Lunch in Barrow-upon-Soar.

Travelled 5.5 miles, worked 5 locks in a time of 2 hours and 50 minutes.

We had a nice relaxing start to the day with the sun shining brightly and the temperature climbing even at 7 am. We left our over night mooring at 8.55 am and headed for Junction Lock.

The locks today were definitely easier which is a welcome sign for the next few days. It seems as though the maintenance on the ones through Leicester is the major stumbling block as to why people do not travel that way.

The views across the countryside are breath taking and not something I remember from 2009.

The trip to Cossington Lock was made on the Wreake River, below the lock we re-joined the River Soar.

I love rivers because they are wide and deep and we only saw two other boats on the move.

We arrived at Sileby Mill Lock.

I remember we stopped here in 2009. There has been a mill on this site since 1608, the present mill is a private residence.

The thought was to stop at Mountsorrel as we did not get the chance to stop in 2009. We had hoped to stop and walk up to see what is left of the Castle on the hill. The castle was used as a bastion against King Stephen, and was subsequently destroyed in 1217 by the King's men from Nottingham. All that remains of the castle today is a granite crag on Castle Hill. The hill is also the site of a memorial (by Shirley Harrison, 1926) to those who lost their lives in World War.

The 48 hour moorings were full with breasted boats and there were even boats moored on the lock moorings, so there was no mooring here. One of the boaters did tell me at the lock they were all staying there for the weekend.

We left Mountsorrel and headed off to find somewhere else to moor.

This bridge looks new but has a date on it for 1860.

Passed this amazing table and benches at Meadow Farm Marina. I absolutely love it.

Most stunning garden award today goes to this garden it was stunning.

Barrow Deep Lock with its traffic light system for when the river is high or low. Today it is low and so the green light was showing.

11.45 am we moored up below the lock on bollard moorings and the heat was definitely on the way up, but I am not complaining.

With it being so hot, I suggested we had a cooked lunch at The Boathouse. That way I could do us some rolls for dinner. Lunch was very nice, Cottage Pie, Chips and Peas for £4.95 each washed down by a pint each of Hog Goblin. Whilst we had lunch a Lancaster flew over twice, such a treat.

We then walked up into the town to get some salad items, as I am not going to be cooking for the next few days. There is a Co-op, Cost Cutters, Butchers, Boots, Hairdressers, Takeaways Indian and Chinese and a couple of other places so everything a boater needs really. This will be home for the next couple of days and so we look forward to having a good nose around.