Husbands Bosworth to Wistow

Sun 3^rd Jul  Bridge 47 to Foxton, Pats Bridge

This was a very peaceful mooring. No-one went past, either on foot, or by boat. We had sunshine as we set off along a ridge of hills known as Laughton Hills. The bridges are almost semicircular, so they make a circle if there is a good reflection. Some of the vegetation is a bit overgrown, and some pruning is needed.

Blue skies

Pruning needed

Laughton Hills

Circular bridge

As we approached Foxton Locks, there was a rattle from the propeller, and James found the remains of a fishing net on the prop. We topped up with water while we waited for the locks.

Foxton Locks sign

Arriving at Foxton Locks

Horse sculpture

Fishing net

Water top up

We needed to wait for a boat coming up the top five, and then we followed a boat down. Another boat had started up from the bottom, and had been asked to wait at the halfway point. There were lots of people around as it was a sunny Sunday. We had help on occasions with people pushing lock gates.

Foxton Top Lock

Gongoozlers

Starting down

Coming down the staircase

Crossing over halfway down

Into the bottom five

Bottom lock

On leaving the bottom lock, we went over to the swingbridge moorings as we needed to empty cassettes and dispose of rubbish. There were several day boats around, and we weren’t sure what they were doing, and neither were they.

We went for a Sunday carvery at the Foxton Locks Inn, which suffered a little from the “honeypot location” syndrome. But it was good to have a meal prepared for us.

Busy day at Foxton Locks Inn

We moved off after the meal, and went through the first bridge, where several boats were moored, some filling up with water. Lots of people and dogs. After the second bridge, we found a much nicer mooring with a good view.

Moored by Pats Bridge

10 locks, 4 miles. Dep 0940 arr 1000 locks. Dep 1130 arr 1240 Bottom. Dep 1410 arr 1425 Pats Bridge

Mon 4^th Jul  Pats Bridge to Fleckney

This morning was very windy as we set off for a short journey to Fleckney. We hadn’t gone very far when we felt something on the prop, so we tied up by the centre line to a handy tree, and James went down the weed hatch. He found a sheet round the blades, which had been twisted like a rope. He was down there for half an hour, using a bread knife to cut through the fabric.

Wind on the reeds

Sheet on the prop

Soon after this came Saddington Tunnel, and we could see through from one end to the other.

Saddington Tunnel

In Saddington Tunnel

Leaving Saddington Tunnel

Saddington Tunnel north end

We moored by the entrance to the footpath to Fleckney, and went to meet Anabel, James’ cousin. She took us to Wistow where there is a bistro and garden centre and a few arty shops. We had lunch, and then tea later, before driving back to Fleckney.

Hazel Anabel James

After a useful visit to the Co-op and the chemist, we walked back down the field over the ridges left by medieval strip farming.

Moored at Fleckney

0 locks, 4 miles, 1 tunnel.  Dep 1000, arr 1150.

Tue 5^th Jul  Fleckney to Wistow

It was a quiet mooring, except for a footpath gate through the hedge into the adjacent field, which banged every time a person went through. Not many people, but next time we might moor a little further along.

A BCF boat called Drekly came past from Leicester direction, but the guy was on a phone, so we couldn’t do more than wave.

The locks from here on are double locks, and we were hoping to share with another boat, but it was so quiet that we decided to go by ourselves. We had five locks to do, and the first was in our favour, except for a bit of leakage.

Approaching the first lock

Kibworth Top Lock 18

At the second, there was a boat approaching from below, and the lock was almost empty, so James emptied it and opened the gate for the guy, who appeared to be on his own. After locking him through, he was almost at the top, when his wife appeared from behind, walking two dogs. They went out, and Gabriel went in, and all the rest of the locks were in our favour.

Taylors Turnover Lock 20

Cranes Lock 22

After the final lock, we found a place to moor, overlooking Wistow, where we were yesterday with Anabel.

Moored at Wistow

Overlooking the church

Wildlife highlights: we spotted three green woodpeckers on the towpath, and a buzzard overhead.

Buzzard

Knapweed

Later some other boats arrived, including two hire boats: one from Leighton Buzzard and the other from Napton. We plan to leave early tomorrow to share with another boat if we can, as we have seven locks to do.

5 locks, 2 miles. Dep 1010, arr 1215

Next: 7 locks to Kilby Bridge and then into Leicester