Many hands make light work - io the edge of Leicester

 The day started cool and grey with a small amount of rain.  Once the rain had ended we set off at 9:30. At the second lock we were pleased to find that another narrowboat, Upton, had waited for us to arrive to mnimise the effort by sharing the double width locks together. 

The weather improved greatly during the day with the clouds clearing and the temperature rising. We stayed with  Upton for the whole day during which we descended 12 further locks.  The scenery was some of the best we have seen on this holiday as the tree lined canal provided wide views over grassy meadows and distant hills.

Sharing a lock with Upton

We stopped for the night at 15:45 near the Leicester suburb of Glen Parva whilst Upton carried on towards the city.centre.  Out of the window I can see the reedy banks of the canal, hedgerow trees and a grassy field with an owl nest box on the top of a high wooden pole. Hopefully we will get a view of any occupant later this evening.

Moored near Glen Parva

Journey Statistics

Distance: 8.1 miles
Locks: 14

Time: 5 hours 20 minutes

On the move again

We are now on our way cruising towards Leicester.  Now the festival is over the weather has greatly improved. No rain, some sun, and the temperature is rising.

We left our Foxton moorings at 9:45. The stretch before Foxton was isolated and rural.  I can now report that the canal going north is even more so.  In addition there is dense vegetation along the sides of the canal and frequent large patches of rushes and irises partially blocking the aterway and restricting visibility of any oncoming traffic. But nevertheless it all makes for an enjoyable journey.

AFter a mile o so we reached Debdale Wharf wehre I had arranged for an engineer to check our main fan belt.  It had been making screeching noises when the engne was started and appeared to be fairly slack. The engineer was able to  tighten the belt though perhaps it should really be replaced.  However our spare one proved to be the wrong size and the wharf did not have one in stock.

Attractive scenery soon after starting

While at Debdale we took the opportunity to empty our waste tank and fill up with water.  Neither were  urgent but as we will soon be in Leicester where facilities are limited we did not want to risk future problems.

Two miles further on we reached Saddington Tunnel,  at about 900 yards the shortest one since we started. our journey.

Entering Saddington Tunnel

A mile further on we stopped for lunch before moving on to the first of the 5 Kibworth Locks which started our downhill cruise into Leicester. Despite the canal being narrow and meandering these locks are of double width. Unfortunately there was no opportunity to share them with another boat, there being very few on the move.

In the Kilworth Locks

A short distance after the fifth look we moored up at 3pm on a short isolated stretch of piling where we could tie up the boat.  This is the only mooring spot we can see and so we should have a very peaceful stay.

Moored for the night

Journey Statistics

Distance 6.2 miles
Locks 5
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

A weekend at the Harborough 75 Festival

 We have spent the weekend at the Inland Waterways Association Harborough 75 Festival held to celebrate 75 years since the IWA's first national campaigning rally in 1950 and to publicise today's waterways and the importance that they are maintained for the future.

The festival included a number of old restored narriowboats, waterways based traders selling cakes, cheese, doggie thing, crafts etc moored in the canal and a festival events site where food, drink. s, entertainments and further stalls could be found.

The weather forecast for Saturday was awful with heavy rain and possible thunderstorms though mostly it remained dry. Suhday ws better attractiing more visitors. For us it was good to meet up with boating friends some of whom we had not seen for several years.

We worked there setting up the IWA stand and subsequently talking to interested visitors and signing up new members. One visitor of particular interest was a lady who had attended the original festival as a young girl and had brought along the scrap book she had compiled at the time.

We will be moving on tomorrow.

Old narrowboats moored above the locks

Part of the festival events site

Densie moored at the festival

A quiet day at Foxton

 We are staying at Foxton until Monday.  Many boats have arrived for the festival and more will do so tomorrow. 

It was raining all morning but stopped by lunchtime. During the afternoon we walked around the area to see what was where.  Unfortunately we are moored about half a mile from the events and refreshments field at the far end of the allocated moorings  located beyond the top of the Foxton flight.

Depending on the weather I provide a few photos tomorrow.

No journey so no statistics.

Ahead of schedule at Foxton Locks

 

In contrast to yesterday, today was bright and sunny. So we set off early at 9:15. After 3 miles of easy cruising we passed Welford Junction where we had to abandon our cruise last year because of illness.  No such problems this time.

Congestion on the canal

Cutting leading to Husband Bosworth Tunnel

Approaching the tunnel

We carried on through the wooded cutting which finished at the 1166 yard Husbands Bosworth Tunnel. We had planned to stop about 2 miles further on but since the weather was good and rain was forecast for tomorrow we decided to carry on moving until Foxton Locks where we will spend the weekend.at the Inland Waterways Association Festival.

Waterside heron

Foxton Lockswere designated by  the founder of IWA in 1946 as one of the wonders of the Waterways. It consists of two flights of 5-staircase locks with a passing point in the middle. There were surprisingly lfew boats passing through the locks and we were able to start the descent immediately we arrived.

Looking back at Foxton upper staircase

We moored at our designated mooring below the bottom of the flight. 

Journet Statistics

Distance: 11.2 miles
Locks: 10
Time: 5 fours 20 minutes

Delayed by rain

 During most of the morning the weather varied between light and heavy rain which finally stopped around 11:30 when we set off north on the Leicester Section of the Grand Union. For the subsequent 3 hours we cruised through some very through deserted but very pleasant rural countryside only stopping for 20 minutes to fill up with water  just outside the small village of Yelvertoft, the only habitation near the canal.

We ate lunch on the go and moored up at 14:45 miles from anywhere.

Typical scenery on the Leicester Section

Moored for the night

Journey Statistics

Distance: 7.1 miles
Locks:0
Time: 3 hours 10 mins

Out for a month on the Leicester ring

 W started our next canal cruise on Sunday 1st June but  were not able to post a blog due to lack of internet connectivity.  The past 2 days are therefore described here.

We drove to our marina on Saturday morning and after unpacking the car visited the local Sainsburys for a weeks worth of groceries as there are very few shops  on the first part of our route. After spending the night in the marina we set off on Sunday morning south on the North Oxford Canal joining the Grand Union at Braunston.

Soon after leaving the village the canal ascends the Braunston flight where 6 double width locks raise boats by 35 ft.  Thr first 3 locks were easy as we shared with sother boats with minimal waiing for boats coming down,  But then we hit a queue as passage through the 5th lock was very slow due to a broken paddle and a badly leaking bottom gate.

Immediately after the final, 6th, lock we stopped for the night.  Unfortunately there was no mobile internet connection so it was impossible to produce the blog.

Moored above Braunston Top Lock

Today, Monday, we set off early at 8:45 and soon reached the 2045 yard Braunston tunnel which we passed through quickly as there were no boats coming the other way.

A couple of miles beyond the tunnel the Grand Union splits with the Main Line going south to London and the Leicester Section north to Leicester and beyond.  We chose the latter option turning left through wooded countryside to Watford Locks, near to the M1 Watford Gap Service Station.

Passing through woods on the way to Watford Locks

The Watford flight consists of 7 narrow locks with the middle 4 being a staircase where the top gate of one lock is also the bottom gate of the next lock. .   Since boats cannot pass in the staircase and the operation is more complex than with a normal lock there are lock-keepers on duty to ensure the locks are correctly used and to help boaters get through them quickly.

Densie in the Watford staircase

AT the top of th staircase

Beyond Watford Locks the woods are replaced by rolling hills and farmland though the scenery remains attractive.  2 miles further on we reach the Crick Tunnel, at 1528 yards rather shorter than the Baunston Tunnel.  However there is much dripping water and so we always where waterproof jackets here.

Above Watford Locks

About to enter Crick Tunnel

Beyond the tunnel lies the village of Crick where we have moored for the night.  

Journey Statistics

Sunday 1st June
Distance: 4.35 miles
Locks: 6
Time: 4 hours 10 mins

Monday 2nd June
Distance: 8.21 miles
Locks:7
Time: 4 Hours