Bartimaeus

The train trip was a good day out and is only available on selected days. On our walk back we passed a motor museum. I am sure others would enjoy it, but we had both decided earlier when we saw a sign to it that this was not on our must-see list. We were therefore not disappointed to see it was only open weekends or the first week of every month. We hadn't expected to stay until the weekend.

We had paid for two days mooring so we had to pay again if we were staying another night. Payment is at the tearoom beside the horse drawn boat trips. We had thought we might meet a horse on the way back from the train, but no. As we walked past the trip boat, passengers were boarding and the horses were looking ready to go out. Tobias and Dexter were on duty, but hadn't left the stable yet for the trip due to leave in 5 minutes.

A man was delivering hay as we passed, I expect that was not for today since they both had plenty hay for today. 

We needed to stock up with provisions though so we headed into town. We took a different route down a set of steps that took us to the bridge at a different angle. Shane spotted a shop sign saying it was open by chance or prior arrangement. That was vague but I expect they had a niche market rather than impulse buys. It isn't every day you see a taxidermist shop. It wasn't open but the window was like a museum. There were some turtles and then some familiar animals.

I was not at all sure what one of the more exotic birds was. The shop was of course closed so there was nobody to ask.

I had seen two jays in recent days and was impressed by the action captured in this stuffed example, showing the blue detail on the wing, a colourful local character.

We passed the bakery but it only had one white loaf on the shelf so we continued on. I saw a vegetable display on the pavement down a side street and wondered if it had a wider range. We found that while it was mainly a greengrocery, there were a few other dairy items and just as we were at the counter, there was a bread shelf. It was right up Shane's street. 

We had originally booked for two nights and had said we would extend it if we decided should stay another night. Shane had proposed we visit the nearby castle, which we could do in the morning. We should pay tonight though, so we set off towards the marina where we could turn, to get that out of the way. I could see the hotel next to the taxidermy shop. It was aptly named Bridge End hotel. It was a good view of the town, but it didn't look very good to set off tonight. More rain looked likely and it was windy too.

The marina was particularly windy. We saw another boat struggle. We could have stayed there as our mooring but the half length jetties didn't appeal. especially in poor weather so we headed straight back after getting rid of recycling. 

As we reached the boat trip area again one of the staff called to us. He was checking where we were going because a trip boat (with an engine not a horse) was coming back to base and they were seeing if anything was coming. There was a jolly exchange between the trip boat driver, us and the staff member on the towpath and the boat driver said it was perfect timing as he came through the bridge and moored up. The horse trips were clearly finished as I could see the horses being led away and over the bridge we were approaching. The stables are clearly just where they wait during the working day.

I hopped off at the bridge to pay for tonight's mooring. The man in the office was the same man that had spoken from the path and has sold us the mooring two days before. He remembered us, but asked me to spell Bartimaeus again, as he wrote it on the slip you display on your window. 

We were all set to stay one more night, and just ass well as I had already thought of things I forgot to buy in the shop. It was definitely the best decision to stay one more night.

The castle was very near and we romped up in the sunshine, a good day to be out in the fresh air. The high position gave a fine view around but there was very little of the castle itself to see, there were more doors than walls. 

By the time we got down an early lunch beckoned and returning from the shop for the things I  had failed to get before when I saw a freshly made steak slice had made it into the window, I went in and snapped it up. I had been considering the Oggies shop every day but despite  the catchy name, in the end have been using the local bakery, Gerrard's in stead. I picked up a bara brith as well.

Once I had eaten my very hot pastie it was time to get going. The whole section ahead we knew was short on mooring and full of narrow and twisty parts with bridges on blind corners. All very pretty but not entirely relaxing. 

We reached the junction and ticked another thing off the to do list by getting a prompt pump out. The junction is full of boats and I had thought we might be heading straight across the aqueduct but Shane had other manoeuvres in mind and reversed through a bridge to find a quiet mooring. I had no idea such a thing might exist in the particularly busy spot. The place he had seen was the right length but a man warned us that many people turned there, having arrived by accident and we would be bashed if we stayed there, and advised we go further back. We are in a little dead end spot. Despite the building site and blocked off tunnel there is a pretty view out of the kitchen window and a girl passing by peered in our windows and said "It's so luxurious in there!" It won't be dull here, fine for a night, or will it be two?