Leicester to Crick

We left Leicester on Saturday morning and hoped we wouldn't have to travel too far. Unfortunately the region south of Leicester is considered unsafe for mooring and when we reached open countryside the "police patrol" notices were off-putting.  We eventually stopped 7 miles and 11 locks later at Kilby.  The weather was warm and dry so we took the opportunity to start work on repainting the wheelhouse roof.  When we left on Monday morning we'd completed the task and started on the locker lids.  

Sailing east we steadily climbed a series of locks and came across CRT staff running water through the locks to replenish the low levels at Leicester.  When we found a quiet place to stop we stayed a couple of days to continue our painting activities.  We have noticed a lot of narrowboats have matt black gunwhales which are easier to touch up when they get scratched and scraped; we are following suit with Brent III and included the bow in this colour change. The matt black is also far easier to apply than the glossy red although it's not quite as eye-catching.

On Thursday we caught up with 4 lady bellringers on their annual hire-boat holiday.  We shared some locks with them before continuing on to stop near Debdale Wharf.  My walk took me to the Foxton Locks where I was surprised to see Gill, a colleague from work, with her narrowboat.  

Looking up the second set of  staircase locks at Foxton 

On Friday we decided to take a detour to Market Harborough for some provisions.  The Market Harborough Canal is 5.5 miles long and curls round the contours to reach the little town.  We took a mooring on the Union Wharf and made full use of the electric.  Market Harborough is a charming little town with independent and artisan shops as well as the supermarkets and usual stores.   

Union Wharf which is owned by a hire-boat company who let out visitor moorings when available

After sailing out of Market Harborough we found a good mooring for painting and made a determined effort to finish the job.  When we sailed back to Foxton on Friday Brent III had smart black bow, stern and gunwhales and a grey non-slip back deck.  

At Foxton we were the only boat on the locks and made quick work of our assent before stopping for an ice cream at the top. 

Looking down the Foxton Locks to the pub at the bottom

After Foxton Locks we were on a long summit level which winds through open countryside.  On one of our walks I spotted a family of Canada Geese on the opposite bank.  I stopped to watch as the adults led the goslings onto the canal. 

Leading the goslings onto the canal

On Sunday we stopped near Yelvertoft and the weather was glorious so we enjoyed sitting out on the front deck. 

"Watching you"  enjoying the sunshine

Sadly the good weather didn't last and it was quite cold as we sailed into Crick where we stopped on Monday.  The boat show is at the end of the month but while we were there it was very quiet on the visitor moorings.  

Our journey from Leicester to Crick via Market Harborough