The lure of a good pint

 We're accelerating. Today we did all of 12.5 miles and as we passed Charity Dock (always a pleasure) we even overtook The Stig

Charity dock is a sort of breakers yard for old boats/wrecks.  Hearing how boat prices have risen over the last year, some of them might actually be worth something.

Turning into the Ashby canal, we started counting the stone bridges which Rick has always denied existed.  Well 11 of the first thirteen were of the said stone and Kath took photos as evidence. I look forward to a grovelling apology from Rick. 

The Ashby is so rural that it's hard to imagine that is was dug to allow for the transport of coal from the mines at its head.  It is of course dead level all the way, having no locks but there is one bit where a cutting has been hewn out of the rock.  On one side of this cutting there is a mobile home site with incredibly steep gardens down to the canal.  You almost expect to see kittiwakes or gannets clinging to the ledges.  Most unsuitable I would have thought for the elderly folk who often inhabit these mobile home sites, some of the steps and stairs down to the garden terraces look terrifying. I think they might have to abseil down them.   On the way back I'll try and photograph a couple.

Such was our progress that we abandoned our original plan to moor at Hinckley and  we pressed bravely on to Stoke Golding, lured on by the promise of a pint of Fallen Angel ale at the George and Dragon - a risky strategy as we had to pass several good empty mooring spots, just hoping that the moorings at the bottom of the field in Stoke Golding would have space for us.  

Well fortune favours the brave and there was room, so without further delay after tying up, we walked across the field and up the hill into the village for a pint or two.  Great pub, exceptional beer and at a price unthinkably low down where we live, except perhaps in Wetherspoons.  Most ales were £3.70 a pint.  I read recently that the £10 pint has been seen in London recently. Certainly 4.50 to 5 pounds is normal back home. The pub next door to the G&D  has the Mango Tree Indian restaurant/ takeaway at the rear, so after the pub, that was dinner sorted.  We got a takeaway that turned out to be too big even for us to eat, so we'll have leftovers tomorrow.  Good little village Stoke Golding.

Although the Ashby is shallow, especially at the sides, there does seem to be a good selection of places where you can moor and a fair number of them have mooring rings which is always nice.  Boat traffic today was remarkably quiet ( well apart from Hawkesbury which was manic this morning).  Strange for a Sunday in June.  Is there something  people aren't telling us?