Canal Holiday - Day 2

The most important thing that happened on Saturday was that Jennie and I both lay in. Dad did four locks before I thought about getting out of bed, because I was just too snug. And I got coffee in bed too.

After that, we made sure Dad was kept well fed and watered. Obviously the fact that we fed him cookies, caramel shortcake and muffins meant that we were forced to join him in consuming these things. In our defense, we also made a large healthy lunch with vegetables and everything.

Things spotted along the canal included a heron at the top of a tall tree, which was disconcerting. Also swans on nests, buzzards in the sky, and a pair of pigeons attempting to mate. I say attempting, because they were on a narrow railing and every time Mr Pigeon attempted the mounting part of the operation, he fell off.

This heron was actually on top of an actual tree.

We moored at the top of Bratch Locks and wandered off, looking for the Round Oak, a pub that had been recommended at the bottom of the locks and along a little way. We found it easily enough. It was busy and bright, with sounds of enjoyment and people carrying drinks.

But no food. Apparently they, and the surrounding pubs, shut down their kitchens early on a Saturday. But the landlord did say that there was a New Inn further up the canal that would definitely be open. He also mentioned that the towpath was the best way to walk.

It was dark and, not knowing where we were going, other than following Dad’s torch like, we walked and walked and walked. We found a bridge and looked around, but nothing hopeful was to be seen, so we kept on walking. Soon we spotted another bridge in the distance, and decided that we would go no further on from that.

As we approached, on the opposite side of the canal by the bridge, an enormously gigantic broccoli loomed out of the dark. Upon closer inspection the broccoli turned out to be a large sprawling tree lit up with green light in front of the New Inn.

Upon arriving we learnt that there was well over an hour waiting time for a table, but that if we were willing to wait they would ensure that we were fed at some point before the kitchens closed. We decided to wait, and Dad made a recognizant visit to all the special boards. En route, he encountered a young lady staff member, and after informing her of our tribulations, she found us a table with a Reserved sign on it that wasn't being used. 


With wine and beer in hand, and pre-dinner snacklets, we were set. Starters didn't take long to arrive, and the main course was a little while after that. Dinner eaten, alcohol demolished, and congratulations bestowed upon Dad for circumventing the food waiting time, we began our trek back to the boat. This, now that we knew where we were going, was a lot quicker than the way out.

We encountered a gentleman walking his dog who was a lot more terrified of us than we were of him, even though we’d seen enough movies to know that meeting a stranger on a dark towpath at night was never a good thing.

By the time we got to the boat, we were so tired, we went straight to bed, and even the sofa-bed behaved.