Day 11 - Hinckley

A bright sunny morning saw us walking Lizzie along the towpath before setting off to meet John’s cousins for lunch at ‘The Marina’.  When we arrived they were already there: Bernard & Lyn, Heather & Pete and Heathers sister Hazel & husband Ron.  Hazel & Ron live in the state of Indiana in the USA.  Ron was in the USAF at Sculthorpe, Norfolk when he met and married Hazel.  John has no recollection of meeting Hazel before, so it was quite an event.  We enjoyed the meal and catching up with everyone.  We invited everyone back to see Digitalis and cruised back up the Ashby to Bridge 22 before turning in the winding hole and returning to Hinckley.

At the end of the day - Hinckley Wharf

 

The trip ended off the day brilliantly, this being the first time Ron and Hazel had been on a narrow boat.



Day 10 - Market Bosworth to Hinckley

We left Market Bosworth in the rain giving thanks for the newly fitted stern cover.    Eventually the rain eased and we stopped to take on water at Sutton Cheney Wharf.  We hoped to moor near Bridge 17 at Hinckley but this was not to be the case but we found a mooring just a little further on at Bridge 16.

After dinner we walked along Nutts Lane to the Coventry Road to book a table for eight at the ‘The Marina’ ready for Tuesday lunchtime.  This was to be a special lunchtime get together with John’s cousins Bernard, Heather and Hazel.

Day 9 - A Day at Market Bosworth

After a leisurely morning dog walking and reading, we set off to walk into Market Bosworth for a pub lunch.  The Olde Red Lion is situated in the centre of Market Bosworth and is well worth a visit as the food is good and value for money.  We arrived first but were soon joined by Martin, Melissa, William, Georgia and finally Steven.

In the afternoon we walked to the station at Market Bosworth where there was a heavy horse show.  It was a magnificant display of Shire horses and regalia which impressed William and Georgia, we then boared the steam train to Shenton.  At the station we were able to see the wonderful display of glass blowing by artist Richard Golding, unfortunately Richard was not blowing glass on this day as he had technical problems with his furnace.  There was still enough time to walk to the Battle of Bosworth Country Park.  The children enjoyed the audio presentations en route and sitting in King Richard III and Henry Tudor’s seats around the magnificent sundial.  The day ended with a return train ride back to Market Bosworth.

Day 13 – Tusses Bridge to Hilmorton Locks

The weather forecast for the day wasn’t great so we made an early start with the canopy up.  We stopped for lunch just beyond “All Oaks Wood” near Hungerfield.  The weather did not improve as we pressed on to Rugby where we passed Andy, our instructor on the Helmsman’s course, coming in the opposite direction.

Passing by Hilmorton we went up the twin locks to moor on pins just beyond the top lock.  This is not our favoured method of mooring especially when the towpath is wet and the pins don’t feel particularly firm.

Day 12 - Hinckley to Tusses Bridge

As we made our way back down the Ashby towards Marston Junction we passed by Burton Hastings and through the cutting which bounds a static caravan park.  The caravans that are at the top of the cutting have some interesting back gardens that tumble down the cutting to the canal side.  Before reaching Marston Junction we decide to moor up for lunch.  Here Anthea has an incident slipping on a rubber fender as she made her way along the gunwale towards the bow.  Fortunately she did not finish up in the canal but did bruise her shins quite badly.

At Marston Junction we join the Coventry Canal and turn towards Hawkesbury Junction passing Charity Dock and the display of manikins. 

 

 This video is un-edited and was taken whilst at the tiller of Digitalis whilst passing by Charity Wharf.  The background sound is that of the engine of Digitalis which is interrupted by the noise of a circular saw and then a conversation with the owner of the saw which you will note was not understood!

Hawkesbury Junction is busy as usual and we are helped by a local mum and her children who were on the way to Grandmas for tea.

Mooring up for the night was always going to be close to the M6 but we did manage to find a spot close to Tusses Bridge on the Oxford Canal, that put a high hedge and trees between us and he road reducing the noise considerably.

Day 8 – Shackerstone to Market Bosworth

As we have breakfast we can here railway engines in steam with great clouds of smoke and steam emerging from behind the trees.  After breakfast we walk to Shackerstone station and find we have to purchase a platform ticket for a £1 to gain access to the station.  Platform tickets are a thing of the past and back in the ‘Good old days’ these cost 1d (that’s one old penny!).  The platform ticket gives us access to the Museum and the station tea room where the home made cakes can only be described as excellent value for money.  We meet several people who have had the misfortune of being on the platform when the last train departed and are covered in sooty ‘smuts’.  As the train arrives we beat a hasty retreat not wishing to indulge in a coating of soot!

We spent the afternoon cruising to Market Bosworth, stopping off Sutton Cheney Wharf to top up with water.  We arrived at the 48 hour moorings by Bridge 42 around 4:00pm.  With shopping for provisions a necessity we set off to Market Bosworth town centre which is about ¾ mile from the bridge. As we walk up station Road towards the town centre we pass the Market Bosworth Golf and Country Club.  A hoarding announces that the golf and country club was due to be completed in 2009.  Whilst there was plenty of evidence that the golf course was complete and maturing, the porta cabins bore little or no resemblance to the artist impression of the country club!  Market Bosworth has a plentiful supply shops and pubs around the market place.  We booked Sunday lunch at the Old Red Lion which seemed the best value.  Fish ‘n’ Chips was planned to be our evening meal but we could see no prospect of getting back to Digitalis and them still be hot.  Note to self: get the bikes on Digitalis then distant shops would not be a problem!

Day 14 – Hilmorton to Napton

Our last cruising day starts in beautiful sunshine and Anthea & Lizzie walk the towpath for some miles.  After re-joining Digitlas we are chased by really black clouds as we head back towards Braunston.  We press on in the hope that they don’t catch us up.  At Braunston we turn right towards Napton, somehow the clouds seem not to have followed us, so we sat in the sun to eat our sandwiches.  No sooner had we finished lunch when the black clouds sneak up behind us and seizing their opportunity, dump a load of really cold rain on us before we have a chance to get the canopy up.  Now thoroughly wet we cruise on to Napton and back to the Marina. Upon reflection and  overlooking the recent wetting, we agree we have had a splendid fortnight, re-enforcing our decision to change our lifestyle.