The Treadlie Gets a Workout!

On Wednesday, the weather was absolutely grotty - raining right through 'til mid arvo, so we just took it easy ...

Sammy didn't mind taking it easy, with Russ !

...when it brightened up and we went for a walk along the River Avon part of Stratford.  This is a view from our boat to the lock that separates the basin from the River ...

Pics from the River ...  

 

 This is the lock a bit further down the river - very elaborate looking ...

The life ring at the lock --- or not !

Hmmmm - methinks you jest ?!

We were going to get the little ferry back across the river but the
Ferry-Man was having a 'smoko' ....



Looking down the river to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre ... rowers abound !

View in the other direction !

 

All in all, we had a most enjoyable time in Stratford, in fact we have had a most enjoyable time everywhere we have been!  We were talking today, and we both agree that this boating lark gets more enjoyable the longer you do it, long may it last!

Our plans were to go down the Avon and Severn to Gloucester, but that has changed because brother Russ is having the boat for a few days over the August bank holiday and we are having his car and heading off to Macclesfield. It didn't seem a good idea to swap on the river, plus they could get stuck and not be able to get to work if it flooded etc.  So we decided to backtrack and go to....we havn't decided yet!  To us this is the joy of narrow-boating, no plans, with no destination (just 'enjoying the journey' - Elaine !)

 This was the view from the bow whilst we were moored in Stratford basin, not bad eh!


We reversed out of the berth and made a nice 180 degree turn in the basin (I love my bow thruster!)

We passed NB Armadillo at a lock just after we left Stratford, we had a very quick chat.

There were an awful lot of herons cranes on the canal bank ... (ha ha - Elaine). 

Elaine broke out the 'treadlie' for the Wilmcote flight of locks, wow - what a difference it makes, she was up and down that towpath setting the lock like a woman possessed; we fair shot up the flight! 

Nice scenery on the way up ...

Passed through the 'meaning of life' lock!

We moored up at Wilmcote for the night and went down the Mary Arden Inn for a swift pint.  

Second visit there - we went the other night too!  Nice place !

This morning it was lashing it down with rain so we laid in bed for ages catching up on some serious reading.  I have now read more books in 5 months than I have in the last 5 years, I think that must say something.

We decided to move in the rain as we had a crap '3' signal and we needed computer access to do some housekeeping on the financial front.  It was fun going across the Edstone Aqueduct as it was blowing a gale!  Just after the aqueduct is a lock, as we approached there was a boat leaving, plus another waiting to come down.  As soon as the boat passed through the gates, the next crew started closing the gates in front of us.......a few good blasts on the horn and they reversed them (I love my loud air horn) ... they said they didn't see us!!  To be quite honest if they turned the lock in front of us I wouldn't have been bothered, I just like the sound of the horn!

We have stopped just outside of Wootton Wawen, where we have good '3' signal and 100% on the satellite dish for a bonus, also noticed that, according to the guide book, there are 2 pubs in the village.....yet another bonus (I love English pubs) .

So here is tonight's mooring ...

View from one side hatch ...

View from the other side hatch ...

When we set off again we will have a 'few' locks to do 'til we decide which direction to turn at the next junction !