We left
our mooring at 10am and heading to the Edstone Aqueduct. Maggie and Richard were amazed at how the
canal goes went over a road, railway and river in such a small trough. It didn’t seem long before we started the
real descent into Stratford at Wilmcote.
Maggie decided it was time that she learnt how to operate the locks – it
had been lovely having her to talk to while I steered the locks but really was
time for her to earn her keep! However
she did find the paddles much too stiff to do but could manage to push the
gates. We encountered a volunteer lockie
on the Wilmcote flight and we were soon flying down the locks (not literally!)
with four people on the ground.
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| Edstone Aqueduct |
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| The Jolly Tars |
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| Maggie having her first locking lesson |
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| Looking back in Wilmcote locks |
We
pulled over at Valley Boat Services where we topped up with diesel and water
and emptied toilets. It was then only 4
locks down into Bancroft Basin. Boy some
of those bridges are low! Fortunately I
had the foresight to take the chimney off before knocking it off! We emerged into the basin and found it almost
empty – only three boats moored there.
We chose the end pontoon with a lovely view of the town. Richard II cooked a paella and then we walked
to the Bear at the Swan where the men enjoyed a couple of pints of Old Hookey –
of course Maggie and I were abstemious!!!
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| A cheeky swan |
Wednesday
dawned bright and sunny with the solar panels were charging at 11 amps and
Richard was a happy bunny! We decided to
give the open top bus tour a try and really enjoyed it. We hopped off at Anne Hathaway’s cottage to
have a coffee then continued back into Stratford where we hopped off again to
buy Muffin a new harness as he had chewed through another one yesterday. Next to the retail park was a Tesco so we
stocked up on beer and wine (I think someone has been on board and raided us as
the stocks have depleted rather rapidly).
We walked back to the boat and had a very late lunch. M and R decided to do the bus tour again and
stop at Mary Arden’s house – they returned about 6pm. Meanwhile Richard and I vegged out! We then left Bancroft Basin and went down
onto the river and moored up.
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| Muffin sightseeing |
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| Anne Hathaway's cottage |
Tuesday
Below Preston Bagot Bottom Lock to Bancroft Basin
8.3 miles
17 locks
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