A journey of two days to get us into Newbold on Avon, just outside of Rugby. Were here as there is a hire car company fairly close near by, and Anna has the weekend away.
It was a cold one on Tuesday, when we left the mooring early.. I wanted to get 2 hours moving in before the day started, and it was cold.. Both waterpoints were blocked off by boats moored at the landing – so no chance to refill the tanks there.. but not to worry.. there are more, and were not that desperate for water that we need to breast-up and run the hose over someone elses roof!
We planned on getting some “basics” from the shop at Rose Narrowboats.. in their web site it states that they stock basic supplies.. so (in my book).. that’s at least bread and milk.. but no.. they don’t stock those.. so the plan of going so far, getting some bread and overnighting it came a cropper! Dawson believed he spotted a shop on Google maps.. so a bit further on we go and moor up bankside – no armco.. so in go the pins. Didn’t manage to get any basics from the shop – as it wasn’t a shop – just goes to show.. don’t trust Google maps.. its only as good as the information it gets!
Set off again the following day, later than planned as last night there were issues at work, and dialling in to assist until midnight, and the wash-up the following day meant we didn’t get moving until about 2pm.. but.. there’s only 2 hours to the planned stopping point – so we should be OK – or not as it proved to be!
Eventually after going past several more marina’s and boat bases.. we arrived at Newbold tunnel, not a long one – only 190 meters – about 20 boat lengths.. There was a boat coming out, so slow down – let them clear, and then onward..
There is a water point just beyond the tunnel, next to the Barley Mow Pub.. which was clear, even if a little rocky at the edges.. Pulled in as close as we could and started the water running.
Anna ran off to the shops near here and I got dialled into a meeting that I hoped we would be moored up well before it started – but no.. heavy going with the leaves slowed us down.
By the time Anna came back, and the tank was nearly full.. it was getting seriously dark.. so time to abort filling the tank – what we have will have to do for now.. and move the boat onto a mooring. I hate moving the boat at night, not only cant you see anything, having the tunnel light on only disturbs the people you are pointing it at – mainly other boaters.. but thankfully, 1 bridge, and 2 corners later – there was a space at the visitor mooring we could us which was not too far away – so in we pull, and here we stay for a while.