Sizzling

6 Sept

Written By Boatwif

Market Bosworth (Ashby Canal) to Newbold-on-Avon (North Oxford Canal) 25¼ miles, 1 lock, 0 tunnel transits, 1 swing bridge

When departing a mooring there’s a lot to do before ropes are untied and the boat is pushed off from the bank. Mobile phones are moved to the back deck, likewise the pink covered tablet with the digital memory map and a Pearson’s guide book. Then there’s a bottle of water and a flask of good coffee. As Cleddau was cruising out of Market Bosworth a trio of ladies was spotted, taking a break during a walk. “We have a flask too,” Boatwif called out, raising the coffee flask in greeting.From Market Bosworth to Hinckley the water feels particularly shallow. You can see where the offside bank is broken up, eroded. It’s all too easy to dislodge the moorhens and ducks from their perches and to give them a free wave ride… Along past King Richard’s Field: After Ambion Wood it was good to see that moorings and crowd control was far less chaotic at Sutton Cheney than they were 6 days previously.It was late August and though some plant shades were on the fade elsewhere there was still some vibrant colour. There was a night stop at Stoke Golding, allowing for a gentle stroll (in gentle drizzle) around this pretty village with a very significant history. . On board that night there was a very special toast to a very special Boat Dog. Monty, the four-legged crew member of nb Tentatrice, was a bright and endearing character. He had shared many boating adventures with the Cleddau crew. His drinking water on board Cleddau was always freshly drawn from the filter tap and served in a ridged edge mushroom box, just as he liked it. He was never a fan of brandy – but his tail made contact with brandy glasses on more than one occasion… Monty is much missed.September – onward, there were places to go, destinations to be reached, even if it meant cruising through several sets of willow curtains. Not far past the beautifully cared for Ashby Canal Company hire boat base is Bridge 23. “Do try to find the farm shops on the Ashby,” Pip of Oleanna had advised. What a success, a well-stocked farm shop within about 100 paces of the canal. Fresh veg, lamb burgers, chicken pieces, 2 chocolate magnums and some sausages. “All the boaters go for the Bridge 23 sausages,” the Farm Shop owner explained. “They’re traditional pork sausages, I make 60 kilos of them every week…” Visions formed of her farm shop bangers sizzling on BBQs and in frying pans along the entire length of the Ashby Canal. She’s an expert baker too, this lady – how does she ever get time to sleep…?! (It was a couple of days later that a boat-wide search failed to turn up the fresh green broccoli bought at the Spinney Bank Farm Shop – had the conversation been so good that the broccoli never made it into the shopping bag…?)Historic boat after historic boat was met en route south back to Marston Junction.

These old working boats have a deeper draft than younger leisure boats. They need the deepest water in the centre of a waterway – time after time Cleddau clung to the right, stationary at a jaunty angle until the next historic boat could pass and Cleddau could slide off the silt or reverse back from the mud…

Through Hinckley.Through the narrow cutting below the park homes.Getting nearer to Marston Junction the overhead power cables come into view. Between Bridges 3 and 2 there’s a good stretch of mooring. Cleddau was pulled in – this would be a great place for a last night on the Ashby. Within 20 minutes another boat pulled in just in front of Cleddau. “Best mooring we’ve had on the Ashby,” said the owner to the Captain, closing up his boat’s back doors and disappearing below.Was the boat owner forgetful? His boat engine was left running. Diesel fumes swirled into Cleddau’s cabin. Hopes of a pleasant afternoon cup of tea on the front deck faded.It was 7pm when the engine was suddenly turned off, by which time the Captain had hauled the boat back by about 60 feet. There was peace and calm, Boatwif's sizzling irritation faded away – and a spell sitting on the front deck at dusk was much appreciated… Dream ‘Last Night on the Ashby’ finally realised! . Destination Greyhound the next day. First, complete the rest of the Ashby Canal: under Bridge 2 and then Bridge 1.At Marston Junction two blasts of the horn were sounded to indicate a left turn. A return blast from a boat cruising past on the main line towards Nuneaton and Atherstone was good warning of a potential encounter... Though this section of the Coventry Canal is not very scenic there is always more to spot at Charity Dock – and a Tudor rose on nb Thomas Tallis... The haystacks on the Bedworth fields have been collected but the scorched grass indicates the site of the haystack that was ablaze a couple of weeks ago.Hawkesbury Junction – destination reached – and The Greyhound in view. The Captain brought Cleddau under the bridge to wait for a couple of minutes while a boat exited the stop lock. Triumph. Here was a decent mooring, with plenty of space for pedestrians, good weather for some whirligig laundry drying – and only a couple of hundred yards from The Greyhound. All morning the Captain had been telling anyone who would listen that the pub was the venue for a birthday celebration. Hence “Happy birthday” was addressed to Boatwif by many towpath and boater strangers!Despite edging past this pub many a time, this was a first ever Greyhound visit. In the dining room there was another reminder of the Battle of Trafalgar (see Recent Eye Catchers here ) and some brass instruments on the wall. Well, what a first course Boatwif had chosen:SIZZING PRAWNS - SIZZLING PRAWNS IN A SWEET CHILLI, GARLIC, GINGER, LEMONGRASS, LIME & CORIANDER BUTTER WITH TOASTED CIABATTA BREADAnd did those prawns sizzle! Presented on a cast iron platter the prawns, juices and ciabatta radiated red hot heat for quite some time…! It was a fine meal indeed, with excellent service – and great boater company on the next table. There was a departure from Hawkesbury Junction the next morning: back on the North Oxford Canal and under a succession of sizzling, frying, high voltage distribution pylons… Past a vehicle graveyard (always a reminder of one back in Powys!) The air temperature was rising – and ahead Canada geese were splashing about vigorously, trying to clean their feathers. Onwards through Ansty, passing some distressed looking trees. It was busy on the golf course and chaotic at All Oaks Wood as boats vied for a lunch time mooring… Onward. There was a strategy – moor near enough Rugby to be able to access the supermarket in the morning… A glorious spot was found, a quiet place just beyond the Armada Boat Hire Company. A comfortably moored boat attracts others – and by late afternoon there was a boat in front and another behind. It was while Boatwif, mug of tea in hand was chatting to the recent arrivals (New Zealanders, glasses of red wine in hands, perched on their stern) that there was a bang and a crash behind. A boat was aligned diagonally across the canal, its bow in contact with Cleddau. Where was the skipper? Who was steering? A panic-stricken female appeared on the back deck while a vocal male appeared on the front deck. Language was ripe as he blamed 1) the hire boat company for double mooring its boats; 2) the moored up leisure boats; 3) C&RT (Canal and River Trust) for not cutting the towpath edges; 4) the wife /partner for not steering properly… The air positively sizzled with expletives – and the New Zealander male spectator could barely contain his laughter.“Wow,” said his wife as the boat veered onwards through Bridge 48. “This is all SO ENTERTAINING!”It was a lovely evening – but would a mega-supermarket shop the next day provide quite such good entertainment…?!Late report – the Ashby Bridge 23 sausages are really good!