Waring's Green Wharf to Hockley Heath (Stratford Canal)

Ducklings on a tyre

Waring's Green Wharf

We are moving on today but just a couple of miles.  No sun today, although it was dry but quite chilly.  We untied and moved just down the canal to Stephen Goldsborough Boats at Waring's Green Wharf where you can get diesel, water, etc.  Water and to use the Elsan is £1 each and there is an honesty box for the money.  The lady who runs the moorings is called Marianne and is very friendly and comes from Cheddar where my dad comes from and she has relatives with my family name Hale, so you never know we may be distantly related, it’s a small world.  Last night we looked out of the window and perched on a tyre was several ducklings all jostling for position, their mum was on the towpath, they stayed there for a bit until the chap who had been cutting the grass came past with his grass blower and they all hopped off and went off up the canal, but they did look really sweet.

Sign on canal to Wedges Bakery

Maclaren Car

We filled up with water then set off under Bridge 19 and on along the canal.  At Bridge 20 we resisted the temptation to stop and go to Wedges Bakery again, I don’t think our waistlines could stand it!!

The canal was very quiet again and we didn’t pass any moving boats.  Before very long we were at Hockley Heath and moored on the visitor moorings just before The Wharf Tavern.

Miller & Carter pub

We had lunch then went for a walk up onto the main road where there is a Maclaren Garage and a Rolls Royce Garage, there must be a lot of money in this village!!  We walked along the road to the Post Office and there is also a nice pub there called Miller & Carter, we have been in there before so gave it a miss this time.   

We walked back the other way and up over the bridge where there is a Butchers, a café and a couple of other shops.  Just down a road off to the right is St. Thomas Church, we went into have a look, but unfortunately it was locked.  On the sign outside the church it said “Nuthurst cum Hockley Heath”, Kev said it was very apt to me, can’t think why!!

We are staying here tonight then a hard day tomorrow as we are off down the lapworth flight of locks and Kev says we are leaving by 8.30am!!

Moored at Hockley Heath