27 June – Rest day in Stratford (Avon River)
Had a quiet day in Stratford being tourists and just
blobbing. Pete learnt about instant messaging so caught up with Ashley and
Clara, he is a boy with a new toy. By the end of this trip he will actually be
able to post the blog.
Walked across tram bridge into town and people are
everywhere. This Shakespeare character is very popular. We jumped on a Hop on Hop
off double decker bus http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/united-kingdom/stratford-upon-avon.htm
we did the circuit with guide telling you all about Stratford and Shakespeare, even
some mention of the canal. It is a good way to get a quick tour of a city. Love the buildings in this place.
The crossing across the thatch roofs is actually the thatchers signature, you live and learn
Back
to the boat around 2 to run engine for an hour and to heat water. Still hundreds
of people about. One perk about being on the boat is you don’t have to pay for
parking and you have a window with a view of all activity going on. Couldn’t get
this in a 5 star hotel.
Dinner was at The Bear, steak and ale pie for me and sausage
and mash for Pete – 9/10 an example of how a good busy pub can be. http://www.thebearfreehouse.co.uk/
View for the night and look what flies over us.
TOTAL – 0 miles, lots of walking and one bus trip
28 June – Stratford Basin to Wootton Wawen (Avon Canal)
Up early and breakfast and moved on to the Stratford canal
and off up narrow locks in drizzle.
These only have 2 gates not 3 like most
narrow locks. Very tight bridge holes and you need to slow right down for them.
Moved well through the first of 18 locks with most set for us and lock keepers
on the 5 flight at Wilmcote. More boats about as the day went on and stopped
for lunch at Featherbed Bridge on 48 hour moorings. Rain has stopped and
clearing skies.
After a long lunch we moved on through one more lock and
some pleasant countryside for a while. Finally stopped for the night in Wootton
Wawen at 4pm which has the Navigation Inn. Vicki put the Sunday roast on in boats
gas oven and we strolled across for a couple drinks and then back to finish
roast off and make Yorkshire puds. Gas ovens are obviously the trick they are
the best Vicki has made.
Crap TV reception, bugger all internet and phone reception
just as bad. Vicki is now saying it is a 3rd world country. But not a bad pub.
TOTAL – 7 miles, 18 locks
29 June – Wootton Wawen to Lowsonford Lock 31 (Avon Canal)
Up bright and early and off for a walk into the village to
see a very old and interest church, some of it Saxon 1300 years old. Some parts
very out of square.
Interesting exhibition inside
Back to the boat after a coffee and Danish and moving on by
10, stopped for lunch at 12.30 with many walkers passing on tow path, where did
they come from????
Today I am wearing my Whangamomona pub t-shirt and I was
waiting below the Preston Bagot bottom lock for a boat coming down and as it
passed the other tiller yells out Whangamomona, we were there last December. I
asked if they stayed at the pub. Yes was the reply with a grin. Did you go on
the railway carts? No he said that will be next time.
We travelled on meeting boats and people along the way,
stopped for the night at 3.30pm opposite the Fleur-de-lys Pub famous for its
pies says the sign.
We had dinner on boat but went over to pub after for a drink
and meet an interesting English couple who have done quite a bit travel though
never on a Narrowboat so were full of questions. The pub had 5 or 6 blonde
waitresses all who looked like Erica Ness, must be a pony club nearby. They
were very busy as everyone was eating outside. The whole village drives Range Rovers
but we did see 1 Ferrari.
Pete's new mate
Still not TV reception, internet or phone reception
TOTAL 4 miles, 8 locks and 1 aqueduct
30 June – Lowsonford Lock 31 to Lapworth Lock 15
Started day again by 8.45 to beat the heat which is due today.
We were on the locks quickly and have started a new routine. Vicki sets lock, I
drive boat in and then climb out and open first paddle while she holds the boat
and then walks across roof of boat to open the other paddle. She then drives boat
out as I close gate. Seems to be working as we have managed to do a lot more
locks today.
We drove through some pleasant country and did the first 6
by 10.30 and stopped for a cuppa and to make a sour dough loaf for lunch and then
back hitting the locks again.
Clara rang just as it got interesting and
unfortunately we had to hang up as we were just at the junction of Grand Union
and Avon Canal and boats going all direction and the Lapworth Locks are one after another with a short stroll between. We were lucky about then as boats were coming down -this means we only had to do one way and leave gates
open. Finally stopped for lunch 12.45 at a 48hour mooring and I think that might
be us for today. Temperature is now in the 30s. We have not travelled far but
boy have we done locks. Still have 15 to Birmingham but 41 down.
YEAH we have internet reception, tv reception and phone reception maybe we are back in civilisation and all it too was 2 miles.
