Monday 1/6 Bancroft Basin. Stratford to Bidford on Avon Pt.2

Binton Bridge, built in 1783. There has been a bridge here since the 13thc. It is really two bridges as the land on the right is an island.

Going under Binton Brodge

I always thought these metal plates were some sort of decorative feature on old buildings and bridges etc. however Lawrence says they are the ends of 'bloody great metal rods' that go through said building or bridge to bolt it together to stop if falling apart. Looking back to Binton Bridge

There are solar panels everywhere here. From just a couple on a little cottage to huge arrays on farms. We have even seen very thin flexible solar panels fixed over the slightly domed roofs of narrowboats. Britain, and Northern Europe, for that matter, put Australia to shame. A few people have asked us about Australia's attitude. What can you say?

another country vista. Weston on Avon church in the background

A garden just below Welford Lock

This one is for Betty and Geoff. It reminded us of the Murray, downstream from you, except that these ones aren't falling into the river, and there is green instead of brown!!

Nearly at Barton Lock where I had determined we should stop for lunch at a riverside pub called the Cottage of Content. And if these out buildings are a foretaste of the village, it should be very attractive.

So we moor up on the overnight moorings before Barton Lock, get cleaned up a bit, as on make ourselves vaguely presentable, gathered up purses, cameras and stuff, locked up the boat and walked up to the lock, crossed over the gates and followed the path and came to a grinding halt. There was a slight problem, the Avon River was between us and the village of Barton. Oops, I hadn't looked at the map carefully enough. As you can imagine, I copped an earful. Lawrence says that it just confirms my total lack of map reading skills - and a lot more.

So it was back to the boat, me to collect the windlass to take back to the lock to get it ready for Aqualife, and for Lawrence , still taking great pleasure muttering about my navigation incompetence, as he prepared the boat and cast off to bring her into the lock.

We motored on for another half hour to Bidforf on Avon. Where there are some rather nice houses - for all those Escape to the Country devotees.

Canada Geese. No wonder their numbers are exploding - 19 babies being cared for by 6 adults

Another nice riverside house

15thc Bidford Bridge

A tricky bit of steering is required to make it under this arch unscathed, with hazards both sides and out the other side. 

Not a whole lot of room to manoeuvre.

But of course, my hero, went through like a pro.

We had a fantastic late lunch at the upmarket Bridge Restaurant. Luckily my hero didn't realise it was upmarket until too late. It was lovely food.  We have ended up staying the night as the wind which had been steadily increasing in strength all day, had become quite vicious while we were at lunch, and I think I have said in a previous post that strong winds play havoc with narrowboats. Besides which the wind is freezing and occasionally wet and it would have been truly miserable trying to move in it. We aim to leave early in the morning to make up for the time we lost today.

10 miles, 7 locks in 4 hours.