So we left Swarkeston the next morning, hardly any boats if one had passed us at all,  we liked the openness, the emptiness and the water and rubbish point!

The run along towards Burton was very pleasant even if a tad overgrown with bushes, not much to see.

  

We had the last of the big double locks coming up which can be troublesome I know, it was praying on my mind a little.

I couldn't see this one yesterday but here are the lovelies Theresa and Andy

The lovely sunset at Swarkestone that night.

The last of the yellow Flag Irises.

I do love a good sunset.

Moving along from Swarkestone this lane hugs the canal for a good stretch, I would definitely be twitchy .....

We arrived at Stenson Lock, going our way it is the last of the double locks and it is a deep one.  All sorts of horror stories on the forums and social media about boats getting stuck, civilians falling in and major bumps.  The gates weighed a ton, I asked a passing dog walking man if he wouldn't mind helping me with the gates but it turned out his back was far worse than mine, he was seeing a surgeon too so obviously I wouldn't let him touch it.  It took a while but  I did get it closed.    

I let the water in one turn by one turn of the windlass

It was held beautifully in place (Thank you Adam for the tip when we saw you) highly successful lock tackled without any bumps or scrapes to WaL. 

Not many people in the cafe, and even less watching us.

Not completely sure now what David was doing with this rope after the gate was opened but I'm sure it was vital.

Now seeing that this is my blog and it reflects my personal views and not that of anyone else, I have to tell you Reader that I think that this is the Mother of All Ugly Boats.  David says I must stop photographing all the ugly wide beams but Gee Whilickers this one takes the biscuit, in my view Reader and I hope you don't own it.

Oh god here's another.

On arriving at Willington, our destination it was busy, busy with both boats, dog walkers and families all walking and generally milling about.  We took the first mooring available and some distance down the tow path.  I was mystified as to why although it was a warm sunny Saturday.

We walked along to the canalside pub for a drink.  The pub and gardens were heaving, luckily we got a wee table in the sunshine for two.  It was too busy for us so after the one drink we walked to the Co-Op for milk and eggs.   There are several pubs in Willington all were heaving with patrons spilling out onto the pavements

On the way back to WaL I asked a man walking a dog if this was a typical Saturday and he explained that he was on the committee for organising the Raft Race today on the river Trent (Not the canal) and that several times a year the village hosts these sort of events for their community.  So well done Willington.  It was a bit like a carnival.

Back on WaL we had drinks in the quiet sunshine, a nap and supper was warm egg salad with grated cheese using up the remnants of the fridge.

The next day we were in for a treat. Our good friends John and Louise who reside in this general area were coming to collect us for Sunday Lunch at their home.  The arrangements were a tad complex, we drove our car to Barton Marina just a wee bit along the canal.  Its a sister marina now to our home of Great Haywood marina and by agreement we can moor there.  So Louise kindly collected us from the vast complex that is Barton Marina with shops restaurants and the like.  We had the most lovely day with them finishing off by playing cards too and then a taxi back to Willington.  So the next day we only had to pop WaL along moor up, load the car and drive home.  Sounds quick and easy doesn't it?  Two hours later.....

Thank you to Louise for sending this photo and reminding me of it, so you can see how young and glamorous we all are.

Thank you for such a splendid day with delicious food and well your gorgeous selves.

Until we meet again.

The next morning pretty early we pulled the pins and departed Willington.  I really liked the village and I really liked this cottage David if it ever comes up on the open market.....just saying.

Oh yes please.

Just what I learnt to drive in, not many about these days.

A bridge on the narrow side.

  My word what a place.  It's old I am presume it was built somehow linked to the canal, but what a place.

Into Barton Marina and home for a while, see my mother, go boating in France and see my family.

If you are a perfectionist, go now and read the French Holiday post.

More of me later. 

   

 

Out of the Soar and onto the Trent

The next day we left Loughborough.  We had moored on our own fairly centrally to make it easy for Geoff to collect us.  Last evening our locking buddies of yesterday had moored up before Loughborough in the countryside.  

As we got on deck to untie the ropes they came into view around a corner so we joined forces again.

Now be patient Reader, with the passing of time and as I'm currently at home without the benefit of the guide book, plus blogger suffering from a shortage of signal here as all the country is watching Engerland v Netherlands as I type, the photos have uploaded all to cock.  I will do my best but the photos really are telling the story.

Loughborough was pleasant enough from what could be seen of it, but we only cruised through without stopping that day.  No other boats around needless to say.

Geoff had told us of a couple of nice places to moor up on winding bends of the river, peaceful that David and I may have spent a day or so on but in the event we tried both but due to the flooding earlier in the year the bends were very shallow, we thought full of silt, so on we went with NB Gwelo.

One of the last locks of river Soar there was a nice boat already in the lock ascending, the crew closed the lower gates behind them and we chatted.  The boat was only one year old, gleaming and it had been into the local boatyard for some snagging to be completed.  The lady crew approached the paddle and just wound it straight up before their new boat was straight or roped.  I was a tad surprised as it went out of control from side to side but it did narrowly avoid the brick walls of the lock.

She then said for me to "Put my paddle up, yes right up" as the boat was still going from side to side.  

I inched the paddle up.  

They left the lock and WaL entered but NB Gwelo was grounded.  It was only a couple of feet away from WaL but well and truly stuck.

Second attempt WaL managed to heave NB Gwelo out of the mud.

Wall to wall wide beams.  May they exactly as so.

I believe this is Normanton....

It had a air of the Thames with gardens coming right down to the river.

Oh look at this....

Answers on a postcard, or at the bottom of this post.

Ummmmmm...

This is the last lock out of Loughborough.  It's a waterpoint with very short landing, both boats needed water so we had to breast up

This little beauty was at the bottom of someone's garden, I took a quick shot just in case it was an historical wee ship.  It's not a Dunkirk boat but I did "Steal" this shot of Lady Myrtle form Henley Boat Sales but no price.  I do hope she is being looked after, these vintage wooden boats can cost more than a house.

Bit of green here

Oh my word What a Stunner, 

I'm thinking this is Normanton?  It was the view for me of the entire River Soar.

I'd accept this house if I was given it.

Small tree growing out of this lock gate.  Too big for me to pull out.

A landmark but not of the picturesque variety.

A nice sight.  A lock taking us onto the Trent and Mersey canal, it was manned by a cheery volunteer, who also told us all about the pubs in Shardlow.

We had a lovely evening at The New Inn in Shardlow with Theresa and Andy and I hope we will meet up with them again sometime.

The next morning we had a very pleasant run up to Swarkstone where we finally said our goodbyes to NB Gwelo's Theresa and Andy, they had been great company for the past days, they had massively helped me too.

*So that bridge is the one WaL is coming under in the blogs title page.  

That photo was taken by Lesley (NB Yarwood) years ago possibly before I ever blogged when we travelled this way with our daughter Verity.  Lesley and I walked miles that day and she snapped WaL.  Today I would never travel with the cratch sides up lest a leaky lock soaks my cushions, but back then I knew nothing of such things.

 

There's a boat coming QUICK!

 So by way of a recap, we are back from a sweltering French Boating holiday in the south west France and back to Leicester where I left off.  I am all behind like a dogs tail of course but this is partly due to Wimbledon and partly to the Euro's and partly the Rugby down under.  

Engerland (Footie) to play Holland oops sorry Bob, Netherlands next as we have a Dutch son-in-law Bob, so we'll see how that goes.

Anyway back to Leicester.

Well Reader we have enjoyed two nights here and had a fabulous time.  We have moored on the Long Straight as I refer to the riverbank through the city centre and not the floating pontoon with the secure gates.  We haven't had any problems whatsoever.  The main ancient city sights are very close to walk to, sad to say I didn't find John Lewis and more sad that the centre branch of M&S I overheard is closing this autumn.

I would come back at anytime.

So this morning we were leaving.  I was even dressed ready but without shoes when out of the side hatch came the sound of a boat engine, David drew my attention to it and I yelled back at him to ask if they were mooring or passing through to do the locks....  Well Reader they were motoring alright as you can do on deep rivers, David called loudly to the helm and he replied that they were passing through.

PULL THE PINS THEN AND CATCH THEM, I called out daintily to David...

The river was full of swans this morning although they were scarce when the boat came through.

We ran in all directions and pushed off the riverbank whacking WaL in top gear and going hell for leather to catch them up as the valuable locking buddies they were to become.

Marvellous good fortune that they had to fill the first lock and we were able to join them.

So Theresa and Andy on NB Gwelo had left their mooring at 5am to get through Leicester as they had only heard bad things about the place.  They were very surprised that we had enjoyed ourselves.  Equally were the crew of a boat we met exiting a lock also intending to get through Leicester without stopping.  These urban myths and reputations are ingrained in boat owners and hard to delete from the neuro hard drives.

We travelled with the lovely Theresa and Andy on what was a long-ish day for us but they were on a timetable to be back to work and back to the south Oxford canal mooring.  Frankly Reader it was such a help to my back and I that we were delighted to keep going.

So leaving Leicester city centre. 

Nice clean water and lilies growing.

I always like this when the old and the new live side by side.

You turn a corner and suddenly the city gives way to countryside.  An extensive area of waterparks.  I haven't seen many Herons in trees before, so here is one for you.

Not a house in sight, a short distance from the city, not many moorings though.

NB Gwelo and NB WaL somewhere on the river Soar.

Now forgive me Reader if I say I think this is Silsby Mill, however just around the corner from the mill the lady from the marina rushed over to greet our two boats, she called out that they don't get many boats coming past!

Most attractive, but I don't want to moor here, too much hard work to get anywhere.

Looking towards the weir.

The two boats leaving the lock, note despite the apparent sunshine David is in his winter fleece zipped up to the neck. 

Three cormorants coming into land.  I had wondered if we'd see or hear Kingfishers but no.

We chugged past Pilings Lock Marina.  Sadly there is no public access at the moment due to the damage done by flood waters to the pontoon or we would have stopped overnight to visit our Good Friends Geoff and Margaret of NB Seyella who are moored here.

HERE

We met Geoff and Margaret nine years ago when we all went through an amazing experience together.  Us two, The Boat Sharers, Lesley & Joe their guests Andy and Sarah, Derek and Sheila NB Clarence, plus Group Captain Geoff all crossed The Wash together.  

Something bonding and unforgettable.

Lovely Geoff got in his car and picked us up from our mooring in Loughborough and we had a fish supper altogether.

HERE

I am delighted to say that we hadn't seen them in a far too long while but they are both hale and hearty, Margaret who is well over 21 now was, as usual very funny and hasn't lost her sense of humour.

From 2015 The Wash Crossers

Left to Right;

Joe NB Yarwood, Margaret NB Seyella, Group Captain aka Geoff NB Seyella, my David, Lisa, infront Sheila from NB Clarence, David Lewis, Amanda on Lesley's lap NB Yarwood, Derek NB Clarence, Andy and Sarah Lesley's guests.

If some look familiar, that is because they are, we were all together in France this year, bar Derek and Sheila who now live in Spain.