Burton Hastings

Today's Canal : Ashby

We moored overnight at what we thought was the closest to the centre of Stoke Golding. We walked up the road that runs right by the Visitor Moorings. The village, especially the church, was built on the top of a slight rise so most of our walk was uphill but reasonably gently.

The walk took about 15 minutes (Google suggested 10 but . . . ) and we went immediately to the church. It is set in the middle of the oldest part of the village - it looks as if at the time the village was really tiny but in recent years there has been quite a bit of new build.

From the outside it is an impressive building - its spire is very prominent and can be seen for some  miles around.

We were warmly welcomed even though the congregation was only around 15. It was led by a reader - the benefice is without a vicar at the moment. This parish is grouped with four others, all very rural and none of them have pretensions to be seen as a town! The church had extensive refurbishment about ten years ago - at least we had more comfortable chairs that many a pew . . . 

During the last war, an airfield was built about a mile away, servicing Lancaster bombers. The church was in a direct line with the main runway and so it was decided to take down almost all of the spire - no doubt some thought it was to save the spire, others that it avoided damaged aircraft returning too low from crashing into it! Some old photographs in the church show how it looked decapitated from its spire.

After the war the spire was re-built but no attempt was made to disguise the join - instead it was made into a 'feature'. It can be seen here, just above the tower parapet. The former airfield is now the MIRA vehicle proving ground (Mike recalls a school trip here many moons ago!)

There are several memorials on the walls inside the church to local people who died in both wars. This one is to a pilot of an early military airplane. He was shot down and killed just 26 days after completing his training.

We stayed to have a cup of coffee with everyone else and afterwards made a detour to the one village shop for some extra milk before walking back down to the boat.

We quickly changed into 'boat' clothes and set off once more. Although first thing there was plenty of sunshine, by the time we the church service had finished it was rather grey and much cooler. A stiff breeze blew all day, also keeping the temperature down. A few rather ominous clouds threatened but only the very lightest of drizzle actually fell, just for a few moments.

The route was, of course, the same as on our way up, buy sometimes we see things differently from the other direction. However, this time we did not manage anything sufficiently interesting to report!

We opted to have lunch 'on the run' so made good, if a little slow, progress. The water level is about 4 or 5 inches down from normal and so our keel was even closer to the bottom.

After just over an hour we were passing the entrance to Trinity Marina and then skirting the edge of Hinkley.

Just after passing under the A5 road bridge there is a convenient water point - nothing after this until the top of Atherstone flight. We filled up and can now put on a load of washing with less concern about running dry.

After a half hour stop (alas we could only service the water tank) it was still only three o'clock so we were able to go on for another couple of miles. There is then quite a gap before the next known mooring so we were pleased to see several spaces at Burton Hastings - and we were able to be right next to the edge once more.

6.6 Miles - 0 Locks