Saturday 20th July
We have only travelled 4 miles today, which on this canal does not take very long. After a water stop at Sellars Bridge (I know we got some yesterday but never pass a convenient tap) we set off at about 9-30 am. We could get under Sellars Bridge while it was closed but had to have Parkend Bridge swung.
We were cruising along on a very wide bit of the canal and there were several narrow boats about, going the same way as us, coming towards us and moored up.There was a large cruiser which had to overtake a couple of narrow boats coming towards us. Good job there was plenty of room as he swept across in front of us and them causing a huge wash, it was like being on the sea!
Then before we knew it we were at Saul Junction where we stopped for the day at about 11 am! We are moored quite some way before the junction and although there are a lot of boats moored along here we are all pretty well spaced out. By that I mean we are moored some distance apart not all on mind altering drugs!
Just after we moored up we met a really nice chap who ‘bridge hops’ along here, he works at Davis’ Boat Yard. He was walking his lovely Irish Terrier, Beau and she soon came in the boat and made herself at home, bless!
As it wasn’t too hot today because it was cloudy some of the time we decided to walk to Upper Framilode, about a mile from where we are moored, along a, rather overgrown in places, foot path and visit The Ship Inn. This advertises itself as a canalside pub which is sort of true as it is beside a small section of the Stroudwater Canal which is still in water, although the canal is disused at this time. It is a very nice pub, we sat on the deck beside the ‘canal’ and I stupidly, not feeling hot in the strong cool breeze, got sun burnt, idiot!
We walked back to Saul Junction via the road instead of the foot path and ended up outside Saul church just before a wedding was to take place so we stopped to see the arrival of the bride. She was marrying someone in the Royal Hussars and there was a guard of honour, with real swords, at the church door. The bridesmaids were in black with maroon posies. This was to reflect the colours of the uniform of the Royal Hussars, very clever.
Back at the junction we had an ice cream and a chat with the people of the Cotswold Canal Trust in their visitor centre. They are raising money to restore the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal so there would once more be a link between the G and S and Lechlade on the Thames. This would be great and a lot of work has already been done but completion is still a long way off!
This evening Ken has been fishing. The water here is gin clear and although he can see the fish, catching them has proved more difficult! He has caught a Zander but luckily for it it was too small for us to eat.
What delights have we got planned for tomorrow then? Well, as the boat is now absolutely filthy and the weather is supposed to be cooler again a serious cleaning campaign is on the cards, deep joy!
