Kilby Bridge

Here I am Rune

Distance 3.8 miles

Total 2245 Locks  94 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3177.6 miles 

Today we’ve made it to Kilby Bridge and, with a few things we want to get done, we may be staying here for a little while, possibly until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. It’s not a bad location to remain at since we have a water point, elsan point, rubbish disposal and a shower so we’re pretty much sorted for most of what we need domestically. We are also within reasonable travelling distance of Leicester.

Today was once again a very quiet day on the canal, we passed just the one boat between Fleckney and here. Once we’ve got here there are only two other boats with people on them, there are a couple of boats that look as though they are moored permanently here.

Fleckney

Here I am Rune

Distance 6 miles

Total 2238 Locks  94 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3177.6 miles 

We were sort of aiming to reach Kilby Bridge today but I thought it was probably a bit wishful thinking. Bearing in mind we needed to stop at Debdale Marina to book RUNE in for blacking next year, and a second stop at Kibworth Bridge to go to a nearby supplier to get some wool, reaching Kilby Bridge was always going to be in doubt.

It was a very quiet days travelling having met only one boat travelling in the opposite direction and one who caught up with us at Debdale Marina. One further boat came past after we had moored up for the evening and that is about it. I suppose that the locks currently under repair beyond Kilby Bridge will deter many from bothering to come up this far.

Foxton Locks

Here I am Rune

Distance 5.3miles

Total 2233 Locks  93 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3171.6 miles

Having spent 6 days by the basin in Market Harborough we are back on the move to the bottom of Foxton Locks. The trip was fairly uneventful although we were tracked along the way by at least 3 different Kingfishers. I still look forward to the day that I can get a decent photo of one of these magnificently coloured birds. The problem is that they sit and wait for the front of the boat to reach where they are perched and then fly off about 100 yards further along the waterway, I think it is their method of fishing. Standing at the back of the boat I rarely get closer than 100 feet away before they fly on. The one that sat in the bush as we cruised past had gone right to the back of the bush so photographing him would have just been a whole lot of branches.

I have to say that I’m not a fan of Autumn, particularly Autumnal days such as today, damp, dark and overcast, at least it is only another month now and the days start to get longer again.

Market Harborough

Here I am Rune

Distance 5.7miles

Total 2233 Locks  93 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3166.3 miles 

Well after an ‘interesting’ night moored above Foxton Locks we’ve now made our way through to the basin at Market Harborough. 

The ‘interesting’ part of the stay above the locks was brought about by a rather poor piece of driving at about 12.30am when I was lying in bed reading. I first heard the sound of an approaching car on the nearby road obviously travelling at some considerable speed (although it could have been in a low gear and revving like mad, but I don’t think so!). This was followed by a very prolonged skid and that rather sickening thump that you get when a car hits a solid object. Since we are in the middle of nowhere really it was incumbent on me to go and see what had happened since it was quite possible that people could be trapped or dead. Standing on the top of the boat and looking across into the field there was obviously a car stationary there with it’s lights on. I collected a torch and went to investigate and sure enough the muppet driving it had taken his vehicle straight through the hedge and it was on its roof about 8 feet below the level of the road. It seemed to me that it would be an idea to call the Police to this so whilst walking towards the car called them up on my phone. When I got to the car two men and a woman were crawling out of the wreckage, apparently unhurt but well shaken. The driver called to me that they were all OK and, ”We don’t want the Police here”, which rather suggested to me that we probably did!  The driver and his passengers decided that they didn’t want to wait around for the Police arrival and all staggered off heading in the general direction of Foxton. When we got up this morning the car had been covered by Police tape so I assume that they arrived, I don’t know if they found the driver or his passengers.

The crashed car having come through the hedge on the left between the tree and electricity pole (white tape there now)

Foxton

Here I am Rune

Distance 7.4miles

Total 2223 Locks  93 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3160.6 miles 

A bit late putting in today’s post (or as it is now, yesterdays post!). As described on the previous day it was an easy cruise from Welford to Foxton top lock. We had time to go down Foxton locks if we chose (last boat through at 2.45pm) but since the weather turned a bit wet we chose to leave it until Wednesday before going down. 

The view down Foxton Locks

Welford

Here I am Rune

Distance 10.2 miles

Total 2223 Locks  92 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3153.2 miles 

Today’s trip was, what could best be described as unchallenging. A long pound with no locks, tunnels or any other encumbrances. A 3 ½ hour trip has brought us about 10 miles to the Welford Arm, a shorter trip tomorrow should get us to Foxton Locks, passing through Husbands Bosworth tunnel.

On a non-boating matter, took the opportunity to get a photo of tonight’s moon which has been best described as a ‘supermoon’ since it is at it’s closest to the Earth since 1948 (next closest passing will be in 2034).  Not that you can really tell the difference when looking up at it, although it did look a little bit brighter.

Tonight's 'Supermoon'