Short day, nice lunch and about 100 metres travelled

A pretty short trip day today distance wise, main trip was down to the water point at Foxton, no one there I should hastily say.  David washed the roof and I was in charge of the hose.  I was in charge of the hose last time we played this game when David had a sense of humour failure so today he put on full wet weather gear,  I responded by accidentally soaking myself.  But we did end up with a partially clean boat, just the one side that is.

Approaching 11am we sidled into the basin to meet good friends Ed and Jane.  These are a marvellous couple who run a stunningly good B&B in the vicinity of Crick which we stayed in several times when visiting the Crick Boat Show leading up to ordering our WaL.  They are a farming couple as are we plus our "Boat Sharers" Amanda & David are farming too so lots in common and friendships grew.  Indeed last year they drove to Wales to join us to go over that aquaduct "Pontiwhatnot"  actually Ed has Welsh family roots so the trip did double up.

So today they arrived bearing gifts as always, today a whole coffee cake and a bottle.
They live 12 minutes away and have never been to Foxton Locks, so today was a first.

I went to book in and was told to come on in as two boats were on their way down and we could wait in the middle pound.  

First lock of the year.

I don't really mind waiting in the pound but prefer for other shorter boats to wait as its a tad of a squash for us.

So we reached halfway and pulled over, Ed is a bit of a giant and lent a hand, the two boats turned into six I think in the end,  a hire boat with a deeply concentrating woman helming did a flawless pass, I complimented her but she was too deep in thought to hear, next was a boat owner had a bang and scrapped all the way along us, no word from him or even eye contact. 
In previous years I would have snarled, but now with WaL reaching her 5th birthday I am a bit calmer.

First of the boats to pass by, no tinks from this one

I couldn't quite get the full boat in, but the front button and back one were kinda wedged

I'm glad it wasn't me that only wrapped the middle rope around the bollard that came undone...  

Ed smiley and laughing. 

So we finally made it up to the top, with me explaining to the now walking Ed how it all works and a grease lightening volunteer who did all the paddles before you could say Jack Robinson.

We moored up at the top and bish bash bosh and we were in the pub at Gumley, I had fish&chips and shared chocolate pudding & cream with David.

They had to make a dash back to their busy farm, so David and I happily tootled down the hill on foot back to Debdale to collect the car to keep it handy for tomorrow.

Don't tell anyone but Leicestershire really is the most beautiful county.

If my wild flower consultant is still reading this blog maybe she could advise....?

These were fenced off in a private wood, which is probably why they are st stunning.

I think this is Red Robin or Ragged Robin or Robin of the hedge or Campion if I remember my Cecily Mary Barker correctly

Supper was a G&T with cheese.