North again: Day 7

We set an alarm this morning as we had to be up and out.  We caught a bus to south Leicester and the Enterprise rent a car place.  We had a car booked (paid for a Corsa, got a Qashqai!) so we could go up to Braidbar to see the new boat in build.  I’ve put a post on the Kingley Vale blog.

Our route up took us through Chesterfield and the Peak District.  On the way back we came through Macclesfield and Leek.  We dropped the car back at about 4.30 and caught the bus back to the city centre.  Briar Rose had been fine on the Friar’s Mill moorings, and we’d been joined by another boat, with one more turning up later.

The weather forecast for overnight and tomorrow morning is not good, with some strong winds predicted.  So we might be a bit late leaving — or if things are too bad, it’s not essential we go anywhere at all.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (36 miles, 34 locks)

North again: Day 6

We had the best of the sunshine by starting early today.  With the run into Leicester to do, we wanted to be away in good time, so we’re ready to set off just before 8.  It happened that the boat moored behind us, which had also been behind us at the Crick show, were also just about to set off — so we were able to share the locks.  The first one was just around the corner.

The first three locks all needed filling, but the plus side was that the countryside all around was very pleasant.

We’ve seen plenty of back garden bars, but one in South Wigston has really gone for it with the signs.

At Bush lock we met a boat coming up.  It was one I wrote a boat test on nearly nine years ago, although it’s no longer with its original owner.  As there was a bridge above the lock and not much room, Adrian came into the lock as he went out, so we avoided having three boats all trying to get round each other.

This meant the next few locks were all in our favour, some with at least top gate open.  At one point there was a mill across the fields.

There are lots of water meadows around this area, and there were lots of people out walking in the sunshine.  At King’s Lock the lock cottage is a tea room with rooms.

After King’s Lock, the River Soar is used as the navigation, and parts of it are narrow, twisty, and rather overgrown.  But as you head to Freeman’s Lock, the last one of the day, it really opens out.

The weir next to Freeman’s lock is very wide, and Leicester City’s stadium is on the other side of the river.  The first time we came up here, on a hire boat in 2006, it terrified us!  There were some kayakers who wanted to go down the weir, so as we filled the lock they carried their kayaks over.

The Mile Straight through Leicester comes next, with some interesting bridges.

Our companions, Tina and Duncan on Fyssch & Chipper, were planning on stopping at Castle Gardens  and there was plenty of room on the pontoon there.  We wanted to carry on to Friar’s Mill, because it’s a bit more open.  We were pleased to find plenty of room here too, in fact there’s only one other boat here, a plastic cruiser at the far end.  As we moored up, the wind was incredibly strong, and we had a bit of a battle to get the boat tied up before it was pushed out across the river.  When we’d achieved our aim, it still wasn’t yet 1pm, so we’d made good time.

After lunch, we went for a little top up food shop, and walked through Castle Gardens.  But the conditions haven’t really been good for doing much — very windy at times, with occasional gusty showers.  People on the towpath haven’t known whether to wear t-shirts or coats.  I’ve done some cooking, watching the wind make waves on the water.

8 miles, 12 locks.  (36 miles, 34 locks)

East Mids Exploration: Day 5

There was unforecast rain in the night, and this morning it was still pretty drizzly. There was almost no wind though. The first lock was just around the corner, so I walked to set it while Adrian brought the boat. It was just before 8am.

We remembered very little of today's route, although we did recall the back gardens of South Wigston. We particularly liked the one with an illuminated Beck's sign, and a hot tub where the big ice cream cone is.

At Dunn's Lock, Adrian spotted some blackberries (which seem to have been in short supply so far). We managed to pick a decent number, which will undoubtedly soon find their way into a blackberry and apple crumble.

Lots of the route is very countrified and attractive. The tea rooms at King's Lock has never been open when we've passed, and today was no exception. At Aylestone Mill Lock, there's only one working top paddle. A boat hadn't long come up so it just needed topping up a few inches, yet still took an age. Filling from empty must be hours. The final lock of the day was Freeman's Meadow Lock with its huge weir, overlooked by Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

We were aiming for a mooring at Castle Gardens in Leicester, but the pontoons there were full. So we carried on through West Bridge to the newly installed moorings at Friar's Mill. It's a little further away from the city centre, but actually more sunny and quiet.

It was 1pm when we arrived, so once Adrian had finished a phone call we headed off into town. It's rather nice, with a selection of quaint little streets of shops, but also a big shopping centre with John Lewis and lots of other big names. We started with a good lunch at a cafe, sitting outside in the unforecast sunshine. Then we went to the Cathedral, to see the tomb of King Richard III. It's modern, but also quite simple. The Cathedral itself is small and quite intimate.

After doing a few bits of shopping, we dropped our stuff back at the boat and then headed across West Bridge to where there's a convenient large Tesco, to stock up the fridge.

8 miles, 12 locks. (80 miles, 57 locks)