Day 4 - Following the Ashby Canal to Shenton

A new day and the rain has stopped.  After breakfast we set off up the Ashby Canal, Anthea and Lizzie walking the towpath whilst John was at the helm of Digitalis.  At Bridge 8 Anthea and Lizzie rejoin Digitalis with the days harvest of blackberries.  We cruise on until lunchtime and moor close the Lime Kilns at Hinckley by Bridge 15.  After lunch we decide to explore Hinckley and find a supermarket.  Having walked about half a mile along the towpath we emerge on to the Coventry Road where we ask for directions to a supermarket.  The supermarket we are told is far away, about 15 minutes walk - I don't think this is a long way away in anybodies estimation!  We set off towards the supermarket and notice a number of buses passing us in both directions.  Sure enough in 15 - 20 minutes we come upon two supermarkets.  By the time we have done our shopping and are ready to return to Digitalis the sky is overcast and rain looks imminent.  One of the buses seem like a good idea to get us back to Digitalis and avoid a good soaking.  Before boarding a bus we ask the driver if this bus will be going via the Coventry Road.  "Yes" he says, so we board the bus and off we go.  Soon we make a left turn which is not in the direction we expected but never mind the driver knows what he is doing.  Its not long before we start to recognise buildings that we had seen before but on the other side of the bus - ah! we are doing a circular route.  Before long the bus pulls up and the engine stops, so we ask the driver when does the bus get to the Coventry Road.  "It doesn't" comes the reply.  So now here we are in the centre of Hinckley, further away from the Coventry Road than when we boarded the bus and faced with the prospect of  a longer walk back to the boat.  After much muttering we make it back to Digitalis, the good news is we did make it before the rain really set in. All's well, that ends well!