Narrow Boats, Canals and the River Avon

Shortly before leaving for our trip we watched a video from You Tube on living full time in a narrow boat on the canals of England.  Terry just happened on it searching for mobile tiny houses.    It was one of our favorite kind of stories about 'ditching the big city job', selling the stuff and adopting an alternative lifestyle.  The narrow boat he had re-done to his needs was just beautiful and he described the joy of finding pretty spots to moor on quiet, peaceful canals.  We'd crossed canals in Sussex, but never saw any boats.

Then as we crossed the River Avon coming into Stratford there were more boats than we could count on both sides of the bridge.  We found parking along the river and walked back to the harbor.  The first view stopped me in my tracks.

Around the bend a tour boat attracted the famous swans of Stratford and we learned later that it was a long boat and about 15 feet wide.

The Inland Waterways Association Long Boat was moored in the town harbor and they answered lots of questions we had about the different boats, the canals and the lock system.  The true narrow boat is only 7 feet wide on the exterior and fits in the older canal locks like the one for the harbor.  They encouraged us to check out the really small one docked just beyond.

They didn't mention the wood stove inside and the peat fire going or the bicycles and the CB antennae Terry noticed right away.  What a great little home!

The next boat over had lots more living space and many more windows.  It seemed lots more livable to me.  After enjoying a stroll around the other boats there, it was time for tea and a scone.  Right behind us was this huge theater (something to do with Shakespeare) including a tea room, gift shop and toilets.

Our stop for tea gave the police just time enough to ticket our car for no 'pay and display'.  We never saw the sign a block behind us, but after all this was Stratford-on-Avon.  No free parking here.  Terry chatted with the policeman who said we could pay up online!  'No problem at all."

The ferry to Belfast would be awaiting us early the next morning in Liverpool so the Citroen scooted us up the M6 and around Birmingham to our hotel in Ellesmere Port.  Our stay in England had been too short, but filled with unexpected fun and adventure.