Chilly in the shade.

My mooring last night was not picturesque and I discovered this morning that the sun would never really shine on the boat until late afternoon, so it was cold in the boat first thing, very cold, but I was going to move so I didn’t light the stove or put the heating on.

At 10:15 I set off with no real destination in mind I was just going to cruise until I found a mooring that I liked the look of, preferably with line of sight to the sun.

I nearly had my first ‘contact sport’ moment not long after moving off, preparing to pass a boat coming the opposite way in quite a narrow section I moved over to the right to give him room when suddenly my boat violently tilted towards him as I ran aground this pushed the bow towards the other boat which was now almost alongside and it was only good fortune and some quick tiller work that avoided a crunch, it was close and lucky that the ‘grounding’ effect did not worsen or continue but I breathed a sigh of relief and we both smiled at each other as we passed, later I found quite a few objects inside the boat had been shifted from their positions by the sudden tilt.

It was a cold wind blowing across the open fields but some lovely views.

And some nice tree lined sections.

This boat was absolutely covered in rivets, you may need to zoom in to see them.

Past Burton Hastings which I may stop at on the return leg and then beneath bridge 12 which I liked the look of.

I was curious that my Pearson’s guide gave reference to ‘Lime Kilns’ on the map and I wondered what a lime kiln was, turned out it was a pub! it looks like it could be quite nice in the garden if the sun is shining so that may also warrant a stop on the return leg J

The visitor moorings at Hinckley were fairly full so I didn’t bother with that either, on past Trinity Marina, which looked very nice if you like the idea, with a Brewer’s Fayre pub and Premier Inn adjacent, ideal if you have visitors who don’t wish to stay on board!

There were available moorings after the Marina but lots of moored boats on the offside so I carried on and found a nice sunny spot just before bridge 19.

I had a cuppa and then put a load of washing on, whilst that was going on I had a dabble at applying colour restorer to the side paintwork, I only got about half way across the name panel when I gave up due to back pain and general lethargy, maybe I’ll do more another time but I have to paint the bow area and the well deck storage boxes and the....... well I have lot’s still do, so polishing the sides may not take priority, although I will finish this panel at least.

Tonights mooring

Totals Today: 5.5 miles