Very glad we opened the air vent on the stove last night to keep the chill out, we piled on the coal and basked in the heat. Woke to -4 with the canal frozen and ice having formed on the inside window frames but we didn't care as we were warm and toasty. FS creaked and groaned when Ian got up, objecting to being released from the ice and when he flung open the curtains, the day revealed a wonderful sunrise with a promise of a glorious day ahead. Arrangements had been made with friends of old, Lynda and Tony, (both with us when we got well and truly
stuck in the mud at Hallem Field lock) to meet at
Bradgate Park in Leicestershire. Dressing warm 'cause that wind was icy, we met at Newton Linford entrance and was amazed on how many children were about. Of course.... it was half term, not something we had even thought about until suddenly it clicked. The roads were significantly quieter without the school mums in their cars out on the school run. Anyway we joined the throngs at the gates and wow, talk about spectacular views to greet us and a very pleasant 2 hours of walking up hill and down dale followed. Admiring the ruins of Bradgate House, once home to Lady Jane Grey, England's 9 day Queen who ruled in 1553, and also admiring the folly
Old John and the
Yeomanry war memorial. the walk took us along the top of a ridge and I got my first views of the Fallow Deer and an impressive albino stag. To finish the morning walk we had lunch in a restaurant The Grey Lady, a very posh place...too posh for the likes of us being in our trekking outfits and we did get a few frowning looks from the diners, but hey ho, our money is as good as the next. All in all it was a brilliant day. Beats sitting twiddling thumbs in the boat and getting stir crazy any day.
So now for the photos.
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| Ian, Lynda and Tony |
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| Bradgate House |
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| Old John |
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| Old John with Fallow deer (one albino) in the foreground |
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| Yeomanry War Memorial |
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| Over 500 year old Oak |
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| Looking down at the river Lin |
3 comments:
Hi Irene and Ian, glad to see you are well and enjoying life over the winter. When do you head off again? We are hoping to leave early April and head up to the Ashby canal. My main reason for contacting you (this is the only means I seem to have!) is to ask if I can use a few of the photos you took last summer from Teddington to Brentford. I am giving a talk to our WI in March and there are a few photos that would sit well in my talk, however, I will not use them without permission! I am enjoying my trip down memory lane whilst preparing my talk which must not last more than an hour! I think I will have a lot of cutting down to do. If this does not publish automatically, please don't feel you need to publish it - maybe we need to swap email addresses??!! Cheers Jennie, Chris and Monty.
Hi Jennie, By all means use the photos, I'm honoured that you think they are good enough. Not sure how we can swap email addresses without it being made public. Maybe you could look for me on Facebook, then we could send private messages to each other. We are heading for Liverpool this year with our first stop being the Spring Cruise at Birmingham, so don't think our paths will cross unless plans are changed. Enjoy the Ashby, we always love cruising this canal although a bit shallow in places, oh and good luck with your talk. Xxx
Thanks Irene - your pictures are always good. The ones I want are ones you took of Cleddau and Tentatrice leaving Teddington lock, the one of the entrance to Brentford where you annotated the right route and lastly of Cleddau and Tentatrice moored up at Brentford. I never think of FB, so thank you for pointing me in the right direction - I have sent a friend request. When will you be in Birmingham - we will be passing through in early April. Sue and Ken are thinking of heading for Liverpool, but I am not sure if they have dates in mind yet. Jennie
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