Sutton Stop

We woke to good weather on Wednesday and made use of the facilities at Sutton Wharf. Free hot shower followed by coffee and a bacon bap for breakfast. This made it a relaxed start to the day. We didn't depart until 10:30.

It was at this point that the heavy rain showers started. We followed a boat that had moored up just ahead of us and was also going south. Just by Dadlington the steerer pulled over. I asked if he was OK and got the response - "I'm giving up mate!" - I know how he felt but I told myself  that I was made of sterner stuff.

All the way through Stoke Golding and Hinkley it rained. At Marston Junction, where we turned onto the Coventry Canal towards Hawkesbury Junction, we had a dry interval, but then we had heavy downpours all the way to Sutton Stop. Once again we passed through the stop lock in the rain and then tried to find a mooring on the Oxford Canal.

Most of the moorings at Hawkesbury Junction were taken and were we were forced to moor up on a curve against some large sheet piling and use mooring pins. It took a range of pins, ropes, and fenders to get the bow and stern in a reasonable position - canal boats are not banana shaped. This included "springing" the bows and using some floating wheel fenders I purchased after mooring problems on the Shropshire Union.

Still we had a good night's sleep and the boat was secure in morning.

No photos - gives you an idea how wet it was!

Rainbows over Sutton Cheney

On Tuesday we set off for the end of the canal, or more precisely its current  limit of navigation. The weather was not to bad at the start of the day, but as we found out it later rained heavily.

The journey north through Gopsall Woods, just north of Shackerstone, was delightful.

Gopsall Wood

The visitor moorings at Gopsall Wharf looked an ideal overnight spot but they were occupied by a couple of CRT workboats. We reached the Snarestone Tunnel and were reminded why it is called the "crooked tunnel". It certainly needs to be taken steadily as seeing the "wiggles" takes some time when your eyes are not accustomed to the dark. 

Snarestone Tunnel Southern Portal with The Globe to the right

The terminus for Albert, being 60ft, is just short of the final limit at the generous winding hole. We purchased some coal from the Ashby Canal Association as we took on water. The winding because "interesting" as the wind suddenly got up. I was just thinking how well the process was going when it was clear that Albert was just going sideways downwind. I resorted to pulling Albert around by a bow rope - there are some occasions when discretion is required. 

Ashby Canal "terminus" with a rain shower approaching

After passing through the tunnel going south we stopped for lunch at The Globe at Snarestone - another good pub that was quite busy for Tuesday lunchtime. We both had Ploughmans. With three cheeses and a slice of ham we took the cheddar back to the boat.

A generous Ploughmans

After lunch we had more heavy rain showers as we travelled south. We moored up for the night at Sutton Wharf where there are good moorings, showers and a cafe. As we passed the southern edge of Ambion Wood there was yet another a heavy rain shower but with the bright sun we were treated to one of the most intense rainbows I have seen. We had complete double rainbows they were spectacular!

Spectacular Rainbows over Ambion Wood, Sutton Cheney

Shackerstone

On Easter Monday the wet weather continued, we only had one dry day in the week!

Water, water, everywhere ..

(running-off into the canal)

We stopped off at Market Bosworth for water. We were looking to replace a gas bottle and so popped into Bosworth Marina. It’s well equipped and the staff were very friendly. We not only picked up gas but also had a pump-out. Unlike most quayside pump-out facilities their machine is powerful and is not time-limited. We therefore managed to clear out a lot of “gunge”. Unfortunately, the café was closed after a recent fire.

Easter egg

We found a duck's egg on service pontoon - must be Easter.

As we left the marina we followed the 72ft ex-working boat Beaulieu (3 ft 6 draft) to Congerstone. Even with the canal full of water it struggled a little to moor up.

We finally moored up at Shackestone and the rain abated. The towpaths at Shackestone were very muddy, but we decided to walk around the village. This included a visit to the church and afternoon tea at the station. 

Midland Railway Insignia

Tea Room

We did however notice that the river had reached the top of the arches of the Shackerstone Aqueduct. 

Shackerstone Aqueduct

At the station saddle tank Cumbria was still on duty but there were only a few hardy passengers – notably granddads with their grandsons.

Cumbria filling-up with water

Returning to Albert I got our refurbished satellite system working (Freesat) in time to watch our favourite Monday night quiz shows (Only Connect and University Challenge).

Shenton for a Couple of Nights

On Saturday we left our mooring on the southern section of the Ashby Canal and made our way north, taking on water at Lime Kilns. The towpath there was a quagmire and it was pouring with rain. It is rare that you drop your mooring lines into the cut to clean them up.

Flooded fields and Towpath

As we went north it was clear that lots of water was running out of both field drains and straight off the fields. Being cold we didn’t exactly want to move on, but we were committed to meeting up with family on Easter Sunday, so we pressed on.

Home of the iconic British brand

Home moorings for our friends Jim & Mary, near Stoke Golding

We finally got to our overnight moorings at Shenton early afternoon. We moored up at the Battlefield Moorings that provide access to Bosworth Field and the Battlefield Railway Line. They are close to the Shenton Aqueduct but are not marked by any signs which is confusing. 

 

Shenton moorings

The weather improved over the afternoon, so we explored the area in preparation for Sunday when the family were due to arrive. We walked up to the road Bosworth Field Site and the Visitor Centre. The café had just finished entertaining lots of youngsters in an Easter Bunny event. Lots of excited kids.

Richard III Reinternment Displays

The exhibition has some new displays related to reinternment of the ashes of Richard III (after its years under the car park in Leicester).

A small 0-6-0 saddle tank was busy going up and down the line between Shenton and Shackerstone pulling half-a-dozen coaches. We worked out how to access the station and noted the train times.

That evening the rain returned with vengeance and we hunkered down for yet another wet night. 

Enjoying Easter Brunch

On Sunday the forecast was for no rain! The first day since we left Weedon on Wednesday. Our family located us on the Shenton Embankment and after an enjoyable Easter Brunch we set off for the station. The saddle-tank engine was again on duty. We enjoyed a great nine-mile journey up to Shackerstone with an intermediate stop at Market Bosworth. The railway were running an Easter Bunny Hunt which we participated in. It meant leaving and returning to the train a bit sharpish after looking for clues. 

Train arriving

On the Battlefield Line

Returning by train to Shenston, we set off on foot with Matilda (aged one) in the “running buggy” and Hugh (aged five) walking up the Bosworth Field Visitor Centre and then on to Sutton Cheney for a late Sunday lunch at the Hercules Revived. The walk to the battlefield site was fine and there was less water around than on Saturday, the real problem occurred as we walked to Sutton Cheney. There is a direct path and it looked clear, as far as we could see, but after three field we found ourselves confronted with a freshly ploughed field with no provision for walkers! We just had to go for it. I had to carry the front wheel of the buggy at one point and then lost my walking boot in the mud in the process. We arrived at the pub covered in mud, except for Matilda. Luckily the staff were sympathetic. We spent quite some time cleaning up before entering the restaurant.

Looking at the Easter Chicks at the Hercules Revived

The Sunday roast was good and Hugh, Matilda and all the grown-ups ate well. It was a memorable meal and we can thoroughly recommend the inn.

Richard III Memorials at St James, Sutton Cheney

We returned to the boat via the easier road along the road and called into the charming church of St James at Sutton Cheney. It has an interesting relatively squat tower that is finished off in brick. The church also has strong Richard III connections being so close to the battle site. The Richard III Society have been closely connected to the church and for years have their own memorial in the church. In 2015, the church took part in the reinternment ceremonies with Richard’s coffin pausing at the gate and a short service taking place. 

Spot the Easter Egg

An elegant memorial to Sir William Roberts is a notable part of the church. It was adorned with a small Easter egg!

We had hot-cross buns on the boat and the children got into nightwear for their car journey home. An Easter Sunday to remember.

Attleborough

We are at Attleborough - no not the more familiar town in Norfolk, where we have friends, but the village in Warwickshire near Nuneaton - at least that is what the weather forecast on my phone says. We have been looking at our phone weather forecasts a lot recently. Tonight it's raining but unlike yesterday we had a period of dry weather from dawn until 2 o'clock.

Tonight's weather forecast 

(The warning is Yellow for snow)

We left our muddy mooring at Hillmorton about 9 o'clock. An hour before we left, Roger Alsop passed us with cheery comment as he went south on NB Comet. Later we got a text to say he had made it all the way to Cosgrove - quite a journey. 

A view of the towpath from our saloon window

We dropped down the three double locks at Hillmorton in parallel with another boat. It was interesting to see how much quicker the locks with ground paddles emptied. Through Rugby we met a few boats going south and as always we met a few at bridge holes where boats had moored. Just north of Newbold we met a Rose Narrowboat's day boat going south. Unfortunately they appeared oblivious of the fact that they should slow down where the canal narrows and we had to push off their bows before we had a collision. Maybe it will be a "learning experience". 

Approaching Hawkesbury Junction (Sutton Stop)

(with threatening clouds)

By Sutton Stop it was pouring with rain. Not for the first time we went through the lock in heavy rain. We met two boats going south. 

Sutton Stop Lock seen from the Coventry Canal

Hawkesbury Junction

The rain abated for a while but by the time we turned off onto the Ashby Canal it was raining again and temperatures were dropping. 

We moored up by the visitor moorings near Bridge 5. Tomorrow we are committed to moving on to meet family. It looks like we will boating in the rain all day.

Summer Trip August 2005

We cruised an extended Leicester Ring. In addition to the standard ring we included the Market Harbourough Arm, the Staffs and Worcester to Tixall Wide (our favourite mooring), and the Ashby Canal. A great trip!