Shakespere Country 24 April to 3 May

We're currently moored in the basin at the junction of the Stratford Canal and the River Avon. I haven't had the courage to tell the locals that the Bard didn't really write all that stuff. They take it so seriously! Actually, we visited his grave in Trinity Church yesterday and it is a beautiful spot. The whole town is quaint, but quite touristy.Since we updated you last, we cruised from Gloucester back to Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury to Pershore, Pershore to Evesham (2 nights), Evesham to Bidford and finally Bidford to Stratford. Our departure from Gloucester was delayed until about 1130 due to the arrival of a high tide. The section from Gloucester to the lock just south of Tewkesbury is semi-tidal, meaning that the tide only affects it when it is high enough to push back over the weir south of Gloucester. The lock keeper indicated that he could let us out earlier, but suggested waiting. We took his advice and had a nice cruise to Tewkesbury. It's interesting that we made good speed even though we were heading upstream and the tide went from neutral to an ebb. The boat just moves better in deeper water, so we were at normal (about 1250) canal revs and did just fine.We locked up onto the Avon at Tewkesbury and moored just above the lock. The lock keeper sold us the 15 day license (£55). Terry wanted fish and chips at Tewkesbury so we found a nice chippy nearby. We learned long ago that it is much better to eat right there and not have everything wrapped, as it all goes soggy. Pershore was a great stop the next day and the weather was bright, if not especially warm. Prior to arriving in Evesham, Anyway, we had a nice mooring in Evesham. Terry departed and Ann arrived back on board. We cruised to Bidford, which is a delightful village. A great bakery and beautiful church. The next day, before mooring at Stratford, we decided to go about 1.5 miles further upstream to the limit of navigation for narrowboats. It was beautiful (and now we can color in that little section on our cruising map), but we had a hell of a time winding with the narrowness and current of the river. Once we got headed back in the right direction we locked up into the basin at Stratford.Today we're heading back downstream. Friends from Dallas arrive Sunday at Evesham (where there is a regatta going on this weekend). They will cruise with us back to Tewkesbury and up to Worcester. Then we will attack the 58 locks of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to get to Birmingham. It's a blast. All the best, John and Ann http://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=318