Having a fun time.

 

Hi All.

We left Braunston and had fun in the tunnel. A boat was completely on the wrong side of the tunnel and even though we were on tick over heading their way, we ended up having to push them on to their own side of the tunnel. We have had people not knowing the right side of the canal to be on, but never had the same thing in a tunnel. No damage was done and we both went on our way. 

We then turn on to the Leicester Line at Norton Junction and arrived at Watford Locks, where there was a queue, which gave me time to make some lunch and a cuppa. In all we waited for Three quarters of an hour, which was nothing at all really. 

Hadar's fore end got a really good wash in a couple of the locks going uphill. 

Three sets of gates have been replaced, but the ones in the flight, really need doing urgently. Not looking forward to going down in a few weeks, because if the lock keepers are not careful they will fill our back cabin with water. We will have to specify that they leave a locks distance between us and the next boat. 

Having done Crick tunnel, we passed Steve and Chris on AmyJo and Gary on Chugabug. After mooring up, we went and had a cuppa with Steve and Chris and had a wonderful catch up. Later in the afternoon, they came to us to see Hadarford.

Yesterday (Thursday), we headed off to the Welford Arm.

We moored in the Wharf and went to see Les about our blacking booking at the end of the month. Our evening was spent enjoying a meal in The Wharf Inn.

This morning (Friday), we left Welford and set off down the one lock. The gates really need changing, they have come to the end of their life. CRT have done running repairs, but that will not last long.

The one very obvious thing noticeable about the Leicester Line is the lack of maintenance of any sort. The veg pledge has definitely passed this canal by. Trees, over grown not just on the offside, but also on the towpath side. Towpaths are disappearing and being worn away. It was like this when we did the coal run up here until 2016. Clearly, someone is not putting in the effort to keep the vegetation under control. At bridge 'ole's bushes are blocking the line of sight and Willows are also in desperate need of a hair cut.

This one has a bridge 'ole behind it.

We entered Husbands Bosworth Tunnel, wondering what antics we would encounter today, but we did not meet a soul Phewwww.

Heading towards Foxton, this is what greeted us. It is a pathway put in along a crumbing towpath. I wonder how long this has been there and when will a proper repair be done. We did see some piling going on, but not enough to make a difference. The towpaths up here are definitely not safe to cycle along.

We are staying put for the weekend now.

Pop back soon xxx