6th July
We moved off the Avon and into the canal basin in Stratford around 4pm with our neighbour boat, Willow and it's lone owner, Judith. She had had plenty of friends and family visiting her over the weekend though. We moored next to each other once again and Pete and I had a wander through the Sunday market outside the RST - lots of interesting stalls here.
Later we met the family on our other neighbouring side: Daz, Nes and their lively 10 year old, Millie. They were on holiday from Solihull with Nes' brother and his wife from Adelaide. They were a friendly bunch and were obviously enjoying their narrowboating adventures apart from the 2 ply toilet tissue which Nes was creating from her 3 ply supply!! Boat toilets are not well equipped to deal with thick toilet roll so rather than buy new, she was stripping off a layer! Millie hurtled back and forth around he gardens and up and down the bank whilst Pete 'timed' her - a very sporty child, with a nice sense of humour. I eventually went to bed leaving Pete chatting on to them all, I think we all knew each other's life stories by the end of the day.
Next morning there was a mass exodus of boats from the basin and new ones arriving from the river as people moved on from the weekend celebrations. We left soon after Daz and Nes, their space being taken by NB Alexandra, the other couple we have been shadowing from Gloucester. So back on to the canal system and adjusting none too well to Stratford Canal's narrow locks and bridges. We did a few 'Timothy Wests', clonking the boat fore and aft. Oops. The CRT volunteers were on the Wilmcote flight, so that was helpful as there were so many boats climbing it.
Moored on a quiet leafy bend for the night opposite farm fields. Sharp contrast to the bustle of the festival. We had a TV signal for the first time in days so we collapsed in front of the tennis and caught up with the news, both of us quite tired. The Solihull lot passed by calling and waving and so did Bill and Sue who told us they were heading for the next boatyard as they had engine trouble. We wish them luck.
What a nice bunch of chums they all were.
We moved off the Avon and into the canal basin in Stratford around 4pm with our neighbour boat, Willow and it's lone owner, Judith. She had had plenty of friends and family visiting her over the weekend though. We moored next to each other once again and Pete and I had a wander through the Sunday market outside the RST - lots of interesting stalls here.
Later we met the family on our other neighbouring side: Daz, Nes and their lively 10 year old, Millie. They were on holiday from Solihull with Nes' brother and his wife from Adelaide. They were a friendly bunch and were obviously enjoying their narrowboating adventures apart from the 2 ply toilet tissue which Nes was creating from her 3 ply supply!! Boat toilets are not well equipped to deal with thick toilet roll so rather than buy new, she was stripping off a layer! Millie hurtled back and forth around he gardens and up and down the bank whilst Pete 'timed' her - a very sporty child, with a nice sense of humour. I eventually went to bed leaving Pete chatting on to them all, I think we all knew each other's life stories by the end of the day.
Next morning there was a mass exodus of boats from the basin and new ones arriving from the river as people moved on from the weekend celebrations. We left soon after Daz and Nes, their space being taken by NB Alexandra, the other couple we have been shadowing from Gloucester. So back on to the canal system and adjusting none too well to Stratford Canal's narrow locks and bridges. We did a few 'Timothy Wests', clonking the boat fore and aft. Oops. The CRT volunteers were on the Wilmcote flight, so that was helpful as there were so many boats climbing it.
Moored on a quiet leafy bend for the night opposite farm fields. Sharp contrast to the bustle of the festival. We had a TV signal for the first time in days so we collapsed in front of the tennis and caught up with the news, both of us quite tired. The Solihull lot passed by calling and waving and so did Bill and Sue who told us they were heading for the next boatyard as they had engine trouble. We wish them luck.
What a nice bunch of chums they all were.
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