A great day today. The River Soar is really lovely. We enjoy cruising on rivers, but often (e.g. Trent, Severn & Thames) they are wide with large locks, but the Soar is much more intimate, with ‘normal’ sized locks. We needed a pumpout so we stopped at Sileby Mill boatyard. The pumpout connection was on
We had been a little apprehensive regarding today’s trip. Various people had warned us about going through Leicester, but actually it was quite enjoyable. We were away by just after 7 o’clock and the first few locks were set in out favour. On arriving in Leicester we had been expecting rubbish strewn water and dereliction,
We left Foxton at around 7:30. It was rather cloudy but not too cold. We expected to see the two hire boats with the youngsters on moored up around the corner, but they weren’t there. A very pleastant cruise on to Saddlington Tunnel . As we were entering the tunnel we could see that another
A great day today. We re-acquainted ourselves with the ‘Old Union’ summit. We last came this way 12 years ago and strangely couldn’t remember any of it!. Ususally when we re-visit a canal we can recall previous visits even if they were a long time ago, but this time – nothing. At around 10:30 we
A day of contrasts. Energetic locking, long, dark, damp tunnels and tranquil journeys. The morning started out very misty as we chugged through Braunston and up the flight of 6 wide locks. We have been this way before, but it was 13 years ago and we had forgotten how lovey it is. We had to
Now moored just before the junction on “Braunston Puddlebanks”. A beautiful sunny day again today. A great day’s cruising the first 11 miles lock dree then down the Napton flight with every lock set in our favour, or a boat coming up as we approched. Another barbecue!
We are setting out to go to the Cutweb rally at Alvecote, but we are going a long way round, via Liecester. First we called in at Soverign Wharf to buy a new battery, one of our domestic back is at least 6 years old as it was on the boat when we bought it.
There is quite an autumnal air around now. This morning the mists were rising from the canal and it looked really beautiful. We set off just after 7 and had a good run until we hit queues about 10 o’clock. A breakfast stop was taken opposite “The Pig Place”, a farm shop and camp site
I got up at 5:30 to do some more work, then we set off at 8:00. It was sad to say goodbye to the Thames, we had enjoyed it emensely. Back on the Oxford canal we headed for Lower Heyford where we had arranged to meet friends Andrew & Shiela who were driving over from
Last night we spent at Radcot Bridge. The campers all left about 3 o’clock as the weather looked ominous. We just chugged on down river for a couple of hours. A late start today. I had a work problem to sort out which took up some time. We stopped for lunch about 1:00, but the