Foxton Junction, Leicester to Mount Sorrel

(Richard thought this was a very arty photo, he is easily pleased!)
Next morning, we set off to Debdale Wharf, where a tricky 90degree bend tested Richard, in order that the filler cap at the stern could be accessed. A mere £34 filled her back up ( a declaration has to be made on how much fuel is used for propulsion /domestic, so as the correct amount of VAT is paid!) and off we went again. Those of you who know us, know that Richard would have to put a small mortgage worth in the 'Brick' (ex army ambulance (101))to even get us off the drive, let alone a week's cruising, but we loved her all the same!
Saddington tunnel at 881yards long was a walk in the park compared with previous ones. We hoped to see evidence of bats, but were unlucky, despite the gloom in there.
12 locks stood between us and a good night's sleep at our next mooring at Kilby bridge. A lovely couple followed us through these locks all the way with their new 'battery' powered boat . The gentleman, it transpired, had worked on the Ark Royal during his time in the Navy, but recently his wife had had an accident and had problems with her memory. They lived aboard their boat and were visiting relatives around the Leicester area. Richard was intriged with the engine concept especially the silent running. The bow thruster was the only thing that gave it away. he told us he could creep up on fishermen and make them nearly fall in, the engine was that quiet!
Throughout this section, the countryside remains charmingly unspoilt, which makes the slow filling widebeam locks pale into insignificance.
The guide talks about the 'descent into Leicester - if not hell!', so we made an early start, trying hard not to let our thumping vintage style engine wake the rest of the boaters. This day we would do 19 locks! The day began in earnest, no-one else around, however arriving at Dunn's lock on the outskirts of Glen Parva, there was an issue with the gate at the lower end of the lock. A family had been waiting for British Waterways to come and repair the gate since the previous day, but no-one had responded. I called through and within an hour BW had arrived with a repair barge! A very serious chap walked towards us at the lock and asked what the problem was. He did no more than to go up to the gate and open it! If our jaws could have dropped any lower, they would have hit the floor! He said he had been in the job 30 years and it happens all the time. I felt sorry for the family waiting below the lock who had to get to Market Harborough that day to meet relatives off a plane. But when several different people had tried the gate after them he knew it was just time for the obstruction to be dislodged.
Whilst we had been waiting a guy called Peter arrived on Samantha Rose, another traditional style narrowboat but slightly longer than ours at 70 feet. He accompanied us through the locks to Mount Sorrel where we parted company. He was an expert at single manning his boat, in and out of the numerous locks and was great company.
Gradually urbanisation takes over the canal's passage into Leicester and the first thing which annoyed me was the graffiti on some of the lock gates. The threat of vandalism has brought about the padlocking of the paddles on the locks which I found such a shame.
Going through Leicester itself was actually thankfully quite uneventful. I steered the boat into the locks whilst Richard and Peter worked the paddles and gates. The local Regatta was being held over the weekend, so numerous boats had begun to congregate throughout the central 'Mile straight'. Our main concern was churning something up in the propellor, as anything could have been thrown in over the years, as with any city. Richard took several photos as he sailed through, mainly of ornate bridges and a heron!



Coming out of Leicester was as beautiful as arriving as the River Soar takes over parts of the waterway. Mount Sorrel would be our mooring for the evening as the weather was closing in and after all those locks and the early start, we were ready to stop.
Unfortunately supplies were at a minimum, and finding the shop would be another expedition in itself! Laden down with bags, a bottle of wine and a take away Indian, we arrived back at the boat exhausted but relieved that we had survived the 'youth' of Leicester, as so reputed!