I didn’t start today with the idea of coming this far. But I have. The Bank Holiday Monday weather was uncharacteristically good. Well, not exactly sunny but certainly no rain. Unlike the forecast for tomorrow. So I decided to make the most of it. Sam and I have also experienced our first locks going up.…
Locks alone
Today was all about doing the Atherstone Flight. But, first we had to get there. That meant starting early. I wanted to give myself plenty of time for the flight. To take it steady. I learnt that from the Napton flight, and there I was helped down most of it by a CRT volunteer lock…
Steaming
The first arrival at Shenton Station was due at 11:35am. That I meant I had the morning to kill. Domestic chores are very effective for killing a morning. I even started polishing brass. It seems like Bank Holiday Weekend brings out the boats. This morning was the Ashby Canal version of rush hour. Whilst I was…
No, not that field
I always try to capture sunsets when the weather improves. There’s just something magical about sunsets reflecting off still water. In the last two weeks, I have struggled to capture any sunset. When the location was right, no obstructions to the western horizon, the weather did not play ball. When the weather was right, there…
Short chug & Injuries
A short chug from Snarestone down to somewhere between Shackerstone and Market Bosworth. But long enough for some weirdness. The first was a guy playing a gig on his full dual keyboard setup at Gopsall Wharf. His audience? A couple of very bemused ducks. And me temporarily. I would love to show you photographic evidence. That…
Exciting new gadget
Well. The day had arrived. I was really rather excited. I get to use my latest bit of boat-related tech for the first time. I’ve never been so excited about washing clothes before. I think part of the excitement was that it actually takes some effort to operate, it’s not really automatic. But it is…
Captain Jack Sparrow Lives Here
We’ll get to captain Jack Sparrow in a while. My main abiding impression of today is remarkable rural isolation. The route of canal passes Stoke Golding, but at a distance, then the Bosworth Battlefield and parallels the Battlefield Steam Railway. It might be worth hanging around until the weekend to see steam engines running. But…
Magical Purple
Another day that started with blue skies and puffy white clouds and ended with me getting wet. I was also looking forward to venturing onto my the first new waterway for Heron in quite a few years. We have chugged past the end of the Ashby at Marston Junction many times, but never sampled it’s…
Digger & Truck
Another bright clear morning. At least at 7:30am. A good time for a walk with Roof-Dog Sam. If she doesn’t get a good few miles under her collar every day, she will get fat just sitting up there all day. It’s not bad for the helmsman too. Took the chance to back track to look…
Fireworks and Fuming
Last night, Ansty needed to celebrate us staying for the weekend, so they laid on some fireworks. Turns out, I am useless at taking photographs, first it was trains, now fireworks. This shot is about the only one that worked. It didn’t help that it was dark, so I couldn’t see the controls, excuses, excuses.…