Stratford upon Avon to Wilmecote Saturday 15th Sept

Joined by Mat and Kerry today.

Good help with the locks

16 locks of the Wilmecote flight to done by 1330..

After the 12^th lock passed a couple in a hire boat who had come about three miles and done 4 locks since picking their boat up. “Is there many more” he said.  I said “this our 12^th since Stratford” “That’s about what we have done” he replied. Sensing that perhaps all was not well I asked if he had done this sort of thing before. “Yes Power boats, dingy sailing, not actually canals though-once we get through these locks to Stratford we should be ok we are going to stay there or a couple of days then complete the ring-we are out for a week” Now there are close on 130 locks on the Avon ring and a lot of cruising. Two weeks is the minimum recommended time for the ring. I said “Well some people love boating but its not for everyone” “Well I hate it already and the Mrs hates it more” I suggested that a less ambitious itinerary would be in order. “How many more of these locks” said “ Mrs.” as we passed. “Not many now” I lied, not wishing to say that there was at least 125 more.

Moored up at 1430 and after lunch and a chill out Mat and Kerry left us.

Joanne and I walked onto Wilmcote station in the warm afternoon sun; as picturesque ex GWR station as on any preserved branch line.  And we waited for an Addlestrop moment as the London train came in. We didn’t get it so went back to the boat for a chicken salad tea.

Adlestrop

Yes, I remember Adlestrop --
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late June.

The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Adlestrop -- only the name

And willows, willow-herb, and grass,
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

Edward Thomas