10th August 2015. Foxton to Market Harborough.

A lovely day with family at Foxton yesterday (including an excellent carvery lunch at the Foxton Locks Inn with good service, despite it being absolutely rammed with people).

Today we took a little detour to Market Harborough; a journey of just over 5 miles down an offshoot of the main canal which took around 3 hours. No locks but one swing-bridge and a number of oncoming craft;  hireboats just picked up from Market Harborough basin.

We found a mooring on the approach to the basin which ends the Market Harborough arm of the canal and set off on our bikes to explore the town and collect supplies.

 

Not such a pretty view on our mooring today - but being near the shops makes up for it!

 

All went well in town and we decided the shops merit a second look tomorrow so the bikes are locked up on the stern and we'll be off for more foraging in the morning. In our defence, this is the last town we will go through until Milton Keynes which is many days - possibly weeks - journey away. We shop while we can!

Our bikes ready for action again in the morning.

8th August 2015 - to Foxton

An easy day today. Through just 5 locks in the company of Eleanor, followed by a stop for us and a short walk to Fleckney village from bridge 73. The chemist was shut but the good Co-op was open and Robin carried beer, rolls and mustard back to the boat in the rucksack. Then on through quiet countryside to the bottom of Foxton locks for a tidy up before we have guests (Jo's brother and his children) tomorrow.

We also tried out the breadmaker to good effect so we will have home-made toast for breakfast tomorrow.

The end of our first week on the boat. So far so good!
We will celebrate with dinner at the Foxton Lock Inn  :)

Robin gives the thumbs up to his first loaf on board!

7 miles and 15 locks today. Travelling again with narrow boat Eleanor. Good company and good progress. The canal creeps around the bottom of Leicester, heading south and then east. We enjoyed sailing passed all the back gardens that reach down to the canal; taking a privileged peek at every sort of decking arrangement and garden ornamentation.

We moored just past the village of Newton Harcourt in a nice spot with lovely views to one side (best to keep quite about the mainline railway to the other side). Eleanor moored behind us and we plan to travel to Foxton together tomorrow.

The lovely view from our mooring and the promise of pretty scenery for our travels tomorrow. 

Harold settling in for the night



Harold and Eleanor behind; travelling companions, if only briefly.

The view from our dinette window as we ate our supper.

 

6th August 2015 - A dash through Leicester

An early start today to get through Leicester and to nice moorings we have used before just south of Blue Bank lock.

Robin walked Scooby in the water meadows by Zouch lock before we set off and met a small herd of Roe deer. We also saw this heron shortly after we set off - he sat and waited until we were almost level with him before he flew away over our heads.

At the third lock we met narrow boat Eleanor and shared the rest of our journey today (and the locks) with her crew, a friendly couple who have been happily living and travelling on their boat for several years. Encouraging for us beginners.

Altogether we gravelled 17miles and went through 13 locks today; all achieved in 10 hours.
It was all too much for Scooby, who crashed out on the bed in the afternoon!

Tomorrow we head out of the Leicester suburbs and towards the Saddington tunnel and the Foxton lock flight.



Fast asleep!



 

5th August 2015 - we visit Loughborough

Just a short journey from Zouch to the outskirts of Loughborough today. The river Soar was lovely in the morning.

Combining next to the river - we just about managed to outrun the dust.

Next stop Loughborough moorings for lunch and shopping; Sainsbury's, B&Q and the fishing tackle shop (for maggots!). Robin tried out the fold up bike to get where he needed to go and it worked a treat. This all took a while though, so we just carried on through Loughborough in the late afternoon, mooring just south of the town at Millers Bridge for a long dog walk and some DIY.

Millers bridge where we are moored for the night - there were swallows dipping over the river but they disappeared when I produced my camera.

4th August 2015 - Our first day on the move

 

Today is the day we finally set off from Redhill in our newly refurbished Harold. Robin practised his loo emptying and we set off nervously like a pair of first time boaters - it seems like a long time since we were on the river!


Harold puts his nose out into the river Soar and we are off.



 

Making our way gently south, we met this lovely lady at one of the locks and Robin fed her Scooby's treats (fortunately we have plenty!) while he slept on the bed inside.

Moored for the night just after Zouch lock ready for tomorrow and a visit to Sainsburys and B&Q in Loughborough.

August 3rd 2015

Robin and Scooby at the helm.

 

A comfy sofa is a must.

Our newly refurbished fireplace and kitchen

 

At Redhill  waiting for something to happen....