Yesterday over again

No, not like Groundhog Day, but another excellent pub last night and a much better day's boating today than we'd been expecting. The Samuel Barlow is definitely not a chain pub; indeed it almost qualifies a gastropub in the best sense of the term. The decor is unusual, comprising white painted wooden tables of rugged construction and varying heights, set out in somewhat regimented fashion in a single, rather barn like room. Dogs are very welcome both inside and out.

The chef/patron, Paul, is a manic Aussie who comes and explains the short but interesting menu to you at your table. Sheila had the fillet of chicken poached in white wine with mushrooms and served on a bed of rice and covered in white sauce. I was in veggie mood, and from a choice of three chose the feta and spinach pie, which came with a mould of other veg and served on creamy mash. I could have had mushroom stroganoff or roasted veg lasagne.

Fish eaters could choose from seafood pie or trad fish and chips served in newspaper. There are no starters, and desserts were limited to a choice of four cakes. We both had the carrot cake, an indulgence too far, frankly, but that wasn't the fault of the cake, which was not smothered in butter cream for once, and had a good spicy bite with prominent cinnamon.

Today, we staggered up at half six and set off. The forecast was for rain, but it's not really tried very hard. It was misty murky first thing, and it's been a touch showery just now, but we've had some good sunny intervals in between. We'd planned to stop in Whittington, but were enjoying ourselves so much that we've come on to Fradley.

Sheila was sceptical about finding a mooring here, but in the event didn't need the windlass she insisted on sticking in her belt in case we ended up working up the locks and heading for Handsacre. Indeed, all along the Coventry the 48 hour moorings have had spaces, even at Hopwas and Fazeley, previously sites solid with lurkers.

We plan to eat in the Swan tonight; OK, so at the last enviro inspection it got no stars out of five, but a recent visit by Stephen and Jayne gave it a good report; Environmental Health will have had it in special measures since that rating, and as it hasn't been closed down, it has hopefully got itself sorted out.

More on this tomorrow, probably from Wolseley Bridge.