Wilmcote

With only one lock and a few miles to go, we took our time setting off this morning, leaving at around half eight. Although the weather wasn't as spectacular as yesterday, it was very pleasant, and I enjoyed the gentle chug. Water depth means that speed is very limited, never more than 3 mph, and seldom that.

The highlights of the trip were Bearley or Odd Lock, all alone in the bosky countryside, and, shortly after, the Edstone or Bearley aqueduct. At 475 feet long, it takes a while to plod across, inevitable bouncing off the sides of the iron tank as the wind shoves the boat around. It is very reminiscent of Pontcysyllte, just much shorter and rather lower to the ground, but still imposing. Those with height issues should stay below, though the sound effects of aforesaid bouncing about will not be reassuring, I'm told.

As expected, we got to Wilmcote at half ten, and found the substantial length of visitor mooring almost deserted. We popped into the village for a birthday card to mark grandson Daniel's fourth on Saturday, and to see about using the Post Office for a Poste Restante delivery of a repeat script on our way back.

There's a very good store, but the PO is a visiting van, so no Poste Restante. We'll have to find a different way of keeping my drug habit fed...

It's very peaceful here, despite the nearby railway line. Tomorrow, we think we may make a sudden dash for Stratford, as the weather is going to break, and we may as well be shopping in the rain as boating.

So we'll make an early start, and plan to get into Bancroft Basin at around 12.