September 2020 Part 1

Matilda went to the Historic Dry Dock at Hempstead, Gloucester to have her bottom blacked and engine serviced.

Dry dock full of water to allow Matilda to enter

Dry dock empty in order to carry out the blacking

From inside the dry dock. These are the gates that hold out the water. We were told the timber came out of a ship in Napoleonic times but the tree dates back to Tudor times.

Whilst that was happening we took Henry to the Tudor Arms Park for a few days. A very nice campsite with a very good pub next door!

Friday night is Pizza Night at Tudor Arms Park. Cooked to order and delicious!

Miserden House Garden was open as part of the National Gardens Scheme. What a lovely place! Had good chat with the gardener who explained the empty area of the border was as a result of trying to get rid of ground elder. We suggested he got a few chickens as they had rid our garden of the dreaded weed in less than a month! Here are a few photos.

Decorative fruit cage

The house and village is owned by the Wills family

I love these steps above and below the deer look so real!

A pretty church and we found the chickens in the churchyard.

This village has it all

September 2020 Part 2 Roadworks

We have been watching the progress of the work to route the Stroudwater Canal, part of the Cotswold Canal Trust, under the A38

January 5 The roundabout

January 27

March 2

March 9

Saving the tree?

September 1st

The preformed bridge components shots taken as we passed by

September 2

September 6

This is the line of the canal towards the Gloucester and Sharpness canal to which it will join, at Saul Junction

September 17

See the towpath taking shape below

Just off the roadworks site is Fromebridge Mill. A tranquil setting for a pint alongside the River Frome

October 6

Rubbish cleared and piling in. Good progress in one month. The canal is due to open from Saul junction through Stroud to Brimscombe Port by 2025. Originally it went all the way to the Thames at Lechlade via the Sapperton Tunnel, and that restoration is the further challenge for the Cotswold Canals Trust. More details, maps etc at the Visitor Centre at Saul Junction.

Around and About August 2020

A lovely NGS garden open

Then a trip to Leominster

Refreshment for dogs above and humans below

Keeping the cricket pitch in tip top condition!

How to wreck an old building – add modern windows!

Good advice!

The Priory, an amazing interior

The ducking stool!

Fabulous Wall hanging

A sign of the times but well phrased! Beautiful trees in the grounds

Life on the river

Models boats and amphibious car

One boat pushing another?

Disaster on the slipway!

Narrow boat in trouble!

Passing dragon fly and caterpillar

Flowering water plant

End of day reflection

Volunteering at Saul Junction Painting is just one of the many tasks

We spent a lot of time volunteering hoping to get a Green Flag Award for the Saul Junction section of the G & S canal but we did manage to take Henry to Blackland Lakes near Calne to help out our chums on the Towpath Task force at Caen Hill and also catch up with friends in Devizes. We cruised down to Sharpness one of our favourite spots to moor – amazing views out across the River Severn.

A tour of Sharpness Docks on a wet afternoon

Looking south from G & S

Looking down the River Severn

Cruisers waiting to go down river. The cruiser gives some indication of how huge this lock is.

Yacht entering the lock

A distant glimpse of the Severn bridges

This is SARA house, HQ of the Severn Area Rescue Association

A view of Matilda taken from the Dockers Social Club at Sharpness

Sharpness views changeable weather!

Butterfly at Saul

Inspired by my visit to Ivycroft Open Garden