It's all gorgeous.

The next morning was cooler,  a delightful change from the pretty extreme heat we have had these past days but who's complaining?

Lesley and Joe departed first and about 9-ish.  We did a bit of faffing and I guess followed on 20 minutes after.

We passed through Shackerstone and what I call the Crescent moorings, private moorings following the curve of the canal all along a large field.  In the field are the remains of a Motte and Bailey castle, I can't find much about the castle except it was almost certainly wooden and Medieval.  Interestingly, during the WW2 an air raid shelter was dug within and it is said that a rocking chair still remains in there.

Private moorings on the left all the way around.

The Motte, the Bailey is not evident at all.

David dropped me in the winding hole (turney around place) and I set off to meet him, by way of a tarmac lane, at Snarestone, which I did, I arrived first!

I walked on the lane as its easier on the feet than a towpath.

On way way look at this dense hedge, small birds were whizzing in and out of it.

A spot of farming news.  I forget what this is, David Lewis will tell me I'm sure, but it's early remembering that these two photos were taken a fortnight ago.

Heads on in early may

A light dusting of green, maize planted and coming up.  Its a bit dry for it.  The field was chained shut with largest padlock or I would have got closer.

So I arrived at Snarestone, I had time for a good gander at some new builds which I liked the look of in the grounds of what I took to be a dilapidated farm yard, further into the village was a cottage for sale which I also liked....

I'd promised my mum I'd pop into the knitting shop, part of a complex of wee shops just out of the village, but now the shops are gone and a nursery of the children variety has arrived.

Sorry mum.

I'd said that I would hop on at the tunnel for the last bit having marched my 10K steps, but there was no way he could pull in and the steps down were chancy of slipping and taking a dip at the bottom.

There's a path under there somewhere.

Steps if you believe me.

Out of sequence, but last time we were here, five years ago, David and I caught this wee bus down to Congerstone for lunch at the Horse and Jockey, where we were yesterday.  He has no memory of it so I took this to show him.

This last half a mile is so after the tunnel is incredibly pretty.  The blossom, the greens of fields and trees, the birds song, the butterflies and the canal speckled with the petals.

and here the open views, David appreciated this as he had been in a green wooded tunnel most of the way.

The next boat on the left is NB Hogarth.

We left no Git Gaps, later two others popped on behind us and several more went onto the new section past the footbridge.

We filled our evening by teaching "The Yars" Hearts and later it was reversed and The Yars taught us Cribbage.  It took me a good while to pick up Hearts which we played whenever our now Kiwi daughter and SIL visited the boat or at Christmas and I can tell you that sometimes, only sometimes, I don't come last.

Cribbage was another matter altogether.  I'm trying hard to learn as my mother plays, she has tried valiantly to teach me but it was a hopeless task.  

Lesley is unfailing in her efforts to make me understand and do the scoring.

Phew. 

  

No, no rain.....

 The very sad thing about the Ashby canal now is that some pubs have closed, in line with other towns all across the UK of course but it's a real shame.

But!  Today we were headed to the Horse and Jockey at Congerstone, about two thirds of the way up the canal.  There are moorings close to the village so that is where we headed to.

Pretty pink fluffy thing.

A bit out of sequence but this is where we moored at close to Congerstone village.

Beautifully trimmed hedge.  Why is it some farmers keep them shaped and lower and some the hedge goes to rack and ruin and eventually trees.  Today the majority of boat owners surely have solar panels and want sunshine, besides I hate tall trees.

I do like these bridge reflective shots, the canal utterly calm.

We arrives at Congerstone, and walked to the pub late afternoon.  It was fabulous to see it busy, the pub was full inside with two large groups but in any case we all wanted to sit in the large garden, that too was busy on a mid week evening.  

The food was excellent, but I can't remember what I ate, sorry.

The day had been hot, sun cream was applied and hats worn.  It clouded over a bit, is it going to rain I asked the "Weatheraholic" no says he, no rain about.  I was sat next to Lesley....  It's looking a bit grey says I, yes she agreed, shall we make a move?

Well us girls did start the 15 minute walk back, after five minutes it was as black as yer hat, faster steps, ten mins we were on that bridge in the photo and the men catching up, we got in the boat and it bucketed down.  

D consulted his in depth satellite app to find one big shower right over Nuneaton.

The pub was great, definitely a "Use it or lose it" as other good ones along the way have gone, not so many shops either on the Ashby.

We just stayed one night and moved off in the morning heading for Snarestone and for us the top of the canal. 

Walks, pubs and heat.

 Reader I've never really been one for walking, David and I do stroll about the place at home but at snails pace and overtaken by old ladies with small dogs, I insist in a cafe half way too.  So this new regime of walking 10,000 steps a day has become something for me.  

I am nearly enjoying it too....  headphones on, podcasts on and away I go.

Today was no exception but my golly it was hot today, I didn't realise until I forgot my drink.

Over some fields, onto the canal, along the tow path way past Sutton Wharf then onto lanes and in the blazing sun back down to Stoke Golding.  I walk without David as I'm a faster walker than him plus I'm trying to keep up a brisk pace.

I was boiling and thirsty when I got back to the boat,

On my walk I spotted this well known boat, NB Oakapple, once exhibited at Crick, Amanda and I loved it.  Later we knew past owners Richard and Sharon, but I think they would be horrified at the state of her now.  Looking very dirty and unloved.

Lots of these where I live on the chalk, but a surprise to see Cowslips here

So this was on the tow path, dumped by a boater in a cruiser.

Lookey Lookey NB Derwent6 came by.  Owners Al and Del had this absolutely GLEAMING boat from the same boat builders as WaL, Derwent6 is now 17 years old and looks truly amazing.

Al and Del couldn't stop as they had friends following them and sadly no spaces here I sat down for a short while but then the cry went up "Let's go to the pub"  

An easy decision and we sat in the garden of the The George and Dragon, luckily in total shade..

 We didn't eat there but really enjoyed our drinks.  Then walking back to the boats still in the baking heat.  Naps were had by David and I but Lesley walked the little doggies.  I was just about to throw some supper together when messages were exchanged.  Al and Del plus friends were up at the other pub in Stoke Golding, The Three Horseshoes and would we like to join them.

Of course we would.  More ex-Bloggers Reader, Al & Del used to blog indeed it was the very first blog I ever read.

Another lady took this for us, look carefully and you might spot myself on the left with sunnies, Lesley leaning forwards, Joe at the very back next to David in his sunnies then Al and Del.  I'm very sorry to say I don't remember their friends names, but five boat owners all together and even at this time in the evening it was really warm.  

So great to meet up with friends that you haven't seen for months and this case a good few years.

A great end to a good day 

A cloudless sky as it had been all day.

Supper was late, rushed and eggs on toast!

Oh gawd will we be able to moor.... anywhere?

We stayed here a couple of nights.  South facing, wide towpath sunny weather and nice views.  

Easy decision.

When we did leave, Lesley and I set off walking with the wee doggies, Tucker and Marsha.  All the way to the water point where both boats filled up and lesley and I took the rubbish to the grounds of the pub The Lime Kilns on the opposite side, after trying to negotiate the A5 I think it was we abandoned that and returned to the starting point, the towpath and there were steps up to the otherside of the main busy road.  Death adverted we got aboard and continued.  

Un petit convoy.

We eventually came to bridge 22 and a place we have moored at previously, there are moorings marked on the opposite side too, however a trio of scantily clad ladies were seated on chairs on the grass, the wooden panels were mostly broken on both sides and almost full.  WaL tried to get in to the off side moorings much to the amusement of the reclining ladies, got her back end in the mud and after a bit of whooshing thought better of the whole idea.  

As David loitered mid stream and elderly man walked along to us and called over did we know Duck Corner?  He and some other boats had left there this afternoon and it was free.

Well Reader while we were moored at bridge 3 it seemed that so many boats had arrived on this canal, remembering that it's a dead end so they all have to leave past us again but hardly any left in comparison.  We are here because of all the stoppages so all these other boats had done the same?  Would we ever be able to moor anywhere?

Nervous times.

After a quick stop at the farm shop at Bridge 23 where the lady no longer sells condiments she does however sell highly recommended sausage rolls, meat generally and milk.

Well we chugged onto Duck Corner and unbelievably it was free.

Hogarth moored up snuggly behind WaL

   

WaL in too if only everso slightly on a curved bend.

It was a lovely spot, we have stopped here in years gone by.  A wide verge, a layby for our car.  Also stopping there was a nicely fitted out van conversion who went off to work in the  mornings and appeared back after all the dog walkers and other locals had gone home.

Joe barbie queued the farm shop sausages we brought that afternoon, we sat outside until late in the warm evening golden light listening to the birdsong.

Everything was delightful.

Old friends and new boat.

The next morning fairly early,  I set off walking, it was pretty rough underfoot for fast walking but I did.

Me setting off.  I brought this fleece back when WaL was new, 2012, I think I could have a new one.

Wild violets

A pretty pinky one.

Passing Hartshill.

So this has partially sunk, abandoned now I think, so what happens next?  Can this situation be prevented from a pollution point of view. 

Can't quite see but its the well know telegraph post, not showing up so well.

I walked all through Nuneaton, it's not a pretty town, a bit of rubbish about but way less than I expected.  Almost out of the town I hopped back onboard.  

Coffee and a sit down through what was empty rough ground but a zonking great building has gone up, empty last year but operational this year with new houses adding to the mix,  the outskirts of Nuneaton are much nicer than the centre or I should say where the canal goes past.

Marston Junction, the gateway to the Ashby Canal.

We have never managed to get onto the moorings near bridge 3 on here.  But our luck had changed and the advanced party had saved us a place.

Plain ones but lovely to see original mile markers.

Moored up and sat in the sun.

Here are the advanced party.  Lesley and Joe on their new boat NB Hogarth

Lesley and I walked the wee doggies Tucker and Marsha.  We went over two fields and then onto an unmarked lane.  Cars  ZOOMED past us, one red sports car literally aimed for us only serving at the last minute around and hooting us, driven by a woman too.

Fabulous to be with "The Yars" again, we travelled together previously for the whole of 2015 when we plus two other boats did a mammoth cruise including going over The Wash.  Now that was a great adventure.

HERE

This was when we met up with NB Yarwood (Lesley and Joe) ten years ago for an awfully big adventure.

Supper was on WaL with the fine company, we brought up with us the leftover turkey from Easter and I made it into a pasta dish with tomatoes and beans.

Its going to be a fun trip. 

We took flight.

Would you just look at that sunset.  I just love good weather when I'm away from home, sadly they too had this sort of a sky, I know that as my mother told me so.

So next morning I decided against walking down to the first lock or even the service point at the bottom because we'd had a smattering of rain and my trainers would get wet.

Red at night, shepherds delight.

Curiously at the service point a dustbin lorry turned up, he was looking to empty the recycling but there wasn't a recycling bin there!  He asked David to see him reverse out of the narrow track and turn without ending up in the canal.

David is so clever.

Well I wasn't expecting to see this here!

WaL exiting the first lock.

This bottom end of the locks is my favourite, I like the open views, but a fellow crew that day said she disliked it for the same reason....

The sky was bluer than the photo implies.  Gorgeous day.

I got chatting to these CART chaps, one said we at CART like digging 'oles, then we fill them up with something else.  It turned out that this paddle was "Wobbly", 

Had it been working I asked?

Oh yes but the volunteers were moaning a lot about it so it's been fixed.

But the paddle on the Colwich lock (Near to our marina) has been out of action for over a year says I, can you fix that one?

It's not my area..

There's a lesson in there somewhere for someone.

Men digging an 'ole.

A stir had been caused on the flight.  It upset several boaters who we followed.  A vintage boat had come through with a non motorised butty, the pair had been allowed, to turn the lock for the butty much to the chagrin of the waiting boaters, I believe the volunteer had instructed the action.

Is there a policy on Butty's at flights?

Almost there.

It was a very pleasant two hours odd, especially as I had only turned one lock.  Marvellous.   

At the top we moored up temporarily I was delighted that the knitting shop in town is still trading.  David planned to nap while I went there and brought some primrose yellow cotton yarn to make that Kiwi baby a not to warm cardigan for next winter, I'm hoping to make some booties too although her mother says no socks needed, her father is often without shoes! 

I'll still knit them.

Back again to WaL, David hadn't slept, he's awake at 5am most mornings, Reader I have tried to retrain him after a lifetime of early mornings and night work for that matter to no avail.

We headed out for a lovely mooring we had stopped at last spring but the armco was full of boats,  we tried to get on the back of the row but that was shallow, went on again, David pretty tired and a smidge grumpy by now.  Finally managed to moor up with lovely views and afternoon after rescuing a Day Boat from the mud on the offside.  

They were very very grateful.

Supper was salmon, pasta, cheesy spinach bake.  

 

Pills and Boxes

So here's my last tryout with a new font.

The weather was bright but cold.  It called for my windproof trousers, (basically plastic) but they did the job but a bit of an annoying rustle!  

Off we went about 10am after D returned from popping the car into the next county.

I was on and off the boat, walking when the tow path was smooth otherwise I'd turn an ankle! 

Though the woods then later on right though Tamworth.

So then some farming news, here is a field being prepared, cultivated, we would have thought for maize, it used to be a dairy farm but no sign of cows now so it might be for a veg crop.  If we pass again later in the year I can put you out of your suspense.

He had no idea I took this, deeply engrossed in his radio via his bluetooth hearing aids. 

Curious this field, I thought a field margin but David says its far too wide for that.  Could be an error.  Old farmers just love spotting other farmer's mistakes...

First of three Pill boxes I spotted today walking, I couldn't identify this one.

Bluebells in the firing range, doing so well I guess as they are undisturbed.

Second Pillbox, an A Type-24 for those buffs interested.

 I think a Crab Apple blossom

This third of the day at Fazeley.

 I was helped by an oncoming boat at the Tamworth locks, the two boats crossed over in the adjoining pound, nice and neat then onwards for a long while mooring up again at Grendon, just short of the Athelstone locks.

Grendon mooring.  All on our lonesome. Nice.

We'll do them tomorrow, crack of dawn or later in the day when more chance of meeting boats....?

Decisions.

Supper was the leftovers of the chicken dish.