At last, a bit of the wet stuff.

This morning in the sun I helped Tranquility down the first 5 locks not that they needed my help as at everyone there was a boat coming up, still many hands and all that. I had decided today was going to be rug cleaning day as the warmth would dry the rugs mega fast. I also cleaned the windows (bad move). So while waiting for the rugs to dry I made a loaf and while kneading it to within an inch of its life quite  a few boats went past. I then got a text from Betty telling me one of these passing boats had relayed to her that I was making bread and had two dogs one bigger than the other, it was a good job I wasn't doing something I shouldn't have been doing and which boat was the “spy” I don't know.

 

Not bad for a first attempt and no it isn't a funny shape we just had to have a slice to taste while it was still warm.Around 4 the black clouds rolled in so I got the dogs out quickly before the heavens opened and boy did it come down.

Paul took advantage while it was raining and cleaned the side of the boat down of the accumulated dust.

We have also discovered we have a lodger, think we need to charge him rent.

He was a bit put out when I opened the window as I wrecked his web, didn't take long for a new one to appear though.

Paul as gone off down the pub with the guy off of the boat behind us, now if I asked him to go out in the pouring rain I am sure you can imagine what the response would be………

Burnt to a crisp…….

With the weather having been so glorious we have spent a lot of time on the tow path in the sun, although I must admit we have all retired on board between the hours of 12 and 3 as it has just been too darned hot, but hey I am not complaining although the dogs have really been suffering so it has been early morning, late evenings for walks.

I have had a lovely weekend down in Kent with the family and did absolutely nothing so no different from being on the boat really but the company was different ( you thought I was going to say nicer didn't you!!!!). While I was away Paul found a local Chinese so Saturday bought himself a take away and it lasted him for Sunday as well so I had a full fridge when I returned.

Today Betty and I caught the bus and went to Coventry where I bought myself a nice shopping trolley. We then got another bus to Bedworth, but managed to get the slowest bus in the world that went all round the houses, when we eventually got there we called in the huge Tesco and I managed to get enough shopping to fill my new trolley. we got back to find the boys on the tow path with a beer in hand.

Where we are moored has been lovely and quiet we may have to stay here a few more days as we are waiting on a phone call re some work we are having done just hope it is before the weekend so we can move out into the country but saying that the town has been festooned with bunting and apparently there is a lot going on so we may stay and celebrated the jubilee with the locals we could always have a tow path party.

What a scorcher!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday we left our mooring at bridge 24 and travelled in the lovely sunshine to b34 stopping on the way at Springwood Haven for diesel and for Paul to talk to Kevin the On-board Energy man.

So this will be our mooring until tomorrow.

With Tranquility moored behind us.

Looking forward towards bridge 34

A few boats joined us last night but they all went on their merry way this morning. One of these was nb Bendigedig  Elsie stopped for a chat while Eric set off on his way.

The weather has been unbelievable  and lots of boats have been passing by taking advantage of the good weather, after all you never know how long it is going to last. At least the men have tackled at least one job each after which they had to stop for a rest which had lasted throughout the remainder of the day. They are now on their first beer.

I am planning to go down to Kent this weekend so we will moor in or near Atherstone so I can get the train.

Nice cruising day.

Well I have a nice haircut, picked up the prescriptions although they are still to be dispensed so today we moved. Quite a long day for us 4 hours cruising but it was such a lovely day and we only saw a handful of boats with nothing following us at all.

Dadlington church on the horizon.

Closer now.

The whole of the journey had the smell of the Rape wafting by and by the looks of the fields it is nearly ready to be harvested.

One thing I like about Leicestershire is the way the foot paths are so well marked. At least you can see the posts how ever far away they are.

Wish all footpaths were so clearly defined.

Had a bit of a result at Market Bosworth I finally managed to get a picture of the Steam Train and I didn't get wet either.

Bought back many happy memories of my holidays to Margate when I was a little girl as we always went by steam train, heaven help you if you looked out of the window as you always got a face full of smuts from the chimney.

Paul finally got round to finishing off the polishing, and as was predicted in previous posts  he found that more filled holes (not welded as instructed ) have collapsed in on themselves. The outer edges are now rusting and Paul has only one solution of how to remedy the situation, which will be to drill out the filler and insert a pop rivet and apply paint. Paul says if this carries on any more with the rest of the holes giving way it will become a colander and I will be able to strain my greens.

Incompetence or what!!!!!!!!!!

We will soon be off of the Ashby canal and we have had a lovely time, there still lots of nice little mooring spots we have to try out and hopefully when we return one day there will be a few fish for Paul to catch as so far he hasn't caught tiddly squat.

There and back.

Bus passes came into their own yesterday when Betty and I went to Leicester. I have never been there and as the men were “doing” we girls had a pleasant few hours out just strolling around. Our journey from Shackerstone on Friday was a bit blowy but it was fine so that's all that matters.

The tractor event in the words of the men “was an absolute waste of time and money” but there you go. It was such a lovely day that we spent the afternoon sat on the tow path.

This morning saw us having a wander round the water park which is just up the road from the moorings. It was very busy as there was a half marathon going on as well. We splashed the cash and had a “99” each first ice cream of the summer.

  

End of the canal these are 48 hour moorings.

Motte and Bailey at Snarestone.

Water park, there were some huge carp here first fish Paul and Graham have seen in a while……..

We are waiting for prescriptions to be sent here so hopefully can be on the move again soon.

Snarestone.

Well, we can say we have been to the end of the Ashby canal and we are now moored facing the way we came just after/before the tunnel. Yesterday after we had moored up Betty and I in our infinate wisdom decided to WALK to Measham . Now this is not something I would recommend as the road is very fast and there are no pavements. We did come across a foot path which took us up hill and down dale but kept us off of the road. By the time we got to Measham (in about 45 mins) we were wet as it started to rain half way through our journey. There is a small Tesco express here and a small co-op and the usual newsagents etc. We knew there was a bus that went from Snarestone so we found the bus stop with a timetable and it told us we had about an hour and a half's wait so we popped into the pub (like you do) for a soft drink. We had just settled down when Betty decided to check on her Smart phone for the bus times and it told her that the next bus was due at 3.11 time at that point was 3.05 so we quickly downed our drinks and hot foot it to the bus stop, checked the timetable and found that it was printed in 2007 so just a tad out of date. Anyway the bus arrived on time and we returned to Snarestone via the scenic route and when we got off everyone on the bus said cheerio how friendly was that.

Today as the weather was pants windy and very grey we all decided to go to Ashby-de-la Zouch. After much deliberation and checking on the internet we arrived outside the Globe pub to wait. Betty said the bus was due at 10.25 I thought is was due at 10.16, sure enough a bus going in the opposite direction arrived at 10.16 and then promptly arrived back at 10.25 so your guess is as good as mine who was right. Once again everyone said hello and the driver asked us if we were on a boat on in a caravan.( There is a caravan club site at the back of the pub). It only took about 20 minutes to get to Ashby and it is a pleasant little town not too much going on but we had lunch out and then caught the 1 o'clock bus back having the same driver who brought us. As there doesn't seem to be any designated bus stops in Snarestone you just ding the bell when when you want to get off. Just as we got back to the boat it started to rain yet again hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better and we will return from whence we came. Moored near us are Bob and Rachael nb Nomad Dream needless to say while I was out the men talked engines.

Shackerstone.

We have spent a lovely few days at Market Bosworth even though the weather left a lot to be desired. It is a very pleasant walk from the canal up in to the village and you pass this lovely thatched cottage.

Very chocolate boxy.

Once into the village  there are various buildings with these coats of arms.

There is a good range of shops and you can catch the bus to Leicester if you want a day out. Try as I may I never did get a picture of the steam train which was really frustrating as you could hear the whistle blowing as it approached Market Bosworth, I was either too late and I had missed it or it was chucking it down with rain and there was no way I was going to venture out, never mind maybe on the return journey I will have more luck. Yet again we saw a couple of water voles in fact they seemed quite used to humans .

Today we moved on to Shackerstone okay not a great distance but just far enough to get the washing done. In the afternoon we all had a nice walk to explore the area around the canal.

This is our view from the window for tonight.

Shackerstone station.

If we had turned up yesterday we would have seen the trains actually on the move. We also noticed that this coming weekend there is a vintage tractor “do” on so it looks like we may be visiting that.

The village church where most of the headstones are slate.

The pub was shut!!!!!!!!!

Saw this Ann……..

Lovely view from bridge 52.

So, I think tomorrow we are going to the end using the services turning and then mooring up. We will attempt a walk or should I say hike to Measham or maybe even catch the bus. Then it will be back here for the weekend for this tractor do. Just checked the web site and the “do” is at Market Bosworth so guess that's where we will end up. This is the first time we have come right to the end and it is so peaceful with more mooring spots than you would think. As long as you have supplies you could spend ages up here.

One of those days!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was one of those days when tempers got frayed and yet again it was said “ its time to get off of this boat…” I wont bore you with the details but suffice to say Paul lost his rag and shouted a lot then took himself off for a long walk.

We had left Hinckley in the dry and made Sutton Wharf where we spent the night. Our coal situation was getting a bit dire so Betty rang a local coal merchant and he delivered some to us at the wharf with no delivery charge, how good is that.

This morning yet again it was windy and wet but the weatherman said it would be dry by lunch time, at 11.30 we set off for Market Bosworth. As we were passing the battlefield moorings there was a hire boat whose stern pin had pulled out, as Graham went slowly past the front pin also came out so the boat ended up on the opposite bank. We both stopped and with the help of another boater managed to get the boat secured. We can just imagine the peoples faces when they returned to find the centre and stern ropes on one pin (the other one was lost in the watery depths) and the front rope tied to a tree with the mop off of the roof attached to it so people didn't walk into it. Paul was all for tying the boat up on the offside but I convinced him that it was a bit mean.

While on our travels up the Ashby we have seen a few water voles this little fellow was at Hinckley opposite the moorings.

It is nice to see them as they are so cute.

So now we are at Market Bosworth, it has been raining since we got here, the tow path is a mud bath and we aren't moving till Tuesday.

Paul has been fishing almost every day since we left Braunston and the big question is where the hell are all the fish. Graham has also been fishing a lot on his travels and they just cant understand why there is such a shortage of fish. It is not for the want of trying, all different concoctions of baits have been used with not even the slightest bite. Now one asks the question is it the weather or the environment that has depleted the stocks. It is known that over the last few months BW have been moving fish from low water areas to canals without the drought problem. So from Braunston to where we are which is not in a low water area how come there are no fish. The boys also noted that not many fisherman have been seen on bankside do they know something we don't? Has any one else encountered this unusual occurrence?