Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick

Monday 17th June, 2013 at Warwick, the Saltisford Arm
As we set off, another narrowboat followed us and, when we came to the four wide Bascote Locks, they joined us and we went through the locks together. The first pair of locks are a "staircase" where the bottom gate of the first lock is the top gate of the next lock with no "pound" between the locks.
The other boat was the nb "Mutley" belonging to a delightful couple, Steve and Sharon, and their beautiful white Lab "Goldie". Goldie was very nervous of the locks and was most happy when standing on her hind legs and hugging Steve for reassurance.

In the locks, R and Steve discussed chocolate and Cadbury's World (the easy bit), while the ladies did the hard work (the paddles and gates).

 

After the locks, we approached Royal Leamington Spa. It was sad to see a considerable amount of detritus (coke cans, hamburger boxes, bottles etc) in the canal.  Also, it was difficult to relate the very drab industrial approaches of the famous Regency Spa town to the elegant architecture for which it is renowned and of which we saw no sign.We also had not realised that there is no discernable break between Leamington and Warwick; one just runs into the other.
R had to do a session of Capture training so we moored up close to the railway station and he did that while M prepared some lunch.
The guide books indicated that there was a Sainsbury's store a mile or so further on, so we stopped next to the nearest bridge and walked the quarter mile to the shop across at least three major intersections that had no provision for pedestrians to cross and unrelenting traffic! Definitely a case of taking your life in your hands. About the most impressive building that we saw in Leamington or Warwick was a mosque overlooking Sainsbury's car park, designed in the style of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Not at all what one expects of these two heritage towns!

The Sainsbury's store was quite the biggest supermarket that we had seen this side of the Atlantic and M thought that she might get lost, never to be seen again until, in years to come, her skeleton might surface amongst the cake mixes!
The shop was offering a very good deal on wines and, since our supply seemed to have evaporated (most mysterious, that!), in addition to the usual "few bits" we also staggered back to MM with two cases of wine, carefully dodging the cars as we went.
Soon after, we passed across an aqueduct that carried us over the river Avon.

We were disappointed that it is the Avon and not the canal that passes beneath Warwick Castle - so we didn't even get to see the castle from the canal.
The next lock had already been claimed by a family of swans, who did not seem keen to share it, being particularly aggresive towards anyone who had a dog. The cygnets, however, were quite interested in MM as she slowly rose into view beside them.

We were keen to overnight in the Saltisford Arm, having heard good reports of the moorings there. The Saltisford Arm used to be the terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal before it was combined with the Warwick and Napton Canal to become part of the Grand Union.
It turned out to be as advertised, very pretty but also very popular - so that we ended up three abreast moored alongside our friends on "Mutley" for the night. It was all very companionable and we agreed with Steve and Sharon to do the Hatton Flight of locks together tomorrow starting at 9:30am.
Today: 10 miles, 12 locks and 6.1 hours.
Trip: 120 miles, 85 locks and 100.2 hours.