Monday saw us cruise back
the nine miles and 18 locks from Preston Bagot out onto the River Avon at
Stratford again.
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Gongoozlers galore
watching us lock down onto the river
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On the way we stopped at
the boatyard in Wootton Wawen for gas, fuel and a pump out. This would ensure we were tip top (or empty!)
for our next fortnight on the river where services are even fewer and farther
between.
After leaving the
boatyard, Karen popped her head out (she had stayed inside to do a couple of hours’
work) to ask why I didn’t have a pump out.
Of course, I said I did, but she said the tank was still full. Stupidly I hadn’t checked before leaving;
they did such a good job last time that I didn’t bother checking. I rang them up and they now have a note that
they owe us a pump out when we next go back.
Once Karen had finished
her work she walked Buddy alongside to the Wilmcote flight.
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Coming out of Wilmcote
village
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Buddy wasn’t overly
impressed with walking – he normally keeps ahead of us but he was lagging
behind instead. We feel it was because
we gave him a hectic weekend – the walking was OK but we kept him up past his
five o’clock bedtime because of Hippyfest.
Once we moored up in Stratford he was back to his normal self, eager to
run around and play with all the other dogs.
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Buddy lagging behind on
the towpath
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We stopped at the boatyard
on the outside of Stratford and, once again, Steve let us have a free pump out
as he had no one available to help.
Everyone was busy handing boats over to the next lot of hirers.
We arrived at Stratford
basin and the town was rammed with people.
It was probably extra busy as the streets had been closed for two days
due to a classic and super car show. I
never really like going through the basin as there is nowhere to tie up whilst
waiting for the lock. There is usually
quite a breeze coming off the river as well so it can make it difficult to hold
the boat steady in the middle of the basin – especially if there is a large
crowd watching of course.
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Waiting by the
restaurant boat whilst Karen set the last lock of the day
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Many of the locks leading
down to Stratford leak quite badly and consequently the gates can seem really
heavy to open and close, also many of the locks take a long time to fill. All in all, it was quite a tiring three days
having decided to take the boat up to Preston Bagot and back for the festival but
it was great fun and we both really enjoyed it.
Mind you we were pleased to moor up and just relax for the rest of the
day.
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We are now moored a bit
further down from the RSC theatre than we had been for the last fortnight
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Karen found another wild
garlic recipe and made a delicious wild garlic and chorizo tortilla for dinner.
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