Bancroft Basin to Bottom of Wilmcote Flight of Locks (Stratford Canal)

Monday 8^th June

Pat & Patrick in Basin Lock

The Three P's off on the River Avon

The three P’s (Pat, Patrick and Poochie) are off down the River Avon today, so we went down to the lock which goes out on to the river and worked the lock for them and waved them off down the River.  It was sad to see them go, we have had a lovely few days with them, lots of fun and laughter, but now it is time to go our separate ways.  Hopefully, our paths will cross again later in the year.

We walked back to the boat, then walked up to Morrisons, then walked around the town.  We are just going to chill out here in Stratford for one more day, then off back up the canal tomorrow. The basin was very quiet for most of the day, but a few boats came in during the late afternoon and evening.

Tuesday 9th June 

While we have been in Stratford and have been looking around, most of the restaurants and pubs seem to get their meat from a local butcher called Barry the Butcher.  So we had a look around to see if we could find his shop and we did, but unfortunately it was shut on Sunday and Monday, but they opened at 7am today.  So this morning, we went up to Barry the Butcher’s shop and bought some meat, etc.  It all looked really good and they were friendly.  

We then decided to go for Breakfast in Wetherspoons, its cheap and cheerful and good value.  Had a nice breakfast, then back to the boat and off we chugged.

We have had a really nice time in Stratford, its such a nice place and great mooring in the basin right in the centre of everything, but now its time to leave.

Leaving Bancroft Basin

We chugged off under the low bridge, then up the canal and under another low bridge, although they didn’t seem as low as when we came down, we think the level of the canal has dropped and into the first of the five locks we are doing today.

Lock with difficult gate

On through the next lock and at the third lock, there was a boat coming down, which was lucky as the beam on that lock is really heavy and has a white gate on it at an angle which is really awkward to open and close, but the lady from the boat going down stayed and helped me shut the gate, very kind.

Leaving Stratford Behind

On up the canal to the next lock which was set for us and finally to the last lock for today.  Safely through there, we stopped for water at the water point, then chugged under the bridge and moored at the bottom of the Wilmcote flight of locks where we moored on the way down as it is a nice sunny spot.  We did two miles today and 5 locks, that’s enough for one day!

We walked up to the Aldi which is not too far away to get final supplies, then back to the boat.  It has been another  lovely sunny day and evening.

Moored at Bottom of Wilmcote Flight of Locks

Stratford Upon Avon

Sunday 7^th June 2015

Cafe by the River Avon

Stratford on a Sunny Sunday Morning

We are staying here in Stratford today.  It was a lovely sunny warm day, so we walked along the River Avon and found a lovely café overlooking the river, so stopped and had a coffee and sat by the river watching all the trip boats, canoeists and rowers.  

Market alongside Bancroft Basin

There was a market alongside the basin, so had a walk around there, it was craft stalls and some food stalls, a really nice market.  Walked back to the boat, then decided to go and find the Waitrose as it wasn’t too far away, well Mr Google said that anyway!  Walked down the road and after about a 15 minute walk we found the Waitrose.  We bought a few things, then walked back, but this time, we took a cycle path which led us to the river, it was quicker than walking the road, we always seem to walk the long way out and the quick way back!

Picnic & Pimms in Bancroft Basin

We got back to the boat and us and Patrick and Pat sat out on the pontoon and had a picnic with all the things we and Pat and Patrick had bought at the market, lovely!  We also had Pimms which is so summery!

A little later, we then had scones bought at the market with jam and cream and tea sat in the sun watching all the people go by.

We are going to watch the Grand Prix this evening.  Pat and Patrick are off down the River Avon tomorrow morning, so we will help them through the lock (make sure they go!!) and then have another day chilling out in Stratford.  We will miss Pat and Patrick, it has been really great meeting up again and spending a few days together.  Hopefully we might meet up again later in the year.

Bottom of Wilmcote Flight of Locks to Bancroft Basin (Stratford Canal)

Saturday 6th June

We decided to start off early today, 8.20am! We wanted to get into Stratford in the morning so that hopefully we get a space in the basin.  We needed to get water, so we set off first under the bridge and the water point was there.  We filled up with water.  Pat and Patrick came past and went on to the first lock.  We followed shortly after.  

Working down locks to Stratford

Through the first lock, then on down the canal, past the hire boat yard where there is services but all their hire boats were blocking it, so impossible to get in, good job we didn’t need to use it!

Last lock before Stratford, Nearly There!

Along there, then there are three locks down into Stratford.  The second lock has an unusual gate on the lock beam and the gate is extremely heavy, but I was very lucky in that a CRT guy came up to the lock to clear out the gulleys and he did the lock for me, how good was that!  I told him we were coming back up in a few days times and perhaps he could meet us there, he just laughed!!

On down through the last lock and under a really low bridge, just got under, under one more bridge and then we were in Bancroft basin.  There were lots of moorings, so we moored by Pat and Patrick.

Coming into Bancroft Basin

Stratford Upon Avon

My sister Helen bought us a Gourmet Society Dining Card for Christmas which gives us money off and deals in various pubs and restaurants.  There is a place by the river called The View, it is a Fish and Chip Restaurant and with the card you got 50% off food, so we all decided to go there for lunch.

It was really good, Patrick, me and Kev had fish and chips and Pat had fish pie, really good value.  Suitably full, we wandered back to the boats, then Kev and I had a wander around the town.  It was very busy with lots of tourists. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and evening, windy though.  We are staying here until Monday or Tuesday, not decided yet.

Moored in Bancroft Basin with Diligent Too

Wootton Wawen to Bottom of Wilmcote Flight of Locks (Stratford Canal)

Us filling up on Aqueduct

We are chugging off today and Pat and Patrick are accompanying us.   We all needed to get water, get rid of rubbish, get diesel, etc. so stopped at the Anglo Welsh boat yard just through the bridge.

Patrick filling up on Aqueduct

There is an aqueduct running alongside the boat yard with the towpath running along the level of the bottom of the tank, very unusual and to use the services you moor in the aqueduct as the water tap is actually in the middle of the aqueduct, so you block the canal, but the boat yard said it was fine, boats wanting to go through just have to wait.  

Going over Edstone Aqueduct

Edstone Aqueduct

Looking down from Edstone Aqueduct

We filled up, then chugged on along the canal to the first of 12 locks we have to do today. Through that lock and then a little way along the canal is Edstone Aqueduct.  This magnificent aqueduct is approaching 200 yards in length and consists of a narrow cast iron trough carried on brick piers across a shallow valley and the towpath runs along the level of the bottom of the tank.  It was a bit scary for both of us as we are not that good with heights!  Mind you, we had better get used to it, we have to do it again on the way back!

Coming into Wilmcote Top Lock

Safely over there, past Wilmcote, looked really pleasant there, so will probably stop there on the way back.  Soon we were at the top of the Wilmcote flight of locks, there are 11 of them and we worked our way down.  Pat and Patrick were in front and Patrick was really good as he set the lock for us once Pat had taken the boat out so that helped immensely.  

Working through the Wilmcote Flight

It was very warm and sunny so working through the locks was hard work,  but they are a really nice flight as they are in lovely countryside.  On one of the locks there was a volunteer, so that helped a bit.

Soon we were going through the last lock and moored up just after in some nice sunny moorings.  Kev looked on Google and there was an Aldi fairly near, so we decided to see if we could find it.  Patrick came with us and we set off along the towpath to the bridge, then up on the road, through some houses, out onto a main road and not far down there was the Aldi.  We got some supplies then walked back to the boats.

Just chilling out tonight as I need a rest after all those locks and walking!  We are chugging down into Stratford tomorrow, so looking forward to that.

Moored at Bottom of Wilmcote Flight

Saturday 30th May to Thursday 4th June

Sorry we haven't blogged for a few days, only we had to go back to Weston-Super-Mare as my Dad was poorly and went into hospital last week and I wanted to see him.  I am pleased to say that he had improved a lot and is now hopefully on the road to recovery.  We stayed with our lovely friends, Davina, Jon and James who looked after us superbly as always and went down in the daytime on the train to Taunton to visit my Dad. 

We came back yesterday, Wednesday and our friends Pat, Patrick and Poochie on Diligent Too who we met on our travels last year were moored behind and they had very kindly cooked us tea so we had a lovely meal and evening catching up with them.  We are going to travel down into Stratford together which will be fun.

Thursday 4th June

We decided to stay here one more day then chugg off tomorrow.  It was a beautiful sunny warm day today, so we just chilled out, then mid-morning we all went up to the farm shop and had a coffee in the cafe.  We came back to our boats and I made a ginger cake.

Pat, Patrick and Poochie came over this afternoon and we all had tea and cake and sat in the sun, lovely!  We also had a cider and beer as it was such a lovely evening.

It has been really nice moored here at Wootton Wawen, it really is a lovely spot, but now time to move on.  We are chugging off tomorrow, lots of locks to do, so hope the sun is shining again.