End of Navigation.

Hi,

This week we are back at the end of the Ashby Canal moored up ready for the celebration of the commencement of the next phase of the canal restoration.There’s to be a ceremony with the presentation of a cheque from UK Coal to Leicester County Council towards the restoration and then two traditional working boats,loaded with coal,are to head off around the waterway system.Motor boat Aquarius and the Butty Ilford,that’s the unpowered boat being towed behind,will recreate the spectacle of the last loads of coal carried from the Ashby to Croxley on the Grand Union Canal.Along with the coal they are to be decked in banners highlighting the restoration.Lisa and I may have a little roll to play in all this but I’m not sure of all the details yet,that will be in next weeks blog.

We moved from our mooring near Burton Hastings last Tuesday morning,when the weather had improved somewhat from Monday,and made our way along the Ashby to Sutton Wharf.It’s a useful mooring there with facilities that include showers along with the usual Elsan and water and,if you want,it’s a nice walk from there to the Bosworth Battlefield site.There’s also a very popular Cafe bar alongside the wharf.We left there the next day to get to our first port of call on the Ashby,Carlton,where we wanted to see our youngest Daughters new home and enjoy a pint or two in the village pub,The Gate Hangs Well.It’s a bit of a walk from the canal to the village but it’s worth it,the road isn’t too narrow and in most places there are wide verges.The new house is lovely and the pub was good too,friendly customers and proprietor as well as a good pint of Pedigree along with a couple of other real ales.If you should ever take the opportunity to visit Carlton have a look at number 44 Main Street and see if you can work it out.We stayed near Carlton till Friday morning and then we moved a couple of bridges further along the canal to be close to Congerstone.

 

Our mooring near Carlton & the view behind us.Apparently there was a Wharf here for a nearby quarry but we couldn’t find any trace of either.

  

A couple of shots of our mooring at Congerstone.Nice and peaceful.

The Christening of our latest Granddaughter was to be at Congerstone church on Sunday and we wanted to be nearby to help with the preparations for that and also give any help we could for the house move.Our mooring just past Bridge 49 on  the Ashby was excellent,we we’re completely in the countryside with owls hooting in the evenings and the sound of the Battlefield Line steam engines puffing and whistling during the day,idyllic.On Saturday we met up with old friends Pete and Jeanne off NB. Castellan and went to have a look at the new marina at Market Bosworth.There’s still a lot of work to do there but there was a lot of interest and quite a few of the 150 berths were reserved,though it’s not due to open till September.As things stand we are only likely to make use of it for short periods through the winter months,if we should be in the area that is,and of course,if they have room.Their prices seemed to be about the average so we shall see.From the marina we went up into Market Bosworth itself for lunch and had a nice meal in a pub we’ve visited before,Ye Olde Red Lion,the foods good but the Pedigree is a bit pricey.On Sunday the Christening went very well,the church was full and we had an enjoyable reception afterwards in the village hall.This morning we untied our ropes and set off to do the 4 miles to here at the end of the Ashby Canal navigation where we shall stay till Friday.

  

The cake for the Christening which was made by our eldest Daughter.The Baptism,Beatrice’s Dads family have a tradition of using a particular spoon for the service.

 

 

A boat moored at the end of the Ashby Canal.A Moorhen has built a nest and laid her eggs.The owner can’t move his boat now till the eggs have hatched and the chicks have fledged.

 

Lisa busily planting some shrubs to improve the area here at the end of the navigation.The plinth has now been started.The two beams in the background will be mounted on the plinth when it’s finished.

That’s all for this week folks.Since last week we have done no locks and just 19 miles.That gives us a Grand Total of 667 Locks and 1135 Miles since we set off in October 2012.We’re looking forward to seeing a couple of you over the Easter Weekend.Please take care everyone.