Shiralee: Cruise 2014 # 26

Saturday 4^th October to Tuesday 14^th October

 Sunday 5^th October

 When we arrived here at Polesworth on Friday morning, we immediately erected the spikey aerial and then later in the afternoon we checked the TV out and found that the signal was breaking up. This problem is due to the high bank opposite, at which we have to point the aerial. So, we added a pole to the single one, which made all the difference.

 Yesterday morning; as it was pouring with rain; we didn’t bother checking out the new DTV 1000 aerial but, later in the afternoon I decided to wire it up and check it out. I wired in the plug, attached that lead to the little booster thingy, plugged it into the TV and, even without taking it outside the boat, much less attaching it to a pole, we had a perfect signal. All I need to do now is take down the old aerial and wire the new one in, but on a very short pole. Yippeee, no more erecting and taking down of our aerial each time we arrive and leave a new mooring. I might not even need the pole at Crick!

 We had planned to outstay our welcome here at Polesworth, thinking it was only 48 hour moorings, but it seems that CRT have removed the signs and left this area open for 14 days, so that’s OK then! The nearest pub is just ahead of us at the bridge, so we won’t have far to walk. From what Wifey tells me we actually used that pub when we passed through earlier in the year, but I don’t remember doing so. No doubt I’ll remember it when we get inside.

 Other than that, we’ll walk into the town again this morning, just for the Mail, and then it’s a relaxing morning. Also, as we do on many Sundays, we’ll enjoy a pizza for our evening meal.

 Monday 6^th October

 We’ve had a pretty good weekend here at Polesworth, bit it’s now time to move on to Atherstone. There’s only one problem with this idea, it’s now pouring with rain and doesn’t look to be stopping any time soon. So, we might find it necessary to stay for one more day, or leave later.

 Meanwhile, I can now report that the new aerial has been fitted and works very well considering our location and that it stands on its own short flexible post. Some programmes still break up a bit, but we’re not too worried about that. Once we’re away from this high bank and into open country, I feel sure it will perform much better. If not then I’ll raise it on a short pole, but not so high that I still have to take it down when we’re cruising.

 Tuesday 7^th October

 The weather cleared for a while yesterday and there was quite a bit of traffic along the cut, but we decided to stay put for another day. I’m not sure this was the right decision, because we’ve had a heck of a lot more rain since then, much of it overnight. Hopefully it will calm down before we leave this morning.

 We are hoping to get to Atherstone today, then Springwood Haven marina on Thursday, where we can replace our empty gas bottle and possibly add to our stock of coal. Also, if they have bags of logs we’ll buy one of those; I do like to put a log on the fire first thing in the morning, just to add a little more warmth to the boat. Since we renewed the fire rope around the inside of the fire door, the fire has burned very slow, so our fan spins somewhat slower than before. This is fine overnight and saves on fuel, but the fire does need some livening up in the morning.

 Wednesday 8^th October

 We have a guardian angel! We are both convinced of this! Why else would we constantly miss the rain when we’re cruising? Take yesterday for example, when we travelled four miles, through six locks in 2½ hours, without getting seriously wet. Yes, it rained for part of the way, but it wasn’t until we had moored up at Atherstone, that the rain came down in bucket-loads. All we had to do then was, wait until it stopped before we went shopping.

 Later in the day, after the rain has started and stopped again, along came the coal and diesel barge and we loaded up with coal and bought a new bottle of gas. Then, guess what, yep it rained again. Somebody up there still loves us!! No need to stop at Springwood Haven now.

 So, having disposed of 13 books to the local Hospice shop and completed our shopping, we settled in for the rest of the day. However, by the time we retired for the night the weather had changed to a clear sky, which meant a cold start to this morning. So, even though we don’t need coal and gas now, we’ll probably trot along to Springwood Haven marina and stay there for one night, and then it’s off to the Ashby canal, probably for about 10 days. After that it will be just six stops to Crick.

 Now, this new aerial; which seems to perform very well for most of the time; well it wasn’t too clever yesterday evening, because even though we only watched BBC1, the picture kept breaking up. However, just a short way behind us lies a railway line and the problem seems to coincide with trains passing, so we’re hoping it will be much better when we move along.

 We seem to be doing a lot of hoping lately!!

 Thursday 9^th October

 I’ve been banging on about this new aerial for a few days now but, after cruising the four miles and five locks from Atherstone to Springwood Haven marina yesterday, we still found the picture breaking up. Even after turning it this way and that, still it persisted, so I turned the TV off in frustration. (This is my version of stamping my feet in a paddy.)

 A few minutes later; after I had cooled down somewhat; I then decided not to be defeated by this inanimate object, switched the TV back on again and re-tuned it. This is something I should have done when I first connected the new aerial a few days ago. Now, not only did the picture and sound stay steady, the picture didn’t break up at all, not even at the usual 15 to 20 minute spot that it normally would do. This latter wrinkle is something we’ve had to tolerate since we bought the TV.

 I don’t suppose all will remain perfect, but at least, from where we’re sitting right now, everything seems OK. We’ll be off up the Ashby canal later this morning, so it will be interesting to find out how it performs later.

 Saturday 11^th October

 Yesterday morning we took a leisurely cruise along the Ashby to Hinkley Wharf, stopping for water at Lime Kilns on the way. Having supped our usual coffee and crunched our chocolate biscuits, we then headed off to the bus stop and took a ride into Nuneaton.

 The Ashby canal is not renowned for shops within walking distance so, if any shopping other than milk and newspapers is needed it usually necessitates a bus ride to another town. It’s not that we needed very much by way of foodstuffs; just fruit and milk really; but we did need other cleaning materials and such, which we like to buy at the cheaper stores, such as B&M etc.

 I had hoped to be able to leave this new aerial sitting on its own short pole but, alas, it is so sensitive to passing traffic and helicopters that I think I’ll have to replace the brass pole support and attach the aerial to a longer pole. Of course, that won’t prevent helicopters from affecting the signal, but it should save us from the break-up of pictures when traffic passes nearby. So, having bought the wretched thing in order to avoid taking it down every time we move off, we seem to be back to square one. Well, the manufacturers do suggest positioning the thing as high as possible, so I suppose I really shouldn’t complain.

 Back up a few days to Tuesday; which was when we bought our coal and gas off the Gravenor Boating barge; when we spoke to the driver he said he would be going up the Ashby, so I asked him to keep an eye out for us so that we could buy some diesel from him. We like to leave topping up as late as possible, so that we don’t have to do so at the marina, simply because marina fuel prices seem to be so much more expensive than coal and fuel barges.

 Anyway, since we were not sure as to exactly when he would be coming along this canal, I looked him up on his Facebook page and, although it’s still a wee bit early for us, we should see him sometime today. He’ll be on his way back to the Coventry, whilst we’ll still be heading towards Shackerstone. Hopefully he’ll come by after we’ve moored up, otherwise we’ll have to pull in to the towpath and buddy up whilst he tops up our tank. Should be fun!!

 Sunday 12^th October

 Yesterday was a breeze, calm weather and dry, so our five mile trip from Hinkley Wharf to Sutton Wharf was as easy as pie.

 We kept a lookout for our diesel barge and actually passed him as he was coming towards us. Unfortunately we saw him too late and were in no position to pull in and take on fuel, so we’ll have to wait until we’re on the North Oxford canal.

 On our way along the Ashby earlier this year we had lunch at the Sutton Wharf café and we decided to do so again yesterday. This is a well-used café and it can sometimes be difficult to find a seat, but we managed OK and enjoyed a baked spud with mixed, spicy beans and salad. The sign on the door says, “Muddy boots and dogs welcomed”, and customers do take advantage of it. But that’s OK, just so long as the dogs don’t come sniffing around for tit-bits. We’re now looking forward to next year when we’ll have another dog, so we can take him/her with us, not just to this café, but pubs also.

 The Working Men’s Club in Crick also allows dogs, so that will be a nice change. We didn’t tend to take Rusty to pubs or the club, simply because she was far too fidgety. She wasn’t like other dogs that sit or lie down. Even sitting in a pub garden she couldn’t sit still, so we stopped taking her with us. Hopefully our new pet will be a wee bit calmer.

 Today; when the fog lifts; we’ll be heading off to Market Bosworth, where we’ll walk up the hill to the town at lunchtime and give one of the pubs a try. Tomorrow morning we’ll probably take the bus to Leicester, just because we can. After that we’ll probably turn around and make our way back to the Coventry canal.

 A mile or so back from here is a farm shop, which also sells coal and logs, so we’ll call in for logs on our way back.

 Monday 13^th October

 Over the past eight years we have travelled through the Ashby canal every year, sometimes twice, as we have this year. And yet, we have never walked up the hill to the town for a Sunday drink. I have to admit that it’s a daunting task for my weary, 72 year old legs.

 Anyway, having cruised through thick fog to get here yesterday; we couldn’t be bothered waiting for it to lift; we decided to do just that and buy a few bits at the Co-op at the same time. We were undecided as to which of the three pubs to use, but we eventually decided upon Ye Olde Red Lion. What a beautiful and inviting pub that is. Indeed, Wifey’s coffee was so good, she had another. Mind you, the combined coffee, Stella and snacks did cost £7.90, so it’s not the cheapest pub around. Even so, it was pretty busy, even at 12.30, with people already partaking of cooked meals. It’s got to be one of the nicest pubs we’ve been in and we’ll certainly go again.

 We’re staying here today and taking the bus to Leicester, a trip that takes almost an hour. Tomorrow morning we’ll turn around and make our way back to the aforementioned farm shop for logs and meat.

 The nearby Market Bosworth Marina is still being constructed but, as with all new marinas, just as soon as a few pontoons have been put in, so the boats turn up. There’s still a lot of digging and building going on, not to mention the landscaping when the pontoons and car parks are all in place. Hopefully it will all be finished by this time next year.

 Tuesday 14^th October

 The bus ride to Leicester yesterday took just over an hour. The driver had a trainee with him; probably learning the route; who spent a lot of the time talking to the driver. On main roads this is not so bad, but on the narrow lanes the driver is distracted much more than he should be. Still, and despite this flouting of the rules, we arrived safe and sound.

 Leicester is big, in fact it’s far too big to see in one day, especially when that day is spoilt by wind and rain. Sheila has been on a number of occasions, with her ‘friend’ Marian; that’s the one who turned a bit funny whilst we were at Mercia marina; but she couldn’t remember much about it. This came as no surprise to me since, having been there once it’s not a place I would want to return to.

 The rest of yesterday remained wet and windy, so it was a case of battening down the hatches and relaxing for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, whilst it isn’t raining right now, it may still be too windy for cruising, which means we might have to stay another day. We’ll see later.

 Meanwhile I’ll post this blog and wish you all a very pleasant week.

 Dave and Sheila.