North again: Day 8

As forecast, the weather this morning was pretty bad, rain with strong gusty winds.  As we knew we wouldn’t be going anywhere very soon, we had scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Then we headed into Leicester and had a look around — and had quite a productive morning.  We identified squashable suitcases in John Lewis, I got a new waterproof jacket to replace the old one we chucked away when we moved on board, and we used Adrian’s John Lewis voucher for two free hot drinks.  We also bought and sent a birthday card, and went to the library to print out our new boat licences.

While we were out the weather improved dramatically.  We got back to the boat about 12, put some washing on, filled the water from the very convenient water tap on the pontoon, and made some lunch.  We were ready to set off at just after 12.30.  Just around the corner from Friar’s Mill there’s a massive new housing development on both sides of the river.  They’re quite nice warehouse style buildings.

At the first lock, North Lock, there were a couple of CRT volunteers maintaining the flower beds, and one of them helped us through.  There’s some quite skilful graffiti alongside.

At the next lock there was a boat coming up.  There are also lots of places with chimneys in this area, including, below the lock, the Wolsey one which now has new housing all round it.

There’s another chimney visible from Belgrave lock.  I liked the reflection in the water, but wasn’t so keen on the armchair stuck on the weir.

As we were about to go into the lock as big widebeam arrived below.  It’s only once you leave the lock you get a view of the National Space Centre, with its building that looks like bubble wrap.

The next section is very twisty and there are water parks alongside.  When we got to Thurmaston Lock there were two boats just coming in to come up — so the only boats we met all day were at locks.  We moored a little further along, with the Watermead Country Park just through the hedge, at a bit after 3pm.  We’ve had to deploy the tyre fenders, because the piling here is above the level of the gunwales.

5 miles, 5 locks.  (41 miles, 39 locks)

Big Trip - Day 29

It was a misty start to the day as we left our mooring at Zouch at 8am.  The river is very docile at the moment, but it's not always like this, as the emergency flood moorings at Normanton illustrate.

It's a rural area, and I managed to get one of my better photos of a kingfisher.

Two locks took us into Loughborough, where we continued into the basin.  This was closed when we came this way in 2006, but has now been redevoped with a hotel, bar, and student accommodation.

There's a big Tesco just a couple of minutes walk away, where we stocked up with veg; the shopping centre also has an M&S, next, and Argos, among others.

We remembered Barrow Deep Lock well, because in 2006, when we were going the other way, the current through the bridge below the lock was running very fast.  Today everything was calm.  At Mountsorrel, there are some Dutch-style houses with their own basin, which I'm sure weren't here seven years ago.  There's also an impressive bridge carrying a conveyor from a stone quarry, and the whole approach to the lock is very attractive.

We passed Seyella, looking great in its new livery, but no-one seemed to be home.  We met boat at several of the next locks, so we've had a fairly easy run. At times, the river seems exceptionally narrow; at others, you're thankful for the signs directing the way; and occasionally, the most likely route isn't the one you take.

We reached our destination at around 3pm.  We're moored at MGM's yard at Thurmaston; Doug and James are here with Chance, which is currently being blacked.  We're planning to try the local pub tonight -- but we mustn't forget that we've got quite a long day tomorrow to get through Leicester.

14 miles, 7 locks.  (370 miles, 210 locks)