Friday, 9 October 2009

Friday 9 October 2009

Foxton Locks, Leicester Section, Grand Union Canal



Well, after a 2 week holiday at home we have returned to the boat and made our way to Foxton, primarily to see the restoration work done here over the last 20 years since our last visit. Now it is a very tidy and well kept site with interest too as the remains of the inclined boat lift plane now very evident, plus the canal museum alongside is open. Plans are in place to fully restore the lift which will ease congestion of boats waiting to get upand down, in fact history will repeat itself.

We have spent the day here as we also wanted to take in a walk we had seen in the D/Tel - thankfully we were able to substitute some tarmac walking with paths across farmland and taking in well signed footpaths. A good 3 hours - need a dog! - made complete by some very enjoyable Theakston Black Bull ale at the pub below the lock staircase.


On our way to Foxton we boated down to Welford, down the pretty canal arm reopened 40 years ago. Rather a dreary place at the end of the canal, but Welford is an attractive village with, thankfully, a good little shop.

So tomorrow we will not proceed down the locks, but turnround and retrace our steps. There is a promenade of dressed boats and boaters in period costume tomorrow, to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of canal arm to Market Harborough. We will probably watch them leave and then make our way back towards Braunston.

Sorry no pictures this trip, left the camera behind, we hope!

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