Sunday 31st July 2005
Preston Bagot - Stratford-upon-Avon (8¾ miles, 18 locks)
We had a quiet journey in the morning as far as Wilmcote and then got caught up with the handful of boats working down the locks towards Stratford. We filled up with water again near Bridge 63, but later found that the water had a strange taste and made awful cups of tea.
We reached Stratford in the early afternoon and passed through the river lock and moored facing up-stream between the ferry and the church. We purchased our UANT river licenses for two nights mooring from the Tourist Information Office.
I had sworn never to go on the River Avon again after being trapped by floods for two and a half days at Pershore last Easter, but the weather was more predictable this time so we didn't expect any problems. The river moorings are certainly much more pleasant than the noise of Bancroft Basin.
We ate out at "The Garrick" in the High Street, which is a smoke-free zone. The food was not quite as good as when we came to see Hamlet with Jen's sister and brother-in-law last summer, but still good value. Interestingly, the river was in flood on that visit, although we were boat-less on that occasion.
We've decided not to eat at any more pubs or restaurants where the food was fantastic on our first visit, as we are always going to be disappointed. Does this mean we should give the dreadful establishments a second chance on the grounds that they can only get better?