Stratford sojourn

18/6/2018


Two nights of free mooring is permitted in the basin in front of the RSC theatre,  an excellent regulation, allowing visitors to flow through the town, a delight of history, architecture, culture. We indulged in a performance of Romeo and Juliet, a modern take, with the Montagues and Capulets viewed as gangs, knife violence referenced.

From the  basin, on the junction of the River Avon and the Stratford Canal, we headed north up the canal. Such a contrast, from the wide, weirs, deep locks,  few towns- built back from the unpredictable river,  to the narrow canal channel, barrel roofed lock keepers' cottages, minimal cantilevered iron bridges, black and white painted,  and many small villages.

One, Wilmcote, is home  to Shakespeare's mother's farm,  a Tudor gem, replete with heritage chooks, wonky sloping floors in the 16th C house, falconry,  so much, we were engrossed, and had to remind ourselves that our destination today was the Grand Union,  turn right to Warwick,  and thence to London- only 100+ miles, innumerable locks.

We may never tackle the Stratford canal again, as the poor maintenance of the locks has consequences- a silt build up behind the lock gates means the gates do not completely open.  JJ has a minor back strain from his exertions with the gates, and I don't care for charging full throttle into an opening about 4 inches wider than the boat,  in order to drive the boat past the gates.  A prudent approach to such a narrow opening is at tick over.

Late afternoon, we slip onto the Grand Union, a sharp right, and moor for the evening above the 23 locks climbing down to Warwick. All well, a farm purchased venison pie roasting, a glass of red to hand.

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