Tuesday 6 September.
After the battle with the Severn Way yesterday we decided to modify our route today. Shiel's feet have been giving her trouble and she decided another 8 hour day fighting barbed wire, nettles and brambles would be a step too far. It is after all supposed to be a holiday, not two foreigners battling to keep the Severn Way open. We're sorry about it and we would be prepared, health permitting, to come back to Gloucester, for a week next year, to help clear some of the path.
So today we decided to follow the Gloucester to Sharpness canal and what a great decision that was. There were NO path problems and we covered the 16.8 km in only 5 hours, 25 minutes.
We stayed overnight in the Central Hotel. It seemed quite new and the facilities, location and reception were good. We booked 3 months in advance and got a great 'no refund' price of 34 pounds. I was a bit worried about the great rate so I asked the receptionist for a receipt this morning. I checked it on the way out. It was for 156 pounds!!!! I queried it and she apologised and said that was today's rate. I reserve further comment until I see my credit card receipts on return to NZ.
When we entered Gloucester yesterday it was like passing through a time warp. Further north it was much like the England/Wales of 40 years ago, apart from traffic and housing density. Gloucester however was much more like modern London or Manchester. Much greater ethnic diversity with lots of beggars and homless people on the streets (almost invariably from the young indigenous population).
We would like to go into the Cathedral however and also help clean the path, so we may be back.
The first two photos below are of the Cathedral. The buildings are incredible. They would challenge builders today, even with their all their modern equipment. These buildings were inspired by the belief in an all powerful deity. Life in all its aspects was tightly controlled but people achieved great things. I feel that in some ways England has lost something of value with the downgrading of Christianity in everyday life.
The next photo shows two people sleeping in the street overnight. Another enigma of modern Britain. On our walk from our hotel to the canal we passed many beggers, invariably young.
The next photo shows a sculpture in the redeveloped Quay area. A lttle further along we saw a two masted sailing ship and I've added a photograph. Remember the height of those masts.
Leaving the Quay area we started to follow the Gloucester-Sharpness canal in earnest. We passed and old light ship from the Humber Estuary, The Sula. If you are interested it's for sale.
The next photo looked like an East German border tower on the Elbe so we put it next to remind us of earlier walks.
The path moved away from the canal through a nice wooded area (photo) before returning to the canal in front of a modern housing development. Unlike the Severn I don't think the canal floods.
We have in the past had problems with blocked tracks so it was reassuring to find the towpath was also a national cycle track (photo). We passed a swing bridge with traffic lights and an innovative road bridge (2 photos).
Today we also passed our best equipped fisherman to date (photo). Sadly we forgot to get his name. He was just putting in ground bait.
There are 3 more general canal views before we reach the penultimate photograph. A photo of a stile with a mutilated sign post. The metal plate saying footpath has been bent, until it fatigued, and then snapped off. It probably said only footpath, but it leads to The Severn Way!!!
The last photograph is lunch stop, The Pilot Inn.
No comments:
Post a Comment