The Hodma'dod: Update 30 May 2012

Its hard to imagine its Thursday already and I did the last post on Saturday. Mind you we have to keep asking each other what day of the week it is as they all merge into one.

Having negotiated Watford locks on the Saturday we were faced with the large double locks at Braunston and these can be a real pain if you are on your own. Luckily as I was walking the dogs on Saturday evening I started talking to the Kerry and Jan and found they were due to go the same way so we arranged to go through together which helped Sarah no end. It was incredibly hot so we decided that we would stop soon after Braunston but that was a mistake as it was too hot to enjoy even sitting on the towpath and we would of had a slight breeze if we had kept going.

The following day saw us though Hillmorton locks which were single locks but with very stiff paddle gear on the middle lock which caused a bit of sweat for Sarah but at least they were the last locks we would face for a while as the rest of the trip up the Ashby is lock free.

As we turned right onto the Coventry canal the couple in a boat coming towards us started waving frantically and I couldn't think what was wrong until I realised that it was John and Louise in Bluemoon, our old boat that we had arranged to meet during the way on the Ashby. Timing was unbelievable, no way could we have planned it, so we both tied up and adjourned to the pub for a few jars and a very enjoyable lunch after which we carried on for an hour onto the Ashby and moored for the night.

Yesterday was very relaxed as we only only moved a few miles up the Ashby but in the afternoon John and Louise caught us up (they had gone into Coventry for the evening to see Coldplay) and we showed them around our boat, met Jasper their adorable Border terrier puppy properly and introduced him to our two who were both rather standoffish. And then the rain! A real downpour and John and Louise who were going to move on decided to say put. I waited for the rain to stop before walking the dogs but got soaked anyway as I couldn't find the footpath and ended up walking through waist high grass to get back to the canal.

Today started off dry and cooler so we decided to move on a few miles to Stoke Golding and visit the village which the guide book says has one of the finest churches in Leicestershire. It might well have but unfortunately it was locked up when we tried to get in! Sign of the times I suppose. It then started to rain so we adjourned to a pub for a glass and then came back to the boat where I did a few chores like putting cup hooks up. Bonus for today is that I have seen 2 water voles to add to yesterdays sparrow hawk.

So that's us up to date and here's a few photos from the last days.