Thursday 5 July 2012
Up Foxton locks and down the Welford Arm

A lovely summers day today and we visited the Foxton shop in the Skittle Alley of the Black Horse pub (honest), for a paper and then back to the boat and we were the first boat of the day to check in with the volunteer lockkeeper. He very kindly helped us up the staircases and we were at the top in 45 minutes and not another boat in sight.

After coffee, we went on towards the junction and turned left to go down to Welford. A place we had been to 3 years ago, that is even a more dreary, untidy and depressing end of canal place, with narrow, and overhanging trees as you approach, than we remembered. .Some boats here look fixed to the spot with dank, green algae clinging to them, little daylight reaching the boats, and so giving very miserable onboard existences for the liveaboard boaters. About 20 years ago this was probably an attractive location with new information boards and tended grounds, but not now. Why did we come down here?.

Foxton - Market Harborough - Foxton

We travelled down the Foxton staircases in the pouring rain, but on reflection we had probably saved ourselves a lengthy wait at the top, as boats were booked into the bottom lock as soon as we emerged. A sharp right hand turn, through a swing bridge and onto Market Harborough. The road swing bridge a little further on, that some oiks had treated with super glue and placed a rogue key into the lock last weekend, had been sorted out by BW, thankfully.

In the very tidy basin at the end, there are the usual BW services, plus a waterfront pub, plus a hire boat base, and attractive residential flats and apartments around the basin edge. There were plenty of moorings, a little dark from overhanging trees but absolutely fine. A mile or so walk into the town, and a good centre - no boarded up shops evident. The rain was unceasing.


Our picture shows 'Frank the Plank', a clever sundial statue at the end of the basin. The etched slate pavement around Frank forms part of the timepiece.

We are now back at Foxton, moored below the locks and have our rally plaque from the Inclined Plane Trust, that we qualified for, as we turned up, although no rally took place!

Above Foxton Locks, Bridge 60

Yes, we are still here, and despite the rain, we waited with hope of seeing the Olympic torch as it visited the locks here today.

We didn't have to wait too long before the expected arrival, just after 4pm, and we had a really clear view across to the appointed lock, where the BW historic narrow boat "Swift" was already in place in the lower lock of the top staircase. The rain was unceasing. The spectators were outnumbered by 2:1 by Police, BW, Olympic personnel etc etc etc We have never seen so many yellow and orange reflective jackets strolling round an event. Crowd control was hardly an issue. Samsung kindly? handed out plastic batons to make a noise with, and when the torch bearer appeared, flags and cheering and squeaky batons welcomed him as he ran and waved, and stepped onto Swift.Once on deck, the torch bearers then kissed torches and the flame was transferred, the paddle was lifted, and the boat slowly lowered into the lock, and all we could see was the flame above the lock edge!. Fortunately the new bearer realised he needed to bend below an approaching bridge, as the boat moved forward into the next lock. The rain did not have the last word, and the flame flickered on undaunted, and the torchbearer then stepped off the boat and the flame was whisked away into Foxton village, where the road had been ready since 7am!.

The spectacle was over so quickly, but everyone moved off with a satisfied sort of grin on their face!

Unrepeatable!

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.

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.

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

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!