Down hill to Stratford

Sunday 1 August. 3 miles, 11 locks.

I took the morning off while Diana walked a couple of miles to look at "Packwood House". A National Trust Tudor House. She thought it was well worth the walk. Mid afternoon we moved through Kingswood junction. An interesting short canal joining the Grand Union with the Stratford-on-Avon canal. Once again boats everywhere going in many directions up and down locks. It is now high season with summer holidays and there is an increase in hire boats on the canals with many first timers. Once through the junction it is down hill to Stratford-upon-Avon. With 11 of the 35 locks done we stopped for the night in a country setting 1/2 mile south of Lowsonford. Sorry no post code, using an older guide for the rest of our trip. The boat has developed a bit of a problem with the fresh water pumps not working.

Monday 2 August. 6 miles, 7 locks.

Started the day consulting Dave on the pump problem and trying several things. Can't fix the problem so Dave will meet us this afternoon to sort it. Trundle off and the pump starts working. Cancel visit by Dave. Take a walk into Wootton Wawen as it is designated a conservation area. Nothing out of the ordinary but did walk around Wootton Hall, a large country house where a big transportable homes development is. Most interesting looking at this concept that is not in NZ. Stopped in the middle of the sticks. Pump not working. Also found a leaking pipe in engine water system. Another call to Dave in the morning.

Tuesday 3 August. 3 miles, 11 locks.

Nursed the boat a mile down canal to the nearest road intersection which happened to be Wilmcote the home of Shakespeare's mother. Dave arrives and gets the pump going, well for a while anyway. Problem is a loose wire inside the pump so it is intermittent. At least I know what to fiddle with to make it go until we can get a replacement fitted. The engine fault required a bit more thought but by the end of the day we have a temporary patch. Time will tell. Diana wondered off into Wilmcote but didn't go int Mary Arden's house as we had been before and she thought it quite expensive at 9 quid. Late afternoon with boat fixed we decided to move a short distance as we were moored close to a wasp nest. The nest had been killed but still a lot of wasps around. Next place we found to moor was 11 locks away on the outskirts of stratford. At least we have now done 29 of the 35.