Narrowboat Annie: Summer Cruise Leicester to Foxton and Market Harborough

Monday 13 June Aylestone Meadows, Leicester to Kilby Bridge (7 miles, 12 locks)

First job this sunny morning was check oil and water before ascending Kings Lock.

Tuesday 14 June Kilby Bridge to Foxton Locks (10.5 miles, 12 locks, 1 tunnel)

We set off with Dave and Dil(ys) on NB Trundle, to share the twelve locks up to Kilby Bridge. Some of these wide locks are hard work, so we had a happy time chatting and working the locks.

Wednesday 15 June at Foxton Locks

Liana and I awoke to the sound of the Foxton bottom lock clattering, as the first boats began their ascent. It wasn’t Al & Annie! By the time we had breakfasted and emerged, They were readying themselves by the 61 pub, so we walked over and went up all ten locks with them, Lady Margaret , plus “Burb” and Annie in their cruiser Kraken. The two Annies soon had the red and white paddles sorted, with help from the friendly lock keeper.

At the top, we celebrated with ice creams.

Later, we realised we (John) had mislaid a set of boat keys, so we asked at pub, shop and lock keepers, but no joy. We left our phone number, just in case.

Thursday 16 June Foxton Locks to Market Harborough (5 miles, 0 locks, 2 swing bridges)

In bright morning sun we walked up the ten Foxton Locks, checking for our lost set of keys one last time. The lock keeper said he’d put a note in their book about it.

John turned Annie in the basin while Liana unlocked and opened the pedestrian swing bridge. Once through, Liana needed the help of a kind CRT volunteer to push it close again. Passing moored craft and oncoming boats, we soon arrived at Foxton village swing bridges. A dog walker kindly helped Liana here, as he said it was even harder work than the first one! We let a following boat through, too.

This five mile branch is pretty, quite overgrown by trees, with plenty of water plant encroachment. You box the compass around Gallows Hill, on top of which is Gartree Prison. John honked the horn on blind bends, and needed to, as we passed four day boats and even more oncoming cruisers and Narrowboats on the way.

We passed old ex-working boats, maybe waiting to attend the rally at Braunston in two weekends time.

Reaching Market Harborough, we passed luxurious houses and moored boats on our way to the now busy basin, with its hirebase, pontoons and restaurant, which we tried later (not cheap, but quite nice - the mussel sauce was salty).

After using the services, we moored outside the basin, as you must pay within.

Friday 17-20 June Market Harborough and South Wales

We had a phone call to say our keys had been found, so we popped to Foxton Locks on the way to South Wales, where we had a great time babysitting our grandchild Hope!