Yet another update - Part 1

I really should make more of an effort to keep the blog updated!!

Shackerstone to Snarestone

4 miles

Once we had watched to parachute display on the Sunday afternoon we decided to head off for Snarestone and the current terminus of the Ashby Canal. We arrived just before dark and wondered if there would be any space available on the visitor moorings at the end, there was and we were really surprised as it was completely empty and we spent the night on our own. 

Another section of the canal has been watered since we were last up here and we walked down to the bridge which is currently being re-built. It is an accommodation bridge and when this section was closed the original bridge was flattened, they managed to recover most of the unusual bricks and the new bridge is being built much wider and stronger to be able to take the modern machinery the farmers now use. It is now constructed of concrete for strength but is being faced with the original bricks to keep the traditional look. We couldn't walk any further up the canal as it was all fenced off at the bridge. 

The new bridge under construction

Looking back on the newly opened section

On Monday and Tuesday we got on with some more jobs on the boat, first James did an oil change on both the engine and gear box, then I spent the rest of the day scraping and washing the engine 'ole ready for painting, and I managed to get a coat of red primer on followed the next day with grey bilge paint. James was inside re-sealing all around the tiles and work surface in the galley, as well as a few other jobs. 

Snarestone to Hinckley

16 miles

We set off on Wednesday heading for Trinity Marina as James had ordered some replacement glass for our stove, the old one was very pitted and we didn't think it would last another winter, it also looked a bit of a mess too and as we had re-blacked the stove itself it needed a new piece of glass. James had been told it would be in on Wednesday but we arrived after they closed so we moored up outside the pub in a stretch signed as visitor moorings.

First thing Thursday morning James popped to the marina but the glass hadn't arrived but it should be coming today by courier and they were one of the last on the delivery round so it wouldn't be until late in the day. Late afternoon James popped in again, still no glass.

Friday morning still no glass so they said they would phone their supplier and come and let us know what was happening, they didn't so James went to find out, when he was told it now wouldn't be in until Monday. We decided we weren't going to hang around that long, we already felt we had wasted a day there. James found a glass supplier on a nearby industrial estate and we could go a get a piece cut to size. It was, surprisingly more expensive, but at least we could get on our way again. 

Little and large

Hinckley to Gypsy Lane

7 miles

We had lunch in the pub then headed off, turning right at the junction onto the Coventry Canal. We've enjoyed our trip up the Ashby again.

Bye Bye Ashby Canal

Right to Nuneaton

Just before Gypsy Lane .... again

Gypsy Lane to Atherstone

7.5 miles

The moorings, were as usual, very busy and we managed to get onto the end. On Sunday we walked down to Aldi to stock up but walked through town first, we thought it would be pretty quiet being a Sunday and nothing much open, but we thought we would have a stroll down the High Street anyway. It did seem surprisingly busy and then we both noticed some old cars parked up, then up in the main square we stumbled across the Historic Motor Show. We had a stroll round looking out the models of cars we have owned over the years! Time really does fly. 

Harts Hill Yard

Moored at Atherstone

Historic Motor Show

The main square

Atherstone to Polesworth

5 miles and 11 locks

We left Monday morning and went down the pretty Atherstone flight, it was very busy coming up and we met a boat at every lock. We continued onto Polesworth and arrived to very busy visitor moorings in the rain where we tagged onto the end.

Moored at Polesworth

Polesworth to Alvecote

1.5 miles

We did the short trip to Alvecote and moored up opposite the Samuel Barlow pub. In the afternoon we popped in to see Ade of A P Boat Building, he restores and repairs wooden narrow boats and where James managed to get the pieces of nb Birchills and nb Dane last year. Ade had let James know he had come across a piece of nb Saturn which he would let us have, this is great news as it's quite a well known boat as it attends a few shows and is based at the end of the Llangollen Canal. This will be made into pens and as with Birchills and Dane 25% of our profit will be given to the custodians of the boat to help with its upkeep.

When we arrived we noticed the area by Samuel Barlow's car park was empty, there are normally a couple of historic boats there, this looked an ideal spot for our new sofa to be delivered. I spoke with Matthew at Samuel Barlow to ask if it would be ok to move over in the morning to take delivery, of course, he was happy for us to do this and was grateful that I had asked. So early Wednesday we moved across and just as we were tying up Glen from Elite turned up dead on time at 8am.

Opposite Samuel Barlow

By the car park, ready for a delivery

And in place

Alvecote to Fazeley

4 miles and 2 locks

After receiving our delivery we headed straight off for Fazeley we had few ebay deliveries to pick up at Argos on the retail park. It is great that you can now do click and collect at Argos. 

Fazeley Junction

Moored in Fazeley

Total 534.5 miles and 426 locks