After a very pleasant stay with Foxton Boat Services for a short rest and our first engine-oil change we set out northwards towards Leicester along the Grand Union Canal.

With a new boat we couldn’t be sure how long a tank of water lasted, our drinking and washing routines were still a little fluid. From here on it would be countryside so it made sense to top up while we could.
Our first winding point was about 2 miles in the Market Harborough direction so the crew agreed to save time by reversing the way we had come from, the Foxton flight. A wonderful display of boatmanship was quickly followed by a bloomer – tying up and unravelling the hosepipe only to find I hadn’t read the notice announcing closure for the winter months. Another complicated manoeuvre placed us next to the shops and a working water point just as the rain descended.
Away from Foxton by 9:30 (which brought a well deserved comment from Tony Matts about early starts) we headed for Saddington Tunnel, passing a sleepy but very attractive Debdale Wharf on the way. If we were going to take up permanent moorings anywhere this would be one of our favourites. At 880yds Saddington tunnel was one of the shortest we’d encountered since our start at Tardebigge but it had its moments and I could have sworn it kinked twice before we were out of it, but we still didn’t touch the side.
Helped by son David we were met at the groups of locks by his Mum and we whistled through in spite of the continuous rain. A very friendly chocolate coloured dog with a coat met us at Kibworth locks near the road from Wistow and she/he wouldn’t go away unless thrown a stick.
We all tried to ignore it but with no sticks to fetch it went foraging in the hedgerows and brought back an assortment of small branches. If ignored again it nudged your leg to get attention, very cute but it was raining, the towpath mud was getting thicker and no one was in the mood. At the final lock it ran to the bottom of the steps and tried to board. The look on its face as we motored away was a sight to behold, I almost went back to say sorry.
Dredging was in progress as we passed Wistow.

No shortage of water on the way to Leicester as we found the top lock gates overflowing. Had to open both bottom gate paddles before the water levelled enough to open them.

Saw a friend’s new wide beam sail-away as we passed Kilby but we couldn't raise him and with darkness falling we staked our claim on the towpath after Double Rail Lock (thought to refer to the two hand rails fitted after a woman fell in and drowned).

Next day up early but never early enough for joggers and dog walkers (did we see a professional dog walker this morning?) and took our first coffee break at Glen Parva. From Blaby Bridge it's an easy run through open countryside, under the Soar Valley Road down to our next night's stop outside Tony and Julie’s place at Kings Lock Cafe. In season they serve excellent food, real coffee and take a pride in their place. Keen to appeal to boaters they can even supply water if it's needed. There's space to moor just before or just after the lock and they're dog friendly if you pop round the back and eat on the patio. Be sure to sign their visitor's book and help yourself to back numbers of the most popular canal magazines.

Met Steve, on his way south from a business call up north and we ate and talked until it was time to collapse, Steve taking the converted dinette for the night.
Next day after saying farewell and a quick visit to the Farmshop just up the road from Packhorse Bridge we cruised down stream on the Soar past Aylestone Mill Lock with its dodgy paddle and into St Mary’s where we had to move a complete tree, albeit in a dozen pieces, before we could open the lock gates. Made a mental note to look out for this wood if we return in the next couple of weeks. St Mary’s looked so beautiful bathed in sunshine in its winter isolation.

Had to pause outside the Leicester Football Stadium and ponder the fate of the Foxes.

Off through Leicester city

passing the rowing club, students apartments and the official town moorings. Remembering the stories we’d heard of nights spent here it all seemed very quiet today.
Further on signs said beware “Work in progress” which probably refer to the refurbishment of old knitware factories on the east side, a fashionable occupation in north Leicester as the commercial interests give way to the spread of private accommodation close to the city centre.

North Lock gave us problems, the top gates wouldn’t open. After much pushing and reopening offside paddles a passer by was kind enough to add his weight to the gate.
We found out why the gates wouldn’t open once we were through. Grinding to a halt immediately outside the lock, under North Bridge we thought we’d hit something large. Couldn’t see any coping stones missing from the bridge parapet so assumed we could get over it with a little more effort. We reversed and tried again, plenty of groaning and scraping sounds and we were on our way. Not for long, constantly hitting the bottom we were forced to take it slowly. Passing a traffic cone on its side and only half covered the cause of the problem was now apparent. The green stain on the towpath piling confirmed our suspicions that water levels were down about 18” (flashbacks to the Basingstoke Canal). Thinking this was due to naughty youngsters we approached Limekiln Lock expecting to see paddles up. All was in order and we were wondering where all the water had gone as we passed through Limekiln and set off towards Belgrave locks where we knew BW were making repairs.
Had to slow for a right turn, the weir was straight ahead and she wouldn’t turn fast enough at 4mph. Glad we didn’t come down here at night, scary.
Saw Belgrave lock in the distance and BW’s working flat departing. This was good news, they’d finished by midday on the last day of repair stoppages so we checked it out and apart from lack of paint on the new wood everything was in order so we parted the plastic bottles and floating carrier bags and checked out BW’s work.
We caught up the BW boat just before Birstall Lock and found a nest of them clogging up the lock. Chatting to one of the guys there we heard they were pushing the office to let them start the work on lock gate replacement a few days earlier than scheduled. This might upset our plans to return to south Leicester in a week’s time so we vowed to call the main office before setting off on the journey.
Returning to the boat I found an anxious pair of hands straining at the centre rope. The wind should have kept the boat against the bank but she was slowly running astern. Leaping aboard I discovered the prop was still turning in reverse. Lucky she has strong arms, I thought.
We finally reached a safe haven at Raynsway Marina as the day drew to a close.

Taking the visitor moorings

we were made welcome by Dave the marina manager who explained the extensive facilities and local (Thurmaston) amenities including the local chippy.
For now we needed nothing more than a hot meal and the comforting warmth of the Bubble stove. Tomorrow was another day. We would take on diesel, fresh water and perform our first pump-out. What that sounds like to non boaters I can’t imagine.