Stratford on Avon (Tue 25th June)

Derek up as usual to very sunny weather, he walked the dogs, got the paper.  Me well I had a bad night, restless achey legs so didn’t get much kip, having a warm drink at 4 a.m. and went back to bed and finally up after 8.  I saw the day break and heard the dawn chorus, the benefit was that the waterfront and town looked lovely and still in the street lights.  Derek said either too much shopping or lock withdrawal ah ah !!!!! Did some housekeeping, changing towels, sheets etc. the biggest problem is where to store dirty washing, but managed to stuff it bagged up in various spaces ???  A hire boat pulled up at the side of us but we had to politely tell them they couldn’t fasten to us, its the rule of the Canal Trust, not us being funny. The basin needs to be fairly clear as the boats may have to turn round to go back up the canal through the very narrow bridge hole.  They did get a mooring on one of the pontoons, it is a bit daunting as you arrive as the signage is not very clear and the pontoons look like they are for permanent moorings.  We had a young man practising his guitar for well over an hour sat on our bench, in front of the boat.  We went to Sainsburys in town for groceries and then came back to the boat for a cuppa before going to the Butterfly Farm. The Butterfly farm was lovely, if not a bit sweaty, but we both enjoyed it and had an ice cream sat on a bench outside when we had finished.  We watched a few boats go down through the lock onto the River Avon and  then went back to boat for lunch and a rest before going into town for a mooch round the shops.  We were back on the boat for 3, we really are showing our age I feel, my legs are killing me and Derek’s legs are aching, its all that climbing on top of the boat.  We did find an antique bit in a back street, a bit like the lanes in various other places, like Brighton etc. there was some interesting stuff and I got a few bits and pieces from a Chinese mans stall, not antiques I might add.  We had our tea in the Thai Boathouse, it was lovely and then Derek took the dogs for a walk and took some photos of some statuary and the Morris Men dancing on the green.  A good day all round but tomorrow we are on the move again heading down the Avon to Gloucester.