27th Nov 2006 – Monday
A grey, windy day, quite a contrast to the weekend when we saw the sun shining on the anti-DEFRA protests. After watching the last remaining boats take water and leave the Basin below Foxton Locks we joined those heading east towards Market Harborough.

Not particularly relishing the thought of fighting dense weed on this canal we were pleasantly surprised to find a floating dredger at work and a little further on its companion spreading the filthy muck over the fields.
Weeds, reeds, mud and roots were leaving the canal while uprooted reeds floated like a carpet on the creamy black water. Our propeller struggled to give us forward momentum and once we’d passed the glue factory we pulled into the side and made fast for the night. The weed hatch was opened and the right arm did its stuff before the day was through.

The vivid greens and browns of grass and trees looked their best just before the sun buried itself at the top of the field on our right.

On our left the sun reflected off car windows hurrying along the A6 to and from Leicester until suddenly the picture turned into an indistinguishable grey blanket as an early dusk fell.

Despite a drying wind the towpath puddles didn’t dry and the few walkers that passed were mud splattered up to the knees. Not wishing to ruin our shoes on the muddy path we soon developed gunwale gait by walking along boat sides to get coal, wood and potatoes from the cratch.

29th Nov Wed
Another dry day, with a large patch of blue over our heads, saw us move down to the 48 hour moorings at Market Harborough, outside the Basin (Union Wharf).
Inside the Basin every pontoon space and concrete jetty was occupied. We counted eighteen Canaltime boats waiting for hire and heard that a further five more were away for painting.

We grabbed the last space on the 48hr moorings and wondered why the moorings were so busy at the start of the winter season.

By the looks of it, some of the other boats had been here for many days, covered in twigs and leaves.
Asking the people who manage the wharf for BW it seemed discretionary to rent out the 48 hour moorings for days, weeks or even months at a time during the winter when demand was low.
She assured me that a couple of spaces would always be available for visitors so we would encourage everyone who visits Market Harborough by boat to call in at the BW/Canaltime office and make their presence known if there’s nowhere to moor.
Imagine town councils doing the same thing with 2 hour parking places near the shops.

If there are any other questions, such as what’s the time, you can always ask Frank the Plank. He’s a rather unique full size sundial. Pity it was cloudy.

No stop here is complete without a walk to the shops. An easy downhill walk and you’re in the centre within ten minutes. Tesco, Sainsburys and Woolworths within a couple of minutes of each other and half a dozen shoe repair shops, why so many?.

30th Nov Thurs.
Another walk to the shops.

!st Dec Fri
Oh alright, another walk to the shops.

Perfect timing for a lunch break at Joules tucked away up an alley behind Joules’ dress shop.
Two spicy hot curried parsnip soups and large mugs of hot chocolate crowned with real cream and chocolate dust, please. Yummy.

The owner’s history is all over the walls and ceilings. It’s worth asking about.

Acoustic guitar evenings once a month see players and listeners pack the room across the yard and it’s mostly local talent.

A look round the bygones shop out the back is recommended if only to reminisce.
But our stay was over, 48 hours had passed and we were due back on the cut.
We travelled as far as bridge 14 and stopped. Fitted a couple of wire shelves inside a kitchen cupboard and called it a day.

2nd Dec Sat
On my own today as Vanessa went to Mum’s. Nattered to the lad on the next boat, as you do, and learnt all about the locals, some good and some not so good. He had dealt with the traveller’s lads and wasn’t expecting any more hassle. I could sleep easily tonight.
Today is booked for engine servicing and battery tests. The weather was wonderful, couldn’t have asked for better, the puddles dried to form a skin over an underlying brown jelly. Another day of this and I’ll be able to walk on it again and lose my bandy legs, developed on the gunwales.

3rd Dec Sun
But no, it wasn’t to be. It rained and it blew and it rained some more. In the gaps between showers I tried fixing up an outdoor TV aerial but the picture was worse than before. Missed the first part of Green Berets.
Even the swans got the message and didn’t persist outside the side hatch. Tap, tap, tap and they were off.

4th Dec Mon
Three kingfishers seen messing about. Chasing each other up and down the canal. Surely Spring can’t be far off. And how unusual to see three birds together. Back and forth they whizzed, up into the trees and back down to the water. Not skimming as they usually do, these were doing aerobatics for no reason at all.
Run out of food, run out of clothes, run out of coffee cups but needn’t have worried, Vanessa is back today.
All returned to normal, even the weather improved.
Cleaned the brass, now watch the weather change.