Shiralee: Cruise 2014 #2

Friday 18th April to Saturday 26^th April

 Friday 18^th April

 We have another fine start to the day, which is just as well because we have a 6½ mile cruise to Market Bosworth where, if Wifey wants a paper she’ll probably walk into town; about a mile and all uphill; while I get on with some paint repairs on the roof.

 Saturday 19^th April

 Having cruised the 6 ½ miles from bridge 23 to Market Bosworth in 2 hours yesterday morning and, after enjoying a well-deserved cup of coffee, we started out for that god-awful walk up the hill to the town. But, as we topped the slope from towpath to road, we spotted a bus at its usual turn around point. It was close to his setting off time at this point, so we hurried along to the bus stop and enjoyed a free ride up the hill.

 The walk down the hill is far easier than the climb up it, and that’s for sure.

 Anyway, having completed the small amount of shopping that was needed, we strolled back to the boat.

 Now, last year when we moored here, we noticed a great deal of building activity adjacent to the canal, on the towpath side, which we assumed would be a new marina. Sure enough this marina is now well under way, with all the pontoon supports now in place. We reckon it will be full of boats by the time we return next year.

 I managed to prepare some more of the roof yesterday afternoon and applied some undercoat. Whether it gets painted green this weekend is a different gether altomatter, as we’re expecting rain soon.

 Sheila will take a walk up that hill this morning, for a few items we didn’t get yesterday, like bread and a fresh pork pie from the butcher’s, and then we’ll be off to Shackerstone, which is only a couple of miles away and where the Rising Sun beckons for our Sunday repast.

 Sunday 20^th April

 Ah, Sunday, the best day of the week, all lazy and relaxed and with a couple of beers at lunchtime. What could possibly be better?

 Now, Saturday morning, Sheila took her walk into town while I did the difficult job of preparing ‘Shiralee’ for departure. Of course, I then had to await Wifey’s return, either because I’m so darn quick at preparing for departure, or she’s a slow walker!!

 With Shackerstone only about three miles away; which would only take an hour or so; it was just as well to set off later than usual, so we left at about 9.15. But, even then we only just managed to find a mooring spot when we arrived and we settled down to a coffee and newspaper.

 I did manage a wee bit of rubbing down on the roof, but didn’t stay out there too long as the wind was a wee bit chilly, and besides it’s the weekend and a Bank Holiday one at that, so there’s no sense in overdoing it. Looking at the sky this morning I don’t think we’re in for a pleasant day. Well, it is Easter, so what can you expect. (I do remember, in a past life, actually going camping at Easter and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. We lasted just two days and came home.)

 Tomorrow morning we’ll be heading on to the end of navigation, to Snarestone, where I’ll do some rubbing down on the other side of the roof, assuming the weather will let me.

 Tuesday 22^nd April

 Yesterday morning, after arriving at Snarestone and enjoying our coffee; sadly no newspaper; I carried on with the paintwork on the roof. Having cleaned up and applied the undercoat, I then thought about applying the black non-slip, but Wifey talked me out of it, suggesting instead that we do that when we get back to Shackerstone this morning. Well, it is now peeing down with rain and, not only are we not moving from this spot, but we won’t get any painting done today!! Great!

 While I’ve been sitting here at the laptop I’ve noticed my little security icon nagging at me, so I had a quick shufti and discovered, much to my dismay, that my Avast Anti-Virus programme had been switched off. Not only that but, when I attempted to follow normal procedure in turning it back on, I simply couldn’t do so. (As to why, I have no idea) Eventually, after much faffing about through my settings, I did manage to get it switched back on. But, how did it get turned off in the first place? Thereby hangs a mystery but, since I have now contacted Avast, I’m hoping they will be able to tell me.

 Would you believe it, it has now stopped raining? This means we may still get back to Shackerstone; dinner at The Rising Sun; but we won’t be doing any paintwork because the roof will still be wet. Ah well, I suppose I’ll just have to sit back and relax today. Shame!!

 Wednesday 23^rd April

 Through some very light drizzle, we made our way to Shackerstone yesterday morning. There was nothing we could do to the paintwork, so it was just a case of relaxing for the day until it was time for our evening meal at The Rising Sun.

 We both had the mixed grill, which was pretty spectacular; nothing microwaved either; all cooked to order. Mixed grills do tend to vary from place to place and this one varied with the addition of liver. The rest consisted of a gammon steak, a beef steak, 2 sausages, 1 fried egg, a great bowl of chips, kidney, tomato and a lamb chop. Like I said, pretty spectacular and, at only £7.95 each the price was right too.

 Today we’ll be returning to Market Bosworth, which is about three miles away.

 Thursday 24^th April

 Well, we didn’t go on to Market Bosworth yesterday, mainly because I was suffering tummy problems. However, I did get some more work done to the roof.

 We should be moving on this morning though, but that depends upon whether the fog lifts.

 Yesterday evening, just as we were about to watch TV, we heard a loud bleating, which seemed quite close to the boat. When we looked, sure enough there was a sheep swimming past us, but on the opposite side of the canal. A couple of years ago we came across the same thing, but unfortunately we were unable to help that poor creature; although we did hear that somebody else had stopped and dragged it out of the water.

 Anyway, there we both were, dressed in indoor clothes and carpet slippers but, being the brave souls that we are we decided to do our best to rescue the animal.

 At first the stupid thing headed towards our side of the canal but, the farm from which it had escaped has a short slipway; for the use of local folks to launch their wee noddy boats and such; so, whilst Sheila raced around the other side – in the pouring rain, I might add – I stood on this side and kind or herded it towards the slipway. After much faffing about, trying to drag the sheep towards the aforementioned slipway; which it didn’t seem too keen to do; my wife girded her loins, gave a big heave and dragged it out of the canal. Then, without so much as a thank you or a by- your-leave, of she trotted – the sheep, not Wifey – to the comfort of a nearby barn.

 That wasn’t the end of the matter though. After taking our big brolly out of the cupboard and escorting her back to the boat – kindness personified, that’s me – and after drying ourselves off, she then phoned the local pub and left them to advise the farmer of the situation. And, as they say, ‘all’s well that ends well’.

 Friday 25^th April

 We do like Market Bosworth; which is where we cruised to yesterday morning; not least because they have a really brilliant butcher’s shop. After arriving here yesterday morning, and before taking the bus into town, we managed to get the local coal bargee to deliver us a couple of sacks of coal, which will save us stopping at bridge 23 later this morning.

 This stretch of canal is too shallow for the coal barge to moor up at, so he couldn’t deliver diesel just then, because he wanted to go shopping. Instead he stayed moored up at the water point – naughty boy – but only temporarily.

 Now, as we arrived back from the shops later on, there he was just pulling away, heading towards Shackerstone. Luckily for us though, he came back later in the day and, after much faffing about, he managed to tie up alongside and deliver 80 quids worth of diesel, which will see us safely through our BCN cruise next month.

 Today we’ll probably go on to Stoke Golding, where I’ll be able to finish the paintwork repairs to the roof on the port side. When we finally get to Hinkley Wharf, or maybe Lime Kilns, I’ll get the starboard side done. It will then just be a case of painting over the whole lot with Donegal Green. After that we’ll still have plenty of other paintwork to repair, but the roof was our main concern this time out.

 Saturday 26^th April

 Hopefully this early morning rain will stop before we set off for Hinkley Wharf, because we are on 24 hour moorings at Sutton Wharf and need to leave here, rain or shine. Besides which, we also need to collect some mail from the Post Office at Hinkley, so we really don’t have much choice.

 We arrived here at about 09.30 yesterday morning, fully intending to just dispose of rubbish, fill up with water and keep going. However, Sutton Wharf boasts a café, which we have never used in all the times we’ve travelled this canal, so we decided to stay and sample their wares. Their opening hours are 9 to 5 and, since 5 pm is a tad early for us to have dinner, we stayed for lunch and enjoyed a very tasty fish pie and baguette. At £7.95 each, plus coffee at £2.25, we saw the better part of £20 disappear. A wee bit expensive, but most enjoyable. Remember the Rising Sun, a mixed grill for the same price as that fish pie and it had much more on the plate?

 And that’s it for this blog. Enjoy your weekend.

 Dave and Sheila