2015 catchup (while it is still 2015)

I think the last blog left us somewhere near Tamworth (Polesworth) back in the summer. Well, we did move on. We went on to Glascote then took a walk into Tamworth. Unfortunately for me I had a phone call from someone (who was persistent) in wanting me to take up a phone contract with their company. It turned out they use the same EE as I do, but he was adamant that the EE website said I would get at least 3 bars at home. Having lived there for 30 years I know that there is not even enough mobile signal to tell you who your operator is. Bored yet? I was.
The walk around Tamworth was nice, then we walked back to the boat at Glascote. At the junction at Fazeley we turned south onto the Birmingham & Fazeley canal and headed south, down through the Kingsbury water park. Then it was up the Curdworth flight, stopping to have a look at the village and the church before moving on through Curdworth and the turn down to Bordesley Junction.
Judy had it in her mind that there was nowhere to stop between Minworth & Catherine de Barnes so on we went.
Our next stop was Knowle and we stayed a few days. One day we caught a bus into Brimingham, had a look at Gas Street Basin and all the canalia around, the shops etc. We had one of the best curries ever at the old Midland Bank building in Knowle.
Then it was down the Knowle flight to Kingswood Junction. I realised we were heading south far too quickly so a diversion to Stratford-upon-Avon was taken.
The Stratford is a beautiful canal. Stratford-upon-Avon is beautiful too. The lock gear is hard work and most of the bridges are very narrow. Had a couple of lovely nights in SoA basin opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, walked down the Avon and did all the normal touristy things except visiting anything actually related to Shakespeare. Then it was back up the Stratford to Kingswood and down the Hatton flight to Salstisford. The Saltisford basin is a welcoming place and so convenient for a walking trip into Warwick.
Then it was on through Royal Leamington Spa, up Stockton and eventually to Napton Junction. Once on the Oxford we slowed down a bit, Wormleighton, Claydon, Cropredy and down as far as Banbury. I have booked a place for the good ship Constance in Fenny Compton Marina and arrived there in the first week of December. There, caught up!