Sutton Cheney and Shenton

On Friday I took my life in my hands and walked the country lane route to Sutton Cheney, a small village (uphill) with once again a large church, St James.

There wasn’t much else there so I continued walking along the slightly better road until I came to The Bosworth Battle Centre overflow car park and then was able to walk across safer fields to reach the Center itself.

Center Entrance

In the grounds of the center now resides King Richards Stone

With an admission charge to enter and not being that interested in spending too much time learning about the battle I took a stroll across the nearer parts of the site.

Monument to commemorate the loss of over a thousand lives
on the 22nd August 1485 on Bosworth Field.

For those who are particularly interested in this major part of English history which effectually ended the War of the Roses, there was also a trail that could be followed on foot across the very spread out area of the battle with audio posts at various places, I listened to the first one which told the tale of a farm hand, voiced by an actor as if it were the farm hand speaking, who was called to join the battle force, I didn’t follow the rest of the trail, as I said it didn’t particularly enthrall me although it also gave some wonderful views of the surrounding area.

I had taken a circular route to get to the center so it was only a short 15minute stroll through Albion Wood to bring me back alongside Quinquireme, where a beautiful serving wench made me tea and buttered scones while I relaxed, or maybe not, as this is 2015 and not 1485 I had to make my own.

Saturday saw a chilly and late start for me and a short hop to just past Shenton, mooring again in the open countryside rather than the designated spots.

After sorting myself out I watched the Formula One qualifying sessions and then took a quick stroll to the local farm shop for milk, I had no bread and neither did they so I had my first attempt at bread making on the boat, filling the boat with that gorgeous smell, and as the evenings are definitely cooler and for the past few days I have lit the stove so it really was nice and toasty on the boat.

I had a strange dream last night about needing a new engine, like most dreams it made no sense at all; I just hope it wasn’t a premonition. With the weekly fry up breakfast sorted and washing up done I decided to walk to Shenton Station, it was 10:59 and with coat and boots on and everything ready to go I thought I’d better check the time of the Grand Prix, assuming it would be 12:30 or so, what a good job I looked, coverage began at 11:00am, postpone walk.

After the F1, well done Lewis, I walked the towpath back to the lane leading up to Shenton Station 

This is the southern end of a 5mile section of preserved rail line that was originally the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint railway, which closed to passenger trains in 1931; it’s now referred to as “The Battlefield Line” and runs between Shenton and Shackerstone, I got there just in time to hear the steam whistle of “Cumbria” approaching with the engine reversing and pulling the carriages into the station.

The engine then reversed back further and moved forward past the carriages to face the correct way before setting off again with tourists and enthusiasts aboard.

I headed off toward the aqueduct to take me under the canal and into the village of Shenton and snapped this picture from the top at canal level before continuing on into the village.

Here are just a few pictures to tell the story of a pleasant stroll through the lovely small hamlet of Shenton.

St John the Evangelist Church

Even the road signs are pretty.

Main Street

17th century Hall

View back along the lane towards the canal

I wonder what it's like to live in Sheepy?

Weather permitting another short hop tomorrow.

The Game is in the Name

I’ve been at my current mooring just past Hinckley for just over a week, during that time I did three cycle rides into Hinckley (2.5 miles) to visit Tesco and stock up a bit, I’ve arranged to put the boat into Trinity Marina for the week 3^rd to 10^th November and hired a car so that I can attend my son’s wedding in Surrey and visit my granddaughter and daughters and I’ve dodged a lot of rain.

I spent a few hours bent double in the engine bay fixing a frustrating long term leak on the hot water cylinder (calorifier), which then left me with a difficult to budge air lock, but I finally cleared that!

I also did a small wiring job re-routing the surface wiring to the tunnel light and horn, which previously went through the metal cratch frame (which I removed), they now pass through the bulk head into the gas locker and reappear just behind the supporting tube terminating with waterproof plugs, this is in preparation for painting the foredeck area (sometime).

As was, you can see the wires coming from the right and laying on the deck

Now hidden from view and terminating with two little plugs/sockets

I was quite keen to move although there is no hurry really as I have over three weeks to cover the remaining length of the Ashby canal and get back to where I am currently moored on the 3^rd November, so at 9:30 with the sun shining, although a chill in the air, I set off.

The canal passes through lovely countryside now, no hint of modern industry or motorway bridges.

Passing beneath bridge 21 which leads to Higham on the Hill

You need to be careful here, although who checks your speed is a mystery.

Havent seen many of these chaps, a little Shetland pony.

Either side of bridge 25 which takes you to Stoke Golding there were Ashby Boat Company hire boats, most are finished cruising now with winter approaching and will lay idle until next year.

Past the entrance to the Ashby Canal Centre where they carry out painting, sign writing, blacking and repairs along with boat safety inspections (needed every 4 years), it has a slipway and a wet dock, if I get the chance I may have a look around on my return trip.

This boat had a sign on it which said ‘Boat under repair.
 Do not touch’ I would never have guessed!

A lovely view of the windy lane leading up to Darlington, just to the left of the parked car is a little picnic area with 24hr moorings.

Passing beneath a weeping willow to reveal a reflected bridge, it looked lovely.

These cows were happy it was warm and took a drink at a convenient spot.

This one wasn't going to let a barbed wire fence stop her getting a drink!

I really liked the look of this boat ‘The Black Pearl’ not the ornaments, colour scheme or DIY rear canopy but the general shape and lines of it, and I loved the two little portholes in the bow, I have to say although the decoration was not my cup of tea it was certainly impressive.

 I was soon at my intended stop, Sutton Cheney Wharf

Firstly taking on water and emptying  the cassette and rubbish, I could not see any real chance of mooring, there was a 1 hour section (I hope the food is served quickly) just by the cafe and a 24hr (full) small section before the service point, but as I moved off again expecting to have to find a towpath spot further along I noticed this nice little landing area, which had looked as though it would be private was in fact a 48hr mooring, so here I am.

This area is where (the exact location is now disputed somewhat despite having the Bosworth Battlefield Center here) in 1485 the Battle of Bosworth took place, and I like this, in the village of Market Bosworth the fish and chip shop is named...... The Batter of Bosworth J hence the post title.

I’ll have a wander tomorrow.

Total today:  4 miles.

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

On to the Ashby Canal.

The weather was clear this morning so at 9:30 I set off, stopping at the services to offload a bit of rubbish and take on water and then heading  North along the Coventry canal towards Marston Junction.

 Some lovely little canal side patio’s.

And this very well maintained property with an almost all glass extension and what looks like a roof seating area.

I always slow right down when passing moored boats, engine to tickover, it amazes me that this speed business is what boaters seem to complain about most and yet so many don’t slow down, yet I thought this was a bit uncalled for J

Naughty rude gnome!!!!

Passing Charity Dock where there is a very strange mix of objects and boats.

Immediately after bridge 15 is Marston Junction, turn right for the Ashby Canal, it cuts back on itself a bit and although there is plenty of room it’s quite hard to judge the point at which you need to begin the turn because you can’t see the angle until you’ve gone a bit past, but I made it around without mishap with just one long burst of reverse to halt progress before adding more power to turn the boat more quickly.

The Ashby canal is about 30 miles long, although only 22miles is navigable at the moment, and currently passes from the remote Marston Junction to Snarestone, originally continuing on to Moira, there is a section of restored canal from Donisthorpe to Moira and maybe sometime in the future the restoration will be completed from Snarestone to Donisthorpe making the whole length navigable again.

It is also lock free, therefore 44 miles of cruising through rural countryside with little effort and I am going to take my time to enjoy that!

The bridges look lovely, stone not brick, so far

although bridge 5 where I have moored for today not quite so picturesque.

I stopped here to have a look around so I walked for about a mile in each direction but there’s not much to see, I popped into a ‘Spar’ shop in Whitestone and got some milk, and then back on the boat I decided to try and bake a bread pudding, my mum used to make lovely bread pudding and I’ve never found one to match yet, I doubt my effort will either but it’s filling the boat with a lovely smell!

Tonights mooring.

Totals Today: 5 miles : 0 Locks