Riders of the Storms...

The weekend forecast was dire. Stopping at Shepherds Patch to ride this out had certain advantages. It is the easiest place to visit WWT Slimbridge for a start and we had a decent mooring spot, albeit we relied on pins to hold us to the bank. It also has a pub!

Friday was forecast as the last day of the glorious weather. With this in mind, we decided it was a good day to visit Slimbridge. I am old enough to remember 60's television and Sir Peter Scott broadcasting from here. But to get there, we had a half mile or so walk down a dead straight, but very narrow lane. It's wide enough for cars to pass, but has no footpath or verge to speak of. We literally took our life in our hands walking down, when one car join particular drove so close to us that we thought he was after a bonnet mascot! Anyway, we made it.

Slimbridge has been much developed from my childhood memory. It is a very slick and well organised site, but retains its charm whilst appealing to the children. It mixes information with fun for the kids and has become a real family day out destination. The hides remain on the fringes of the site, overlooking the wetlands for the serious twitchers and ornithologists.  Entering one of these is almost akin to a church, talking in whispers.

Cranes that have been breeding at Slimbridge

an excellent lego trail for the kids

and lots of very smelly flamingos

We had a good few hours walking around, it is fascinating and an uneventful walk back to the boat!

We had arranged to meet Keith ( N.B. Fruit of the Vine ) here. It's not too far from Bristol, has a camp site next to the pub and gave him the chance to show us his new motorhome. He walked to see us on the boat for a catch up and then before retiring to the Tudor Arms for a meal, we had a tour of his splendid new purchase. Enjoy Keith & Dianne.

Then, the rains came!

After such a prolonged dry spell, we really did need a drop of the wet stuff, but when it arrived on Saturday , it was at times intense. Combined with the high winds, it made our choice to stay put and weather it out, eminently sensible. It is very exposed here, with no shelter to speak of and the weather funneling along the Severn estuary. We even had waves with white horses on the canal and almost a swell. Made it interesting!

The forecast for Sunday was truly awful. We checked the pins and hunkered down. Not quite the downpours anticipated,  but a very strong, gusty wind saw minimal boat movements.  By the late afternoon, we thought the worst was over, so made the short walk to the Tudor Arms for Sunday lunch. Very good it was too. During the "short walk" back, we felt a spot of rain, then another. The heavens opened and within minutes, we were soaked, the tow path also awash. Dried off and once again hunkered down.

Monday was supposed to be a better day, not dry, nor completely sunny, but with scattered sporadic showers. We sorely needed to replenish the water and evacuate the cassettes. The nearest water point was a couple of hundred yards back from our mooring, on the opposite bank near Patch bridge. So we reversed back and across. Someone told us that The Black shed cafe, next to the bridge, had an Elsan point! Whilst I watered up and emptied the rubbish, Ali went to enquire. This cafe we knew had a pump out and sold diesel, a multi functional establishment. The lovely lady said we could use the Elsan gratis.  It was still somewhat in build, but worked and had a tap! So that was the nasty waste sorted.

Then onwards. Nothing better for a boater than a full water tank and empty bogs!

Sharpness. The end of the line for us. We moored just past the imposing tower which used to support a swinging railway bridge over the canal. The line itself used to extend over the Severn, before wayward shipping destroyed it in the early 60's and repair was uneconomical. The railway must have been virtually redundant by then anyway if present day Sharpness is anything to go by.

Don't get us wrong, the terminus and locks down onto the river are still impressive, but the industry and bustle of a fully working port is gone.

We walked around the headland and docks. Redundant railway lines, sidings and warehouses remind one of its heyday. There are still firms operating, but not on the scale of what was. No wonder it has become a location for filming period drama though.

best blackberries so far and no bag! :-(

Back to the boat, weather seemed ok, so off again to visit the Purton wrecks. Over many years, redundant craft have been effectively scuttled on the bank, to act as groynes preventing the coast eroding. There are some impressive, largely intact concrete wartime barges, along with the skeletal remains of numerous wooden vessels, some of whom originate well into the 19th century.

So that's the length of the Gloucester and Sharpness completed. All sixteen miles of it! It's different. Broad, deep and without locks. Perhaps that is why it is popular for extended stays. Many of the boaters we have spoken to intend to stay for weeks, if not months. It's scenic, but it's short length means you can cruise it in its entirety in a day, never having to get off the boat!

There are numerous swing bridges, every one manned and passage controlled by traffic lights. At the very most, you may have to hover occasionally,  before the bridge is opened for you. All very novel for a week or so, but for longer? We think not. Considering the very light traffic on this canal, the cost to CRT must be enormous. It must have more staff per mile than many regions. Still, well worth the Severn slog to get here. Just wish a little investment was made in providing working services. Plenty of water points, but the only working Elsan point provided by CRT now, is in Gloucester docks. Long way for a sh1t!

Since penning this, the Elsan at Saul has reopened, pending the result of a trial to see if boaters can resist abusing it!

Manual swing bridge 

 & zoomed in! there are a few on the L&L like this that you have to operate yourself

Severn crossings in the distance

4 miles & 4 moveable bridges.