July 2020 Water To Stratford on Avon

We set off for a cruise upriver to Stratford. This usually takes four leisurely days. Whenever we go under the M5 we joke about seeing an Eddie Stobart lorry. This time we saw one!

We do just fit under Eckington Bridge

Time to admire Tony’s handiwork as we go past the new boarding at Comberton Quay.

Pershore Bridges

We like Pershore. Lovely moorings and a chance to catch up with friend Jenny. A very quiet, pretty High Street.

This visit we walked around the nature reserve to Wyre Mill

Paddle Boarding is increasingly popular. One lady almost fell in trying to look in Matilda’s windows! A strange inflatable with no paddles:

Evesham is our next stop with its lovely riverside gardens.

The Regal our favourite cinema is sadly not open yet. Below an interesting window display.

Now how did this happen?

Fladbury Weir above

Some lovely waterside properties en route to Stratford. Excellent stripes on the lawn.

Stratford was very quiet. No boats on the water. Few visitors in the Park but plenty of swans and geese.

Notice the reduced width of the road and the gold barriers!

Looking towards the closed birthplace. Happily Huffkins, our favourite cafe, was open but hardly busy. Their belgian buns are to die for! I like the new lighting feature.

Leaving Stratford

A few wildlife shots

And we didn’t see Eddie Stobart on the return just Tesco!

July 2020 Wheels and Water Part 5 Norfolk

So leaving Lincolnshire behind we travelled to Norfolk to meet up with sister and niece and spouses. We stopped off on the way to visit Castle Acre. English Heritage had things organised with a one way system, but the car parking was not well signed.

And on to Sandringham.

A neighbouring camper took pity on us and helped with erecting the awning!

Ruth’s chalet above and Rachel’s below Both very smart and well equipped and close to the sea. Heacham beach below.

Plenty of warnings but very useful to know the tide times

We went off to Brancaster beach where Tony had dug sand castles some 60 years ago.

Notice the lack of crowds.

And how could he resist the urge to paddle? If only he had a bucket and spade…. Below is the pub in Burnham Market that he stayed in with his parents.

Fishermen landing the crabs at Wells by the Sea

After fish and chip lunch on the quayside we headed off to Fakenham but by car!.

Found my Grandmothers gas stove in the window!

Forget the scaffolding look at the decoration at the base of the tower. Quite unusual.

So off to Swaffham. Not met a butcher and grazier sign before.

Not sure how to pronounce this word but does it relate to the butcher and grazier?

Smart sign and smart house.

Above and below Covid 19 prep at The White Hart.

A most pleasant little town beautifully kept.

And finally the old folks holiday snap!

July 2020 Wheels and Water Part 4 Lincolnshire

Saturday morning we visited the nearby village of Moulton

The windmill was not open.

Interesting statistic about this churchyard bench.

Wisbech certainly tries to attract shoppers!

The River Nene passes through the town and some effort has been made to make the area more attractive.

This was the most beautiful dancewear shop I’ve ever seen.

Have you ever noticed Lloyds Bank has some handsome buildings?

A lovely area around the church.

My favourite King! Died in Newark and is buried in Worcester Cathedral

Little Horsefair shopping mall. Note the hanging signs. So having refreshed ourselves at a cafe in the Market Place we set off for the village of Upwell. Tony was involved in the restoration of this waterway on 28 October 1972. The project’s name was Fenatic! Here are some photos taken then and paired with shots taken 10 July 2020.

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So having established that this waterway called Well Creek is is now well used, we turned our attention to St Peter’s Church.

So clever displaying the kneelers to be seen from the gallery!

The wooden carved angels on the ceiling rafters were fantastic!

A little bit more of maritime history found within the church. Should you find the church locked then follow the instructions on the noticeboard!

So after his trip down memory lane we went downriver to Sutton Bridge.

An amusing sign below.

Built to last 123 years ago

The new Marina was mostly full of official boats but these three pilot boats made me think of the three bears!

July 2020 Wheels and Water Part 3 Lincolnshire

We booked Henry into a beautiful lawned site named Hagbeach Manor in a small village called Holbeach, near Spalding. It had tall manicured hedges that stopped the wind whistling over the fens and had spaces for about 15 vehicles. We had been concerned that no hardstandings were available, but the neat striped lawn was firm, inspite of recent rain.

I had driven the Land Rover so we were able to easily go off and explore Spalding.

River bridge and riverside

I can’t imagine why JJ Rousseau would visit Spalding!

A minature sculpture.

We went off to the garden centre to find a plant for my sister. We failed! it was however next to a small shopping mall. Tony took advantage of the M&S sale to buy more clothing as when we set off for Derbyshire we had planned to return to Tewkesbury. However we changed our plans…

And what a surprise we had at the end of this walkway!

Various garden designers had created individual plots. The plan above and reality below.

My sister’s favourite gardener but his plot disappointed.

I liked this floating planter.

So a charming area of garden, with special 2020 (socially distanced) Route.

July 2020 Wheels and Water Part 2: Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

We met up with the mail at Cromford canal. It was cool and rainy but fortunately the cafe was prepared with umbrellas and marquee.

Little specialist shops occupy the old mill buildings, although only a few were open.

Zita and the postmistress feeding the ducks. This would make a really good day out in fine weather.

After visiting friend Lynda in Sutton in Ashfield we went to the outlet village close to M1. Nice gardening!

And the reason to make the journey was

Just had to buy more salted caramels!

We caught up with Turner cousin Paul & wife Cal in Nottinghamshire and Bramley cousins Ann & son Freddy in Lincolnshire and the rain continued! Despite this we explored the Chesterfield canal. It links the River Trent at West Stockwith to Chesterfield. En route we chanced upon St Peters Clayworth, and discovered the Traquair Murals. They were created 1904-1906 by Phoebe Anna Traquair to commemorate the safe return from the Boer War of a local gentleman.

With Covid barriers we couldn’t get close enough to get a good camera shot but the church website has photos.

So off to West Stockwith and the Chesterfield canal. We sailed past this junction in 2016, on our way to Newark.

Aided by the Chesterfield Canal Guide, kindly delivered by a Trust member, we explored:

And a campsite! Notice the washing line you don’t see many of them these days!

So we then drove along the route of the canal stopping at various villages and interesting sections of water.

Shireoaks above and below. One resident has a good sense of humour!

Turnerwood above the locks and below a small wharf Very pretty!

So this ended our visit to Staveley and then off to see friends in Burton Joyce. Notice the post box. I’m not quite sure why it was decorated or what the purpose was!

Then a quick stop at the Trent at Gunthorpe.

And off to Lincolnshire.

July 2020 Wheels and Water Part I Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

We decided to go and collect our post and tried to book a campsite in Buxton so as to be reasonably close to our personal post office in Cheshire! No luck at Chatsworth either so eventually we made a booking at Poolsbrook, Staveley in Derbyshire, convenient for Bolsover Castle (this is where Lucy Worsley started her working life) and Chesterfield. This site was very smart and well organised and is in a country park constructed on the site of the old colliery. Tony was pleased with the location as he would be able to explore a canal he had never travelled by water!

I have driven past Chesterfield’s crooked spire for many years always promising that one day day I would stop and visit. It was well worth making the stop.

The stained glass within the church was quite surprising – many different ages and styles but this modern one caught my eye as it shows the many industries, trades and crafts of the past.

Many of my ancestors fought in the Sherwood Foresters, This is the colours of the 6 Battalion. Below a view looking towards the altar.

Some amazing carvings. All in all well worth visiting and an extremely warm welcome. Sadly that social distancing meant we couldn’t climb up the steeple for the view, but it’s a good excuse for a second visit. And great satisfaction when you leave having learnt something new. See below!

A vast market area

This has to be one of the most attractive tourist information centres. Its’ exterior celebrates important people associated with the town.

We walked to find the beginning (or end) of the Chesterfield canal. It was a sunny and warm afternoon.

Some tranquil spots. Lads fishing. Nice to see boys doing what boys always used to do

New development.

Beautiful mooring basin.

Staveley town lock. This is work in progress as more cash is needed to complete the work

This completes our first day an so back to Poolsbrook Country Park