Blue Sky

We came onto the Ashby Canal on Wednesday after a run down the Coventry, passing through Atherstone (11 locks) and Nuneaton.  Nicholson`s is certainly correct when it describes enterring the Ashby as a complete change from industrial landscape to picturesque countryside.  Our first stop on the canal was near Burton Hastings, with the intention of spending the night before moving up towards the Bosworth `battle` site, and the steam railway.

Unfortunately, the weather had different plans and the following day saw us battening down in strong winds and rain, and 40mm hail stones - that`s golf ball size.  M didn`t seem to suffer too much but the sound of them hitting the chrome mushroom vents on the roof was like an orchestra of fire alarms.  We heard later that several cars and caravans hit by the hail had been given dimpled roofs.  Apparently, it was localised and you only had to go a short distance up the canal not to be effected.  We were just unlucky, or lucky, maybe, in that we suferred no damage and were treated to the spectacle of a once (hopefully) in a life time phenomena.

When we finally managed to move, after a couple of days of rain, we passed through Hinkley and alongside the Triumph factory.  All of a sudden, as we approached the massive factory unit that dominates both skyline and landscape, the sky turned blue and the sun shone.  We weren`t surprised: it`s a well known fact that God favours the Truimph motorcycle, despite his age suggesting a Harley Davidson would be more suitable.  Triumph under completely new ownership have done wonders.  They are now one of the highest selling manufactures in the UK, if not the world, and offer a complete range of motorcycles.  I remember a mismanaged company of the seventies and a failed cooperative in the eighties, and the sadness of seeing it all collapse when the Honda came along.  Now they are back - and better at it than most, just like it used to be.

We are now at the Battle of Bosworth site, moored close to Market Bosworth and the Battlefield Steam Railway.  We visited the Bosworth site today after watching a steam engine at nearby Shenton, a station on the railway line.  Bosworth was the last Battle of the War of the Roses, fought in 1485 between Henry Tudor and Richard III.  Henry won and the Tudor dynasty began.  I wonder, though, if one day there will be another King Richard.  There should be.   Do we really want a King called Charles?  Charleses, like Henrys, ride Yamahas and Hondas. Richard the Lionheart - a proper kingly name - would almost certainly ride a Triumph.

Hail stones the size of golf balls hit M`s roof and the canal to the right

The aftermath....the hailstones beside M

The Ashby (de-la-Zouch) canal really is a lovely stretch of water 

Loco 3803 at Shenton station

Big kids & little kids love steam trains

The Battle of Bosworth, where Richard III was defeated

It`s a great spot - but not in 1485; well, for a day or two, anyway

Triumph the Loinheart