It looked like a decent weather window was opening up, and Nick was keen to get his craft out so we met at the Minsterworth hoverport Saturday afternoon. After a couple of hours faffing about we put Nicks craft in the water for a solo run to the wier at Maismore, then I met him on the way back and we headed to the pub at Epney for beer & grub.
Arriving back as the light was fading, Nick was a bit apprehensive to see Sparkle dangling from a thread. It's not obvious, but the water is about 15ft down.
No issues though, both craft were soon parked on dry land - had to clear a little tree out of the way to make room!
Wasn't long before the beer supply was reconnected and "talking bo**ox" commenced for the rest of the evening!
In the morning, the craft were launched for a longer trip. The weather could not have been better- total flat calm and not a cloud in the sky. Hovering weather! The plan was that there was no plan ... meander down the river and see what took our fancy. First stop was an old fish house and "fishing engine" at Awre - a superb little spot and a little Severn history too.
Next we visited the old fishing quay at Gatcombe, a completely forgotten substantial stone structure, completely isolated by the river and railway. It would be a great camping spot except it is so thick with brambles you can't actually get on it. So it was time for tea - and Nick obliged with the obligatory Kelly kettle.
From Gatcombe the Purton Hulks were easily visible, so a little visit was necessary - of course! It's always worth a visit there, even if only to entertain the crowds.
Given the perfect weather, the miles were slipping past and we soon found ourselves well beyond Sharpness and stopped of briefly at Guscar rocks - I wanted to have a look and maybe check out a stnding stone, but the sight of the Severn bridge in the distance had Nick salivating so that was decided upon!
Nick wanted to go under the bridge, and once that was done there was nothing else for it but turn right and head up the Wye. This is one of the best hovercraft runs (I reckon) in Britain - first you pass under some impressive bridges of various ages and styles, then enter the Wye gorge guarded by Chepstow castle
(The smart ones will notice this was taken on the way back down stream - better angle!
After a few miles up the winding Wye, Nick radio'd a stop request - he wanted to check his fuel, given that we'd been cruising all morning and were over 45 miles out including a few detours. Sensible. So we pulled up in muddy hole on the bank.
And the answer? Of the 50 litres Sparkle was carrying, she had use only 11! Now that is fanstastic economy - around 15 mpg - no other powered watercraft could touch that (at a sustained 20-25 knts). Since time was now getting on, we set off back, about 41 or 42 miles in a single hit. This time following alternative routes through the many channels of the Severn, and marvelling at how the river shifts gazillions of tons of sand a mud around. Here's the route - 85 miles or so.
What a run! Perfect, this is what hovercraft were made for.