Foxton to Market Harborough.

Hi everyone. 

Well, after a few lovely days spent at Foxton we were on the move again. Over the few days we spent at Foxton, we caught up with friends at Bridge 61 and at the cafe at the top of the locks. After our morning walks we would end up at Bridge 61 for a cuppa and a natter. We also got to watch plenty of fun and games on the water, with boats coming and going.

You will always get a welcome, good food and drinks at Bridge 61.

For Father's Day, we went to The Black Horse Inn for a Sunday roast dinner and I have to say it was fabulous. It made a nice change from salad.

The past few nights we have had some amazing sunsets. They have been truly glorious. They have come with some Sahara dust as well it seems. We have also enjoyed some much needed rain.

This morning, I woke after an excellent nights sleep. 

We set off 9.10 am to wind the boat at the bottom of Foxton Locks. I kept the swing bridge open, whilst Keith winded the boat.

Boat winded, we were on our way to Market Harborough and yes, I had the second swing bridge to operate. Like so many others, I am not a fan of that bridge.

To be fair it was not to difficult to do this morning, but you do need to be pretty fit to move it. Everyone moans about that bridge.

At 11.25am we made it to Market Harborough and moored up. After some lunch, we headed down into the town with our rucksacks. The plan was to buy some paint for the back cabin, so we decided the rucksacks would be easier to use than taking the trolley. We went to Wilko's and picked up the paint I wanted and were on our way back to the boat, when a lady we had just walked past collapsed and began fitting. I gave my rucksack to Keith and my First Aid lessons came into action. Whilst I helped to keep the lady calm and comfortable a gentleman rang for an ambulance. The ladies partner was in the church and so when he came out, he got a bit of a shock seeing her lying on the floor being attended to. I had put her in the recovery position and put her jumper under her head to stop her hitting her head on the pavement. Another lady, came and helped me whilst we got some details from the ladies partner and within minutes the ambulance arrived. By the time the ambulance arrived, she was coming out of the seizure, but was very confused and scared. We left her with the ambulance team to assess and I hope that she is fine. I did my First Aid many years ago and have used what I was taught from time to time, but have not used it with someone having a seizure. You just never know when knowing something like that will come in handy. The main thing was to be calm and confident, which I was. Back on the boat, a much needed coffee was had and feet were put up. We are here for a couple of days, as we want to catch up with more friends.

Pop back soon xx

 

Foxton to Market Harborough and Back.

 

Hi everyone.

It has been a glorious, but busy few days, hence I am in catch up mode for the blog. We spent a wonderful weekend at Foxton above the locks. We met up with a lot of old friends, but also made some new ones. Sunday evening we sat out with other boaters until 10.30pm nattering and having a good laugh, but it then got to chilly and bed was calling. Most of them were either vloggers or on Twitter. I like to pop in and out of vlogs, but for me to be come a vlogger, it would take up way too much time. So I will stick with what I know and can cope with. We had a brilliant time.

We had a feathered visitor. This dark chequred racing pigeon needed a rest and some water. She was wearing race rings and had more than likely stopped off on her way home. Unfortunately, I realised after she had taken her first drink, she had water dripping out of her chest. At first I thought it had run down her feathers, but on closer inspection it revealed she had hit a wire and so anything she drank just came out of the wound. I did try and catch her, but she was having none of it and after a rest, she flew off. I hope she made it home, but I fear she may have perished before flying home to her loft.

Monday morning, we set off down the Foxton Locks flight. We were the first boat going down and did it in just under an hour.

Having worked the two swing bridges, we were on our way to Market Harborough.

We moored at the Waterfront in Market Harborough wharf at 12:20pm, 3hrs 25mins, 10 locks. We spent a couple of nights in the basin and enjoyed being back in Market Harborough. We went and saw our friends at the Hfm radio station, had lunch in the Sugar Loaf, which belongs to Wetherspoons and did some shopping.

This morning we left the basin, having used the services area and headed back out to Foxton.

We had a pleasant pootle and are now moored before Foxton junction and Foxton locks at 11:40pm, 2hrs, no locks.

Pop back soon xx

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

Lovely few days.

Hi All.

How was it for you then?

Did you have a lovely Platinum Jubilee Weekend?

We spent the whole four days at Hillmorton, watching the world go by.

We had an amazing All Day Breakfast at the cafe. OMG I can totally recommend it. We also walked up into Hillmorton, which is an elongated village, with a pub, co-op, post office and a couple of other small shops. 

Saturday evening we went to watch Kate and Heather, the Alarum Theatre perform Muck and Shovel and Mary Rose. Both excellent performances. Muck and Shovel was performed outside, in wintery, windy weather and so for Mary Rose we all piled inside the cafe and we were all somewhat warmer.

They were also doing an different performance on the Sunday, but the weather was so awful, we decided to stay on the boat in the dry and warm.

After a somewhat wet and windy weekend, this morning we left from below Hillmorton locks at 9:00am, the weather was dry and calm, all be it overcast. 

We had a good run, meeting a few boats along the way.

Our boating day finished early at 12.10pm when we moored up outside Braunston Marina, having boated for 3hrs 10mins and only done 3 locks. Amazing to see Braunston so quiet on the boat front. Whilst sat eating lunch, I heard a "Hello Jo and Keith" from a boat passing and it was lovely to see Rupert and  Alison Smedley on Sandbach, they had been at the Crick Boat Show for the weekend. I dare say we will see a few boats from that weekend.

Pop back soon xx

 

Hawkesbury Junction to Hillmorton.

Congratulations to her majesty the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee. 

Queen Elizabeth II, has served our fine country for 70 years and shown true resilience, through some difficult time.

Today we woke to lovely sunshine and a Wren who was shouting loudly, to be heard above the other birds. 

Turning off the Coventry Canal.

Arriving on the Oxford Canal.

We left Hawkesbury junction at 8:45am, and met a fair few boats on the move, anyone would think there is a Platinum Jubilee long weekend going on 🤣.

We met several boats in bridge 'ole's. we gave way to them, because it was easier for us to hold fast and let them through.

Some cattle decided they needed to take a paddle to cool themselves down.

After a pleasant days boating we moored below Hillmorton locks a 2:50pm, 6hrs 5mins, 1 lock. We are going to stay here for the rest of the weekend. Because there a lot of boats out and about, moorings may become hard to find, so we will stay put and enjoy the weather and a walk up into Hillmorton.

I hope you all have a wonderful Jubilee weekend.

Pop back soon x

 

Sutton Cheney to Hawkesbury Junction.

 

Hi all.

Yesterday we did Sutton Cheney to Stoke Golding. It was pretty uneventful, with a few boats on the move. The highlight of the day was the evening meal at The Mango Tree in Stoke Golding. If you love Indian food, then do go and give them a go. The food and service were excellent and well worth the stroll up into the village. They have been there for 14 years, so they must be doing something right.

This morning we left Stoke Golding at 9.15am, with the intention of getting to Hawkesbury Junction.

We had a very pleasant pottle to Hinkley, where we stopped for food at 10.20am. We stopped opposite Trinity Marina, got our trolleys and rucksacks and walked the couple of mile up into Hinkley to find Lidl. Our thinking was, that Tesco at Rugby would be mega busy tomorrow, what with the long Bank Holiday Weekend for the Jubilee. Having done our shopping, we did the walk back to the boat at 12 noon and whilst we were on the move, I stowed all the shopping away, made lunch and a coffee.

Our time on the Ashby was almost over.

Met these gorgeous horses, before leaving the peace of the Ashby Canal.

As we approached Marston Junction to turn back onto the Coventry Canal, another boat wanted to swap places with us. It all worked like a dream and no paintwork was exchanged.

We went back past Charity Dock and its wonderful display.

All moored up for the evening by 3.25 pm.

Pop back soon xx