Monday 17th to Tuesday 19th August 2020 at Aston Marina
We left home early to drive up to Aston Marina. We stopped off on the way at Aynho Wharf to see Simon; he was the engineer who built MM and he now works there. It was great to see Simon again and we agreed a slot in March next year to have the faded green parts of MM repainted. We also arranged with Simon for him to come and service MM, probably at Braunston as that is where we are going to aim for when we set off.
We arrived at Aston about the same time as a very dark cloud! Sure enought, the heavens opened just as we reached MM and R had started to remove the covers and unlock her, so we began the summer cruise by getting wet! We have heard that the canals are quite busy and that may be judged by the fact that the nine boats moored next to us are all out. We have never had such a clear view from MM!
Thunder and lightning accompanied us as we made up the bed and unpacked. We had booked into No.26 for dinner but the only slot that they could offer us was 4:00pm as they are so busy, thanks to the "eat out to help out" government initiative. Dinner was half price - Brilliant!
Tuesday was a day of mixed weather, heavy showers interspersed with bright warm sunshine.
Our friend Angela, whom we first met on the Caen Hill Flight in 2012, is by chance moored up just a mile away with a gearbox problem. We arranged to go and meet her and drove to Bridge 92, where we also met her travelling companion Stuart, whose boat is moored next to Angela's latest boat nb "Glad" (formerly "Galadriel"). Angela hasn't changed! She is now on her 15th boat by the latest count! She has a new dog called "Tilly" to keep her and her collie "Ruffy" company. That's Tilly looking very relaxed on the floor!
"Glad" is a lovely little boat with a very welcoming feel to it and we spent a happy time catching up over a cup of tea.
After a quick trip to M&S for some essentials, we had dinner again at No.26, again at 4:00pm. Chips two days running said M! Bliss!
Wednesday was, as forecast, a very wet day so we delayed setting off until Thursday.
Adrian had asked M if we could get him some of his favourite beer from the "Freedom Brewery" which is based in Abbots Bromley just about 20 minutes from the marina. Abbots Bromley was a lovely village, somewhat reminiscent of Braunston. The satnav delivered us to a narrow tree-lined lane with no apparent habitation. Soon after, we saw a small farmyard and turned in to ask directions. The farmyard was lined with small businesses including a tea room and they kindly directed us to a tiny room in the opposite corner which turned out to be the little unmanned brewery "shop".
One of the other businesses had a stack of open brewery boxes in the corner. Interestingly, the brewery produces six different beers, distinguished on the outside of each box with a different coloured star - but no name. So unless you knew what each coloured star meant, it was just pot luck! The rather burly (and very jolly) chap who served us, probably the farmer R thought, very kindly put together a two dozen mixed case of the six different beers for Adrian. Outside it was still pouring with rain. That's the tea room below.
Mission accomplished, we had a coffee and cake in the lovley little tea room and then went back to Stone to Morrisons (for peas in their pods) and M&S for staples for the boat.
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