Day 12 The Anchor Inn to The Shady Oak (Tiverton)
Posted by glyn brackenbury on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
After boy racering all day yesterday, I had a slightly more subdued day today.
The previous evening I ended up in The Anchor, which is the oldest pub on the canal network, they've only just stopped going to the celler to collect the beer.
I now know from my canal friends that Wolverhampton is the highest point on the canal network' which might explain why there are so many locks.
Up until today all the locks have been going up, so it's a welcome change to be going downhill now. It was a fairly unneventful day, the highlight was meeting two ex olympian C2 paddlers who were out on the canal flying along in the boat that they won the artic canoe race in, they made me look like I was standing still. In my awe at their boat and skill, I rudely never asked their names, but I do have a picture which I'm sure somone will recognise them from.
The only other note able excitement was paddling passed a "secret bunker", which was marked on the OS map. This incredibly clear mapping may be how Al Queda are planning to bring the country down....
The day ended at The Shady Oak, which neither had shade or indeed an oak, but did have a campsite.
Chester is the first target for tomorrow, as I've gone with plan b, in terms of route. I'm going to come out of the Dee and head accross to Anglesey, which will in turn set me up for the crossing to the Isle of Man. Anglesey will provide an opportunity to get myself and boat sorted again after the trials of the canals, take my washing to my Mothers (you're never too old)' and help with some coaching at the Sea Kayak Symposium.
Been paddling for 30 years mostly as a surf and whitewater boater. Living on the N coast of Devon and growing upon Anglesey has meant that the sea has never been more than a couple of miles away.
