All’s well that ends well

The blog has had a bit of a holiday while we had a mini-break in Stratford-upon-Avon!

Wednesday – still “in the middle of nowhere”, we took some more time out to do domestic stuff.  More importantly, we needed to decide what to do about the pumpout.  The next opportunity would be at Valley Cruises in Stratford and while researching their opening times on the net I discovered that they also offered overnight moorings.  We’d already decided not to go on to the Avon and judging by the number of boats heading towards Stratford we were concerned we wouldn’t find a mooring in the Bancroft Basin (where, in any case, you are liable to have your boat boarded by Japanese tourists with cameras).  So this seemed the ideal solution – secure mooring just 15 mins walk from the town centre, diesel and pumpout – sorted.

We went for a walk and I took the opportunity to photograph one of the Stratford Canal’s other unique features – split bridges

The slit in the centre was to allow the tow rope to pass through without the necessity of unhitching the horse!  They are pretty narrow as well – at 6’ 10” we can get through with about an inch on each side, so I wonder how the old wooden working boats, which tended to “spread” when loaded, managed it.

Thursday – we set off for Stratford, first passing through Bearley Lock (also known, more appropriately I think, as it sits all by itself in the middle of nowhere, as “Odd Lock”. 

Then came Edstone Aqueduct, which enjoys the distinction of being the longest aqueduct in England – this might make it famous were it not overshadowed by its somewhat more spectacular, but much less pronounceable, Welsh cousin, the Pontcysyllte.

I was the photographer on this occasion (but see Saturday’s post!), getting a duck’s eye view because the towpath runs in a trough below the water level.

As you see, there’s not much in the way of Elf ‘n’ Safety on the other side!  But this helmsman copes

We next passed through Wilmcote (home of Shakespeare’s mother) on the way to the Wilmcote flight of 11 locks.  At first they come as single spies but then in a battalion (to misquote the man himself).  Two very efficient volunteer lock-keepers were keeping things moving, although this did involve a couple of long waits for us.  Nevertheless we were at the bottom in time for a late-ish lunch, and after getting water at Bishopton, where we chatted with a couple of New Zealanders on a hire-boat, we moved on through one final lock to Valley Cruises,

Diesel tank full, loo tank empty, we tied up on our mooring (a tight fit between two other boats) and went off to do some much needed shopping.  An hour later we were back from M & S Food (having convinced ourselves we were too tired to get as far as Tesco) with a “Dine in for £10” and having met a former work colleague we’d not seen for a couple of years.

On Friday, we walked into Stratford and became tourists in the town we worked in for twenty-odd years (in my case) and still visit more or less weekly. 

We started by picking up our tickets for the evening performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and took the opportunity to ascend the new tower for a panoramic view of the town and its surroundings

(We noticed there was actually plenty of mooring space in the basin!)

After a coffee on the RST terrace overlooking the Avon, we did a bit of shopping before meeting Chris and Lexie for a long, leisurely and excellent lunch in the canalside garden of the Red Lion.

We took advantage of Chris’s car to make the trip to Tesco, then all too soon it was time for us to say goodbye and get changed for the theatre.

We enjoyed the performance tremendously.  What was the play?  You’ve probably guessed – All’s Well That Ends Well!

On Saturday we slipped away from our mooring at around 9am to start our homeward journey.  At Bishopton lock we encountered a lovely Australian couple who asked if they could watch us go through the lock.  We generously allowed them to open and close gates as well!

After taking on more water we set off back up the Wilmcote flight, much quieter this time, and for the second time we wondered that a sunny summer Saturday should be so devoid of boaters.

We stopped at Wilmcote for lunch, also visiting the village store (possibly the best stocked we’ve ever encountered – not only for food items but all sorts of useful stuff like fuses and cup-hooks).  Then I took the helm ready for my big experience of the day

I was terrified!  Especially when the train whizzed underneath

But I got there in the end

And here we are back in “the middle of nowhere”.  The forecast was for a a little rain at 7pm, becoming torrential at 10.  It’s 9.50 and it’s already been torrential for a couple of hours at least.  I think this guy knew something