A day out in Rugby and Coventry

23rd - Clifton to Rugby, Oxford Canal, 1 mile 0 locks Today - Moored Rugby

Waited for the rain to pass over yesterday before moving up to Rugby, and a visit to Tesco for some milk and bread, I did a Tesco order yesterday, and that was duly delivered to the boat this morning, and packed away by Vic while I went off to Coventry armed with believe it or not a chip pan!

I had a letter from Matalan you see, saying that the chip pan I owned was dangerous and the handle might fall off and would I bring it back please for a refund. Anyway I wanted those jeans, so a refund on the chip pan would pay for the trip and one leg of a pair of jeans.

Life is so busy out there off the cut, everyone is in such a hurry, pushing and shoving to get on crowded trains, people jumping bus queues because they don't have time to catch the next bus cos this one is gonna be full........ sheeeeesh tis hard to keep up with the pace but you sort of have to try go with the flow or get trampled on. It is easy to see why people who spend a couple weeks on a canal holiday get all hot under the collar having to wait at locks and come charging passed our boat in motorway mode trying to 'get there' before the light is gone.

Had a look at both Rugby and Coventry town centres today, Rugby I liked very much with its old buildings still dominating the centre. It was market day today, the stalls were packed very tightly into the centre, and it was very noticable that it is a very friendly town, people were saying hello to each other in the street, which showed a close community.

In contrast Coventry has obviously gone through a lot of change, the city centre was extremely busy, and there were an awful lot of arcades off arcades and shopping centres leading to other shopping centres. A very clean city, well the centre was, but travelling today to the outskirts, they have been left to suffer, with closed up shops and rubbish strewn around.... pity the Council can't see to put money in the city outskirts as well.

Lucy was as pleased to see me as I was to be back home...... I had a good day out there in the ratrace today, but it sure is nice to be back.