Well we arrived at Calcutt Marina yesterday, and moored where we had been told to. I later went up to the office to check in and they asked if we could move to the other side and stern to the quay. As I got back to the boat and roused Helen out to assist a young lad rocked up to move the boat for us. I was very polite in telling him that we were quite capable of moving the boat ourselves. It was accomplished with no hassle, and quickly as it was raining! This morning Dave (I think it was) arrived and surveyed the job before heading off to get the required tools etc. The main job we had ..read more

 As rain was due by lunch time we went to bed with every intention of getting up and off earlier than usual. However with a cup of tea in bed listening to the radio and then a phone call we were even later than normal, but only by about 20 minutes. The long line of boats had been whittled down and every one was pointing the wrong way for a hope of sharing with us. On the way to the locks I noticed this concrete fence. I don't think I have seen one imprinted with TRESPASSING PROHIBITED before. The fence must have been erected at the same time as the locks and banks were altered for the 1 ..read more

 It was a dreary morning with off and on rain so we decided to stay put until it got a little better. It was forecast to fair up around 12:30 and so it turned out. Mind you it was still quite blustery. We did a few tidy up and clean jobs so I was glad to get moving after a bite to eat. There were quite a few bluebells out on the offside between our mooring and Wood Lock. There are so many wild flowers out that they must be appreciating the damp and warm conditions. I think we could do with a break from the damp no though! In the wind it was pretty cold. I had it okay as the wind was f ..read more

We were having a day out in Leamington so we didn't rush about this morning and were away at 10:45. As always I spent my time looking upwards, so apologies from me. On the way into town on Bath Street there is this building, originally called the Parthenon. It was built in 1821 as a Royal Music Hall/Civic Centre. It later became a dance hall and a music Hall venue. By 1873 it was a reference library. There was a fire in the building in the 1960's and the facade was restored following this. It is now Iceland. This was built between 1816 and 1836 as a house on the main street of Old Leamin ..read more

 The wind kept up through the night but didn't disturb us at all after our long day, We had decided that we would have a sightseeing day and headed off to catch a bus to Kenilworth around 10. I noticed this ghost sign close by the canal bridge on the way into Leamington. Checking up it says Nestles Milk Richest in Cream and that slogan was used around 1900!? There is a bus every 30 mins to Kenilworth and then on to Coventry that you can catch on the Parade. It only takes 15 mins to Kenilworth and then a 15 min walk from the bus stop. Free for us oldies too, but £2 each way for others ..read more

 Kathleen was a bit of a damp squib where we are so we decided to go for a walk to post some letters and get milk etc. It was about 1/2 mile to Shrewley Tunnel and the village above. The tow path was too bad, other than in patches. Shrewley Cutting and tunnel revealed bedding layers that excited the geologists of the area. There  are three main areas in layers the top being red mudstones that were laid down in very dry conditions. The next is made up of several thin bands of rock laid down in much more wet conditions and containing fossils and foot prints. The third layer indicat ..read more

 We did all the locks yesterday so that we could go and visit Baddesley Clinton, a National Trust property about half an hours walk from Kingswood Junction. With all the rain we have had, plus loads more over night we guessed it would be muddy, and so it proved. We took shoes to change into though. This is the NE aspect of the building. Original the drawbridge was on the SE front. Doors and windows have been moved all over the place over the long history of the building. This is the interior courtyard looking at the entrance from the bridge. The 7 diamonds flower beds are a representat ..read more

 It rained on and off through the night but has stopped by the time we were getting up to a dull and dank day. Mind you we got away at our usual'ish 0930. Just north of Wimcote is a winding hole and the remains of a railway bridge. Checking is out I find that it was the abutments of an iron bridge that carried a 3ft gauge plateway from quarries across to the towpath side. The quarry was owned by William James who was a backer of the canal being built. He persuaded the builders  to install a plateway to aid construction, and once built bought it to exploit a quarry he had discovered ..read more

 We caught the 10:27 train into Stratford upon Avon from Wilmcote station and we arrived 10 mins. later. It is only a further a further 10 mins walk into the middle of town. All for the price of £3-40 for two of us! We had picked up a leaflet for a self guided walk yesterday and so now we set off with Helen as the tour guide. We started on Henley Street and the home of William Shakespeare. In mid 16th Century John Shakespeare, a glove maker, rented this house, and it was here in 1564 that his son William was born, and the rest is history. On High Street the black and white building on ..read more

We had a quick visit to the Navigation pub, just by the aqueduct but just had one. We set off after a quiet night about 0930. The aqueduct from the road side. It just about says it all. Wooton Wawen Aqueduct over the A3400 in an iron trough and the sunken towpath make it all vert Stratford Canal. Very soon we come to the Edstone or Bearley Aqueduct, another fine construction that passes over a railway, waterway and a roadway. It says in our addition of the Pearson's Guide that the towpath is very good on this canal. Our experience is that it is atrocious with much been bog. It is ..read more