Wednesday 4th March 2009

Many thanks to these BW workers keeping the towpaths clear - we have seen them several times since being on the Ashby.

Winded just below the Ashby Boat Company and returned for pump out, fuel and purchased oil and filters ready for the next service.

Decided to moor again at Stoke Golding for the night.

I do love sunsets!

Tuesday 3rd March 2009

I collected the frozen meat whilst George filled her up with water, we winded and set off south again - the weather looks dicey today so we will see how we go.
Decided to spend the night at Stoke Golding as the sky was very dark - just mananged to moor up as the heavens opened and the gale started to blow!!

Monday 2nd March 2009

Molly has had her jabs - very good Veterinary Surgery in Market Bosworth (not too expensive). I managed to order meat for the freezer this morning as he was closed on Saturday afternoon when we arrived -I'll collect it in the morning before we upsticks.

We're off back to Stoke Golding in the morning to the Ashby Boat Company for a pumpout.

Saturday 28th February 2009

Upsticks this morning - onto Market Bosworth today.

Molly needs her annual jabs and I need to do some shopping as there is quite a good Co-op here and the butcher is excellent - I'm hoping that he will freeze some meat for me for the freezer he closes on Saturday and Monday at lunch time but is open each morning at 7:30

Market Bosworth is half way along the Ashby canal although it is currently only 22 miles long but the remaining 8 miles from the current terminus to Moira is under consideration to be reopened.

Over the weekend George made a start on rubbing down and repainting the general wear and tear on the hull whilst the weather is so good.

We met Derek and Judy on Firoza - nice to meet you both, I'm sure we will bump (hopefully not literally!) into you both again soon.

Pollarded trees line the river

There can't have been a house in the village that is less than 150 years old.

Mr Wollerton is currently replacing the modern lampposts with Victorian replicas.

Whitemoors Antique and Craft Centre is worth a visit - it has a nice cafe and set in a lovely garden by the river.

We we able to take a look inside Shenton Church

The current owner of the village (old Mr Wollerton's son) now lives in the thatched cottage across from the hall by the church.

Friday 27th February 2009

Took a walk into Shenton today - the Nicholson's guide didn't make it sound very inviting at all but it was lovely.

The village is built around a very large hall which was sold to an American lady on the death of Mr Wollerton who in his will stated that should any part of the estate need to be sold to cover death duties etc., that only the hall could be sold.

Thursday 26th February 2009

Saw a glimpse of spring lambs through the hedgerow this morning as we cruised towards Sutton Cheney - definitely a good sign of spring!

Stopped for water at Sutton Cheney and was hoping to moor here for the night but unfortunately the 48 hour mooring slots were all taken - only one of the four boats had a winter mooring sign and the pontoon was littered with generators, motorbike, clothes airers, wood and sacks of coal. I contacted BW to check if these were all winter moorers and they confirmed that they were. I pointed out the unfairness of this as BW had virtually closed a whole facility leaving no space for casual cruisers and surely these boats should be displaying mooring licences?

The BW guy I was speaking said that their enforcement officer had been in the Sutton Cheney area a few weeks ago to move on a supposedly 'continuous cruiser' who had overstayed. He said that BW, over the next few months, is having a crack-down on continual cruisers who do not keep to the rules as this is not fair to those who do pay mooring fees. You can imagine my annoyance and pointed out that the majority of continual cruisers did their level best to stay within the guidelines and that it did seem that BW were punishing the majority for the fault of the few. Enough of my high horse - we eventually tied up at the Bosworth Battlefield moorings - and very nice it was!!