Summer Cruise#2-Day 48

Four nights at the delightful Saltisford arm and it’s time to move on. Just a two hour 11 minute cruise to the other side of Leamington, near the Radford winding point. And then on the next day, Sunday 20th August to Long Itchington – chance to catch up with our friends on Hodmadod and spend a few days exploring this nice village (well, OK perhaps visit more of the 5 pubs!). Time to not move on and have a rest. It was quite a day today as all the boats from Kate boats (Warwick) came our way and all the boats from Calcutt & Napton came down the other way. We let one hire boat carry on as they were on a schedule to do the Warwick Ring. Then our next companions lept ahead with a single boat – it felt like we were moving backwards!  Busy, busy busy. Well it is Day One for most of these boaters, it IS a Sunday and it IS August! We got to our mooring – the Bascote aqueduct by about 2:30. By this time the lamb joint from Sainsbury’s had been slow cooked in the Slo-pot. It had been marinated overnight in Sicilian garlic, rosemary, oregano and honey. It then had 5 or 6 hours slow cooking – the end result was yummy indeed.  Served with mash & marrowfat peas plus Viv’s gravy. We then met up with David & Sarah with their two charming terriers: Tansy & Teasel, off to try the furthest pub, the Green Man.  A good choice – good beers(Purity & Black Sheep), dog friendly and very people friendly too. Some baking hot weather today after a cool start and now rain! British Summer at it’s, er, usual.

A few locks – all big uns but sharing is good
Lots of Kate boats
Long wait at the Bascote locks
There’s always someone taking it easy . . . Dog’s life, eh?
Trying an idea to share the staircase locks with one boat coming down . .
All goes to plan -a bit of a shuffle
One in, shuffle over, one out, shuffle over, simples!
Final spot – on rings, nice.
Meeting up with the crew of Hodmadod
And the two dogs!
Foursome in the Green Man