Thu 28th May
Foxton to Market Harborough to Kilby
As we set off to Market Harborough for Hazel’s dentist
appointment, we met BCF boats Essence (Adrian and Chris Dann) soon
followed by Jubilee (John and Jan Halford). It is good to see so many BCF boats around.
It takes an hour and a half each way from Foxton to Market
Harborough. Amazing buttercups once again.
Buttercup carpet
We went first to the facilities area to empty a cassette and
dispose of rubbish, and then to a place on the visitor moorings.
Market Harborough
We walked the mile into town, visiting Wilko, Sainsbury’s
and Aldi, and having lunch in the market café – very good fare. Hazel went for
her appointment while James walked back to the boat with the shopping, having
just missed a bus. He used the water
tap near the mooring to top up the tank.
Hazel arrived soon after, having caught a bus back. Her tooth has been smoothed off but not
filled.
We set off as soon as we could as we had some catching up to
do. There aren’t many landmarks on the
Market Harborough Arm, but we saw Bowden Hall and the factory that disposes of
animal carcasses.
Bowden Hall
Factory
Hugo sniffs the air
On the way back to Foxton we met several of the hire fleet
returning to base. The swing bridge had developed a fault and was being
operated by volunteers.
Foxton Swing Bridge 4
Very few boats at
Foxton
Soon after Foxton we met the wide trip boat going back to
Foxton. We didn’t meet any other boats in over four hours of cruising
Thankfully the weather was good, but some of the locks were
awkward, with gates swinging open by themselves.
Swan family
Saddington Tunnel
Lonely Tree
It was a long day, and when we arrived above lock 26 and saw
Essence and Jubilee
moored up, we decided to join them, mooring on the lock
bollards. They kindly invited us on
board for a glass of wine, but we declined as we hadn’t eaten, it was 9pm and
we were very tired. We asked them where
they were heading, and discovered that they were also on the mission.
L – R Hugo Adrian
John Chris Jan Hazel
8 locks, 19 miles, 3 swing bridges, 1 Tunnel
Fri 29th May
Kilby to King’s Lock, Aylestone
As there were three boats, and the locks take two, we
decided to slip away early, and leave the other two to share the locks. Rain was forecast later.
Creeping away early
We crept away, talking in whispers, not starting the engine
until we were inside the lock and going down.
A man came along the towpath, and when he was level with Essence,
called out in a loud voice: “Good Morning!”
We got to Kilby Bridge at 0840 and found a mooring before
the rain started properly. Trinity and
Gospel Belle left a few minutes later, wearing all the wet gear.
We had a cooked breakfast (we deserved it!), and discovered
that all the eggs in our box of six had double yokes.
Two double yoke eggs
We found another BCF boat Remus there (Eric and Sue
Lewis) so there were now six, an even number at last. We agreed to share the
locks with them when the rain subsided.
Then we discovered that Jubilee needed to stay behind
for a friend’s visit, so Essence went down in front of us with no one to
share with.
We set off at 1200, and had a very pleasant day locking down
towards Leicester in the company of Eric and Sue. We phoned Anabel, James’ cousin, who lives nearby, but she was
entertaining guests.
Locking down with
Remus
Sunshine and cloud
Some of the locks were quite difficult to open, as there was
a lot of water around, overflowing the gates at times. It was quite windy and a
lot of the blossom had blown off and landed in the water, creating amazing
patterns.
Plenty of water
Rivers of blossom
Blossom art
Overtaking Essence
We overtook Essence when they stopped for lunch, and
we arrived at Kings Lock Tea Rooms in time for tea and cake. Very civilised.
Essence went on past later.
12 locks, 6 miles
Sat 30th May
King’s Lock, Aylestone to Barrow upon Soar
Morning sunshine at
King’s Lock mooring
King’s Lock and the
Tea Rooms
0815 departure as we had a long way to go, the weather was
fine, and it was Saturday, when, later in the day, there may be football fans
celebrating or bored teenagers on the loose.
We paused at Aldi for provisions. The store is offside, i.e.
not where the towpath is. We tied to railings and had to climb underneath them
to gain access. We bought some marigolds for the boat roof.
The journey into Leicester was very pleasant. On three
occasions we had just started setting a lock in our favour, when a boat came in
sight below the lock. If we had been
two minutes later the lock would have been done for us.
Eric Sue and Hazel in
Freeman’s Meadow Lock
At Freeman’s Meadow Lock we saw a little egret on the weir.
A little later near Soar Lane Bridge we saw another. We also spotted a bullfinch.
The Straight Mile in
Leicester
A busy moment by
Castle Gardens Mooring
Reflection art
At Limekiln Lock we were relieved to see that the two
benches there were unoccupied. Last time there were lots of guys drinking. However, the state of the canal here was
very bad, with lots of rubbish, and big bubbles coming up from the bottom, with
clouds of black silt making the place stink.
Ageing industrial
sites
We got something round the propeller and James was pleased
that we had some pond gloves so that he could remove the rubbish without
getting foul water on his hands. It was
the remains of a saree plus some plastic.
As we headed towards Birstall we had an unexpected passenger
in the form of a whitish racing pigeon, which landed on our roof pallet, after
being chased by two other pigeons. He remained on the boat for several minutes,
even going through Birstall Lock with us before he decided to fly off again.
Extra passenger
Caption suggestions
please
We had lunch on the run as we passed Watermead Country Park
and the Hope and Anchor pub.
Leaving Mountsorrel
Lock
When we arrived at Barrow, the official visitor moorings
were full. Essence had found a space there. We decided to postpone the
use of the facilities in favour of finding a mooring, so we continued round the
corner, and found the last place, behind Gospel Belle. Remus came
alongside. Trinity was in front, and then came Mistol, but Rob
and Tricia were not on board. We saw
Peter, Henry and Jack coming back from the shops. Apparently Chris and Diana
had just left on Ultreya.
So we now have eight BCF boats all heading for
Cotmanhay. Tomorrow the Baptist Church
will think they have been invaded!
13 locks, 14 miles
