Beware of the Wasps
We left Stockton flight at 9.30am and it was Thomas's turn to stay on board Derwent6. We made our way through Bascote Locks and at Wood lock there was one gate out of action due to a Wasps nest inside the lock gate. 
This took us out into the country before hitting Leamington Spa. 
We've got to say it must be a least 10 years ago when we last went through here, and we were pleasantly surprised. It was very clean and well kept with new houses backing onto the canal and new towpaths. There is even a new Lidl's with good moorings. We then got to the Saltisford Arm and managed to get in by breasting up the two boats.
The first night here is free and then it' s four pounds a night and as we want to take all the children to Warwick castle tomorrow we will be staying a couple of nights. Cliff had a casserole going all day on the slow cooker and we all sat down with the sun setting on the bow of both boats. A nice night to the perfect day!!!!
This took us out into the country before hitting Leamington Spa. We've got to say it must be a least 10 years ago when we last went through here, and we were pleasantly surprised. It was very clean and well kept with new houses backing onto the canal and new towpaths. There is even a new Lidl's with good moorings. We then got to the Saltisford Arm and managed to get in by breasting up the two boats.The first night here is free and then it' s four pounds a night and as we want to take all the children to Warwick castle tomorrow we will be staying a couple of nights. Cliff had a casserole going all day on the slow cooker and we all sat down with the sun setting on the bow of both boats. A nice night to the perfect day!!!!
posted by Del and Al at 8:28 AM
5 comments
So we waited for them to have all their instructions before heading off towards Stockton Locks. Cliff did really well handling the 60 foot, nine berth boat they have and only went in the trees once! 
We got to the bottom of the flight with no problems and the kids loved it. We moored right outside The Blue Lias pub and got a few drinks with the kids playing on the swings and slides.
It started to rain when another two crew members turned up, Karen and Kerry. We all had a good night drinking wine on Cliff's boat till the late hours. 
Two guys were putting up a banner and were chased off when they put their stake right into a wasps nest and they chased them half way across Wigrams marina. 
Then we moved another half a mile away to pick up a second one lodged in a wall on a disused railway, where there was a disc in it from Canada.
That then took us to another new one, in a field full of bulls! The last one was only two days old and someone had beat us to it by a few hours. They got to it at 7.40am in the morning...have some people got a life? We're keen but not that eager! 
We took a nice circular route back to Derwent6 which took us through Wheat, Barley and Rye fields and also a field full of beans.
These only need a week more and they will be ready for picking, it would be rude not to borrow some.
We saw loads of ladybirds and this funny looking character. The fella looked like a moth but also like a dragonfly with double wings. Does anyone know what it is? 
We then got back and had Roast Pork, run the engine for a hour, before settling down to Torchwood. 
We are having terrific thunder storms here today, and it was nice to have the time to watch the cloud formations turning into a storm. 
We got going and we soon got the odd shower. At the turning point (winding hole) you could see the rain coming in the distance, and it seemed like we were going through the middle of some showers. It was the thunder and lightening that made up our minds to stop. We then watched the rain come down, and boy did it rain. We had to loosen off the guide ropes as the water levels rose. In between showers we found some wild cherry trees so did a bit of cherry picking....should make a nice pie or crumble.
Later we will be watching a bit of TV, as its Torchwood tonight.
