Anstey to Hinckley

First day on the southern reaches of the Ashby canal, Leicestershire.

The rain stopped shortly after lunch. Rather than sit around and drink more beer, I took the opportunity to move up a bit further toward some of the spots in the Ashby Canal.

Hawkesbury Junction

The first of two junctions I need to pass through in order to get onto the Ashby.

Hawkesbury is on the outskirts of Coventry, and has a pub, a lock and a turning basin. Watching the boats pass amongst these features appears to be a bit of a spectator sport, as I remember from last time.

Today, there is distinctly less traffic. The pub is virtually empty on a Sunday afternoon.

Hawkesbury Junction
Hawkesbury Junction

A COVID emptiness….

Red boards on the Avon

A guy helped by doing the lock for me. There was only one…

He said he was a volunteer on the Avon. A river system which I was planning to visit last week.

He said it was a good job I didn’t, as the river is on ‘red-boards’, or flood conditions.

Continue reading “Anstey to Hinckley”

Onley to Anstey

Travelling from Onley to Anstey on the Grand Union. A short guide to narrowboat mooring.

Well. I’ve got all the time in the world now. Doesn’t make that much difference though. I like to keep the boat at a fairly steady speed even if I don’t have a whole lot to do when I get there.

Lack of moorings between Rugby and Hawkesbury Junction

Last time I made this journey, I was a boating noob. Now I’ve got a few years under my belt, one of the first things I notice was as above.

It’s like a mooring desert….

Continue reading “Onley to Anstey”

Bonny not Journey

Storm force winds and wind and rain for the next seven days have put paid to the 0.2 version of this journey.

It’s not going to happen. Certainly not in a round-a-bout the UK waterways way.

Metoffice & BBC weather

After hearing the longer term radio forecast in the evening, I started to get the idea that the weather might not be that good… I re-checked the Metoffice whilst taking my evening walk. 7-day forecast. It was indeed rain and dark clouds. ‘Storm’ conditions according to the radio.

Not what I signed up for.

Maybe another time….

Now, I’m heading back toward the Oxford canal, and back up the Grand Union, as per my original plan.

Nelson's Wharf - Stockton
Nelson’s Wharf – Stockton
Better out than in

I’m just going to go to a new section of canal, so, more about the journey there.

No holiday.

Bye bye Northamptonshire

Moving from the Grand Union, Northamptonshire. I’ve continuous cruised here for 3 years, today I move.

It was my home for 3 or so years. The time has come to move-on.

Here’s some visual highlights from my time on the Grand Union from Milton Keynes upward.

  • View to Grafton Regis Church
    View to Grafton Regis Church
  • Braunston – Borderlands
  • Blissworth Mill
    Blissworth Mill
  • Nene Valley Way
    Nene valley
  • Nene Valley Way
    Nene Valley – Flore
  • All Saints Chapel - Flore
    All Saints Chapel – Flore
  • Dodford - Grand Union
    Dodford – Grand Union
  • Northampton to Banbury railway
    Northampton to Banbury railway
  • Walking from Weedon to Whilton along the towpath
  • M1 Bridge Brockhall Northamptonshire
    M1 Bridge Brockhall Northamptonshire
  • Long Buckby
  • Braunston
  • Drying clothes in the May sunshine
  • Sunset over Nene Valley near Flore
    Sunset over Nene Valley near Flore
  • Beast from the East on a narrowboat
  • Dodford
  • Winter sun in Weedon
  • Winter Weedon
  • Boats in Blisworh
  • A45 – Bypass
  • Canard Mead Wharf
  • Beast from

Bonny Journey .2

Seeing as now I am work-less. I’ve decided it’s time to explore some more of the UK waterways.

Continue reading “Bye bye Northamptonshire”

Day #10: Montgomery to Penyffordd

Final day of my Tour de Wales. A quick dash along the Montgomery towpath, up through the Ruabon Valley and back to base.

Where my journey finished.

I would’ve liked to have done more, but the MOT ran out on my car two days ago. That took priority over visiting the other places like Swansea and Cardiff I would have liked to dropped in.

Still there we are…

Photo’s from the trip https://photos.app.goo.gl/mSjTezCFFyNjw2tw6

Haunted house Montgomery

I dug up the Google review which set me off on this place.

Charming and unique B&B, hosts were lovely and un-intrusive. Pretty sure the room we stayed in was haunted, as during the night kept getting disturbed by a figure standing near to the window and strange wet patch that appeared on the chair despite me and my partner not moving it through the duration of our stay, nor did we use the tea or coffee facilities (which were amply stocked with high quality goods), nor did we place any cups of water or drink near the dresser in question. Overall enthralling visit!! Would stay again:)

https://goo.gl/maps/YS3NaRR5JZDj5BFaA

As promised. Here’s a video of the haunted house. Check the blue ‘orbs’ at around 2:14. I make a couple of errors whilst describing this video. I’d had a bit of a long day.

It’s fairly interesting anyway. See what you think.

Montgomery to Penyffordd

Last stop in Wales to pick up the car and back home.

Continue reading “Day #10: Montgomery to Penyffordd”