dared hope that there would be no-one there. But as we turned the last corner – there it was – vacant and with my name all over it! Joy!

It was fairly early to pull over for the day, but it was such a lovely afternoon we decided we would. We got chairs out on the bank and had a lovely relaxing time until it was time for me to cook dinner. After which we sat out on deck feeding the tiny fish, watching the bats doing their acrobatics and were treated to the sight of a barn owl, out on its evening patrol. A grey ghost of a bird in the twilight. And whilst out walking the boys, Paul had seen some deer.

We went back indoors to play the hilarious “Sock Game“, which Peta ad Steve had brought with them. It’s great fun trying to find little objects – such as a golf tee – in the depths of a sock in a faster time than your opponent. The boys kicked off well but the girls soon overtook and eventually won. After more games – including introducing them to Uno Flip and Doble – we went out on deck to watch the stars and satellites, as there was very little in the way of light pollution at this spot.

Saturday morning was fine but chilly and we set off for the last leg towards Tewkesbury mid-morning. It’s such a lovely stretch – I really am not ready to leave – I’d be quite happy to turn round and go all the way back to Stratford and repeat the whole trip – mind you, the locks are pretty fierce going upstream!

We passed through adorable but much patched up Eckington Bridge, built of red sandstone in the 1720s and victim of many a boy racer, sadly. We passed smoothly through Strensham Lock and then spotted a terrapin sunning itself on a branch. And at Strensham there was some water-based event going on – rowing races and stalls etc.- we treated them to a spot of bugle-blowing, which they seemed to appreciate! We cheered on the crews and saw an amphibious car (which I think we’d seen once before down at Tewkesbury).

We pulled over at the Fleet Inn in Twyning for lunch and were lucky enough to witness the amphibious car actually driving out of the river. See the video below.

After lunch we set off again but had hardly cast off when it began to rain. Stalwart Sumps volunteered to steer and we fled indoors. We were soon tying up again at Tewkesbury Marina. We had a few problems hooking up. The electricity kept tripping but with the aid of one of the marina guys, we thought we had fixed it. Sadly – when we checked later (after they had closed) it was clearly not fixed and we would not be getting our planned charge up 100% SOC, ready for tackling the Severn (going upstream) the next day. There was nothing that could be done and our £25 inc electricity mooring fee seemed like a bit of a waste of flipping money. Annoying.

Peta and Steve went off in an Uber to collect their car from the Co-op in Pershore. When they returned they mooted the idea of them leaving that evening. As it was, they were planning to leave early Sunday to get to an important rehearsal on Sunday afternoon, so it would not make much difference, really, although we were really sad to see them go. But it made so much sense – they would be under far less stress if they arrived home that evening and so we regretfully sent them on their way with their half of that evening’s meal, which luckily was quite portable pre-cooking (Chicken Parmigiana with Truffled Tagliatelle and Parmesan). We’d had a thoroughly great couple of days and nights, filled with laughter and friendship.

We found the thing they’d left behind when we showered that evening – some shower gel, There’s always something! We had a relaxing evening and fell asleep quite quickly at bedtime. Which was lucky as the alarm was set for 07:00 – we planned to drop down onto the Severn and along to lovely Upton upon Severn, where we hoped we’d find a mooring.

It was nippy and breezy when we set off. The lock opened at 08:00 and we turned right onto the Severn at about 08:20. In contrast to the Avon, which is a delight around every corner, we find the Severn to be very boring. It’s not unattractive, but very samey.

We spotted a few Cormorants and the monotony was broken by the M50 flyover. Yep. It’s that dull! By this time, the river had whitecaps and a lone rower was throwing in the towel because it was just too choppy! Or too boring – who knows?

As we rounded the last corner, we were treated to a view of lovely Upton on Severn and the sight of a narrowboat just leaving the spot we had mentally earmarked. Result! We thanked them for their timely departure and got tied up. Before the rain arrived.

We spent the remainder of the day tidying up and getting this blog written and checked and prepping an old blog for publication and as we worked, we watched a succession of boats – mainly gin palaces – tonk by, very few slowing as they passed us. And one absolute idiot in an obviously very fast red speedboat going by on the plane! Much worse than canals!

As it turned out, the rain did not materialise as forecast until around 5-ish, and even then not so much, which was a tad annoying, as we could have cruised on to Worcester. Our goal for next week is to get to Hawford by Thursday evening, so that we can tackle the Droitwich Canals on Friday, with a view to being at Droitwich with a bit of time to spare, ready for our upcoming works. It looks like a changeable week and I have visions of myself, chained to the tiller in howling rain and wind, destined to cruise the tedious Severn alone for days……….

Period	Miles	Locks
25th to 31st August	28	6
Cumulative 2025	398	238