On through Leicester

After Chris and Mary left I collected a hire car to drive to Kent to spend 10 days with son Graham and family, including 2 birthdays. Tom was 2 and his mum was a bit older!

I returned to boat on Monday - all was well. Glad I took a risk and left it at Kilby Bridge - took the precaution of mooring opposite BW staff live aboard! Chris arrived at 8.15 am next morning and I saw nb Woodlander at water point - they would like to travel with us. 8.30 set off on a fine day, bit windy but dry, and had a good journey to Leicester. Woodlander stopped at Castle Gardens and we moored opposite for an hour to have lunch. The moorings were full but no boaters about so we set off to complete the journey through Leicester.

North Lock was pretty grim and the area was full of rubbish. 8 years ago we moored at Limehouse Lock (by Abbey Gardens, opp BW yard) to visit Tesco but somehow it looked even worse this time and I was glad we didn't need to shop. Next was Belgrave Lock and from then on the journey was much more pleasant. Few boats moored at Birstall - and it was a nice area to stop but Chris was looking forward to the Steak Night at the Hope and Anchor so we pressed on. Glad we did because it was most enjoyable - and came with free wine too!

Chris left the next morning and I went with him on the bus to Leicester where I spent 4 hours seeing the sights, including a look at the Castle Gardens moorings - yes I can see why they are not secure (as advertised by BW) - I am sure even I could get over the fences! How about some of those razor points on top!

Next morning I went to L R Harris boatyard - where I had the gearbox oil pumped out and refilled - I am paying the price for not having it done regularly (no boatyard has even suggested it when I had services) and have found that I have no neutral gear - difficult to stop! They were very pleasant and also train RCR staff which is comforting to know. I went on to moor for the rest of the day above Junction Lock.

Friday I pressed on - tempted to moor at the lovely Sileby Mill but continued to Mountsorrel as my brother in law, daughter and family are visiting from west of Leicester on Sunday. Now can spend a few days exploring the area and catching up with some of these jobs -including touching up the paint after the trip boat at Syston had sped repeatedly past and scraped me on the awful angle iron edging - despite using BIG fenders. Why do trip boats always have to go to fast - do they like to shorten the passengers journey?