Saul Junction

Saul Junction was once a crossroads where the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal met the Stroudwater Navigation. The latter fell into disuse, leaving just a short arm which provides access to Saul Junction Marina. We radioed ahead to let the swingbridge keeper know we were coming and wanted to turn into the arm. The Inland Waterways Association has designated it a Silver Propeller Site, encouraging boaters to take interest and visit. The bridgekeeper was certainly earning their keep, coordinating boats coming from the south, east and ourselves from the north, as well as two large trip boats waiting to set off. They instructed us to go past the arm, turn round and enter from the south for visibility.

We snapped a few photos of Rainboat on location as evidence of our visit and moored. Unfortunately the CRT leased all towpath moorings on the arm to the marina so we couldn't stay. The marina had diesel so we filled up. We'd only used 20l since Stourport as the river current had done most of the work, but with our impending journey up the River Avon it was best to get fuel while we could.

Despite Saul being a hive of activity, it was easy to find a spot to tie up on the mainline. The nearby car park meant we had to keep a close eye on the dogs, but the numerous visitors on the road meant cars travelled slowly. Much to their delight, many people stopped to fuss Tiger and Leo.

There was obviously a lot of time, love and some investment going into Saul, with a visitor centre and café, paddle board and canoe hire and tuition. We walked the dogs along to the bridge blocking the end of the arm, where a couple of people in charge of a group of kayaking kids encouraged us to carry on and see the restored lock. Nature had retaken the old towpath but a meadow path provided a shortcut. The canal was barely recognisable as such; some had been filled in and the rest was covered with waterlilies and rushes. Damselflies and butterflies were drawn to the peaceful haven it provided. The lock, a Grade II structure, wasn't anything special to look at, but it's restoration, funded by the lottery, was an important step towards the eventual goal of reopening the Stroudwater, as part of a larger project by the Cotswolds Canals Partnership.

The next day we explored the surrounding area, taking a walk to Frampton, a gorgeous village that seemed lost in time and had us humming the theme tune to Heartbeat! Unfortunately the pub here had very recently closed, but The Bell Inn was on our way back so we had lunch there instead. We started off at an outdoors table overlooking 'The Green'; a well used cricket pitch, but retreated indoors as the wind picked up. Will's swordfish was particularly tasty. Czytaj więcej