Sindbad, who evidently shares our love of the outdoors, would understand…
“Selecting a rare spot on the banks of a stream, I sat apart, meditating on the wonderful works of the Omnipotent One. There the soft zephyrs singing in the trees, and the stream murmuring at my feet, lulled me into slumber; and when I awoke later, I looked forth upon the sea and lo, the ship was far out on the wall of the ocean sloping to the sky. They had forgotten me and I was left alone upon the island." *
Our venue is The Ship at Upper Framilode which is picturesquely situated by the Stroudwater Navigation…where you’ve got the zephyrs in the trees and water at your feet… but if you want to sail up this canal you have definitely missed the boat!
There have been no ships passing this way for over half a century…
The canal is currently being restored by the Cotswold Canals Trust but it seems that this section between the Severn and Saul Junction where it joins with the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal will not be included in the restoration.
“The Stroudwater Navigation was constructed from the River Severn at Framilode to Wallbridge in Stroud. It opened in 1779 and was 8¼ miles long with twelve locks which were able to accommodate the Trows, the main trading vessels operating on the River Severn at that time. The construction costs of the canal were all raised locally and it operated very successfully with few problems.
In 1827 it was linked to the national canal system when the Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal was built to circumnavigate the difficult parts of the river Severn below Gloucester. Dereliction came in the 1940’s and closure became inevitable in 1953” **
What I mean to say is… As in Scheherazade's tales of the Arabian Nights, every story starts with an anomaly which can be put down to fate. One thing leads to another as the tale becomes more intricate until normality is eventually restored - even if it's not quite how we expected. Then, inevitably, destiny continues to take its course and we begin again…
We will have the family room to ourselves (18.30 - 23.00), hopefully trackables galore, the usual quiz for anyone so inclined... and good food at a reasonable price will be available. Numbers for food would be appreciated.
On our recent recce, cache4chaos' MrB was heard to remark, “That was quite the best cheesecake I have ever tasted!”
* Extract from Stories from the Arabian Nights retold by Laurence Houseman published in 1907 by Hodder and Stoughton
** Extract from The Stroudwater and Thames & Severn Canals in Old Photographs by Edwin Cuss and Stanley Gardiner, published in 1988 by Alan Sutton
more info about the Severn Trow at www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/museum/exhibits/vessels.htm