Another glorious sunset

This was taken near Braunston on another really hot day.

Hot air balloon

Hillmorton turned out to be quite entertaining. This balloon rose up from just behind the farmers field.

Fox at Hillmorton top lock

In the field opposite our moorings this fox regularly patrolled the boundary fence. We stayed on the 14 day mooring for 10 days while Dennis and Margaret went home for a week. We watched calf's taking their first steps after they were born and a family of moorhen chicks visiting daily for there bread intake. The only blot on the whole stay was at the Chandlers by the bistro. We had taken our rubbish and loo to the facilities and decided that we would see what the chandlery had to offer. Our dogs Judy and Jade came with us and as normal in strange surroundings we put them on the lead. As we approached the shop we saw 2 Alsatians standing quietly by two men talking together. We kept walking toward the chandlers when out of no where came a third Alsatian who flew at our youngest dog Jade. Bare in mind Jade was on the lead and nowhere to go and the Alsatian laid into her biting her neck and grabbing hold of her tail. I have never heard a dog scream before but poor Jade let rip and I had to let go of her lead to give her a chance to escape. The owner of the Alsatian grabbed hold of it and managed to get him away from Jade. I shouted at him and said that he should keep his dog under control. Well all hell let loose and he told me in no uncertain terms to Piss of out of there and what right did I have of walking down there anyway. Well I informed him that this was the only way to the Chandlers and that I had every right to walk to the shop. The language he used was beyond mentioning and so I say to anyone who wants to go to the Chandlers at Hillmorton locks, don't bother because a more obnoxious man I have yet to meet. What if it had been someone walking with their children. Doesn't bear thinking about!!.

City Center

Lady Godiva

Margaret, me and Dennis having a welcome rest after climbing 180 steps to the top and then the same again going down (even harder) of the Cathedral clock tower. The view was spectacular.

Mooring in Coventry

We are so impressed with Coventry Basin. CCTV everwhere. It's one of the safest place to moor in the center of any town.

Heading for Coventry

On our way to Coventry I spied this fantastic metal art on one of the bridges. Just had to take a picture!

The end of the canal.

The Ashby canal society continue to extend the canal. The contractors here are digging out another 100mtrs but at £1000 a mtr the completion of this canal may take many years.

Dennis enjoying the sun. The facilities were clean enough considering we had to go across the construction site to get to the rubbish point. The small shop was opened up for us and we purchased our Ashby sticker and more books for me to read.

Snarestone

Ian and I had never ventured further then Shacklestone so we were now entering uncharted waters.
Icing entering Snarestone tunnel with us following closely behind.

Shackleton Railway

On the May bank holiday weekend we decided to take the train from Shenton to Shackelstone. Bad mistake. It was a "Thomas" weekend. Hundreds of kids everywhere. We tried to get on the train only to be told that we should have pre-booked the tickets. Luckily on the Sunday there were spaces available so we got our ride eventually. The family turned up again so we took Joshua to see his first steam train. He didn't seem perticulary interested but there again he is only 8 months!!!

In the Stocks

Ashby Canal was next on our agenda and of course we had to moor near the Bosworth Battle field. At the centre we spied these stocks. Good job there wasn't any rotten vegetables about!!

Nuneaton Locals??

Not much more to say!!!!

Water Vole

Grass snake

   As I fished on the Coventry canal this snake appeared from nowhere and slowly made its way along the far edge. I assumed it was a grass snake as they often take to the water.

Really good fish on the Coventry canal

 The journey to the Coventry canal was slow and very relaxing. Dennis and Margaret and us were in no hurry so we only traveled a couple of hours a day. Going through Fradley was probably the most stressful as we had to make the turn onto the Coventry canal. Im sure all the boats entering the Trent and Mersey from Coventry were out to get us as boat after boat kept coming through. As you may or may not be aware the locks on the T & M were immediately before the junction so all the boats suddenly emerging made it very interesting to say the least.

What a fantastic part of the Coventry canal this is. I had two huge bream and a chub of at least 3 1/2Lb.

   

Bramcote water park on the Trent and Mersey

 Christine and Kev came to see us at Bramcote water park. The day was perfect and Joshua loved being the centre of attention. The weather was perfect and after they left we decided to stay for another day and have our first BBQ.

Fireman at Trent Lock

On the way back to Shardlow we decided to stop on the pontoons outside the Navigation Inn for a meal. While we were there a bunch of Firemen came onto the pontoon for a series of exercises. On inquiring what they had planned we were told that each fireman had to control an R O V in the water to recover a body in the water. These are some of thew pictures I took. The "EYE'S" in the water is the R O V. Scary when you see it coming toward you in the dark! The " body" was a life size mannequin.