Still Waters

Friday  ( getting a bit behind, had no signal the last few evenings)

We're so glad to be on the safer still waters of the Stratford-on-Avon Canal.  After a great deal of rain again last night, today dawned bright and sunny.

We had the Wilmcote flight of 11 locks ahead of us and it was lovely to be out in the warm sunshine.  Working locks, coats and top layers we soon stripped off,  enjoying the feeling of sun on bare arms is a real bonus in November.

We had a quick stop at Wilmcote village to get a newspaper, then it was on the way again. Just one more lock and the wonderful Edstone aqueduct before we got to Wooten Wawen.

Another red plaque; Edstone Aqueduct, opened 1816, 145m long, the longest aqueduct in England.

 It is a cast iron trough set on brick pillars, with the towpath set level with the bottom of the trough, rather than level with the water. It feels a bit strange walking alongside.

 It crosses a road,

 a railway,

 a farm track and field.

 A duck's eye view of Tacet coming across.

 Ignoring the new 'no thoroughfare' signs set beside a newly cleared path with handy handrails  fence alongside, I scrambled down the back to get a different view.

As we moored up the sun was just going down,and the air has a real chilly feel to it now.

Before it got too dark we walked up to the village and a quick visit to the ancient Saxon church, 

and a look around the crafty shops at Yew tree farm.  The old farmyard buildings have been converted to make a little shopping village, with a cafe and farm shop too.

5 miles, 12 locks