Regular Locks to Kilby Bridge

After yesterday’s evening showers the sky cleared and it was a fine night, dawning to give us beautiful blue skies.
It wasn’t to last, though. Clouds started rolling in soon after we got off, driven by a strong wind from the west.

Where we moored last night we had wide views across the open parkland that was the site of the medieval village of Wistowe.

Looking out over the village site.The 13C St. Wistans church is just visible to the left.

I’ve tried without success to find out why it was abandoned, it seemed to be in an excellent location, fertile grazing, woodland for fuel and construction materials, a growing city nearby for trade.
A clue could be that there’s a large hall here, and it was not unknown for wealthy landowners to move whole communities in order to create private parks. This happened at Shugborough in Staffordshire.

Today we’ve had a regular run of locks to descend, the first after about 10 minutes, then the rest no more than 15 minutes apart.

No 1 today, Newton Top Lock
I though we were going to be in for a bit of frustration, as we arrived the first couple of locks were against us, with the lower gates stood open. Then after closing them, filling the lock, dropping down and Mags motoring out, I found that I couldn’t keep the bottom gates shut either!
I closed the one that we’d come out of, only to have the other one swing open. Crossing over the top gates, I closed the other one, crossed back and the damn thing swung open again. I’m afraid that’s how it stayed. I know you’re supposed to close everything on leaving, but there are limits on how many times I’m prepared to walk around a lock!

By the time we’d got three locks under our belts traffic that had spent the night at Kilby Bridge had started to arrive, so the locks were filled ready for us, and we were able to leave gates open with a clear conscience with boats approaching.

Between Locks 26 and 27, Bottom Half Mile Lock and Turnover Lock.The clouds roll in!

Another customer for Bumblebee Lock.
I thought we might get away with the weather, but 10 minutes from Kilby Bridge we had a heavy shower. It didn’t last long, and with the brisk wind everything had dried out again by the time we pulled onto the services at the BW maintenance yard.

We filled with water, emptied a loo and rubbish, and motored across the canal to the moorings. We’re staying here tonight, taking it easy, girding our loins ready for the run through Leicester tomorrow.
The forecast is for rain later in the afternoon. We’ll be making an early start, hoping to avoid most of it.

Locks 7, miles 2¾

Mixed Weather……

We had to pay for having such a pleasant day yesterday, didn’t we. Heavy overnight rain left big puddles on the towpath, but at least they’d cleared by the morning. Still grey though, with more forecast.
We were on the move around 10 as usual.

There’s a designated SSSI along the canal, starting just past Debdale Wharf Marina. It runs all the way to Kilby Bridge.Exceptionally rare pondweed, indeed!

The canal does a few switchback turns, following the contour of the land, before arriving at Saddington Tunnel.

Saddington Tunnel, South portal.
This tunnel is known as home to a colony of Daubenton’s bats, although none were in evidence today. They hibernate for 6 months a year. Not a bad idea, with our current climate! We did see a kingfisher ducking in and out of the entrance, maybe taking spiders from the cobwebs just inside.

Bat box about 100 feet in.
The red brick lining throws back an eerie light from our flat beamed tunnel light.The light is actually a fog lamp from a 60’s Riley 1.5. It’s flat beam is ideal for tunnels, clearly illuminating both walls without dazzling oncoming traffic.

We pulled in just past Fleckney Bridge to make a quick visit for essentials at the Co-op in the village, then were passed by a boat as we were getting ready to move.
We caught up with them at Kibworth Top Lock, and shared the next five, down to Wistow.
All the locks from here to the Trent are broad, now.

In Kibworth Top Lock with NB Lazy Bee.
Pywells Lock
A couple of years ago, in the winter, we arrived here, going up. The pound above was almost empty, and I had to run water down through the uphill locks so we could get going.
No problem today, there’s water coming over the top gates.

There was a boat waiting to come up. It was NB Blackden Gem, yet another Orchard boat, this time number 14. She’s the last one that Stan Collymore built from the base plate up, after this he bought shells in. She’s actually the 13th that he built, but you don’t put that on a boat, do you….

Still looking good, NB Blackden Gem.
The weather took a turn for the worse, a short shower being the prelude to more continuous heavy rain. We only had to put up with about 15 minutes of it though, before pulling in as planned at Wistow.
The couple on NB Lazy Bee went past, but I’ve a suspicion they might also have called it a day a little further on.

Locks 5, miles 6½

Down the Wooden Hill.

Yesterday’s weather was decidedly grim, showers on and off for most of the day. So we stayed put, and I changed the oil and filters on the engine and gearbox.

Today was much better, warm and sunny first thing when I was out for my run, so it was pull pins and head off down the locks as soon as I’d taken Meg out for her morning constitutional.

NB Sogno arrived yesterday afternoon in a heavy shower, no sign of life this morning as we passed.This is another Orchard Marina boat, maybe 3 years older than Seyella.

We were lucky to arrive at the top of the locks at the right time, able to start down straight away following a couple of boats already in the flight.

Fine view of the Leicester plain from the top lock.
Inevitably, it being a fine Sunday during the holiday season, there were lots of folk around. I reckon I explained the fundamentals of lock operation at least four times.

I was helped with the gates by a family from Germany (I think), so I only had to work one side and we made rapid progress.

Midway down, a short pound allows boats to pass.In either of the 5 lock staircases, once a boat is in the locks, another boat cannot pass in the opposite direction. The operation is usually controlled by lock keepers during the season, and they allow 5 boats in each direction at a time.

At the bottom, our helpers said cheerio. I’d bought the kids an ice cream tub each as payment.
There were a few boats waiting to go up by now, including the hotel pair Snipe and Taurus. They’d just collected a party of guests in Market Harborough and were off onto the summit level.

Snipe and Taurus manoeuvring for the bottom lock.
We filled and emptied as required at the new swing bridge, then turned around and headed out of the bustle surrounding the junction.

It’s always a bit chaotic here during the boating season. Hire boats based at Union Wharf in Market Harborough are arriving on the main line, either to go left up the locks or right towards Leicester. Then there are the boats already on the main line, as well as a couple of Foxton Boat Services day boats and the trip boat MV Vagabond.
All of the 48 hour moorings were occupied, but we found a bit of bank space just past the footbridge.

Two more easy days to Kilby Bridge, then the run through Leicester. We usually stop at Kings Lock near Aylestone to break the journey, but may decide to push straight through in one go this time.

Locks 10, miles 1

It’s all downhill from here…

Had a civilised start again today, off at around 10 o’clock. Just around the corner is the county boundary, so we’re now in Leicestershire. The rolling landscape still looks the same, though.

Laughton Hills.
The Welford Arm comes in near here, a navigable feeder bringing water in from two reservoirs above the town. Reclaimed from dereliction in 1969, it runs up to a small basin and marina, through a shallow lock.

Welford Junction
We needed diesel and gas, and so intended to pull in at North Kilworth Wharf, just about a mile from the junction. A boat came out from Welford just ahead of us, and they beat us to the wharf, pulling in for fuel and a loo pump-out. We dropped onto one of the pontoons used for permanent moorings for the 45 minute wait.These last two fills we’ve used about 8% more fuel per hour than our usual consumption. I think it’s because we’ve been on the rivers Severn and Avon, at least I hope so. I’ll know better next time. The short bits of the Soar are not going to make a lot of difference.

We got away again and had a gentle cruise to the top of Foxton Locks. From Welford the canal is wider and deeper, probably more boats use this bit.

BW have recently done some bank repair work in the cutting towards Husbands Bosworth Tunnel.

Towpath repairs.They even included several duck ramps!

A softer, more environmentally friendly (and probably significantly cheaper) method has been used instead of sheet steel piling.
A flexible membrane is supported by timber posts forced into the canal bed, then the space behind backfilled with silt dredged from the canal. A wooden rail along the front of the posts holds the whole thing together till the silt consolidates.

Husbands Bosworth Tunnel is shorter than the previous two, at 1166 yards. It’s wide, high and drier than Chirk.
We met one boat coming the other way, passing without incident.

Husbands Bosworth Tunnel.
A lot of the villages around here seem to have double-barreled names. Husbands Bosworth, Market Harborough, Smeeton Westerby (I love that one) and Kibworth Beauchamp. There must be some historical significance.

There’s been a brisk breeze today, but it’s not affected us very much, with high hedges or cuttings deflecting the wind. But it did bring heavy, rain-filled clouds over, one of which dumped on us for half an hour. But the warm wind soon dried things off afterwards.

We arrived at the top of Foxton Locks at around 2, mooring just before Gumley Road Bridge. It’s quieter here, off the tourist route around the locks and inclined plane. This is the end of the 20½ mile long summit level. From here it’s a steady fall all the way to the Trent.

Locks 0, miles 7.

Beautiful Countryside.

I woke up this morning not feeling my normal self. A headache and general weariness kept me in bed for an extra hour instead of getting in my morning run. Maybe I’ve been pushing it a bit hard these last few days. I’m determined to get a 10K personal best in Sheffield on September 5th.

A good walk with Meg cleared my head, and I was feeling much better by the time we were ready to move out.
It was a good day for a slightly under the weather steerer, no locks today, just one stop for water on the edge of Yelvertoft village.

First though we passed the new marina at Yelvertoft. As always with these new excavations they look very raw and exposed till the vegetation starts to re-establish itself.

Yelvertoft Marina. Free diesel? Maybe not.

Filling up with water at Yelvertoft.
The boat opposite has been there every time we’ve come this way, implying that it’s not moved for nearly four years. A good clean wouldn’t go amiss.

This is probably the most scenic stretch of the Leicester Line. The canal winds it’s way through the folds in the Northamptonshire countryside on the 412 foot contour. Always shallow and frequently narrow, it appears more like a river than a canal. Only the regular weathered brick accommodation bridges indicate it’s true origins.

Cruising the Leicester Line summit.
Morning, ladies, kids.
A patchwork of pasture and arable fields, interspersed with areas of woodland, accompany the navigation. An occasional farm is the only sign of civilisation, even the bridges carry only tracks or the odd B road.

There is a newer crossing as the A14 heads west to pick up the M1, but this is soon left behind.

Bridge 29a, carrying the A14.All this open countryside, and this guy chooses to moor under a busy road bridge….Ah, he was working on his roof.

As we got nearer Welford there were regular fly-bys of tow aircraft and gliders from the airfield there. They were releasing above the Hemplow Hills just alongside the canal, to get the benefit of the updraft off the slopes.

Glider and tug
We pulled in just before the arm up to Welford.

View from the boat this afternoon..... before the rain started.







There’ve been a few boats about, but it’s by no means busy. The day has been fine, with hazy sunshine and a gentle breeze. There’s rain forecast for this evening, it started around 4 o’clock and is expected to last all night. We’ll have to see what it’s doing tomorrow.

Locks 0, miles 10.

Don’t forget….
I’m running the Great North Run for Cancer Research UK. Please sponsor me!

A Tale of Two Tunnels.

We had a few more showers overnight, but this morning was dry and we were on the move at 09:30.
Just 5 minutes took us to the entrance to Braunston Tunnel.

Braunston Tunnel, West.

The black matting area on the left of the tunnel mouth is bank reinforcement, to prevent a reccurrence of the land slip which closed the tunnel for a while in 2007.

It was in this tunnel we acquired our first dent, when we were struck by a boat coming the other way. We’d stopped and pulled over as tight as we could to the wall, but there still wasn’t enough room for the oncoming boat. We’ve got a few more since then…..

It’s a couple of miles to Norton Junction and the left turn onto the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal.

Looking across the fields to the junction, the little footbridge is on the Leicester Line.

Norton Junction just under Bridge 10
There are good moorings in the first mile or so of the branch, this is where we originally planned to be last night. I’m glad we didn’t push on though, with those showers blowing in.

NB Page is here, with it’s little “granny flat”. I could do with one of these.
The banks turn overgrown and reedy as the canal heads into the country, but the M1, railway line and Watling Street all crowd in on the waterway inside two miles. Then Watford Locks is reached.

Watford Bottom Lock

There are seven locks here, three individuals and four in a staircase. Cathy the resident lock keeper keeps everyone in order.
We arrived at the wrong time, there was a queue of seven boats just starting down when we pulled up, with another four in front of us waiting to go up. So we had a wait of about 1½ hours, but I kept myself busy by shepherding the descending boats through the bottom lock.

Once in the flight we were able to get on, and made the top in less than an hour.

In Watford Staircase Locks.
Leaving the top lock the canal ducks under the motorway then heads once more into the peace and quiet of the Northamptonshire countryside. We’ve moored along here in the past, looking out over a field full of sheep, but today we wanted to get to Crick, and that meant going through the second tunnel of the day.

We’d met four boats going through Braunston Tunnel, fortunately all of them being as careful to avoid contact as us. Crick Tunnel was by contrast empty, just one boat ahead of us in the distance.

Crick Tunnel
Approaching the far end we saw a boat come into view. I thought that it’d be a shame to meet a boat just 100 yards from daylight. Obviously that boater thought the same and waited till we came out before entering the tunnel.

Out of Crick Tunnel, courteous steerer on NB Dolce Vita.
Through another bridge and we pulled over on the moorings opposite Crick Marina.
There’s a bit of shopping needs doing before we toddle off tomorrow.

Locks 7, miles 8½

Old boats by the fist full.

First off, sorry for not posting yesterday, just in case you noticed. Where we stopped between Braunston Top Lock and the tunnel there was no network coverage on 3, Orange or Vodaphone. That’s a good blackspot, I can usually get one out of three!
This is the post I wrote for yesterday’s trip.

Well, we’d planned to move up to Braunston yesterday, but stopped alongside NB Wilvir for a chat to Bill and Ginny before we left. The chat got quite long-winded, we took the dogs for a walk, and decided it was too late to go anywhere after all.
It’s been a fine couple of days, hazy sunshine putting smiles on boater’s faces and T shirts on their backs.

We had to move on today, loos were getting full, and we really need to be north of Leicester by the end of the month, so we said our goodbyes to Bill, Ginny and Gunner and moved out.

Mags and Meg with Bill, Ginny and Gunner.
Although this 5 mile stretch between Napton and Braunston is now part of the Grand Union Main Line, it was built as part of the Oxford Canal, a direct route from near Coventry to the Thames. The Grand Union is actually all or parts of more than 8 separately constructed navigations. They were all incorporated into one in the 1920’s, part of a strategy to improve commercial use.
As an earlier, contour canal, the Oxford twists and wiggles it’s way around the folds in the land, heading generally north.

At Wolfhamcote there’s a winding hole with assortment of ex working boats clustered around, some in better condition than others.

Working boats at Wolfhamcote
A little further on we had a treat, with the pair Aquarius and Fazeley coming towards us, loaded with coal.

Aquarius
Fazeley.
Then another couple, tied up.

Kestrel and Vienna
The Wall?
Braunston Turn must be one of the most photographed junctions on the network.

Braunston Turn.
We made a right here, paused to pick up a couple of bags of solid fuel from a coal boat, then pulled onto the al fresco sanitary station.

We were filling up with water when a familiar figure appeared, followed by a familiar boat. Bill and Ginny were intending to head up to Rugby (left at the Turn) but wanted to stop at Midland Chandlers and the services at the junction. Both were thronged, with boats breasted up, so they came along into Braunston instead. Ginny had walked up with Gunner, Bill took Wilvir up to the winding hole, turned around and came back to use the facilities as we finished.

We said goodbye for the second time, and left to find a mooring for a short while so I could visit Braunston Chandlers for that antenna adapter I spoke about last time. None to be had, so I jumped off at Bridge 1, trotted up to the shop and was waiting on the bottom lock landing as Mags brought the boat up.

We had to wait while another breasted up pair came out.

Braunston Bottom Lock
We did the first two locks in company with another boat, but they pulled in to make a visit to The Admiral Nelson for a pint, so we pressed on on our own. Not a big problem, there were boats coming down so we could leave gates open and locks were empty ahead of us.

We pulled in at just before 2 o’clock on the rebuilt 48 hour moorings just above the top lock. We were going to do another couple of miles, to get up onto the Leicester Line near Weltonhythe Marina, but the sunshine was too tempting, and I’d had enough by then.

Moored above Braunston Locks.
We had a couple of hours sun, then the sky got very black and we were hit by a heavy thunderstorm.
I’m glad I’m in here….

The black clouds moved over, and it’s sunny again now.

Locks 6, miles 4