Nostalga

Really felt as though we were on holiday today as we acted the tourists and went for a ride on the Battle Line steam train which runs from Shackerstone to Shenton which is virtually at the Battle of Bosworth site.

We had left our mooring at the top of the canal yesterday morning in sunshine and the whole of yesterday was a very considerable improvement on Sunday as everyone we met commented!

Since getting the boat we hadn't tried to light the stove as it had been either too hot to contemplate of too cold to have the windows open for the first burn to get rid of the smell so yesterday seemed ideal and we took the plunge and are now able to have the homely warmth of the fire going which obviously in June we are going to need quite a bit!

A leisurely walk yesterday afternoon with the dogs was interesting in that we saw a hidden camera over a badger set beside the canal and then a videographer with a crew of about 6 including a sound recordist with a huge amount of equipment round his neck. No idea what they were filming but is was notable for the fact that as I walked through the throng the sound recordist nudged a colleague and said "Look a man with a real camera"  (I was carrying my 35mm film camera which I'm playing with at the moment)

So today we had our trip down memory lane. The station is only about 5 minutes walk from where we are moored and we arrived bought our 2 OAP tickets for us and 2 dog specials (£2 each) and waited for the train. We have to say that the sight and sound of a steam engine takes us both back to a childhood of going to a main terminus in London and being filled with the smell and the noise of engines and soot and smut everywhere but what a sight! The trip only lasts for about 20 minutes but the tickets enabled us to do the journey as many times as wished during the day - something for the anoraks! Instead we walked up to the battlefield and then over to Sutton Cheney wharf for lunch. Then a quite meander back to the station for the trip back. Probably the biggest surprise of the journey was how laid back the dogs were. I thought they would be terrified of the noise but it didn't seem to worry them at all and indeed Teazle really enjoyed the view.

The view from the top of the Ashby Canal

Interesting mooring post near the top of the Ashby

Old railway bridge at Shackerstone

Hoddy showing off her chimney

Ah the sight of that smoke

Teazle watching for passing rabbits