Hares

Saturday 7^th June; Snarestone to past Sutton Wharf bridge 34

The overnight rain had pretty much stopped by the time we were up and about.  The forecast indicated that the best of the weather (as in, the least of the rain) would be in the morning, so we were on our way by 8.30.  I did the first dog walk shift almost to Shackerstone in light rain, although I was mostly dry under the trees.

Dave has always admired the lake by the long permanent mooring at Shackerstone and would love to have one like it!

Also near the mooring is the remains of a Motte and Bailey, indicated in Nicholson’s by gothic script which is why I know what it is.

The rain came and went, enough to need a waterproof, but never very much of it and it didn’t bother us at all.  A long stretch of canal at this end of the Ashby is an SSSI.  I don’t know how far it extends beyond the canal itself, as some of the fields have several metres back from the canal sown with flowery meadow rather than being cultivated, but others haven’t.  One farm has planted up some trees or hedging along the edge too.  The first time we came up here we had an excellent close view of a hare – this time I saw two, though not very close, and they had lolloped away behind a hedge before Dave could look, being rather busy at the time negotiating a bridge on a bend.

No picture of hares, but brandy-bottle waterlilies don’t run away

Now it was Dave’s turn to walk the dog.  We find our knees get very stiff when we are just standing on the back when there are no locks to get you moving, so it’s good to get off and walk. 

 As you see he had chosen to leave his waterproof on the boat.  Luckily for him there was a good dry spell.  He was back on board after a few bridges so I had a chance to take some more photos – I have a tendency to get an attack of the zig-zags if I use the camera while steering.

There have been a few reed buntings chattering away in the hedgerows.  We didn’t see any on our last trip.

‘Me ears are alight’

This boat name has always made me smile, ever since I found out what a mondegreen is.  If you're not familiar with the quotation, see also The Israelites.

We were soon moored up at Market Bosworth.  It was only 11 o’clock so we had a coffee and a sit-down before I walked up the long hill into the town for some fresh veg and the paper.  There hasn’t been a bus service for years, although the stops are still in place, but with unfriendly notices on them now.

Bosworth Fire Station

I didn’t take my waterproof, and got a bit wet but not soaked.  The market square would be attractive it wasn’t for all the cars and some very pink shops.  I didn’t bother with a photo. 

Market Bosworth is very proud of Richard III

 There is a tiny thin greengrocer and a very narrow Co-op which between them had everything I needed.  It would have been nice to have had chip butties for lunch but the chips would have been cold before I got back to the boat.

This is a super name.  We bought chips here once, and sat on a wall to eat them.

As I left the canal earlier I had heard a train whistle, so knew that the Battlefield Line was in steam today.  On the way back I was walking over the railway bridge as the train returned to Bosworth station.

Not much smoke today

Over lunch we discussed whether to stay put.  We could have a steam-train ride, and Mikron have a performance this evening, tempting, but that is in a church hall a mile-and-a-half away uphill.  And then afterwards, a mile-and-a-half back downhill, which is not good news for arthritic knees.  We also felt we should be a little closer to Marston Junction by tonight, so in the end we moved on for another few miles, to between Sutton Wharf bridge and no 33, and were moored up by mid-afternoon.  The rain started not long after we arrived and continued on and off for most of the evening.  It’s a nice quiet spot, once again with no passers-by on the towpath.

9½ miles, 2 aqueducts