Moored in Leicester

River scenery near Birstall

Again the weather was overcast as we set off at 9:25.  Our first stop was Leicester Marina a mile or so upstream where we emptied the waste tank and filled up with 115 litres of diesel which should last us about 5-6 weeks.  Half an hour latrer we were on our way again towards Leicrster city centre.  Despite us being within the city limits the scenary visible from the canal is very rural.  In the photograph the trees to the right hide a row of houses.

Old factory, now flats

Moored in Leicester

Further on the waterside greenery is replaced by old industrial buildings.  We were held up at the final lock by CRT who were undertaking a waterways survey using a boat equipped with SONAR.  The team consists of 5 people who cover the whole country.  By 13:30 we had reached Friar Mills, a new office development alongside the canal where the local council has recently set up pontoon moorings for visiting boaters.  On our journey we had reports that the moorings were full but we were lucky to find one free just long enough for the boat.

We will stay in this area until late Saturday or Sunday.  I have an Open University exam on Friday and also we are in great need of 4-5 days worth of groceries and to rerplenish our wine cellar.

Today: 5.43 miles, 5 locks, 3 hours 55 mins

The edge of Leicester - Watermead Country Park

Pushing our way through the treres on the River Soar

 As we are not due in Leicester until tomorrow we just made a short journey today. Leaving at 9:25 in the same cloudy and cool weather we continued out journey through the isolated Soar flood plain, and ascended Junction Lock. A short distance further on we passed the River Wreake which provided the course of the Melton Mowbray Navigation closed to canal traffic since 1877, but still a possibility for restoration as the course and some of the lock chambers are in reasonable condiftion.

Moored at Watermead Country Park

A mile further on we reached the start of the Leicester conurbation and moored immediately afterwards next to the large Watermead Country Park, former gravel pits that have been converted for recreational use and extensive nature reserves.  During the afternoon we enjoyed a walk around part of the reserve but failed to see anything of great interest.

Today: 1.54 miles, 1 lock, 1 hour travelling

Barrow, Mountsorrel and Cossington.

Another cloudy, cool but dry day.  After leaving our mooring near Loughborough at 9:50 we carried on south on the River Soar.  First stop was Barrow on Soar where we were helped through Barrow Deep Lock by a team of CRT volunteer lock-keepers undergoing training.

Barrow on Soar

Soar south of Barrow

Beyond Barrow the gardens of a line of large houses slope down to the river which then becomes narrower, shallower, and faster flowing, very different from the gentle wide river further north. Our speed slowed down considerably as we pushed the boat around a series of tight meanders.

1860 bridge at Mountsorrel

The next village upstream was Mountsorrel where we moored above the lock to look around - this being the first time ever we have found an empty mooring here.  Its main industry is a nearby granite quarry.  Examples of its product are seen throughout the village's public buildings.  There are a few shops. At the butchers we bought a pack of home-made award-winning venison sausages which will make a change for breakfast later in the week.

Waiting to enter Sileby Lock

After lunch on board we set off again past Sileby Mill and the adjacent lock and then through an isolated section without a towpath, bridges or any other signs of human activity.  This was ended as the river passed close to the noisy A6 which was followed by Cossington Lock.  Having ascended the lock we moored up at 3pm near a large weir.

Totals: 6.40miles, 4 locks, 3 hours 25 mins

Loughborough

Moored near the centre of Loughborough

Today was dry but cloudy and much cooler than yesterday.  We set off at 9:50, ascended Zouch Lock and stopped to fill up with water at Bishops Meadow Lock on the edge of Loughborough.  We moored near the centre of Loughborough to eat lunch and then went into the town centre for a some minor grocery shopping.  The central commercial area is quite large with a good range of shops though there were many closed premises including a surprising number of Indian Restaurants.  Loughborough is a typical Midlands industrial town of limited interest to the visitor, hence there being only one photograph.

After shopping we carried on towards Leicester for an hour stopping for the night in the countryside beyond the southern edge of the town.

Totals: 6 miles, 3 locks 3hours 25 minutes travelling.

A lovely day on the Soar

The River Trent at Trent Lock

Yesterday evening I went for a walk to Trent Lock in the warm sunny weather.  The photo shows the main flow of the Trent overlooked by Ratcliffe power station. To the left is Cranfleet Cut where we moored, straight ahead the main river turns to the left over a weir on its way to Nottingham and to the right the River Soar enters the Trent.  It is the Soar which will take us to Leicester on the next stage of our journey.

Avoiding the weir we entered the Soar, a much smaller river than the Trent. For the whole of today's journey the Soar proved to be delightful with the gently flowing tree lined river passing through remote countryside with only occasional views of the outside world.   Our impression was undoubtedly helped by the blue skies and warm sunshine.

Approaching Ratcliffe stop lock

We are unlikelty to meet one of these on the canals

On the way to Kegworth

The first point of interest was Ratcliffe lock which is only closed under flood conditions. Beyond the lock lies Red Mill marina near where we passed a line of impressively large private boats obviously designed for river conditions.

In Kegworth Deep Lock

Moored between Kegworth and Zouch

Then on through Kegworth Shallow Lock, again only closed during winter months for flood control.  This is quickly followed by Kegworth Deep Lock, a most appropriate name for a notably large lock.  Once in the lock I had to rope the boat to a vertical cable against the side whilst Denise extremely slowly raised the paddles.  WIthout these precautions the boat would have been thrown around the lock by the fierce currents as it filled.

As the weather was getting very hot we decided to moor up soon afterwards at 2pm in lovely and quiet surroundings. It was very pleasant to get off the shadeless back of the boat into the cabin where the thermometer was showing a cool 30 degC.

Today: 4.31 miles, 2 locks, 3 hours travelling.

An on, off, and on again journey back to Cranfleet Cut

Last night we went to the Cumin Idian restaurant, listed as by Trip Advisor as one of the best places to eat in Nottingham.  The reviews were right - the food was excellent.

Our plan was to leave Nottingham fairly early this morning and return to Trent Lock on the route to Leicester as the weather forecast was moderate, dry in the morning with some rain later.  When we awoke the torrential rain was hammering on the boat roof, so yesterday's forecast was wrong and we were going nowhere.  The forecast now showed heavy rain for most of the day. Fortunately we have time on hand to get to Leicester for my Open Unversity exam so we reset our plans to leave on Sunday.  However by lunchtime the rain had stopped and the forecast had been updated again to show a pleasant afternoon with only a small chance of rain.

Descending Castle Lock in the centre of Nottingham

Cruising back along the Nottingham Canal not far from the city centre

View of yet another Trent-side power station - Ratcliffe

Heron perched in a tree overlooking the Trent

So we set off downstream to go through Castle Lock, turn around and then go back up the lock and off out of Nottingham the way we had entered.  The journey up the Trent proved pleasant and uneventful though at 3-3.5 mph rather slower than Thursday's downstream cruise thanks to the flow of the current.

We moored at Trent Lock soon after 4pm about 100 yards from where we had moored on Wednesday night.

Total: 9 Miles, 4 locks, 4 hours travelling.

A day in Nottingham

Densie moored in Nottingahm

Yesterday evening we visited The Old Trip To Jerusalem.  This ancient pub, claimed to be the oldest in England, is built into the rock where the medieval Nottingham Castle once stood, several of the rooms using the bare rock face as a wall.  There is a wide range of well kept small brewery beers served by friendly and knowledgable staff and although the food is British pub style the cooking is very good indeed.  A strong recommendation for all visitors to Nottingham.

Today we shopped in the city centre in the morning, mainly to buy a variety of M&S meals as there are only a few small village shops near our route to the next major stop at Leicester in 6 days time.  We then returned to the boat to shop at the adjacent Sainsburys for routine provisions.

We will go out again this evening for an Indian and in the morning (weather permitting) turn the boat around and set off towards Leicester.