And so to the Ashby Canal..

Griff Lane Bridge 17(Coventry Canal) to Goodacres Bridge 13 (Ashby Canal), 5 miles 0 locks

It must have been 5 years ago that I ventured up the Ashby canal the last time.. I remember it well.  We had hired a boat from Calcutt Boats and had been out a week.. I decided I wanted another week away from the hectic family business, and with my daughters’ consent, took that next week on the Ashby Canal.

The first time I visited the Ashby was way back in 1976, and fell in love with it then.  We were planning to spend some of winter on this canal last year, but ended up on the southern part of the Grand Union.. but we are here now!

Having stored away plenty of groceries from the Tesco Home Delivery van, we pulled the pins and set off behind Chas and Ann of Moore2Life to turn left where the Ashby Canal greeted us with a layer of ice..

Brrrr it sure was cold today, but our back canopy freshly made at the end of last month by Staffordshire Canopies did us proud, and with the sun shining through the back window, it was really quite pleasant.. no freezing cold hands either, in fact we didn’t even need to wear gloves!  I did however miss the left turn into the Ashby, well over running it.. still not used to the fact that the tiller is restricted by the canopy as to how much I can push it over.  No worry, I will soon get used to that.

The Ashby Canal is very riverlike.. maybe that’s why I like it so much..

Russets and golds today in the sunshine, it was a delightful couple of hours, but I did wonder how long the leaves will cling to the trees. 

We will stay here this weekend, the walks in the area look excellent and I have already been out and about with Lucy.  Leicestershire is a lovely county, and I shall be inspecting some of it over the next few days.  Looking at the forecast we might be lucky and not be iced in, although there was quite a lot about on the canal when I looked out at last light this evening, it wasn’t too thick though.

I need to finish my Christmas shopping too.. just one or two bits and pieces to get.  One of the joys of a good internet connection.. everything can be bought online and sent ‘dan saff’ ready for me to wrap up when I arrive there a couple of days before Xmas!