Thursday 25th July
We have travelled all of a mile today from Purton to Sharpness and are moored near the remains of the Severn Rail Bridge. Just over the wall is the River Severn and this was the scene of a disaster in 1960 when 2 tankers, Arkendale and Wastdale missed the entrance to the docks in fog and crashed into the bridge causing 2 spans of it to collapse. Find out what happened at www.severntales.co.uk/severn-bridge-disaster.
It is a lovely mooring here with views over the River Severn estuary. After a sandwich we were ready for the walk to the docks. We walked along the canal which goes up the Old Arm where the Sharpness marina is now situated. The old locks which used to go out into the river are disused and there are boats moored in them. From there we could have crossed the canal, gone through the marina and up the hill, past the Dockers Club and on to the village but we carried on round what used to be the Old Dock Basin and past the lifeboat station.
Toward the lock in the docks there is a small shop where we got a paper. We then walked back up the road, to Sharpness High bridge and walked to The Pier View Hotel, which actually doesn’t have a view of the pier! It was a pleasant stop over and we learned of the location of another shop while we were there, which was just up the road. We went there also and got a few bits to help with our diminishing fresh food supplies.
After this we decided to go back via the New Lock in the dock. We started by going the wrong way and ended up on the main road but soon realised and found the right footpath. We ended up at the picnic site on the South side of the entrance to the tidal basin at the docks which was interesting and a good place for another rest as it had got out hot and sunny by this time.
Then we crossed the New Lock and returned past the first shop we had gone to this morning, past the Dockers Club, and through the marina. We must have done 4 miles I should think, we are half a mile from the marina to start with.
There are not many boats moored here, only another couple have arrived since we got here this morning. I don’t know why, it is really lovely down here. A bit out on a limb shop and pub wise perhaps but it’s worth walking to the hotel and the Docker’s Club opens lunchtimes as well as evenings Fri, Sat and Sun so we’ll give it a look tomorrow. They have gardens with a river view which is nice.
Photos of the last 3 days will follow when I have got my photo editing programme sorted out. It is now playing up big style. Must be overloading it!
