Northern Reaches.

We've been up on the northern end of the Ashby for the last week, not enough signal to even wake the computers interest. We moored for two nights in the swamp which passes for the towpath at Snarestone and walked into Measham, via the road and the path through the brickworks, apparently the old towpath is a quagmire and virtually impossible to walk. Measham is quite pleasant, another small industrial town that has lost its industry, lots of new build.

Then up to the end of the cut, on the way we spotted a kingfisher that actually dived in and came out with a small fish! Never ever seen that before, except on the telly. Even more amazing when we reached the end there was room to moor, we didn't though, just watered and set off back. It was great to see that they have got a digger in and are preparing to start digging out and extending the cut up to Measham, how long before they reach Moira?

Stopped overnight at Shackerstone and had dinner in the Rising Sun, got to be one of the best restaurants in the area, not cheap but exceedingly good nosh.

They are now forecasting another freeze so we have had a quick trip to Stoke Golding for a pump out and top up of diesel and back to M.B. to await the worst.

Just seen on the news that the Battle of Bosworth didn't happen where they have put the visitor centre but a couple of miles up the road, that's a shame isn't it.

I think I'll start a sweepstake on when winter is going to end, I reckon about June. Blow global warming, can we just have a bit of local warming?