Ashby Canal

After freeing Rhapsody's fouled propellor we sauntered off dodging all manner of unbelievable debris through the Coventry canal and suburban backyards of Nuneaton. Every boat was travelling at tickover speed ever wary of tyres, tables, doonas, fridges, drums, logs and weeds. Our convoy had six canalboats nose to tail like a train. There may have been more boats but the winding route means your foward and rearward views are limited to three boats each way. Nevertheless some backyards were done up nice and surely provide an enjoyable place for a beer. We dropped off the convoy to turn left into the Ashby canal at Marsden Junction. What a contrast, the Ashby is more like a stream as it has clean water, earthen banks and beaches rather than the industrial piling and concrete sides we had just left behind on the Coventry. We had a nice lunch beside the canal next day when friends arrived with a gastronomic feast."
Today we turned around for the return trip down the Ashby and moored at Hinckley Marina, right outside the Brewers Fayre pub. We will have 4 nights here while using an Enterprise hire car to explore the parts of the canal system that time will not allow us to reach by boat. http://www.trinitymarinas.co.uk/the-marina

Triumph motorbike factory near Hinckley Marina
"Special ducks" Ashby

Ashby, Welcoming committee

Grassy canal

Ashby, corn high, no elephants eyed

Tight squeeze into the Ashby Canal at Marsden Junction.

Some use the Coventry canal wisely

Even grandly.