Wednesday 1st June 2005
Anchor Bridge - Ansty (12 miles, 1 lock)
We left at 7:30am, just as the light rain started. Before reaching Nuneaton, we went past Wild Swan sleeping off the exertion of the previous day. We moored after Bridge 20 and walked into the town centre to visit the market and have breakfast in a café. On the way back, we called in at the newsagent and butchers in Edwards Street. They seemed very quiet but said they get some trade from the canal boats. We should support these local shops as much as possible.
Just as I was about to untie the boat, Wild Swan appeared and we set off behind them. There was a children’s fishing match round the next bend and we went through on tick-over. One of the lads thanked us for slowing down “Not like the last boat which nearly swept my fishing tackle away”.
The forecast on the radio said that the Midlands would be overcast but dry. How did they get it so wrong? By mid-morning there was a very cold wind and the rain was getting heavier and heavier.
There was a queue for Sutton Stop Lock at Hawkesbury Junction so we stopped for water. The weather was so miserable that we only carried on as far as Ansty, and booked to eat at the Rose & Castle that night. The food was good apart from the vegetables which had been cooked without the aid of salt and were pretty well devoid of flavour. We don’t eat processed food often so don’t have a high salt diet. Were we being penalised for the sake of those that do?