Piglet: Liquid Water

Thankfully we woke up to a sunny morning, floating ducks and moving water for our return trip to Braunston.

Piglet: Piglet Meets Ice, 3rd March 2013

Once again the diesel heater came on as it should, but shut itself off after about 90 minutes which was annoying.  However this wasn't a problem as we were on landline electrics so the immersion heater was heating the hot water.

I got up and went to light the fire in the front cabin to get this area warm.  Opening the curtains something didn't quite seem right.  The water around the boat wasn't moving!  This was the first time I'd been on a narrowboat in ice.

Anyway, it was nice being able to have a hot shower at last now the water tank was full.

Becky got up, had a shower and we both had breakfast discussing what to do that day.  One suggestion was go to look around Daventry and go out boating for the day tomorrow.  I went to look at the canal and found that the ice was thicker there than in the marina.

Shortly afterwards a crashing noise was heard coming along from the direction of the bottom lock and a boat appeared breaking its way through the ice.  I figured as the locks were shut, the stretch past the marina would be little used so to see a boat on it breaking the ice suggested to me that the canal around the Turn would have more traffic so would already have a path through the ice.

We decided to go and head out to the Folly at Napton.

While I was getting the boat ready a boat left its marina mooring and broke a path through the ice.  There was no excuse now.

I ran the engine in forward gear while still on the mooring and this broke the ice behind us so we could reverse out.  I will mention that to the owners of the boat next to ours as they had difficulty in January reversing out in ice.

We set off at 11am and reversing out wasn't a problem.  As we took a slightly different line through the marina to the previous boat you could hear the ice scraping against moored boats as we passed.  It was quite odd to see ducks stood on the ice either side of us as we went down the narrow path carved by the previous boat.

Turning on to the main canal wasn't a problem and we followed the path through the ice past the marina entrance.  Here we saw the boat that had come past earlier so unless something else had moved the ice would only have been broken up to this point. Crunch crunch crunch could be heard as we encountered our first bit of properly frozen canal.  Past Braunston Road Bridge and the Boat House pub the canal was free of ice which was a relief.

Turning on to the Oxford Canal it was obvious no boat had been before us that morning as the ice was right across the canal and as far as I could see into the distance.  It was too late now to turn back so we continued crunching our way forward.  The noise was quite loud from the back of the boat and at the front it was amazing.

As we approached the cutting at Wolfamcote the ice got thicker but we still had no problem breaking it.  Had it got much worse I planned to turn around but it got easier when we got to the more exposed section where the wind was breaking the ice up a bit.  We met a couple of boats coming the other way so knew from here the channel would be clear.

Eventually the ice cleared altogether.  Before Wigram's Turn (the junction where the Grand Union Canal splits from the Oxford and heads north) we met Nick Wolfe's 'Aldgate'.

Approaching the junction we saw 2 boats come out of the Grand Union and turn right in front of us.  I hoped these weren't going to moor at Napton as the visitor moorings there are busy at the quietest of times.

As we approached the Bridge Inn the lead boat winded round so we held against a boat on the moorings until they had finished turning.  Once they had turned, the 2nd boat did the same.  Once the 2 boats had moored up we continued on our way but still couldn't decided if the Bridge Inn was open or not.

As usual there were boats on the moorings at Napton so we winded and backed up towards the locks a bit to moor in a space next to the wooden ice breaker 'Pelican'.  Having moored up we decided to go for a couple of drinks then head back just in case the ice was bad the next morning.

We arrived at the Folly and could see it was busy with Sunday lunches so we bought our drinks and sat down on a pew in the lower room.  We could see the lunches looked really good and once the landlord had wafted a few under our noses on the way from the kitchen we decided to stay moored at Napton that night and have lunch in the pub and we weren't disappointed.  Becky had roast beef and I had roast pork and it was lovely!  We even managed to have desserts.

After a couple of hours we returned to Piglet and watched TV for the rest of the evening.

Piglet: Braunston, Saturday 2nd March 2013

A welcome noise to be woken up to is the sound of the diesel heater starting up and more importantly keep running.  Thankfully this is exactly what happened this morning and by the time I wanted to get up the boat was feeling quite cosy.

I turned the heater off and went to light the fire.  It took a few goes this morning but I was quite out of practice but after a while it was roaring away nicely.

Breakfast consisted of a few slices of toast as we'd not been to get any supplies so far.

From November 2012 the fresh water system on the boat had been drained down to stop any freezing of the pipes if the temperature got cold enough so the first job of the day was to go and fill the tank up with water.  I replaced the shaft, boat hook and plank on the roof as these had been stored in the front cabin over winter and they were quite in the way!

I started the engine and while that warmed up we decided whether to use the tap in the marina or one of the ones out on the Grand Union Canal.  We decided to use the one on the canal as then we could go for a short trip.

We reversed out of the mooring and through the marina to the second entrance and turned left.  Turning right would have taken us to Braunston locks which were shut for maintenance and there isn't a tap down there anyway!

We moored just in front of the Gongoozler's Rest café boat and ran out the hose to the tap.  I closed all the taps on the boat (left open over winter) and started filling the tank.  Meanwhile Becky went to the café boat and bought a couple of coffees.  After a while I opened the taps and turned on the water pump and thankfully water appeared out of all the taps after a bit of spluttering and splashing.

Narrowboat 'Amy' arrived from the 'Turn' direction and moored in front of us wanting to use the tap when we had finished.  They had been in Braunston for a week or so and were heading off up the Grand Union once they'd filled with water and turned around.  The stoppage at Calcutt Locks was meant to have finished on Friday but I recall an email from Canal & River Trust amending the stoppage until 8am on Monday and checking on my phone I was correct.  The owners of 'Amy' didn't mind a few more days in Braunston and the guy was quite happy as he could get a decent pint in the pubs.

After an hour the tank was looking nearly full so we stopped filling as we knew we weren't going to use much water and wanted to leave the tank with some space in it as we wouldn't be draining it again when we left the boat.

We cast off and headed up the canal to Braunston Turn where the Grand Union meets the Oxford Canal.  This isn't the original site of the junction however, that was where the entrance to the marina is but in 1830 the Oxford Canal Company straightened their line a bit and built an embankment known as Braunston Puddle Banks cutting off 5 miles of winding canal which caused the juntion to move to its new location.  

The Oxford meets the Grand Union at 90 degrees like a lot of junctions but here there is a triangular 'traffic island'.  Winding at the 'Turn' involves turning left onto the shared Oxford/Grand Union section down one side of the triangle, reversing down the other side of the triangle and returning the way you came which makes up the 3rd side.  This isn't too problematic but I have seen it done with a motor and butty which must be interesting!

We arrived back at our mooring in the marina just after midday (Becky having vetoed my suggestion of a pint in the Boat House).

We plugged the landline electrics back in and turned on the immersion heater to give us hot water now the tank and calorifer was full.

Locking the boat up we took the short walk into Braunston village and headed for the butchers who asked if we'd come by submarine!  Here we bought our supply of meat and veg for the next few days before heading to the store to get a few bottles of wine, etc.

Dropping the shopping back at the boat we took a walk up the locks to the Admiral Nelson for lunch.  We'd first gone to the Nelson the previous October and loved it however we learnt that it was to close again as it had been sold.  Thankfully the tenants were able to raise the money and buy the pub themselves so it is now a Freehouse.  

We took as seat in the bar as the restaurant was full.  Becky ordered a Cajun Chicken Burger and I had Gammon, Egg and Chips.  There was a bit of a wait as they were short staffed but the beer and wine were as good as always so we didn't mind and we certainly didn't mind when the food arrived!

We left feeling very full and walked up the lane, across the field and footpath back into the village thinking we'd have a drink in the Old Plough.  The last few times we'd been there it wasn't brilliant but it looks like it has new management and the pint of Doom Bar I had was quite nice.  The landlady, obviously taking time out from cooking, came and engaged us in conversation and was very pleasant.  Unfortunately we were the only people in there but I hope she makes a success of it and it goes back to how I remember the pub during the Braunston Boat Show days.

We returned to the boat, lit the fire and watched TV only having the Pasties we'd bought from the butchers at around 8pm when we felt hungry again.

Piglet: Under the cover of darkness. 1st March 2013

This was to be the first time we had travelled to Braunston after work on a Friday evening.  The journey didn't really take any longer than it did normally which was good to know.

When we arrived, everything was in darkness and it felt like the middle of the night even though it was only just gone half eight.

Apart from a couple of hours in early February, Piglet had been shut up since December so was looking very cold and dark.  We turned on the 12 and 24 volt electrics (the 240 volt was already on to power a couple of heaters) and the gas and pressed the 'go' button on the Webasto diesel heater.  This thankfully burst into life in a plume of water vapour out of the exhaust.  We lit a fire as well to help bring the temperature up and soon heat inside was climbing past 15 degrees.

We had brought some Chilli with us so while that was warming up on the hob we made the bed up and stowed a few other bits away.

After eating we watched TV, had a few glasses of beer and wine and headed for bed.

I'm still here...

Please don't think I haven't posted anything since October last year.  I'm writing trip reports and back-dating them but have just realised it looks like nothing's been posted recently.

Newbold to Braunston

In no hurry to start moving on our last morning moving we set off the latest we had done all trip.

Passing through Rugby we were then on to the 3 locks at Hilmorton.

These took us about 30 minutes with a very nice CRT volunteer helping us through the top lock.

Above the locks were a few working boats coming back from a festival at, I think, Stoke Bruerne.

The Barby Straight was bitterly cold with a headwind which was quite fierce.  We caught up a boat and then shortly afterwards our two boats caught another boat up.  To say the front boat was going slowly would be an understatement with me having to take the boat out of gear on several occasions to stop running into the boat in front of us.  This probably went on for a couple of miles all the way to Braunston.  Thankfully the lead boat turned right at Braunston Turn and went up the Grand Union / Oxford section.

We passed the Stop House, turned right into the marina and back into our mooring at 13:30.  The minute we tied up it started pouring with rain.

We took a walk up to the Admiral Nelson for a few drinks and to book a table to eat the following evening.

Hartshill to Newbold

An earlier start this morning, setting off at 8:20.

Today was an easy run through Nuneaton, with what seems like miles and miles of canal-side allotments, past Marston Junction and the Ashby Canal (one for the future I think) until the outskirts of Coventry and Hawkesbury Junction.

Once again the 180 degree turn was done in one go.  I'm not sure if this is a normal thing or not but I was happy with it!

Just before the junction it was obvious we were catching another boat up and we eventually caught them on the Oxford Canal just past the village of Ansty when they waved us past.  However having passed them it seemed to take a long time to pull away from them.  Much longer than it took to catch them up!

We reached Newbold Tunnel at 14:30 and shortly after emerging from the other end we moored up in a similar spot to the week previous.

After sorting a few things out we went and visited the Boat Inn.  The Boat staff were very friendly and had only been in a few weeks.  The 2 Dalmatian puppies were quite a handful but well behaved.  A few pints of St Austell Tribute went down very well next to the log fire!  

We enquired about food but they weren't doing any yet so we went next door to eat in the Barley Mow.

Compared to the Boat, the Barley Mow was unfriendly and we were not made to feel welcome.  Not because of any one thing but probably because the barmaid spent a lot of time talking to the loud group of builders in the other bar, even when pouring our drinks.  Even the drinks were average, with cheap wine and probably one of the worst pints of Greene King IPA I have ever tasted.  We only had one drink before leaving.

Next stop was the Co-op to stock up on a few bits then we visited the Newbold Crown.  I'd been here before and stayed to far to late into the morning but this time it was just for a pint of St Austell Dartmoor before getting some fish and chips and heading back to the boat.

Polesworth to Hartshill

We wanted to make an early start so as to beat the boats in front of us on the mooring to Atherstone Locks. However by the time we left there were already 3 gone.

We needed to fill up with water somewhere so thought about the water point at bridge 48.  As we approached there already was a boat filling up but they looked to be moving off so we held back and moored up when they left.

We filled up with water and emptied the rubbish and set off again.  Only to reverse 2 minutes later as we'd left the adapter for the hose on the tap!

Atherstone Bottom Lock was reached and we had to wait for 'Bletchley' to come out.

We were following a boat up and they were helping us by emptying the lock they just left if nothing was coming the other way.  We passed quite a few boats coming down and reached the top just before 1pm.

We decided to call it a day in the countryside at Bridge 33.

We had lunch then took a walk along the canal to where we had moored on the way up to visit the Anchor pub where we had a lovely couple of hours before returning to the boat for dinner.

Fradley to Polesworth

We were sat having breakfast as a coal boat passed us.  He'd previously gone the other way when we were still in bed.  It was a lovely morning so I took a few pictures.

We set off just after 9 and before long we passed the coal boat moored up.  He asked us if we wanted any coal and we took the opportunity to buy a couple of bags from him.  He'd been up to Fradley Junction that morning to wind.  Saying goodbye we headed off.

We passed through Hopwas and reached Fazeley Junction just after midday.  The 2 locks at Glascote were uneventful with only one boat coming down.

We eventually reached our mooring for the night at Polesworth just before 3 pm.

There were about 4 other boats on the moorings and everyone said hello and were busy doing chores or walking about.  We took a walk into the town to get a few supplies before heading back to a relaxing evening.  I also took the opportunity to re-pack the stern greaser as this was getting low.

Great Haywood to Fradley

We woke to a rainy Staffordshire morning after a few days of lovely weather and it was soon time to make a start back to Braunston.

Typically at Colwich Lock there was a queue and the rain was coming down harder but as there were also boats coming up it didn't take too long for us to be on our way again.

One of the boats coming up through the locks was 'Huggles' which was at Braunston when we left.  Apparently it was a brand new boat but they had quite a few teething troubles with it and were hurrying to make up lost time.  We wished them on their way and hope they enjoy their boat.

In an attempt to drive off the rain and keep myself somewhat warm the first part of the day was spent with the back stove lit and the back doors shut!

We passed back through Rugely and Armitage with its tunnel and porcelain factory.

We reached the locks at Fradley and this time the traffic was more typical with having to wait for boats to go down and come up all of the locks.

We rounded Fradley Junction back on to the Coventry Canal and thought about mooring up for the day.  The only space was on the end of the visitor moorings.  It was very shallow in the edge and after a few attempts we decided to head on a bit further and see what we could find.  We reached Bridge 90 about 3pm to find a few boats moored up but plenty of room for more so we moored up for the evening.

We spent quite a bit of time watching the earth move on a Mole Hill but no Mole appeared (not that we really thought it would) but it was quite interesting watching the worms 'run' away on the surface.

Great Haywood Day 2

We set off from our mooring opposite Shugborough Hall around 11 am and passed through Haywood Lock before turning onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Haywood Junction.  Immediately after the junction I had to back into the basin in order to pump out the toilet.

In the end there wasn't much that needed pumping out but we took advantage of being able to empty the cassette toilet, empty the bins and fill up with water at the same time.

After everything that needed emptying was empty, I pulled right out of the basin and backed through the junction bridge to head back down the Trent and Mersey, mooring slightly above the lock.

Great Haywood

We spent the morning feeling good about arriving a day ahead of schedule which meant we were able to just relax from the minute we got up.

During the morning we took a walk past the lock where a boat was selling 2nd hand books to the Anglo Welsh boatyard to enquire about pumping out the toilet.  Although we didn't really think it would be full it was the first time we'd used the boat for any length of time so wanted to be safe than sorry.  They said they had a few turn-arounds to do today but it would be quieter on Sunday.

We then walked to the farm shop and were amazed how much bigger (and smarter) it had got since we'd been there a year before.  We even remember commenting how little local produce they sold before but now almost everything is local.

We bought a few bits and pieces and took a walk back to the Clifford Arms for lunch.

During the afternoon we ran the engine for an hour or so to top the batteries up.

That evening, Joanna picked us up and we went for a quick drink in the Red Lion in Little Heywood before going out to lunch at The Yorkshireman at Rugely.  The meal was excellent although had we not had a lift I don't think it's really walkable from any mooring.

Hopwas to Great Haywood

Again, we set off about 9 am.

The Coventry Canal winded its way onwards towards Fradley Junction and we made average progress.  It would have been quicker had a boat not pulled out on us at Whittington.

We passed Huddlesford Junction and the Lichfield Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal.  This branch is currently un-navigable but is being restored by the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.  I'd passed the other end of the branch during a trip back in 2002.

Another boat pulled away in front of us and were quite slow along the section through Streethay Wharf.  We could see it was a bunch of guys wearing bright blue woolley hats which made us think 'stag party'.

We stopped briefly at Bridge 90 to check the weed hatch and then pressed on towards Fradley Junction.  I knew that traffic at Fradley could be heavy and feared the worse.

A boat was just to pull off the water point and waved us through, opening the swing bridge for us as well.  As we got to the junction, a boat was just coming up the lock from the Trent direction but had to wait for us to turn on the Trent and Mersey Canal meaning we found ourselves at the front of the queue for the locks.

We met a couple of boats coming down and with help from the crew of the other boats behind us we managed to whizz through the locks putting us on a good footing to reach Great Haywood in good time.

In our last trip on the Trent and Mersey Canal we'd turned around at the winding hole at Handsacre at about 3 pm and made it back to Great Heywood for a good time.  Using this past knowledge I knew that as long as we passed Handsacre by 3 pm we would be on track to reach Great Haywood a day earlier than planned.  Ok, there was nothing to stop us carrying on later but it would be nice to stop before dusk.

We caught the 'stag party' boat up at Woodend Lock but by the time the lock was reset they were quite far ahead and we eventually passed them moored up.  Their back deck was covered in beer cans but they were enjoying themselves.

A few minutes later we passed the winding hole at Handsacre and were well short of 3 pm so knew that we'd be in Great Haywood that evening.

We passed the Armitage Shanks factory in Armitage and soon after I let Becky off the boat for Armitage Tunnel.  This is a single-track tunnel which is on a slight bend so it is a good idea to let crew off to walk ahead to check the tunnel is clear.  In fact it isn't really a tunnel anymore, the roof was removed in 1971 due to subsidence.

We passed through Rugely and headed out into the country again.  Just past Brindley Bank Aqueduct we met, coming the other way, the hire boat 'Empire' we had hired 18 months before.

We passed through Colwich Lock and were on the home straight and moored in view of Shugborough Hall just before 5 pm.

Joanna came and ate with us on the boat before we headed out to the Clifford Arms for a few drinks in the evening.

Hartshill to Hopwas

We were woken by the quarry opposite the canal starting work at 6 am but managed to get back to sleep only to be woken again by the heating not coming on.  We have a diesel heater which heats our hot water in the morning but it seems to be a little temperamental at times!

We set off just before 9 am and passed the old waterways maintenance yard.

We arrived at Atherstone Top Lock just before 10.  We were going to stop for water but for some reason didn't however we did stop in the end just above lock 5.

We left the bottom lock at 1209 and headed on to our intended mooring at Polesworth.  We got there just after 1 pm and as it was still early we decided to push on.

We entered the outskirts of Tamworth and passed through the 2 Glascote locks reaching Fazeley Junction at 3 pm.

I was now back on a route I'd been on before however I couldn't remember much of it.

We got to the visitors mooring at Hopwas at 4 pm and moored right outside the Tame Otter pub.

After sorting a few things out we went for a quick walk before heading back and having a very nice meal in the Otter.

Newbold to Hartshill

After breakfast we set about lighting the small range in the back of the boat in order to cook a stew in for the day.

With this lit we were able to cast off and head through Newbold Tunnel.

The day was a sunny one although we were quite glad to be heading the way we were as the sun was very low and it was apparent it got in the eyes of the boats coming the other way.

The northern section of the Oxford Canal was originally very winding but with the threat of a rival canal to Coventry, the canal company set about straitening the line north of Braunston.  The old route can still be seen and where it crosses the improved line there is often an ornate iron bridge over the old route.

Passing Stretton Stop with its swingbridge, which was kindly opened for us, and the village of Ansty, we arrived at Sutton's Stop and Hawkesbury Junction.  Here the Oxford Canal has its final lock, with a fall of just a few inches, and meets the Coventry Canal side-on.  We had to wait above the lock for a boat to pass through the lock, wind and come back up.

The 2 canals originally ran parrallel to each other for another few miles before joining which is why the current junction is a little awkward.  To head the way we wanted to and not into Coventry itself we would have to do what is in effect, a 180 degree turn.

Passing through the lock I managed to get around the turn in one go which I was very pleased with and we found ourselves on the Coventry Canal.

A little under an hour later we passed Marston Junction and the Ashby Canal.  I was now on a bit of canal I had not done before.

We passed through Nuneaton and out the other side choosing to moor by the Anchor pub at Hartshill.

We didn't go to the pub that evening, choosing to stay onboard and eat the stew that had been cooking in the back stove all day.

We're off...

Woke up early and after showering and breakfast the engine was started and we backed out of the mooring and headed through the marina.

We joined the Grand Union Canal and passed the narrow boat 'Zodiac'.

Zodiac is on of 8 pairs of 'Middle Northwich' narrow boats built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.  I believe this is the correct 'Zodiac' as the 'Zodiac' I knew from the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal is thought to actually be 'Tucana'.  After 6 or 7 years, 4 of the motor boats were cut down to 40 feet long for conversion into ice-breakers by the Ministry of War Transport and featured a rather menacing ice-breaking 'ram'.  'Tycho' is the only one to retain its ram and was moored at the bottom of Braunston locks a couple of days previous.

Moored up the canal from 'Zodiac' were the pair 'Nutfield' and 'Raymond.

We needed to get diesel and the plan was to back into the marina entrance and tie up alongside the diesel pump.  It crossed my mind to go in forwards as I thought it would be easier but as Becky wasn't aware of my change of mind I figured I best back-in.  Good job I did really as the diesel hose would not have reached the filler!

After filling up with 53 litres we were ready to head on our way.

Backing into the marina.

We turned left out of the marina and headed up the Grand Union and then onto the northern section of the Oxford Canal.  I'd done this route before back in 2008.

After a couple of hours we reached Hillmorton Locks.  There are 6 locks at Hillmorton arranged in 3 pairs so you can use whichever of the pair you want.  At the top lock we were told not to use the right hand lock as a boat before us had caught on a piece of brickwork and had tipped up rather violently.  This meant we had to wait for the left hand lock to fill.  As we entered the lock, the replica working boat 'Hadar' came round the bend and entered the other lock.  As Becky hadn't seen one for a year, the lady on 'Hadar' was quicker in operating the lock and they were able to get ahead of us.  This wasn't a problem as we were in no rush.

We followed 'Hadar' all the way to Newbold-on-Avon where we moored up on the end of the visitors moorings at 1411.  Just afterwards a boat came past very quickly and its wash managed to pull our mooring pin out of the ground (the stern rope was on a ring).  Another 3 boats had to re-do their mooring pins also.

After walking to Newbold Tunnel we walked into the village and to the Co-op to buy a few supplies.

Tea for the evening was Chicken en Croute with Kale and New Potatoes.

Total for the day: 11 Miles, 6 1/4 Furlongs, 3 Locks.

Holiday Day 2

Woke up to a still, misty morning.

Went to the marina office to see what the protocol was for getting diesel.

Went to the shops in Braunston village.

Walked up the canal to, and a bit beyond, Braunston Turn.





Spotted the narrow boat 'Bletchley' moored near the turn.  I first saw 'Bletchley' in Birmingham on a holiday in 1993 and it is still carrying coal for a living.



Walked back to the marina where the rest of the day was spent relaxing on the boat.

Holiday Day 1

Arrived at Braunston at 1410 to find the wind blowing a gale through the marina.

Opened up Piglet and switched on all the electrics, etc. before unpacking all our stuff and stowing it all away.

Walked up the locks to the Admiral Nelson pub and had a couple of good pints of Flowers IPA (which I remember being very cheap in cans from the local off-licence when at uni) and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde.

After a lovely couple of hours we returned to Piglet and lit the fire.

Dinner consisted of steak with dolphinoise potatoes and kale.

Canal Trip October 2011

Saturday 8th October 2011

We arrived at the Anglo Welsh boatyard at Wootton Wawen just before 13.00 and popped into the Navigation Inn for a spot of lunch.  The food was honest pub food and not at all pricey.  The beer wasn’t too bad either.

We were told we could pick the boat up from 15.00 but decided to try our luck at 14.30 and sure enough, Golden Finch was ready. We were left to load up and when we were ready had a very thorough hand-over. The guy was not interested in how many times I’d steered a boat before and watched me take the boat through bridge 53 and wind at the winding hole just after before coming back through the boatyard. He did then say he was trying to distract me by talking all the time and that it didn’t put me off one bit!

After he hopped off at the aqueduct at 16.15 we had a relaxing and uneventful run down to Wilmcote where we moored up for the night at 17.30.

Sunday 9th October 2011

We set off at 09.00 to get ahead of the other Anglo Welsh boat that had left Wootton Wawen after us. Wilmcote locks were reached at 09.25 and were initially against us but after the 3rd lock we met a boat coming up and thereafter we had a fairly good run arriving at the bottom lock at 11.10. Becky understandably chuffed at completing her first flight of locks on her own. I had offered to do the locks but she refused to steer!

We topped up with water above bridge 63 and had a steady run down the remaining locks into Stratford-Upon-Avon meeting a few boats on their way up. One with 4 men on board who didn’t even offer to assist Becky when she was struggling with a gate and just stood and watched.

We entered Bancroft Basin at 13.00 and reversed alongside one of the pontoons.  However the wind was so gusty we kept getting blown off the pontoon so winded the boat round and went in forwards along the other side, the wind then blowing us against it. By the time I’d messed around we eventually moored at 13.19.

The afternoon was spent looking around Stratford with a pint or two in the Garrick. On our return to the basin at 16.30 the other Anglo Welsh boat was there having arrived only about 15 minutes previously although they set off half an hour after us.


Monday 10th October

Spent the whole day doing the tourist thing in Stratford. Can thoroughly recommend the ‘Fourteas’ tea rooms in Union Street, decked out as a 1940’s tea room even with takeaways in gas mask cases!

Tuesday 11th October

Set off back up the locks out of Stratford at 08.20. Was initially a little worried about getting off the mooring as the wind was still strong but in the end I had no problem. Why couldn’t the crowds who had seen me struggle on our arrival been there to see us effortlessly leave?

Again we filled up with water at bridge 63 and reached Wilmcote Bottom Lock at 10.15 finding the locks to be either empty or just taking the minimum of emptying.

We reached the top lock at 12.00 and were moored up at Wilmcote by 12.20.

We spent the afternoon wandering around the village and visiting Mary Arden’s Farm which is well worth a look.

We did think about moving a little further and mooring by Edstone Aqueduct for the night but decided to stay put and open a bottle of wine or two!



Wednesday 12th October

A 09.17 start from Wilmcote back across Edstone Aqueduct and through Bearly Lock.

Approaching Wootton Wawen we met a boat on a bend (as you do) and were forced through tree branches to avoid them. They had more than enough room on the outside of the bend as I ducked to avoid branches but still a woman on the back (not the steerer) waved at us to get over more even though the boats were far from touching. As we passed another crew member shouted sarcastically “Thanks for the room!” I was going to make some comment about next time perhaps they would prefer the trees but thought better of it.

After putting a bit of a downer on an otherwise lovely morning, things got a little worse when as we were just crossing Wootton Wawen Aqueduct a boat pulled out of the visitor moorings ahead of us.

That set the tone of the day and all the way up the locks from Preston Bagot we had to wait for them to refill the locks as they were following a slow boat too.

By the time we reached Lowsonford Becky was feeling the workload and I wasn’t much better so we decided to call it a day and moored up at 15.10 in a lovely quiet spot just below lock 29.

A walk up to Lapworth Junction and back cheered us up and a very pleasant evening was had with just the birds and the distant noise of the M40 to disturb us.



Thursday 13th October

We intended to set off fairly early with a view to doing a bit of the Grand Union before returning back down the Stratford but a phone call about a family incident threw our plans into doubt. As there was a chance we may have to head back early we set off up the locks at 09.25 in order to find somewhere to turn.

Just as we were approaching the junction we received another phone call relating to the first which would require more calls so turned right with a view to stopping at the visitors moorings between the Stratford and Grand Union.  In the end we didn’t need to stop and turned left onto the Grand Union for a bit of variation from the Stratford and some lock-free rest for Becky.

We turned at the winding hole just past the Black Boy at Knowle and headed straight back down towards Kingswood. One of our original plans was to stop at the pub for lunch.

Feeling refreshed after the blast to Knowle and back plus a good outcome to all the phone calls we turned back into the Stratford and moored up opposite the Fleur-de-Lys at Lowsonford at 15.30.



Friday 14th October

After the excitement of the previous day and plus it was our last full day on the boat we didn’t get up too early and set off eventually at 11:19.

At Preston Bagot there was a shriek of delight from Becky as she realised she’d done her last lock of the trip.

We moored up with another boat below the road bridge at 13.30 and decided that would be it for the day.  We had thought of getting closer to Wootton Wawen but decided it was a nice spot so we stayed put.

The people from the other boat arrived back from the Crab Mill restaurant just down the road and described it to us as “very nice, not pretentious, just very nice with some good beer” so we decided to give it a go.  I’ve never seen a pub car park full of so many expensive cars with so few letters on their number plates before!

It was so pleasant to sit out in the sun in short sleeves with a couple of cool drinks in the middle of October.  So pleasant in fact that we reserved a table for the evening and weren’t disappointed.



Saturday 15th October

Due to the events of the Thursday we wanted to get back to the boatyard early so woke up at 6.30.  When I ventured outside it was gorgeous.  The sun was just starting to rise and the ground was covered in frost with mist on the water.





Not knowing how long it would take to get back we set off at 07.22 to give ourselves plenty of time.  We moored up at the Wootton Wawen visitors moorings at 08.03 and waited for the yard to open at 08.30.

We were on our way home by 09.00 having had a wonderful week away feeling ready to deal with the situation when we got home.

More Pictures Here