By the Severn

Coaster entering Sharpness Docks

Tuesday August 10 Moving on to Purton

We moved from Saul Junction to Purton. John asked the passing bridge keeper if our moorings are 14 days, as the sign near our boat did not say, and he said 2 days, so we moved as we don’t want to overstay.

It was breezy and cloudy with sunny intervals, so it was a pleasant trip through Slimbridge to Purton. We had to moor on the right 600m after the two Purton bridges, although there is a visitor mooring opposite, at the end of the permanent moorings. 

Our new shears were used to cut the grass down the bank to the front cratch, to make it safer getting on and off the boat.

In the sunny afternoon, we walked on the Severn foreshore to view the well known Purton hulks, left to strengthen the river bank and protect it from erosion. Later, John cycled seven miles back to Saul to collect our car, quite hard work as it is a folding bike with tiny wheels! He needed a rest afterwards! 

Wednesday August 12 CRT calls plus visiting Hope and Jo

It feels strange not having our daughter’s dog, Honeypie! We had her for a month while building work continues, and enjoyed her company, as always.

A lady from CRT telephoned us today about overstaying on moorings! Strange, as we’re careful not to do so. We had been noted at Saul twice, two weeks apart, on 48 hour visitor moorings. John had to explain that we had moored at other places like Slimbridge for most of that time. She seemed satisfied, thankfully.

Today, we drove over the newer Severn Bridge to visit daughter Jo and our grandchild Hope.  Hope is at that sup milk, nap, get wind, fill nappy and back to sup milk stage, which is very demanding, but Jo, as always, takes it in her stride.

We got out the park and had a walk around the village, about which Jo already seems to know a fair bit.

Thursday August 12 at Purton

Today, John was busy cutting joints and replacing wood on one of Annie’s triangular front cratch windows. He was able to sit in the cratch and enjoy the lovely blue sky and sunshine today.

By evening, he had got the frame finished, primed and glossed.

We had an evening walk, messing around with our little folding bike, looking at the Purton hulks, more old Severn trow working boats from the 1890s and concrete boats from the 1940s.

 

Friday August 13 at Sharpness Docks (1 mile, 0 locks)

It rained overnight, and the day started cloudy and breezy, with raindrops on the windows from last night. Liana has noticed that the nights are getting colder, and it certainly feels autumnal today!

Weather permitting, we intend to motor up to Sharpness, have a walk and retrace our steps towards Slimbridge and Gloucester.

Quite by chance, we fell in our feet! We walked from our mooring near the marina, around to the coast guard station, to find it was an hour before high tide and a coaster carrying fertiliser was in sight, coming with the tide to dock in the floating harbour at Sharpness Docks. A GRP cruiser preceded it. We found a pedestrian walkway right into the dockside area, giving brilliant access, but fenced off for safety. We were yards from the ship as she entered through the lock gates around high tide.

Later, we went to the Sharpness Dockworkers Social Club,  to find you can get meals from noon until 2pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with reductions for pensioners Friday lunches only! We had fish & chips and full English breakfast, served by the welcoming staff.

As rain began, we returned to Annie to read and watch tv. John also did more work on the cratch.

A gentleman told us about two useful phone apps to find out about vessels on the Severn Estuary:

Severntales

Vesseltracker

I will try them!