Summer Cruise Market Harborough to Braunston

 Tuesday 21 June Market Harborough to Foxton Locks (6 miles, 2 swing bridges)

Last night, John had to run the engine to recharge the leisure batteries, a rare event in summer, so we guess the deep shade prevented the solar panels doing their job while we were away. 

 Up late again to a sunny blue sky first day of Summer! John steered while Liana tidied, passing those fancy houses, then the overgrown canal meant we had to keep an eye out for oncoming boats.  

It was quiet all the way to Foxton village, where Liana needed help with that heavy, sticking swing bridges. The lady from an oncoming boat helped, too.  Again, a kind CRT volunteer helped her with the pedestrian swing bridge at Foxton Locks. 

Once Liana’s sister Alison had arrived, we soon got called to go up the ten Foxton Locks, with plenty of gongoozlers / visitors watching and chatting to the girls and John. The CRT volunteers are helpful and professional. 

Once up, we moored, relaxed and played a few games of Settlers of Catan. Liana and Ali both won - guess who didn’t!

Wednesday 22 June Foxton Locks to after bridge 23 near Yelvertoft (15 miles, 1 tunnel)

Bright sun and a clear blue sky saw us leave the metal canal horse and our moorings into the quiet, tree-lined country canal through the sparsely populated high Leicester plateau. Gliders scudded by cotton wool clouds.

CRT had built a scaffolding towpath for fifty metres. We were surprised they hadn’t driven new piles in to do a proper job.

Apart from occasional oncoming boats, we were alone, with Liana washing the roof and solar panels as we went along. Husbands Bosworth Tunnel is quite straight, and we passed through alone. 

North Kilworth moorings were full up, so we congratulations  past the large new marina, the junction with the Welford Arm to a lovely shady mooring before bridge 38, where we got the chairs out for a relaxed lunch.

This rural canal is quite overgrown in many places, so we had to take care on blind bends and bridge holes. John had to take avoiding action several times.

We moored a mile before Yelvertoft, got the chairs out and chilled. Red wine and reading seem to go well together!

Thursday 23 June Yelvertoft to Watford Locks and on to Braunston