You know how great minds sometimes think alike? Well, after last weekend in Coventry several of the traders headed north along the Coventry Canal and we all concluded independently that Atherstone would be a good place to pause for the weekend. If that wasn't enough the fudge boat and the toastie boat arrived heading south, so pretty much by accident we had ourselves an impromptu pop up floating market. 
For our part we were stragglers arriving on Saurday morning, and given the demand for moorings the scope to join the other traders looked slim.

The problem with this location is the proximity of the 11 Atherstone locks because you only discover the absence of moorings when its too late and you find yourself committed to at least five locks. We had been warned in advance that there was nowhere to moor so we arrived resigned to do some locking and then, as if by magic, a 55 foot boat started to pull out just as we arrived, right opposite the site of an old canal wharf. 

And so as he slipped out we reversed in. Sadly the space was four feet to short for the butty as well, but as we were in a wide section we were able to pull the butty alongside and breast up - and open for business.

Another unexpected twist for this strangest of summer trading seasons.