Ann arrived at 11 and we were soon heading off in glorious sunshine towards Snarestone, the first time any of us had visited this stretch of the Ashby. Much of it was quite different from what had gone before, being densely wooded rather than going through open farmland. Although this made for a lot of leaves to get in the prop, the colours were magical and for a change there wasn't a breath of wind. There were photographic opportunities aplenty:
A few hundred yards after Snarestone Tunnel (250 yds and crooked) we reached The End.
Beyond the bridge there is a newly-restored 100 yards or so which is used only for mooring at present.
To say it was Saturday, the start of half-term in Leicestershire, and a lovely day, the place was deserted. Even the Ashby Canal Association's shop was shut. We turned the boat, filled up the water tank, and headed back to moor just beyond the tunnel for lunch.
The journey back to Shackerstone was no less pleasant and on arrival, while Ann & I shared a pot of tea, himself went for a wander with his camera and found some trains
Shackerstone being one terminus of the "Battlefield Line".
We finished a great day with a meal at the Rising Sun and said our goodbyes to ann before heading down the moonlit towpath to tonight's mooring - The One After the Bridge.
Sunday saw us returning first to Market Bosworth, for another slog up the hill (easier without the bag-on-wheels!) to get a paper and some milk, then after our traditional Sunday brunch of bacon butties we set off again, ending at Stoke Golding. It had been another fine day but by 4 o'clock the clouds were gathering and we'd not been moored long before the wind got up and the heavens opened. The forecast for Monday and Tuesday was fog and fog, so we think the good weather bubble has burst and we're happy to on the homeward trek.
Today it was indeed damp and miserable when we woke, and much colder. We've made it back to the "Spooks" mooring after brief stops for diesel and water, initially to have lunch but we've decided to stay. There's plenty of time...
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