River Avon

A street market was setting up in Stratford by the basin at 6 am and we were in no hurry to leave, perhaps misguidedly.  So we waited for the morning papers and strolled around the market.  At 10:00 we entered the river lock watched by only a small group of gongoozlers and set off down river.  It took a while to remind ourselves of the heavy steel gated locks with their neat French winding gear.  At Stan Glover lock we stopped for lunch and water.  Setting our table up on the beautifully kept riverside lawn we did things in style – canapés and Pimms.  The plan was to stop at Bidford, but here we had to pay for our late start.  All the moorings were taken, so we moved on and settled at Robert Aickman Lock.   The wind is getting up and rain is forecast.