Seyella's Journey

A cool clear night led to a beautiful, crisp morning. Went for a 6 mile run around the country park, saw foxes, woke the ducks, and disturbed the geese.
Set off from Birstall at about 09:15 heading South to Leicester. The route through the city was a surprise, with (generally) well tended towpaths and a lot of new riverside development. I remember when I was in further education in Leicester, and did a photographic project on delapidation and decay beside the canal. I’d be struggling to repeat that now! Pity I haven’t still got those prints.

Newarke Bridge















The locks here are very heavy, we were lucky to hook up with another boat and shared the work through most of today’s.

Limekiln Lock

Coming out of the built up area, some sections are very narrow and windy, very river-like in nature, with overgrown banks and no view of the surrounding countryside.

Meanders

Glad to be out of the city though, overnighting just past Gee’s Lock between Aylestone and Wigston.

Gee’s Lock

The original plan was to go down to Market Harborough and spend a couple of days there before slowly retracing our steps to make our appointment at Redhill at the end of the month. Rather than do this, we’ve decided to keep going South, and pick up the Grand Union Main Line at Norton Junction. Thence to Braunston, up the North Oxford and Coventry canals, and back onto the Trent and Mersey to take us back to the River Soar junction.
We should be able to do this in about 15 days at 4 to 5 hours a day, and avoiding weekends if possible.

7½ miles, 10 locks.