Shallow Waters

Monday 23 June

We were beaten to the post this morning as Ethlron came past us at about 8:30am after being launched very early. Was able to exchange a few words as they passed by. Good to meet the owners albeit briefly.
The Ashby is still shallow in parts although it has been dredged in places. This makes for slow progress, but we were in no hurry. 

We soon passed the spot where we spent Christmas day in 2004.

 

Building a huge marina at Bosworth

 

Sheep shearing at lightning speed!

 

 

After passing through Snarestone tunnel, with a kink in it, we reached the end of the navigable section of the Ashby canal. The intention is to extend it on through but currently the last 8 miles are missing. About one and a half miles have been restored between Moira and Donisthorpe. Work is now starting at Snareston. We were just in time to talk to the volunteer warden before he finished for the day telling us that all the metal from the nearby pumping station was being sold off for scrap when a local enthusiast stepped in and bought the operating beams. These have been restored and will be displayed on top of a newly constructed blue brick plinth.

 

 



Tuesday 24 June

After taking advantage of the facilities we retuned to the Southern portal of the tunnel and unloaded the two Bromtons in order to explore the route of the proposed canal extension. Try as we may we could not find the route so we pressed on by road to Measham to suss out the shops so that we could stock up on provisions on the way back to the boat. We then cycled over to Moira Furnace that was a coke-fuelled, steam-engine blown blast furnace for the smelting of iron from local iron ore, with an attached foundry for the manufacture of cast-iron goods.

 

We had a very interesting conversation with an off duty warden taking his dog for a walk who told us all about the local area.
It was easy to trace the restored section of the canal as we were standing next to it this time.

Mooh!

 

Proof of the coal minings

 

Time was getting on so it was back to the boat before setting off to moor at the newly installed Bosworth battlefield moorings just in time to witness England's last stand in Brazil. Suitably unimpressed by their performance we booked in to the Hercules Revived Inn at Sutton Cheney. So named after a famous horse in the village circa 1800s that is reputed to be buried there with a commemorative statue. The pub had been left abandoned for a few years until a couple, who ran a luxurious restaurant in London, took it over and made a very tasteful restoration of the property. The finest meal that we have enjoyed thus far on this trip!

 

 

A view from our table this evening