Back to Lowsonford - Wednesday 18th September 2013

Made an early start this morning as we planned to fill with water at the point just below lock 31 and go up and moor opposite the Fleur de Lys Pub. Starting early was a good idea as we had most of the locks in our favour and passed the boats which had passed us yesterday afternoon in the rain.

Autumn Years negotiates one of the Unique Stratford Canal Bridges

The unusual named Bucket Lock Cottage at Yarningale which is immediately followed by a Iron Aqueduct replacing the original wooden one.

As we came to the water point a Black prince hire boat came out of the lock and was also going to fill with water. The crew were from Vancouver and so we had a good chat about our trip there next year. Autumn Years came alongside and we filled them with water until the hire boat was ready to move off then with a bit of shuffling of boats we both watered and went up the lock. We managed to squeeze in between two others and AY a little further back until the boat in front moved off and AY joined us.
A little later Paul and Leigh on Nb Carapace friends of Graham and Carolann came down from the junction and moored up in front of us. So it was all aboard AY for coffee and biscuits.
Towards evening after a lot of traffic in both directions Nb Meander which had travelled from Stratford and 22 locks found that all the mooring spaces were taken and so had to continue on to find some where to moor for the night.

Later the crews of Nb. Autumn Myst, Nb. Autumn Years, and Nb. Carapace 2 went for a nice meal at the Fleur de Lys pub.
As we crossed the bridge by the lock a lady asked if we were from Autumn Myst and it turned out that she was Angie with husband Dave on narrowboat Lady Esther who were going down the lock on their way to Stratford. Angie makes crocheted Pin covers made from Sainsbury's orange bags, a really great idea.
After our meal we all returned to AM for coffee and a chat.