Moira Canal Festival 2015
Packing to travel to our first ever attendance at the Moira Canal Festival weekend and what can I see outside the window after weeks of sunshine …. rain!! Hopefully it’s just a blip and the coming weekend will be fine. More on the festival as the weekend progresses.
After a quick consultation with the crew and due to the rain and drop in temperature, we decided to delay our departure for 12 or so hours until early (for us) Friday morning.
We woke to sunshine, quickly packed the car and then off to collect the boat and trailer. A smooth run up to Conkers, with a 30 minute tea break at the unusual but very pleasant Gloucester Services on the M5. We arrived just after Sloe at the very good Conkers slipway where we proceeded to launch.
After a quick sandwich, we moved the cars and trailers to the Moira Furnace site and walked back to collect the boats. A pleasant if short cruise from the basin to the lock and we rose up to the accompanying splashing of the back watering outfall. Then to the site for water.
Once we were watered we proceed end up the canal towards Rugby only to thwarted by the fact that someone hasn’t finished the canal! It’s blocked! All we could do was to touch the end, take a few pictures and head back to the festival site to moor up and go and chat with crews on other boats. After a busy day, with sky clouding over, it’s time for bed.
The sun is out, the bunting is up and the visitors are arriving to visit the multitude of stalls and watch the entertainment.
Lots of visitors in the sunshine all day. Lots of stalls selling food, drink and crafts and some just showing old cars or steam driven transport or models.
And then crowds around the duck race, which were being chased by enthusiastic canoeists. And the winner was ???
Once the visitors had gone home some of the WBOC boaters went to visit and sample the very tasty wares of an enormous Chinese buffet restaurant in Burton on Trent.
Sunday 17th May
A lovely morning before the crowds arrive.
But of course you need to avoid the Viking encampment, as they are a bit fierce!! They had many battles here yesterday, including an extended one over the ownership of the canal swing bridge!!
Lots of people here again today, with lots for people to see or do. From vintage cars, Triumph motor bikes, battling Vikings, miniature steam train and lots of stalls.
As the day drew on so it was finally time to close. A great weekend with 9 powered boats in attendance. I’m sure we will come again.