Wootton Wawen to Lowsonford

Haven't been able to post for a few days as no signal in Lowsonford, but are now in a better area, so post below.

Tuesday 16th June

We set off from Wootton Wawen today with a tear in our eye as we waved goodbye singing we’ll meet again some sunny day!!  Back up the canal we went, we have 8 locks and 4 miles to do today, so a strenuous day ahead!

Lovely sunny morning on Stratford canal

We were following two boats and it was really slow going as the first boat was a hire boat and apparently the lady didn’t like doing locks, strange holiday to go on then, but then there’s nowt so strange as folk, so we worked our way through the locks nearly losing the will to live at some of them.  

Leaving lock and Yarningdale aqueduct behind

Kev asking iron man to help!

At Bucket lock, you go up the lock then over Yarningdale aqueduct with the towpath at the bottom of the trough.  Eventually we were at Lowsonford, stopped for water before the lock then into the last lock for the day.  Anthony Gormley’s man was still there staring down at Kev as he bought the  boat into the lock.  Kev offered him a windlass instead of standing there idle, but he declined, lazy so and so!

Gordanneus and Anthony Gormley Structure

We moored up just after the lock in a nice sunny spot opposite the Fleur-de-Lys pub.  When we were here last there was a boat on the long term moorings selling free range eggs, so we decided in the evening to walk down to see if they had any.  Unfortunately they didn’t, but we spoke to the chap and he said that they have a small holding where they keep the chickens and his wife would be bringing some eggs back tomorrow, so we ordered a dozen for tomorrow night.

 

We walked back up past the lock and sat on the bench there in the peace and quiet, then a boat came into the lock, well half way and stopped dead.  The elderly lady (we found out later they are both in their 80’s!) opened the top paddles to try and float the boat.  It was then discovered that they had their fenders down and that was what was jamming them in the lock.

The old guy instead of backing out the lock tried to climb on the roof with a lot of difficulty and pull the fenders  out which were jammed solid.  He did pull the boat back a bit, but kept going down the side of the boat pulling at the fenders and tottering about on the back of the boat, how he didn’t fall in was amazing.   Meanwhile the paddles were still open emptying the pound above which we were moored in.  Eventually he got the boat in the lock, we shut the gate and they came up the lock.  He hadn’t managed to get all the fenders up, so when the boat was coming up the lock, he then scrambled up on the roof again, nearly falling in the process, Kev said to him why didn’t you wait until the boat was fully up instead of taking unnecessary risks, he just laughed.  

We chatted to them and they had set off from Stratford at 8.30am and this was 7pm at night when they got to Lowsonford.  That made us laugh as this is our fourth stop since we left Stratford! 

They went past us and then we saw the boat going all over the canal, both of them on the side and no one steering.  We went out and he had dropped a fender in the water and was trying to recover it.  They then decided to moor up in front of us.  We helped them.  The bank was sloping a bit where they moored and when he went to the edge to put a chain on to tie up, he nearly slipped, then he couldn’t get back up, so we all had to help him.  We were really glad when they were tied up and inside.  They were really nice people, but far too old for that sort of boating, they usually do 12 or 13 hour days!  

We are having a day off tomorrow and just chilling out here. There is a farm shop just up the hill from the canal which sells Gloucester Old Spot Pork and Dexter Beef so we will walk up there for a few supplies.

Wednesday 17^th June

Had a leisurely start as we are staying put today,  Kev did some work on his note boards cutting out different shapes ready to paint and hopefully sell, then we walked up to the Farm shop which is just up the hill.  It is only open on Tuesday and Saturday, but if you ring them like we did and they are there, then they will open the shop.  It is a farm that rears and sells Gloucester Old spot pork and Dexter Beef.  When we went there on the way down, we bought a pie which was filled with Dexter beef, it was really delicious, so we bought another one and some bacon and sausages.

We walked back down to the canal, then decided to go over to the pub, the Fleur-de-Lys.  It is a really nice pub and right on the canal.  We got a drink and sat in the gardens watching a few boats go by and had a meat platter and chips to share.  It was really good, one of the best platters we have had, there was belly pork, pulled pork, mini sausages, home made pate, chicken tikka pieces, bread and dips.  The food is very good in this pub and the staff are all really friendly, we would definitely recommend it.

Beautiful sunset at Lowsonford

We did have a bit of rain early evening, but nothing too much.  We went down to the boat on the long term moorings who sold the eggs and got a dozen, they are £1 for six, so a good price.

When the sun set, the sky was a wonderful red colour, really beautiful, it didn’t last long though, but luckily I got a photo before it disappeared.

We are staying put again tomorrow.

Thursday 18^th June

Last night our water pump kept coming on every 45 seconds or so, so this morning Kev looked to see what the problem was.  He checked under the sink first to see if there were any leaks, but all dry, so then he looked at the calorifier and it was leaking from one of the fittings that is joined to it.  As we are moored in the middle of nowhere at the moment, we keep the water pump turned off and just turn it on when we want water.  We also don’t have any signal where we are moored, so when we chug on tomorrow, Kev will phone a boat yard to see if the fittings are fixed in or whether you can tighten them.  Also Kev is going to try some sealant which sets underwater (hopefully we won’t be under that much water to see if it works!) and go from there.

It is another glorious sunny warm day and we have just chilled out, not really done much. We walked down to the bench by the lock as that is one of the places you can get a signal and internet, although very slow, but at least it works.

We are off up the canal to tomorrow to Kingswood Junction where we will stay for a few days before heading off on the Grand Union canal towards Warwick.

Moored at Lowsonford

Day Trip to Birmingham

Monday 15^th June

Flagging down train at Wootton Wawen

We have decided to stay here again for one more day and catch the train to Birmingham.  It was a glorious sunny warm morning as we set off up the road to the train station.  It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the canal.  I flagged down the train as it is a request stop, still makes us giggle having to do that, it seems really strange and fun to stick your arm out to stop a train.

Our lunch stop in Birmingham

It is about a 40 minute train journey and then we were at Birmingham Moor Street Station.  We had a walk around the shops, then made our made to the canal.  We had a walk along there and then went to the Hand Made Burger Company for lunch which is on the canal.  We had a voucher when you buy one burger you get another for £1, courtesy of our friends John and Sharon, so thanks both, the burgers were really yummy and the restaurant is right alongside the canal, so nice view as well.  

After lunch we had a walk over to the NIA which last time we were here was covered in scaffolding, it is now all done and very nice it looks too with various food outlets and coffee shops.  We had a walk down the canal, then back to the station and got the train back to Wootton Wawen, remembering to inform conductor to stop the train at our stop!!!

It has been a really nice day and sunny evening.  We are chugging on tomorrow, it will be a shame to leave Wootton Wawen as it is such a nice place and we will miss it, but time to move on to pastures new.

Wilmcote to Wootton Wawew (Stratford Canal)

Thursday 11^thJune

We decided to stay put today and have a lazy day, it was a glorious sunny hot day. I did a bit of cleaning on the boat and the windows and Kev did some of his canalia painting.  In the afternoon, I sat on the towpath in my chair watching the world go by.  We are staying here tonight, then chugging off tomorrow.

Friday 12th June

It was a bit overcast when we set off this morning, but the sun did eventually come out and it was rather warm and humid.  
 

Going under the tight bridge holes

Going back over Edstone Aqueduct

Safely over Edstone Aqueduct

We chugged off up the canal and soon we were approaching the Edstone Aqueduct, over it we went, it was as scary as when we went over it on the way down.  Patrick (aka download Dave!) took a picture of us just coming onto it on the way down which he sent to us by email, so it is now on the blog.  There is railway lines underneath the aqueduct and we were hoping this time a train would be passing as we went over, but no luck again!

Us going over Aqueduct on way down canal

Safely over the aqueduct, and through the Bearley lock, the only lock we have to do today. On up the canal, stopping on Wootton Wawen Aqueduct, blocking the canal! to get water and use the Elsan.  We then went under the bridge and moored up where we moored on the way down, it is a lovely sunny quiet spot.

We chilled out for a bit, then walked up to the Farm Shop.  It had gone a bit grey and started to rain, although not very heavy.   We bought some Sausage Rolls, they are different flavours and delicious. 

We then had a coffee in the café and walked back to the boat.  It has rained on and off most of the afternoon and gone quick black, but hopefully it won’t come to much.  We are staying here until Monday as it is such a nice spot and let the bad weather go over.

Moored at Wootton Wawen

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

We have another strenuous day today, we have 11 locks to do and are travelling 2 and a half miles!

Going back up the Wilmcote Flight

We had a leisurely start and started off up the locks.  These locks are three together, a gap, five together,  a gap, then three together.  There was a boat in front of us and after they had gone through the lock, they kindly lifted the paddle so that when we got there the lock was empty for us, so that was handy.  We met a few boats coming down so that helped as well.  

In Wilmcote Top Lock

It was a bit cloudy when we started, but the sun did come out and when it did, it was very warm.  We were soon going through the last few locks and on our way up the canal, around the corner and moored at Wilmcote.

Mary Arden's House

We went for a walk up the road to the small village, where there is a nice store and also Mary  Arden’s House, Shakespeare’s mother.  It is a working farm and a tourist attraction.  We didn’t visit it as really you need a full day and we didn’t get there until the afternoon, maybe another time.

There is a train station here in Wilmcote near the canal so we had a look to see how close it is and it is very close to the canal, just up over the bridge.

It was a bit chilly this morning, but the sun has come out and it is a glorious warm evening.  We are staying here tonight and possibly tomorrow as well, we will decide in the morning.

Moored at Wlmcote