A very slow journey

 Aug 26th

Yesterday the morning was clear and fine. Some cloud cover which was very welcome because when the sun did peek from behind the clouds, it was very hot. In the main, the conditions were perfect for sprucing up FS's starboard side so out came the colour restorer and we spent a good 3 hours of hard work on the paintwork. We could have finished sooner but a regular flow of folk kept stopping to say hello. One lady with her two small children asked if she could be very cheeky and let the children see the inside FS.  I was a bit reluctant but then a moment of inspiration, open the side hatch and let them poke their heads in. There was enough to see to please them. Both children asked questions. Considering the youngest looked about 4 and the elder 6, I was very impressed with how polite they were. A credit to their mother.

Aug 27th  

This mooring was only a 2 day so of course we headed off. Paul's canal planer (Waterway Routes) mentioned it would take 1 hour 40 minutes to arrive at Market Bosworth. He was spot on, which in itself was a surprise because if we made 2.5 mph we were lucky. Such a slow journey and nothing to do with following slow boats. In fact, we would have been the ones being cussed for going so slow! In our books a very big 'no no' is if we create a wash and this is exactly what happened when we tried to increase our speed. As mentioned in a previous post, this canal needs dredging! Just look at this photo.

The cladding and that bush used to be part of the bank! Our wave at 2.5 mph. We slowed right down to tickover from this point on.

You can see just how much erosion of the bank has occurred. Those poles sticking were the fence line at the edge of the bank. Unfortunately too many people ignore the signs of seeing a wave breaking along the bank as they speed along, it is this that causes the damage. 

 

And another thing, with the banks washing away where do you think the mud ends up? In the canal, accumulating on the sides which in turn makes two boats trying to pass very difficult. Anyway if we all did our bit, slowed right down when cruising shallow canals with low water, never create a wash on any canal, than maybe this problem won't get any worse!

We saw Ken and Sue again. Claddau was moored just before railway bridge 34A. They were off to the Battlefield centre, and we came past just as they set off. With FS in tickover we could chat to each other as they walked toward the bridge. Lovely to have seen them again and hope for a longer chat later.

At Shenton there used to be Bosworth battlefield moorings on the offside, but no longer as the undergrowth has taken over the mooring. On the towpath side boats struggled to moor. Planks were needed, or a leap of faith but not one managed to get anywhere near to the bank.

Finally made it to Market Bosworth. The visitor mooring before bridge 42 were full so with fingers crossed we hoped to find one after the marina. And would you believe we again had to put on the anchors because of a boat coming out of the marina entrance at full pelt! Even the lady on the front failed to relay to the captain that we were heading toward them. Last minute we were seen and into reverse went that boat but by now it was too far into the main channel to stop so Ian waved it on.

 We did find a space behind a hire boat, pins had to be hammered in and Ian was all for putting a spring on. But the first boat that came past pushed FS up onto the silt, we never moved again after that! Could be a pole job to get us off tomorrow!

 Shops are not very frequent on the Ashby Canal but we knew of a Co op in the village centre. It did mean a mile walk uphill to get to it, that's okay, downhill with heavy shopping was a blessing! The Bosworth battlefield line was on our route to the village. I took this excerpt from the Heritage Steam Railway website.

The Battlefield Line is the last remaining part of the former Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway which was opened in 1873. It runs from Shackerstone via Market Bosworth to Shenton in Leicestershire and is operated by the Shackerstone Railway Society.

Unfortunately no steam trains were seen. In fact looking at the timetable, only diesel trains are now running along this line. What a shame, many a journey was taken by steam with the children when we lived nearby. Is it a sign of the times perhaps?

The village hasn't changed one bit, maybe a few different names above some shops and I think we missed the market today, mores the pity.

Market Place

Bank Holiday Monday may not be a good day to move especially as we really do need a mooring at Snarestone. So Tuesday will be our day of travel and both will be keeping everything crossed we can get in!

And seen on route,

Outside the fire station in Bosworth

Half way mile marker