Down we go (NB Enfor was accompanying me) and a left turn back onto the Severn and the immediate arrival of the cavernous Upper Lode lock, I'm sure you could fit a cross channel ferry in here! Two narrowboats looked a bit lost. The lock keeper lowered some leaflets down to us in a bucket, these were instructions on how to approach Gloucester lock, it's a bit hairy apparently! Not to worry, I wasn't going that far today, I'll lose some sleep over it tonight. Due to water restrictions the lock is only operated every two hours, so I need to be there for 0945 in the morning or there's a two hour wait hanging onto the lock wall, doesn't sound great!
The cavernous Upper Lode Lock:
The planned overnight mooring at The Boat Inn, Ashleworth appears at about 1130, so I get tied up and pop in for a couple with a great bunch of local characters. It's a really quiet spot and I'm amazed I've got internet, it seems like it's only 1G! There's no phone signal at all - unless I climb up the bank for a whole one bar! At least it allowed me to call Gloucester to warn them of my arrival in the morning, they seem to like you to do things like that along here.
This bit of the Severn is tidal when Sharpness tides exceed 7.6 meters, the guys in the pub were telling me how the famous Severn Bore often gets as far as Tewkesbury. Be interesting to meet one of those in the narrowboat! Be good practise for the estuary maybe? There is also a picture behind the bar of the 2007 floods. The picture shows the water half way up the wall of the bar, I'm guessing, but that's about 20 feet above where I am at the moment!! Apparently the landlord had to be airlifted from the pub. Scary stuff.
Looking downstream from the Ashleworth mooring:
Today: 9 miles - 2 locks - 3 hours
So Far: 108 miles - 124 locks - 62 hours
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