Today we are completing the journey down to Stratford. A shower of rain first thing but then it brightened. Highlight of this section has to be the Edstone Aquaduct near Wooton Wawen. It doesnt look much from canal level but from below it can be seen purposefully striding across the fields, a road and a railway.
A gust of wind caught us and the Stourbridge Lion completly missed the berth I was aiming for. Pride comes before a fall!
After a short while the Wilmcote lock flight starts. A tough flight of 16 locks. We were delighted to see some volunteer lock keepers at the top and thought, wrongly, that they would help us through. In the end they just watched the boats and chatted to the crews. Not a massive help really!!
But Andy did well and did a lot of walking. We got to Stratford at 1530. Ariving by boat is really the only way to arrive in Stratford as you duck under the last bridge and emerge into Bancroft Gardens with its tourists and atractions. Unfortunately as I was showing off my maneuvering skills in Bancroft basin in front of the assembled tourists,
The Avon is a seperate navigation authority so another licence is required. Bought the licence for the Avon from the Avon Trust boat in Bancroft basin. Off out now for a bight to eat (Steak and Chips) Bidford on Avon is the destination tomorrow.
Sounds a good days boating.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to rejoining the boat on Friday