Left at 09:00
arrived at 13:30.
Up to a bright day, we had
quite a good night thank heavens, not
too achey legs for me. Derek
walked the dogs and got the paper and milk.
All just about ready for 9, heading for Bidford-on-Avon just the first
lock to do then, in centre of basin out on to river, we are early so hopefully
no gongoozlers. The lock went very well
if not a bit heavy, Derek went to the water point I had to walk through the
park to catch him up. Told him to be
careful on leaving the lock as there were already some little boats on the
River. The water point is next to a
chain and rope operated ferry but its closed at the moment, probably opens at
ten, we are opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company building. We were off the water point for 9 44. All the
benches along the waterside have plaques on again, my favourite was dedicated
to someones husband stating “Centre Stage Always” it was directly opposite the
RSC in the middle of the building,they
must have liked the theatre. Through
Colin Witter lock, it was a strange one, it went ok but on the river we have to
leave the gates open on our exit!! It doesn’t
sit well with my, if you open it you close it policy, still whatever floats
their boat (pardon the attempt at a pun)On leaving the lock you come out on to
a lovely wide piece of river, the weir was on
the right hand side and of course there were some lovely properties
leading down to the water. Second lock,
someone had come out, so the gates were open, Derek shut one for me, there was
a boat coming up so he helped me do the paddles. I got on the boat and he put his boat
in. The properties along this bit were
really nice, not too grand, it was the gardens I envied, the housed were well
maintained and mostly had large picture windows facing the water. After Luddington lock a NB passed by and
there was a caravan site on the left hand side.
We passed NB Muckle, they had come down the Stratford Canal with us and moored in the basin for a
couple of days whilst we were there. We
passed NB Uncle Brian!! Funny name for a
boat I thought. There were lots of caravans and cabins at Welford Boat Station
and a lovely Broad Beam called Islay Mist, it was a long way from home.
Further along was a fantastic looking
Broad Beam ‘Shirley Anne’, it was painted green with Leprachauns and a pair of
Swans painted on the side, they were very well done, it was also for sale.??? More large
properties on the right hand side with even larger gardens, there were
also some properties being built on various plots, one looked as if they had
knocked the old property down and resited the new one. Walford (WACadbury) lock was really deep and
seemed to take an age to empty (we were only doing one paddle) the metal gates
are really really heavy, it is also really hot now 12 05. Saw only our second Kingfisher darting across
the water. Came through the next lock
with NB Imagine, it was painted lilac (very lilac) with flowers on it. I asked him if he was by himself, he said his
wife was disabled so he had to do it himself.
The lady came onto the back deck, it had a cover over it and she sat in
her disabled scooter to talk to Derek.
They were a lovely couple, they had a little dog with them, a Jack
Russell. I thought she said she had a long dog, so was expecting a greyhound?
Surprised by the dog I told her I had misheard her and she said he was a lock
dog but they didn’t let him out on the river locks. !!! We went ahead to set the next and our last
lock for the day, so that we could share it with them. Passing some boats moored we saw a little
steamer type boat called Montmerency, it was so cute and I love that name it
always makes me smile. Shared the lock
with Imagine, they told us bits about the waters round here, they moor at
Evesham and we let them lead the way out of the lock, we all wished each other
well and waved goodbye. Mr Heron flew
into a tree beyond us, I think I managed to catch him on the camera, just as he
was taking off again. Moored next
to the park at about 1 30. I had a
little nap, Derek sussed the place out, I did a bit of painting on back doors,
we have internet and tele so all set for the evening. Oh and we were joined by Hazel Laphroaig who
we shared some travelling time with before and at Stratford.
No comments:
Post a Comment