Saturday 30 June 2012

To bridge 60, above Foxton locks, GU Leicester Section

Well, Foxton locks are all dressed up, but it's a no go show - the planned weekend Lock Festival has been cancelled due to a water logged site and 'elf and safety issues. We did know this before we arrived, but it is particularly disappointing as the weather today has been pretty good but there are some tradeboats here, Welsh cheeses, fudge, art, wooden crafts, but no MG Club, or war antics on the field, but still a nice day ambling around, and seeing another Vagabond doing trips, and a few boats using the staircase locks. The waterway volunteers seemed to be working harder than the paid BW employees! It is apparent that the place has been smartened up ready for the torch on Monday. We found a well stocked shop just through the Skittle Alley of the Black Horse pub in Foxton village and ordered a Sunday newspaper.



We enjoyed the Bridge 61 ale in the pub at the foot of Foxton locks and will return there before the weekend is over, that's for sure.

Friday 29 June 2012

Yelvertoft to Bridge 59 just before Foxton Locks, Grand Union Leicester Line

We walked into Yelvertoft as we recall an excellent butcher, and he is still there. The village stores seems to be a more pleasant experience than we recall 3 years ago.

We waited for the dreary drizzle to stop before heading off, not many boats at all along this route.
Through Husbands Bosworth tunnel - quite dry - and on towards Foxton.
The only way to entertain a dog whilst going through a tunnel is with food! hence the picture.

Whilst the dog roses might be out in full force, this certainly was not a dog day - April showers more like. We are now moored with a short passage ahead of us tomorrow, to the top of the locks at Foxton and our appointed mooring for the weekend.


Thursday 28 June 2012

Grand Union Canal - Leicestershire Section

Well, we are afloat and the dongle has been dried out. We have been home since our last blog, and now we are heading towards Foxton. We are booked in for the Foxton Locks Festival next weekend, but alas the event has already been cancelled due to the waterlogged site. We are still hopeful about seeing the Olympic torch next Monday.

Today, we went up the Watford Staircase Locks and encountered a most friendly and helpful BW lockeeper. He was just so chatty and sociable as he kept a watchful eye on proceedings - a really good ambassador for BW. We hope to see him again on Monday, as he will be on duty at Foxton as the torch is moved by boat, speedily, somehow, through a lock.

We escaped heavy rain today, but it is was soooooo muggy. Lunch at Crick and then on to Yelvertoft, for a sunny evening.

Thursday 7 June 2012

Thursday 7 June 2012

Alvecote marina - again - Coventry Canal

Since the last blog we have been along the Trent and Mersey to provisionally (we think) sort out some winter moorings and then back to Alrewas where we were glued to the spot for a few days. The weather has been absolutely atrocious, and Sunday last was probably the worst 24 hours we have spent afloat, with torrential, unceasing rain for over 24 hours, so we stayed put, put the heating on and enjoyed watching the Jubilee flotilla along the Thames. Like so many other people, we were very disappointed with the BBC commentary particularly as there seemed to be no knowledge of the narrowboats and Dunkirk little ships we saw, no historical facts and information came through, let alone interpreting the semaphore flags! We could have done better!

So, we travelled back up to Fradley Junction and certainly on Jubilee Tuesday, it was a very busy place, boats and gongoozlers everywhere! We are now moored up at Alvecote, having endured heavy rain this afternoon, and have made our way here, along with many Russell Newbery engined boats going to their annual rally, this time at Alvecote Marina. Even the dog is finding the damp dreary weather hard to endure - see pic!