Oct 9th moored at the end of navigation on the Ashby canal

         183 miles, 73 locks, 2 (short) tunnels (1 twice) and 2 lift bridges from Aston Marina

Tuesday 9th Oct - Snarestone

This morning we again had a touch of mist but it was soon a glorious sunny day and remained so all day. Bridied offered a cooked breakfast as an option (not our usual way of starting the day) and it didn't delay us as we were off before 10:30 again.  Certainly kept us going as we never stopped for lunch, only watering up at Sutton Cheney, and just enjoyed the great cruising weather and glorious Leicestershire countryside.  We did notice a smell of gas today as we were cruising along, investigation proved it was coming from the gas locker so I turned the gas off for a while.  Then when we came to brew up and turned it back on the gas bottle actually ran out so I guess that was why it was smelling? Certainly once we switched over to the new bottle it was ok. 

We eventually arrived at Snarestone about 4pm, passed through the 250yd tunnel and turned in the final winding hole to moor facing bridge 61.  As we passed between bridges 60 and 61 a cormorant was showing off diving by the stern of the boat and reappearing at the front, repeating several times between the two bridges.  Each time his progress was just visible by a small trail of bubbles rising to the surface and Bridie tried hard to get a picture but he never stayed still on the surface for long enough.  Once moored up we took a walk (again had to leave Mac as there was shooting near by) to see recent progress at the terminus with a short new section of the canal now open and signs of work going on ahead (but too muddy to explore without serious footwear).

Monday 8th Oct - Stoke Golding
Again a misty start to the day but this time it did not burn off and as we set off it was rather grey. Steady
progress towards Hinkley not far behind a workboat that passed as we were preparing to set off. He pulled over just before Hinkley Wharf and we passed him.  We stopped at Trinity marina to get some milk and it started to rain while we were moored up.  Never actually came to much but it kept spitting until we got to Stoke Golding and moored just before bridge 25.  Got in touch with friends John and Sue, newly resident in Stoke Golding, and Bridie visited the farm shop at the bridge and prepared dinner.  They arrived about 7pm after work and we had a pleasant evening catching up with their news.

Sunday 7th October - Burton Hastings

Stayed put today the weather was glorious (cannot remember a day in June the could compare).  It was a little misty to start with but that soon burnt off and it was warm enough to sit out without a shirt on. Almost no wind either and stayed like it all day.  We went for a walk with Mabel this afternoon (left Mac because he gets so distressed if there is any gun fire and it was so warm).  Took a look at the church and went down a green lane back over the canal and across fields in a circuit which Mabel really enjoyed. She was hurtling through the long grasses and racing back to us enjoying being off the lead for a change.