We left Saltisford Canal Centre today to smiles, farewells, good wishes and glorious sunshine. We had a lazy morning, including Elizabeth taking Blossom for one last visit to Warwick Sainsbury's while Pete did final engine checks, water filling and Squirrel/coal sorting. Before we left Saltisford, we were delighted to watch the Hotel boats set out for their working season. In the pictures, you can see the butty (the one without the engine) being pulled by the boat. One boat has the lounge, kitchen and staff cabins and the other boat has the guest bedrooms. They double up in locks, but otherwise travel as if car and trailer. These boats are wonderful examples, decorated in traditional canal livery, even up to the blooming daffodils in the roof boxes.
At Bridge 46 in between Leamington Spa and Warwick, we pulled over to be met by our friend Helen and her and Dom's dogs, Defa and Trio. In the photos, you can see the idyl - Helen and Elizabeth sat on the bench (the one which used to be our sofa, now travels on the roof), with Trio standing behind and Josie sat in front. If you enlarge the picture, you can see Defa curled up just behind the bollard on the bottom left. The other side of the idyl is the next shot - the Tesco sign! We had a lovely visit and are grateful for this postal delivery from Blue Haven!
We set out to cooler temperatures but still sunshine and travelled over two aqueducts: one over the Avon and the other over the main rail line. Fun. We moored up in Radford Semele around 4:30. The photo shows Pete 'cheesing down' the centre line on the roof - creating a flat circle of rope with the end in the middle and the rest of the rope circling close around it until there is a flat spiral of centre line. Neat, tidy.
