Calveley to The Shady Oak Pub, Tiverton (Shropshire Union Canal)

Friday 11th July

The sun was shining again and it was very warm as we set off from Calveley and on to the Bunbury Staircase locks, another boat called Diligent 2 came out behind us.  We got to the locks and the gate was open, we thought a boat was coming out, but there was a voluntary lock keeper there and the locks had been set for us, so we both went in.  As they are double locks and a staircase of two locks, you can have one boat going one way and two the other, so us and Diligent were in the top lock and there was another boat in the bottom lock.  You empty  the water from the top lock into the bottom lock and then the water levels out in both locks, we opened the gates and Diligent 2 went into the bottom lock, then we shifted over and the boat from the bottom lock came into the top lock, then Diligent 2 shifted over and we went into the bottom lock along side Diligent 2. The gates closed and we emptied the water out of the bottom lock so we sent down and they filled the top lock, so the other boat went up. This is called the Bunbury Shuffle and good fun to do as long as you know what you are doing!

Beeston Iron Lock

We chugged along the canal and went through the next lock.  As they are all double locks, you can share with another boat which we did with Diligent 2, it makes life so much easier.  The only lock you can’t share is Beeston Iron lock as the sides are wharped and its not big enough for two to share anymore.  We went through Wharton’s lock, then moored up opposite The Shady Oak pub.

Moored near The Shady Oak

We went for a recckie to the pub as we are meeting our friends from Audlem tonight and wanted to make sure the pub was okay.  It was really nice and the staff were very friendly.  We sat in the garden and had some lunch.  There was a peacock of all things wandering around the garden and some baby ducks which were so tame they took bread out of your hand, sweet!!

We went back to the boat and chilled out.  In the evening, we met the Audlem gang, Jane, Malcolm, Dave and Anth, we had a really nice evening in the pub, full of laughter and nice food, including pudding, Kev and Anth had Rhubarb Crumble, well thought that’s what they were having, well it came and they started eating it, then Kev said this doesn’t taste like Rhubarb, it tastes like apple, Anth said hers was apple too, and Malc said (he ordered the puddings) it should taste like apple as that’s what you ordered, there was no rhubarb crumble on the menu, we all told him there was, it was really funny, Malc want to look at the menu and came back and said oh yes, it was on the menu, but he only looked as far as Banana Split as that’s what he had, we teased him about it, don’t think he will live this one down for a while!  We also all sang the Banana Splits song when the waitress came to take our order, she was only young and I don’t think she had any idea what we meant, I think she thought we had all come from the funny farm!!

They all came back to the boat for a drink and homemade lemon cake.  We had a really fun evening, it is always great to be with them all.  We will be meeting up with them again in a week or so, that’s something nice to look forward to.

We are staying there tomorrow as well.

Saturday 12^th July

Lock Gate Coffee House

It was very hot again today, so decided to go for a walk back to Beeston Iron lock, about a mile back along the canal.  It was an easy walk.  There is a really nice café just off the main road with views of the lock, so we walked down there and had some refreshments.  It is a really nice café, light, clean and airy.

Beeston Castle

We walked up to the lock and sat there for a while watching the boat go through.  There was a lovely Labrador called Widget tied up on the bench where we sat, he was a rescue dog, really lovely, so we minded him while his owner helped with the locks, he was so well behaved, I could have taken him home with us.    Only one boat can go though at a time on this lock so it is quite slow going through and a queue often builds up.  We walked back along the canal to the boat where you get lovely views of Beeston Castle, it is remains of a castle, but well worth a visit (we went there last we were in this area) and just chilled out for the rest of the day.  Off chugging tomorrow.