Canal Cruising

Hinkley

We had our longest journey yesterday totaling 13 ½ miles. Along the way we were using the phone stopwatch trying to determine how much time it takes us to travel a mile. It looks like it is around a 20-minute mile for us. So not exactly screaming down the canal.

It was a pleasant sunny day as we traveled to Hinkley. TV weather forecasters said last week that UK has had record breaking warm temperatures. Some days were 10 degrees higher than on average. We haven’t seen the downpours we experienced the first two days of our trip, but it looks like it’s all coming back this coming week.

We are a day ahead of schedule so stayed an extra night at Hinkley. The autumn colors are so much more vibrant these days and we took advantage of the fair weather to enjoy the town grateful to be dry.

We met a couple on the sidewalk leading to town, and David asked his usual question, “Can you recommend a traditional style local pub?” Dave woke up this morning and commented, “It’s Sunday, you know what that means.” In his mind Sunday meant a roast beef and Yorkshire pudding pub meal.” It’s good to have a goal.

They directed us to a Wetherspoon which is much like our Applebees. It is fine if you want a quick snack or drink but doesn’t have the atmosphere we seek. Instead of a satisfying pub pick, they did tell us about a Remembrance Day ceremony taking place near the church. We decided that it was important for us to take part.

We followed the multitude of people heading up to the Memorial Garden. There were hundreds of people there to honor those who gave so much. Boy and Girl Guides (scouts) as well as cadets, soldiers, a chorus, a band and a minister circled the remembrance monument. We stood by a young father whose two older daughters were Guides and in the celebration group. We had purchased poppy pins in honor of this special holiday while in Coventry but could not find them this morning. We were impressed with the number of the attending adults and children wearing the bright red flower.

From a young dad standing next to us, we learned that Hinkley was once the hosiery capital of the world for over a hundred years. It still has a hosiery industry. Triumph motorcycles and cars are manufactured here, and Amazon has established a warehouse in the area. Our conversation also garnered the name of a pub called The Lime Kilns just about a mile walk from our boat.

At the celebration, the keyboardist played “Memories” from the musical “Cats”. Where else but in England! At the end they played “God Save the King”. As the crowd chimed in, our helpful father leaned in and said, “Just can’t get used to singing KING.”

Hallelujah! We got our roast beef Sunday dinner at the recommended pub. We had a hardy walk today close to 10 miles so maybe just maybe we worked off some of that gravy and delicious sticky toffee pudding dessert. Oh, and the pint and ½ of beer. We have been looking for Bass beer which we have always enjoyed when visiting the UK but were told at several pubs that Bass was too light and didn’t have much flavor to it and yet, we see Budweiser on draft. Go figure. We were pleased to finally have a pint of our favorite British beer with our roast beast today.

In Britain you, of course drive on the left side of the road but on the canals as with all international waters, you travel on the right side. Sidewalks and stairways are a mystery. We find ourselves dodging right and left depending on oncoming walkers. When we leave pubs and walk down the tow path, I always have David walk on the canal side for obvious reasons.

We had to use spikes to moor the boat this time. They are hammered into the ground and the lines are tied to them. We have also used the “C” shaped hooks on the corrugated tin along the mooring spaces. They hook on to the tin and the lines are secured on the hook. What I like best are the iron rings sometimes placed along the shore. It is so easy to thread your line through and when you are pulling the boat closer to the shore, the rings help with leverage. Whenever we are pulling over for locks or to take on water, there are posts to wrap the lines around which are easy peasy.

We have seen much bird life along the way. Swans, ducks, geese, pheasants, pigeons and even a murder of crows taunting us with there “caws” as we passed under their tree perch.

We are on the Ashby Canal which is quite winding with lots of blind curves. You sometimes hold your breath as you take on a tight turn hoping that there isn’t another boat coming the other way. Sometimes the overgrown trees and bushes impede your vision of what might be coming in the other direction. Thank goodness we are only going 3 miles an hour.

Stuck in the overhanging tree limbs waiting for a boat to get through the bridge

There have not been many mask wearers anywhere except for Pharmacy technicians. You still see the hand sanitizers on counters. We have been fascinated by the Women’s Rugby World Cup competition on TV. We still don’t understand the rules, but it is a fast-moving sport. England had a devastating loss against New Zealand for the fifth time. The NZ women started the game with a traditional Māori Haka dance. Quite fierce.

We passed a fisherman yesterday and when asked, “How’s the fishing?” He replied, “Oh, just bits and bobs.” I love British expressions.

On my way back from the pub today I was swinging my felt scarf and it got caught on a thorny bush. I was trying to tell David who had already stepped on to the boat what was happening when a gentleman and his dog stopped to help this damsel in distress. He expertly pulled the long stem from the folds of my scarf with nary a prick of a thorn. Can’t even imagine the bloody mess my fingers would have been in doing that very same task. Gallantry is not dead.

Two more boat names: Toucan Do It and Never Two Late