Shackerstone Festival
Having settled into our new berth, we went out exploring on Saturday. We called in at Market Bosworth station for a cup of tea before climbing the hill to the town itself, we wanted to check on the train timetable for Sunday when we intended to visit the Shackerstone family festival. In the station car park was an exceptional example of the Mk 1 version of my favourite car, the Austin Healey 3000.
Mk1 Austin Healey 3000
I don’t profess to be an expert or expect to be able to own one but the 3000 is the car that does it for me!
I’m still recovering so after a walk to town and back we just settled down and watched a bit of television before turning in for the night.
It was already sunny when we awoke on Sunday morning, we got ourselves ready and walked to the station where we caught the train, first to Shenton and then back to Shackerstone some forty five minutes later. Working boats lined the canal, many of them Braunston Rally regulars but quite a few that were new to us. Once we were in the field where the festival was being held, we wandered around and took some pictures. Some examples are posted here, the full collection can be found in the photo album here.
Cowburn & Cowpar “Swift”
GWR 3803 provided the service all weekend.
I used to work on one of these about 35 years ago!
Military version of the Austin Load Star
My first car was a Mk1 Capri, it didn’t look like this though!
What a beauty, this fine Stingray turned a few heads.
The first air display of the day came in the form of a Spitfire which performed magnificently overhead for five minutes or more before zooming off into the distance. We did wander into the area where the traction engines were but the smoke was everywhere so we turned around and made our way back to the station. We made our way back to Caxton where we settled down in the cratch where we watched the second air display, The Aerostars in their YAK aerobatic planes. We had a perfect view across the marina and it really was an entertaining routine.
Formation loop
Loop complete
Perfect view
And that was it, the show was over, not just the air display but our holiday as well. We quietly got our stuff together and packed it away in the car before locking Caxton up and driving home (for a few days anyway!)
Why don’t men do as they are told – the response!
Why don’t women do as they are told?
Fantastic Marina
We had a very peaceful nights sleep on our new berth. This morning we walked to Market Bosworth station and saw the steam train passing through. There is a lovely little tea room which is open at the weekends only.Tomorrow we are going to catch the train to Shackerstone because this weekend they have a show which includes old working boats, a superb array of field events and display aircraft. We then walked into Market Bosworth and visited a lovely little cafe.
We are now back at the boat and sitting in the cratch….aka conservatory looking out over the marina and the fields beyond and we have just been treated to a great view of the display aircraft performing at Shackerstone which is a couple of miles away.
We had high expectations of this marina and we have not been disapointed. Both the owner Helen and the manager Chris have made sure that everything is ok for us. If you want a lovely marina in a great lock free location then you really should consider Bosworth marina.
Bread with the crusts cut off.
George still has a poorly mouth so I have been feeding him accordingly. He can’t bite on anything too hard so I made some bread yesterday and I have been cutting the crusts off for him. I also made him some pale green soup for lunch and then he had cottage pie this evening.
I know that you are all thinking how lucky he is, having such a good wife and I totally agree.
I chilled a bottle of bubbly to celebrate our arrival at Caxtons new home, poor George can’t drink any of it because of his anti-biotics. I am a good wife though, so I will drink it all myself so that he does not have to suffer seeing the bottle in the fridge.
I am about to pop my cork so ” cheers “.
Mission Accomplished
We were up at seven this morning and on our way for quarter to eight. As I thought last night, the boat moored 100 yards down the towpath was nb Muleless. There were no signs of life as we crept past on tickover on what was a slightly misty morning. Forty minutes later we pulled up at Sutton Cheney where we did all of the services needed before we set off on what would be the final leg of the trip. Once underway, Sue ‘phoned Chris Hubbard the marina manager and gave him an indication of our arrival time. By the time we reached bridge 42, the last one before the marina entrance, the early morning mist had gone leaving only blue skies, sunshine and a few fluffy white clouds.
Chris stood by the marina entrance to welcome us in and pointed out our pontoon which was easy to see since he had placed a high viz coat on the end. The pontoons line the ‘L’ shaped basin and ours is positioned near the corner so that manouvering is very easy. In fairness, the pontoons are so well spaced that there should be no difficulty for anyone moving their boat around the basin. We backed into the space reserved for us and where Chris was now waiting to grab the centre line and gently pull Caxton on to the full length fixed pontoon. We chatted with him for a few minutes before letting him get back to work. We then secured front and back lines and carried out a few checks. Mobile internet is a good connection, the satellite dish has a clear sky and the view from the cratch is an uninterrupted expanse of water, perfect.
Caxton on its new berth
And from the other side
The main building as viewed from the cratch
The view across the marina
Another view from the cratch
All that was left to do was to go and get the car so after lunch – pale green soup today, we walked up into Market Bosworth and caught the bus to Hinckley. It wasn’t long before we had returned to the marina and parked up. We are staying here for the weekend and intend to visit the Shackerstone festival but not by boat of course!
A bit of a catch up
By now you will have read from Sue’s posts that I am in a bit of a sorry state. Yes, I should have done what I was told and got to the dentist sharper than I did. I didn’t though and as a result had one of the roughest night’s non-sleep that I can remember.
Back to yeserday though, we left our mooring at the Hawkesbury engine house and after filling the water tank, made our way to Marston junction where we made the wide sweep necessary to gain access to the Ashby canal. This is only the second time that we have been along here in Caxton but it is a trip that we made many times on Phoenix III. After three hours travelling, we pulled up outside the Lime Kilns on the A5. After making my dental appointment, we walked home and then drove into Hinckley to do some shopping.
On returning to Caxton, we just hung around until it was time for bed. Sue prescribed some codeine tablets that she had for the pain that I had. I notice on her post that she says I was a bit spaced out. Far from it, the effect was horrible, how anyone gets addicted to them is beyond me and I’ll never take them again.
Anyway after the rough night, we went home again to kill time until the dental appointment and when we returned to Caxton, we set off again for the short hop to Stoke Golding where we have moored outside Nigel’s Ashby canal centre marina. As we tied up, another boat was doing the same just a little way in front of us, I suspect that it is nb Muleless by the look of the bow and ordinarily I would have gone to say hello as I read their blog but with having a badly swollen face and a bit of a miserable outlook today, I’m not in a sociable mood. Maybe tomorrow, if the swelling has subsided, we’ll see.
A number of working boats passed us by in the evening as they made their way to Shackerstone for the festival this weekend. Just before ten, we heard the unmistakable sound of a Bolinder engine, we could see his headlight but when it passed by it was too dark to identify the boat.
Poor George
George had a really bad night because he was in lots of pain and then overnight one side of his face had swollen very badly. We went off to the dentist and he was given a shot of four days anti-biotic in one go. He was also given another seven days worth and then he has to go back and have the offending crowned tooth taken out. He is having a bit of a nap at the minute because he is so tired. I feel so sorry for him because he was really enjoying this much needed holiday. Hopefully when these drugs kick in he will start to feel a bit better.
We have moved on to Stoke Golding today and will be going into Market Bosworth Marina tomorrow. I have been sitting in the conservatory and lots of working boats have gone by on their way to the Shackerstone festival at the weekend. I hope George is feeling better by then because he was looking forward to us catching the steam train from Market Bosworth to Shackerstone to take a look at the events.
Why don’t men do as they are told.
We had a lovely day yesterday eating lunch at ” The Greyhound “. I had a crazy moment and offered to buy lunch, so George almost ran to the pub with delight. We consumed a little too much booze and spent the rest of the day sitting chilling out in the conservatory.
George lost a crown a couple of weeks ago and went to the dentist to have it stuck back in and over the last couple of days it has begun to ache a bit so yesterday morning I told him to phone and book an appointment with his dentist for today because we were going to be back in Hinckley, ” I will phone tomorrow” says he. He then had a night of restless sleep and pain killers so before we set off this morning I said ” Ring and book in for later today “, to which he replied ” I will phone when we get to Hinckley ” When we tied up he phoned and they can’t get him in until tomorrow. The toothache is getting worse so I have given him some codeine. His tooth is still aching but he is a bit spaced out so it is not as bad for him.
We have tied up at ” The Lime Kilns ” as it is only about twenty minutes walk from our house and George can then go by car to the dentist. I have just walked along the towpath and picked some blackberrys which I will make into a coulis, I suppose that means that I will have to make dessert to go with it…..yum.
We had the rest of the green soup for lunch so I am now about to make some orange soup for tomorrow.
Tonight I am making pork tenderloin with a pepper sauce served with new tatties, glazed carrots, roasted cabbage with sesame seeds and peas.
Out of Coventry
We had no complaints about our night in Coventry basin, it was very quiet indeed. We left our mooring at nine o’clock and made our way back to Hawkesbury junction in the glorious sunshine.
James Brindley
Coventry Basin
Coventry Telegraph Offices
Shops in the basin
Caxton in Coventry
The Magificent Seven Swans
It was a lovely trip which ended when we found a mooring opposite the old engine house, a spot that we have been lucky enough to have occupied on a few previous occasions. It was just before midday and Sue offered to buy lunch at the Greyhound so it was difficult to refuse. We spent the next couple of hours eating, drinking and basking in the September sunshine at the waterside watching the boats go by. Eventually we had to call it a day and retire to the front deck of Caxton where we resumed our sitting in the sun and watching the boats going by.
We pronounced our Coventry trip a success and vowed to go again soon.
Sent to Coventry? Went to Coventry!
We were up reasonably early this morning and set off at eight o’clock. It had been raining but it was dry again when we left our mooring at Ansty. We pootled on along the North Oxford and with the exception of a solitary boat on the move near the M69, we were alone. Alone that was until we reached the last bend before the straight run to the stop lock at Hawkesbury junction. Who should we meet but Richard and Sharon on board Barnowl No. 12, Oakapple. Well it was a bit awkward being on that bend but with nothing else about we were both able to slow to a crawl and have an early morning conversation before going our separate ways. We read each others blogs so we knew where we both had been the day before, it was lovely to see you both again, no doubt our paths will cross again in the future. The steady beat of Oakapple’s engine faded into the distance as we made our way to the lock which happened to be in our favour. Nb Indulgence rounded the bend as we drained the shallow lock which meant that Sue was able to walk round to the service point and wait for Caxton and me.
Half an hour later with the rubbish dumped, the cassettes emptied and the water tank brim-full, we began our trip into Coventry. It started to rain, not heavy, just a steady drizzle and with it being reasonably warm with no wind it wasn’t unpleasant (note to Fiona – “Dry Rain”). Susan took up residence inside at my insistence, no point in us both getting wet I said but the rain didn’t stop until we reached the basin at Coventry.
The only craft that we saw on the water as we made our way into the city was a canoeist!
So what was the trip like, you may ask. Well I think that it was pretty good, the canal wends its way into the city in a convoluted sort of way but it’s strange because it’s lined by trees and parkland. You don’t see much in the way of industry, even the old Courtaulds site which was cleared a few years ago is gradually being taken over by weeds and wild plants. The towpath is of good quality, populated by the odd jogger, a few cyclists and one or two pedestrians. There is graffiti in places but nothing offensive, there are odd bits of flotsam and jetsam in the cut but nothing that is troublesome. If there is one criticism, it would be that there appears to be a complete lack of litter bins along the way, something that the City Council should be ashamed of. It’s noticable, not because there is lot’s of litter strewn everywhere but rather that some good citizens have hung carrier bags to gates along the towpath providing makeshift bins. Now I know that the answer is for everyone to take their litter home but in the absence of bins, it’s a solution of sorts.
As we approached the basin, we saw three kids on the towpath, only aged around ten or eleven but they were hurriedly collecting stones! We did what we normally do and engaged their interest, they dropped the stones and talked to us all of the way into the basin itself. The two boys and a girl were actually alright and maybe we were wrong to fear the worst, we chatted to them as we tied up and answered all of their questions. The three were desperate to see inside Caxton, Sue warned them that they shouldn’t ever get in a stranger’s car or boat. They reassured her that they knew the dangers of being kidnapped by paedos! Sue showed them through the boat while I chatted to the owner of the boat moored behind us. They were suitably impressed and then ran off to annoy another boater who had just arrived in the basin.
The Valley Cruises hire fleet is based in Coventry basin now and they occupy the left hand arm as you enter, despite appearances there is enough room to turn and reverse into the other arm which is what we did.
Caxton in Coventry Basin
James Brindley
We walked into the city centre shortly after we arrived in the basin, we’re quite familiar with the place since we only live about 15 miles away so there were no surprises. We had lunch at a pub called The Establishment which used to be the old County Hall and Courthouse, it is reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in Coventry.
The Establishment
We wandered back through the old and new Cathedrals and took some pictures just in case you are one of the people who think that Coventry is just a bombed out city that was rebuilt using concrete in the fifties and sixties. There is a bit of that of course, but there is still a lot of history here too.
Coventry is also home to an excellent transport museum, it’s not far from the basin and the entry is free. We didn’t visit it today but we have been there many times before.
Coventry Transport Museam
We didn’t take pictures on the way in because of the rain but hopefully we’ll get some tomorrow on our way back, in the meantime here are some pics from around Coventry City Centre.
St Michael and the devil
The devil in all his glory!
Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva
The Godiva Clock
Peeping Tom gets an eyeful!
Cathedral lanes
The Old Cathedral
Old Cathedral
New cathedral window reflecting the outline of the old.