alafloat : The Ashby Canal

Another grand few days

Today Sunday 2 June

After leaving Kings Barton Marina we met up with Kath and John. As planned we all caught the bus to visit the National Arboretum this is the national memorial to the all those who have died whilst serving their country since the end of the 2end World War; Not just the armed services but the police, fire brigade, life boat service and many others. The memorial to the lifeboat men was something I found the most beautiful in carved stone rough typifying an old sea dog in his Mae west and southwester hat very rustic, The great wall with every name of every serving Soldier, Sailor and Airman killed on active service since 1945 is most impressive I found a number of my friends among them and paid special respect to Col H Jones, not only a hero but a right good guy. The Arboretum is a really beautiful place Unfortunately we did not realise just how big it is and as we had to catch the last bus back so we had to cut our visit short which is sad as I wanted to visit a few more memorials of regiments I served with, another time perhaps when we have more time.

I never thought I would say that whilst cruising with Buggerlugs because time is something we have in abundance.

We are now upon the Ashby canal which is a branch off the Coventry canal, it’s a very nice little canal that runs through rural Warwickshire and Leicestershire it doesn’t really go anywhere as the link is still to be completed. however its 27 miles of lock free very nice, well maintained, and attractive canal in a very beautiful and much ignored part of this Sceptred Isle. The more I travel to the unexciting or shall we say less publicised villages and hamlets the more I am astounded at the beauty, charm and history that these places are steeped in. At the moment we are moored up; not a boat in sight except for Orion, no bus route, touring coaches, flashing camera’s or any other mass media distractions, and we are only a couple of miles from Bosworth village and the Bosworth field site of one of the battles that helped form this great nation, and where the house of Lancashire beat the S--- out of the house of York ( Had to get that in) and the start of the war of the Roses. How fickle are the tourists who prefer Alton Towers to this. But that pleases us as we have it all to ourselves even if it does have a 2 mile walk attached to it; to be there on the field where Englishmen fought Englishmen is enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end

We decided to go by train as there is a lovely little steam train only two stops but it makes a good day of it. Tomorrow we will reach the terminus of this canal where we will turn around and start our trip back. As I have said there is no rush so we will just saunter our way back. One of Johns friends has brought Johns anchor as he has to have one to go on the rivers Kevin and his wife Pauline came on Friday and intended staying on a camp sight for the weekend however Friday night the inflatable mattress decided to go down and neither got any sleep so last night we became a hotel boat. It was no trouble to us and they enjoyed there short but pleasant stay.

Sorry that this is so short but since joining this particular canal it has been very quiet the weather has been great and incidents nil I know that sounds quite boring but that’s what we came out for

Speak soon

May your God bless and keep you

Buggerlugs