Govilon Wharf

The village of Govilon is only a couple of miles from Llanfoist, and the journey there on foot, by the canal, is very pleasant. There is thick woodland on the uphill side of the canal and a narrow screen of trees on the downhill side. Our journey was punctuated by numbered stone bridges that took tracks and roads over the canal, and at Govilon we came upon a small, stone-built, former warehouse at the wharf. This appears to have been turned to recreational use by the local boating fraternity. On the day of our visit the boats were still tied up and empty, blue tarpaulins and covers still in place to keep the wintery weather at bay. The only moving boat we saw was a powered dinghy with someone examining the branches that had fallen into canal in recent high winds.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

River Avon at Tewkesbury

There are several River Avons in Britain. This isn't surprising when you know that "avon" is Celtic for "river". Appending the word "River" is a relatively recent construction so in the past the name would not be the tautology that it is today. The Welsh "Afon" has the same meaning. The River Avon that flows through Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is well-known as the Avon that flows through Stratford in Warwickshire, the birthplace of Shakespeare. At Tewkesbury is its confluence with the River Severn, and in this area it is a place of leisure boating. My photograph shows the final navigable stretch before the weir at the water mill. In the distance Tewkesbury Abbey can be seen. I liked the effect that sepia toning added to my black and white view.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M1