Down by the river

We have had an old-fashioned Sunday of a hearty breakfast, a good newspaper to read and the prospect of a lunchtime walk. With the sunshine and light winds we thought that a walk by the river would be suitable, so set off with our map to find Epney, since Helena was told about it following a chance conversation in a local pub last night.

I had been there once before, but Helena had only seen that part of the River Severn from the other bank, when we all went to watch the Severn Bore two years ago on my birthday. We drove past the longest village green in England which can be found at Frampton-on-Severn, but sadly the cricket season hasn't started so the usual charm of the village playing was absent. The pub however was thronged. Passing through we crossed over the Sharpness canal which links the Bristol Channel to Gloucester city and beyond to the River Severn and its inland waterway links to the Midlands and beyond.

We both love being beside water and today was perfect. We found a pub to park at at Epney, as rumoured, and a the Severn Way footpath which we followed northwards past small cottages and smallholdings, set behind the high protective bank. There was an abundance of Apple trees spread between the farmland and the river, whilst the few houses petered out and farmland then predominated.

The Severn here is still tidal to a marked degree and we arrived at just about low tide. The sandbanks and mud flats were fully exposed whilst the sun's light shimmered on the water when seen from the right angle. We only saw a couple of people on the walk and have logged this as a place to return to for peace and quiet and wildlife, what with the seagulls, ducks, buzzards and pretty reeds. We may even return for the Bore as this would be a much better vantage point than the far side where most people congregate.

Helena spotted a strange formation in the water flowing down from Gloucester, which is only about five miles away as the crow flies but about fifteen following the river's meanders. We sat beside the water and listened to the flow, as a whirlpool seemed to form caused by the shape of the river bed below the surface. It was a great place to relax and watch the changing moods of the river, as within a few minutes the whirlpool had disappeared, as the water level started to rise again and began to flood over the flats.

I pottered about with my camera, somewhat annoyed with myself for having forgotten to bring my zoom lens, which Dave's views had only just returned to me after a week of his testing it against his Sigma. I liked this shot, which was taken while I stood behind Helena on the river bank, looking north towards Gloucester. This is where the river is undercutting the bank, before hitting hard rock and being forced to turn in a big curve. The hills behind are the Forest of Dean and the highest point you can see is May Hill, an ancient mound, covered by trees, surrounded by a ditch and which is almost certainly of Iron Age origin and a famous landmark for miles around. The trees are recorded as having been there in 1643, when a local story recorded that Prince Rupert and some of his Cavaliers took shelter in the trees for a short time during the siege of Gloucestershire.

We then turned around, pottered back to the pub, had a quick drink beside the river again and went to Gloucester to shop for Tofu in the Yip Shing chinese supermarket. It seemed so strange to be in that rather rundown urban area again within fifteen minutes. I can't understand why the river bank wasn't teeming with the local Gloucester residents. We shall return.

NB
Down by the river is an old favourite song of mine from Neil Young's second solo album.