Stratford Canal

It rained last night, so heavy that the canal looked like it was boiling. Just as suddenly as it had started it stopped and we were left with a fantastic double rainbow that started on the pub opposite and went right over the canal. As usual the photos don’t do it justice.

We had a very peaceful night with Charlie and all slept in till late so we didn’t start moving again until 1.00.  We turned into Kingswood Junction, through the well bashed bridge and through a very narrow link onto the Stratford Canal.

After the wide Grand Union Canal and the very wide locks it all seemed just a bit too narrow. Would we fit?

We soon got used to it again and carried on down past beautiful barrel-roof lock cottages 

and under the M40 which was very noisy and the traffic was almost at a stand still.

bottom gates are almost impossible to close - needs a man's touch

We finally moored for the night opposite the Fleur de Lys pub. They’re famous for their pies and we intend having lunch there tomorrow, just to check out the place for a very good 'pie-loving' friend of ours.

One of the lock cottages had bird boxes dotted about, both on the side of the cottage and in the trees beside the lock. They were all made from recycled footwear, old work boots and wellies.