It was a brilliant morning as we awoke and made ready to leave our overnight mooring.
Only a little later did the forecast start to warn us of occasional heavy showers. We did indeed have a couple that were quite wet but lasted only long enough to don waterproofs. The afternoon and early evening were amazing.
After a short while we reached the outskirts of Hinckley- the immediate skyline dominated by numerous large industrial sheds, many of which seemed to be distribution centres. The short arm, now used for mooring boats and by a Sea Cadets centre, was originally for a Patent Tile and Brick Works.
Around the start of the 20C, the OS maps started to show a large hole in the ground - today it is filled with water and adopted by the Sea Cadets. The works seems to have closed in the 1930's.
Just beyond the adjoining bridge over the main line of the canal we moored so that Mike could walk a few minutes to a nearby Londis convenience store. Although quite small it was able to supply the three main items he was seeking. It was doing a roaring trade in freshly fill rolls - several people were waiting in line for their orders.
After Mike returned to the boat we set off once more. To the north of the town is a new very large factory where Triumph Motorcycles are manufactured. The original Triumph company was founded in 1902 but, despite its reputation for making excellent machines, it went into receivership in the early 1980's. After two a new company was formed to continue the tradition and it has built up the business so that last year over 60,000 were made.
As with yesterday, a strangely straight hedge and slight embankment caught our eye. It seemed to cross the canal at a point where a missing bridge once stood. However, this time we have not solved the mystery although there are clear indications of something being here on the old maps, but its purpose is not indicated.
Christine had looked up the two farm shops near canal bridges in Stoke Golding. The first one was a bit of a disappointment but at the second one near bridge 25 she returned with a tasty pork pie - even though it is not made on the farm.
We continued - the canal is rarely straight for long and there is an endless (well, at least until the canal runs out!) succession of bridges to negotiate. At this stage we had clear sky in between the couple of showers.
At Sutton Wharf we stopped to use the full set of boater facilities, just beyond the visitor moorings at the far left of the picture. We were not at first going to use the water point but, as there was room for another boat if need be (none even passed by) we connected up the hose to legitimise our lunch break stay.
Soon after setting off once more we passed under a former railway bridge, part of the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway. This has long been closed but just north of here starts the five mile Battlefield Steam Railway. Alas we did not see even the smoke of a locomotive, even though the line runs close to the canal for most of its length and its web site promised trains running this Bank Holiday weekend.
Most farmers have completed their harvesting and are gathering up the huge piles of straw bales. We caught this trailer load as it passe over a hump bridge on its way from one field to the next.
The new Bosworth Marina is now open - when we last came this way in 2013 work was just beginning on digging out the mooring space.
We had looked up times of services at the churches along the canal but information was a bit scant and did not seem reliable. However, we were almost confident that there is one at 11:30 tomorrow at Congerstone. This part of the Ashby is designated an SSSI so moorings are not so frequent as to the south. When we found a space just after Bridge 47 we pulled - Christine did check further along at Bridge 49 where it might be a shorter walk to the church but in the end we stayed put. Signs are everywhere that from the 27th all of the moorings here are reserved for the Shackerstone Festival next weekend.
After preparing most of the meal for tonight, Mike walked into the village to check the service times. Although there were no notices he did find a magazine with details listed. It looks as if they only hold one service a month at the moment. In the past few years the church have received substantial Heritage funds to enable the roof to be repaired so lets hope that it stays open for regular use for some time to come. However, there are only 24 people on the Electoral Roll and 13 of them have to be elected to the PCC along with the two church wardens.
12.5 Miles - 0 Locks
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