A horse! A horse!

A lovely close to the day yesterday and a lovely sunny start at 7am. After that, overcast and cloud all morning with a chill wind to boot.

Pottered northward through open countryside, skirting round Stoke Golding, totally avoiding Dadlington until we arrived at Sutton Wharf. There is a lovely café here with plenty of outdoor seating.

Unfortunately, the visitor moorings are being refurbished so we had to carry on for another half mile before we could moor opposite Ambion Wood. By the time we got back, all of the tables were occupied. Still, managed to get seats in the end. First off, a flat white for me.

Even had a heart on the top. Oh, and tea for the captain.

To eat we had quiche and a ploughman's.

A goodly feast for us both.

By this time the sun had come out and the day was warming up quite nicely.

Then back to the boat to cook some beetroots in the eco-pot. This is a form of slow cooker that uses a minimum amount of gas, something important to us on the boat. You boil up the beetroots for 15 minutes and then put the pot inside an insulated outer container, shut the lid and leave well alone for 2 or 3 hours. We'll let you know how it turns out.

Then a short walk to Bosworth Field where Richard III was killed by Henry Tudor.

We have never realised that the canal goes through the middle of the battle ground. We've always thought of the field as being somewhere 'over there'. (Point vaguely in any direction)

Staying put for the night and hoping to meet up with Harvey and Helen for a picnic lunch tomorrow. 

Who needs 'Line of Duty'?

A typical Saturday morning on the cut. Empty the loo and dispose of the rubbish. Not so bad really because the facilities here are very good. Even managed a bit of recycling to boot.

Went through the stop lock, only a drop of about 4 inches, and then a complete u-turn to continue our northward journey.

A look back at the Greyhound Inn, usually a hive of activity but now restricted to serving food in the back garden.

Ahead of us, the old engine house used in the past for pumping water into the canal from a well.

And, to the left, a signpost, just in case you didn't know where you were going.

We always wave to people on the towpath but, because of the air-cooled engine, we don't always hear their reply. And so it was today. Hand waving and message called out to us, smiles and waves from us in return, looks to each other - did you hear what he said? Oh well, on we go. A mile further and we find the reason for the hand waving.

Smoke drifting across the canal and a mini bush fire on the towpath. Through the smoke we go, only to see a policeman calling to us to stop. (His hand waving was a lot easier to understand.) A blind bend with a bridge across and 4 policemen in the water.

Obviously conducting an underwater search for something but they wouldn't say what. Waited a couple of minutes before they took a teabreak and let us through. Do tell if you see us on newsnight!

Further along and we pass a boatyard which you either love or hate. Honestly, it's a mess. But they have all these manikins and ornaments and the outfits keep changing.

It's like an outdoor theatre but with no charge.

Shortly after, we made a nasty backwards right hand turn on to the Ashby Canal. A sunny day but a chill head wind. The early stretch of the canal isn't too exciting, so no photos.

Have now moored at Hinckley for the night. Hinckley, a hosiery manufacturing town, boasts that they installed the first stocking machine in Leicestershire in 1640. You learn something new every day!

A little bonus to end the day. 

An' I'm feeling good

Started off the day by doing a bit of shopping to top up milk, greens, etc. Then we set off, leaving Newbold behind us.

Went through Newbold Tunnel, only 250yds long, but made when the canal was being shortened in the 1820s. All along the canal you will see cast iron bridges crossing short lengths of water, all that remains of the twists and turns of the original canal.

Had to take this picture as we passed alongside All Oaks Wood. As you can see, it's a lovely sunny day.

This is looking back at Stretton Stop, the home of Rose Narrowboats. You might just be able to see the swing bridge over the canal. The bridge is only wide enough for one person to cross but this is a working boatyard and the bridge is always closed. So, stop the boat, open the bridge, boat through, close the bridge and off we go. If you're lucky and another boat is coming through they will probably let you through. Or one of the staff will do the honours - but that doesn't happen very often.

Have ended the day at Hawkesbury Junction, yet another favourite place for us.

Almost like a painting. As you can see, blue skies all the way. The captain even got a bit of sunburn!

We've just lit the fire again to keep the boat cosy overnight. 

Croissant for breakfast tomorrow - out of date but half price. Yum yum, can't wait. 

A chilly start

Woke up this morning to a light frost on the boat. Enlarge the picture and you'll see the sunlight glittering in the crystals.

I promise you that I will stop talking about food. However, last night we had spare ribs in a barbecue sauce. Now look at the next picture and see what's in the field opposite.

Had a leisurely breakfast and then pootled off to Hillmorton locks. Coming down the locks we realised that we could see the church straight ahead of us.

Usually the trees are in full leaf and all we see is the greenery.

At the last lock the captain had help from the volunteer lockie.

Each year, new houses keep creeping closer and closer to the canal.

We stopped to take on fresh water and then walked back to the Canalside Café for homemade soup. We asked what was in the soup but the chef couldn't say precisely as it just evolved daily with whatever he added. It was delicious.

All covid procedures in place and it was a lovely day to be outside sitting in the sun.

A good sign of spring with mother swan sitting patiently on her nest.

I do appreciate that I have told this story before, however, five years ago when we came this way, this bridge wasn't here. We moored in a quiet, out of the way part of the canal, apparently miles from anywhere. This is the place where I tried out my new phone and asked Google 'Where's the nearest pub?' The reply came back straight away 'There's a pub a quarter of a mile away. Shall I show you where?' We followed Google and had a marvellous meal at the Butler's Leap. Now though, you can see the pub from the new path that has been created through the place where trees and bushes would abound.

Just some canalside artwork, quite popular along this stretch of the canal.

Have moored for the night at Newbold on Avon and have finished off the day with fish and chips from the local chippie. Feet up, stove alight - all's well in our world. 

Fish swimmin' by, you know how I feel.

Is it me or is it me? 

Last night for supper we had smoked haddock, mashed potatoes and Sarah Green's pak choi (and no, I'm not being paid to advertise). A most enjoyable meal until, just outside the window, a large splash of a disgruntled fish making its presence known. How was I supposed to know that the fish we were eating was a distant relative? Luckily the curtains were closed again so we couldn't be identified in any lineup.

Reading the above, I'm sometimes worried about where my imagination takes me.

Still, back to the real world. A busy day today. We set off through the top lock and passed Norton Junction.

That way leads to Watford staircase locks and eventually up to Leicester.

Made our way through Braunston Tunnel and paired up with another boat for the flight of locks that followed. Not that it mattered, but both the New Inn at Buckby and the Admiral Nelson by lock 3 are still not open.

Mind you, there was still a regular sitting outside supping a couple of tinnies just keeping his hand in.

Once in Braunston we called on Lee and Dale of Candle Bridge Fabrication to see if they could help with the water pipe. No problem, they said. We are now booked in for them to weld it all up when we come back through Braunston towards the end of our holiday. Until then, I've removed the pipe entirely and put a jam jar over the hole in the top of the water tank. Let's see if that does the trick for now.

After that we emptied the loo and popped in to Midland Chandlers for some coal & kindling and some heat resistant sealant for the chimney. During the winter water has been pooling on top of the fire and I need to remove some soot from inside the chimney and then bung everything up with sealant and see if that works.

A favourite view of ours, looking back towards the cathedral of the canals - Braunston Church.

Now moored for the night near Willoughby on a quiet stretch of the canal. Heading up towards Rugby and Coventry next although we may bypass Coventry, who knows. 

Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel

Last night we had a wonderful supper of duck with an orange and maple syrup sauce, sautéed potatoes and Sarah Green's purple sprouting broccoli. Well, it was wonderful until we heard an accusatory quacking right outside the window. Luckily the curtains were closed so we think we got away with it this time.

Woke early this morning so that we could get to Stowe Hill Workshop by 9:30. 

Robert had a look at the water pipe and referred us to a firm in Braunston who were better equipped to do the repair. We had a long chat with him about other bits and bobs and booked the boat in for a bit of a paint job in the autumn. 

Passed our two regular canal side models but this time dressed as Batman & Robin? If that's Robin then he needs a haircut!

We stopped for lunch at the bottom of the Buckby locks and had the good fortune to team up with a hireboat couple who had never done any locks at all. 

It was still hard work (mainly for the captain who was teaching and demonstrating all the time) but it was good to be able to share the work. Stopped at our usual field just before the top lock but saw the others through the lock as they wanted to get down to Braunston before mooring for the night.

We, on the other hand, were more than happy to stay where we were and talk to the lambs opposite.

Might light the fire again tonight. We just need it overnight at the moment - it's not worth keeping it going all through the day. 

Sun in the sky, you know how I feel

Our last blog entry had us enjoying pork chops and watching a DVD. Well, of course, after all that excitement we had to shut down the boat for the winter. Little did we realise we wouldn't be back again for over 5 months because of lockdown.

Anyway, we're here now and it's taken us the best part of a day to get the boat clean and tidy again. There was a bit of mould on the surfaces but, surprisingly, very few spiders. The captain set to with soapy water while I lifted the floorboards and tried to look as if I was doing something to the engine. Managed to get a pizza at the Baker's Arms, the nearer two pubs being closed, lit the fire, watched Call the Midwife and Line of Duty followed by a good night's sleep.

Monday, a visit to Aldi to stock up the larder and then top up the water before setting off.

As you can see, lovely and sunny.

Exited the marina first go and then we were off.

Lovely to see some good old fashioned pleaching in the hedgerow. It's marvellous how the old skills are being kept alive on the canal side.

Moored at yet another of our favourite places just before Weedon Bec. Stopping here in the hope that Robert of Stowe Hill Workshop can mend our water filler pipe in the morning. Watch this space!