Back home.

I had a few errands to run in town so was out the house by 0830 and into Hull for the train in good time.

The statue of Philip Larkin is linked to his poem where he was 'running late last Whitsun'. I wish they had found a poem when he was arriving in Hull and not leaving the city!

The route back was the reverse of the other journey. I think Cross Country Trains must make a good profit as they always seem to be full with seats at a premium. I don't understand anybody not booking a seat if they can as otherwise it can be like musical chairs. I arrived at Birmingham New Street and managed a picture of the mirrored front of the station and the 'magic eye' screen to the left.

A 10 min walk took me to Moor Street Station and I had a little time to look at some of the research that I did yesterday. Here we can see the site of the goods depot part of which is now below the iconic Selfridge's building.

As I was waiting for a through train from Stourbidge to Stratford upon Avon I was on Platform 1, that along with 2, are the tracks coming through the Snow Hill Tunnel. In the distance is another iconic building, the Rotunda.

Everything went as planned and I was soon been greeted by Helen waiting at the station. We walked back to the boat through town and stopped at the chemist and also for milk. We then had a cup of tea and toyed with the idea of leaving.

Our minds were made up as the trip boat was just coming up the lock. There mooring would make it very difficult for us to get out and head to the lock. We therefore left straightaway and lingered out of his way when they came out before and we took their place. There were plenty of watchers so it was just as well all went well.

The rule is on the Avon that you drop the paddles of the exit gates but leave the gates open so Helen was able to get back aboard in the lock. The swans are greedy for bread that the many visitors are ready to give them. I wouldn't like to be eating sandwiches near to where they are as they may well be like the worst seagulls.

The show is over and the watchers start to disperse.

We didn't go far, just past the RSC and stopped to take on water.

It isn't very far to the first lock on the river but we had a bit of a wait as all the trip boats seemed to arrive at the same time. None of them went through the lock, just turned round by the weir. The one one the left went into the lock and then reversed out to turn, and then we could go in.

We finally managed to get into the lock. It is made a little difficult to use different guides as each lock seems to have two names, sometimes in the same guide as in the one published by the Avon Navigation Trust. This is jointly known as the Colin P. Witter after a generous benefactor,or Stratford Trinity Lock after the near by church where Shakespeare is buried.

We didn't go very far as we settled for the night just above the next lock Weir Brake Lock (or Gordon Gray Lock also Anonymous lock!). Our moorings are the first ones you can see as we should get some evening sun and in the morning. The current is very lethargic at the moment. There is heavy rain forecast on Wednesday so lets hope nothing untoward occurs.