Hi everyone.
We moved on up the Leicester Canal with the weather staying quite fine and warm. Went through the Crick Tunnel, 1528 yards long - had so much water dripping down from the roof that we ended up looking like drowned rats by the time we got through.
This is a 2-way tunnel - quite a squeeze when you meet an oncoming boat!
After passing down the amazing Foxton Locks which were manned by volunteers on most of eight locks we moored up in a lovely marina at the centre of Market Harborough which turned out to be quite a large town with lots little shops as well as the usual large Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrison stores. Got caught up in a local festival parade on Saturday morning - large transport vehicles with local groups all dressed up on the back. Huge crowds -such a large population everywhere over here.
After spending a couple of nights there we moved on towards Leicester. The locks on this stretch were all double - taking two narrowboats side by side - so it was good to meet up with some other boaters which meant working the locks was only half the work.
Arrived into Leicester and moored up at the Castle Gardens right in the city centre. Very secure - the garden gates were locked at night as well as the gate onto the pontoon where we were moored. Leicester is buzzing because 'King Richard III has been found in a city car park'. We had visions of a fellow wearing a crown leaning up against a mini minor eating a Big Mac! But no.....it was a skeleton which was dug up and DNA tests have revealed that it probably was the good King Richard. Banners and touristy promotions all over the city to see the remains, burial site, cathedral etc. Only trouble seems to be that York is laying claim to the remains and wants them sent there so they can be buried with his Queen.
Spent 4 days in Leicester - a very interesting city although it was not recommended as a place to visit. It has lots of Roman ruins, old Tudor buildings as well as the 'golden mile' which has the biggest Indian population outside India. Most of them seem to be in the business of selling saris or owning jewellery shops (with quite expensive gold jewellery!). Block after block of these shops - all selling the same stuff. Leicester also had a market which was reputed to be the largest undercover market in Europe. Bit disappointing though - we're probably spoilt by our own Victoria Market.
Back tracking down the Leiceister Canal we went through 41 locks on our own which was a bit heavy going. Even the Foxton Locks was light on volunteers - must have picked the wrong day to travel. Seems like it is a local picnic spot with lots of sightseers and school groups hanging around. The 10 staircase locks (all joined together) go 75 feet up or down depending on which way you're heading - quite an engineering feat. There are also the remnants of the inclined plane which actually winched boats up/down the hill in the 1900s but this was found to be uneconomical and it closed after only 10 years so the locks remain the way to go.
Called back at our marina overnight and then headed south towards Warwick/Stratford-on Avon. Weather turned foul while we were going through the 6 locks coming into Braunston (reminded us of the wet weather we had last year). Stayed 3 nights at Braunston ( moored up next to a lovely couple - he was 85 and she 82 but ever so sprightly) because the weather was a bit poor, then moved on to Leamington Spa - a very upmarket town which we visited last year.
Travelling further south along the Grand Union Canal we spent 4 nights at a marina within walking distance to Warwick - lovely market town overlooked by its very impressive castle which we visited along with 1000s of school kids. It's the end of the school year next week so they must all be travelling around the country. The castle is now owned by Madame Tussard's waxworks from London. The living quarters (huge) were all set up for a Royal weekend visiting party with very lifelike models in each room. Bit spooky but really well done.
Also had dinner with Jo and Ginny and their two children - they were the people who sold us our new Broadford house. They are now living at Kenilworth near Warwick. Jo was transferred from Ford in Australia to Jaguar's huge set-up nearby which is working flat out to supply Range Rovers and Jaguars to China. After dinner they took us for a walk around the township and then to the nearby Kenilworth Castle, a huge place commenced in the 12th century and added to over the centuries. Sadly it's in a ruined state now but is still open to the public.
Leaving Warwick the next day we faced the Haddon Locks. Twenty one locks rising up 150 feet in just 2 miles!! We waited for a while until another boat came along so we could 'pair up' going through the locks but it still took us about 3 hours to get through. Turned out our companion boat was an old traditional boat having a 'chug-chug' type engine with a smokey chimney so it was a long trip in a foggy haze for the 'captain'. Up towards the last few locks there were also a couple of Waterways volunteers so they helped open the paddles and gates too. Up at the top lock where there was a little cafe there was lots of 'gongoozlers' (which is the name given to the bystanders who come along to look at the boat-people struggling to wind up the paddles and open the gates). They usually offer lots of suggestions on how it should be done BUT no-one really offers to help!!
This canal, the Stratford, is a bit low on water and we have managed to get stuck on the bottom mud a few times - interesting!! - out come the long poles and with lots of pushing and persuasion we have been able to get going again.
major train line and fields.
After spending a night recovering after the Haddon locks we set out again towards Stratford and THIRTY SIX locks and two days later we have arrived to moor up right in the Stratford town centre. This place must be on the Tourist Bus list as the place to be. So many school groups, Japanese and European bus tourists! We even spoke to a group of Australians who are doing a whirlwind tour of the UK by bus.
We hope to stay here until after Saturday when there is a big boat festival being held so that should bring even more tourists here!
Weather is being quite kind - the locals are out in shorts (but it's not hot enough for us yet).
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