Wotton Rivers

Tuesday/Wednesday, 15//16th July 2014

I get to move again.....  Susan does the cleaning as we journey to Wotton Rivers.  I get to go through a tunnel - Bruce Tunnel which is 502 yards long.  We are at the summit now 450 feet.

There are lots of horseflies here - doesn't bother me but poor Pete is getting attacked by them.  There are mooring signs before and after the tunnel but nowhere to moor as the towpaths are full of nettles and weeds.  Burbage Wharf is in the same condition.  Like it has been left to rot.  How strange that the humans do not cut all the weeds here.

At the first lock, there is a very strange boat coming out of it "Looks like a shed" says Pete.  No engine and the guy on the front is using a pole to propel it along.  I feel very privileged that I have an engine - so are Pete and Susan - must be very slow and hard work to move.

Boat with no engine

We go through two pretty locks: Cadley Lock is our first downhill lock and Susan likes the pretty cottage and gardens.  Then we go through Brimslade lock which is in the middle of farmland and attractive old buildings.  Susan notices that the locks have sign posts with their names on and not just numbers now...

Cadley Lock - gardens

Brimslade Farm and Lock

We moor up prior to Wotton Rivers above Heathey Close Lock.  Pete tells Susan that he wants to go for a walk to see a place called 'Cuckoo's Knob' - they both giggle and I do not understand why?  Must be a human thing.

They also go for a walk into the canalside village which won 'Best village' award in 1984.  Susan spots an amazing cat in a field by the St. Andrew's church and it poses for her.

Total 3 miles and 2 locks

Pete decides that we need to move to get water which is below Heathey Close Lock.  Lots of spaces here today - 24 hours mooring.

Mooring at Wotton Rivers

Once I am full of water, Pete and Susan go for a walk to the village and visit the Royal Oak pub (built in the 16th century) for lunch.  Both of them said that they were disappointed with lunch - although Pete enjoyed the Wadworth beer.

Royal Oak Pub

They did enjoy seeing the 13th century St. Andrew's church with the strange clock.... and the village is lovely with mainly timber-framed, thatched houses.  The George V Coronation Clock made by villager Jack Spratt had on its face letters in place of numbers spelling out: Glory Be To God.  The mechanism has been made from a collection of cast-off agricultural implements and household paraphernalia.

St. Andrew's Church Clock

Glory Be To God Church Clock

Thatched Cottage

Pretty gardens too.

Total 1 lock