According to Nicholson's Waterways Guide Elkington is a long abandoned village just down the lane from bridge 28 on the Grand Union Leicester Section. I cannot validate the truth of the statement as we moored at bridge 27, but the idea of a long abandoned village here helps me draw you a picture of this spot of heaven.
Yesterday started with a stroll into Crick to get some milk, a quick stop to top up the water and onward towards Welford. The weather threw a few showers at us but mostly it was sunny until lunchtime when we decided to stop for a cup of tea and wait for the rain, which we could see heading our way. After an hour of heavy rain the sun came out and we decided to stop for the night so I could walk Spot through Yelvertoft Covert.
One of the main attractions for me, of cruising the inland waterways is the tangible sense of travelling in an alternate reality. It's like the bit in Harry Potter when the kids run through a wall in the train station into another world. Moored by a bridge that appeared to go nowhere, in the middle of fields, the nearest road was a small lane at the next bridge which went to an abandoned village.
The clouds were heavy but the sun shone through the gaps and illuminated the newly washed trees and grass. Everywhere was clean and green and beautiful. As an encore nature gave us a storm and a rainbow before we called it a night.
This morning me and Spot walked to the top of the wood by the derelict barn (see photo). The small plate on the gate to the wood said "Dedicated in memory of Edith Mary & Malchus Henry Malpass 1902 - 1985, The Woodland Trust". I have no idea who they were but their wood is fantastic. I found a large Badger sett at the top of the wood and disturbed a Buzzard from the eves of the old barn.
So where exactly is this piece of paradise?
Between Daventry and Rugby, 1 mile south of the A14 and 3 miles east of the M1/M6 junction!
I include are a few photos to give you an idea of how yesterday prompted the above poor attempt at prose.
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