Fourteen Locks to Fleckney.

Another quiet mooring and a good nights sleep. We got away just after nine o'clock, but not before a boat headed into the lock and then waited for another coming along.

First lock of the day was Double Rail Lock and although the sun was shining brightly there was a fairly strong cold north wind blowing. Fortunately largely from our stern.

After another lock we pulled over at Kilby Bridge to take on water. There was  somebody on the tap so we parked up alongside the C&RT crane barge to wait our turn. We soon moved back on to the tap. They don't make things easy with residents and work boats hogging the flat wall. We had to sit across a knuckle but it was fine.

The slog up hill from Leicester, especially with the wide beam locks, is not for the faint hearted. We were doing fourteen today and as they were mainly spread out it takes time. It is no wonder that Helen takes a breather whilst the lock fills. The countryside is very pretty and in the sun was pleasant. The cold wind kept the heat down, and neither of us felt cold.

To save walking round the lock, despite it being a wide lock, Helen crosses over the gate to open the offside ground paddle.

Almost halfway there and Helen is still taking a rest when she can. There is plenty to see, but boats coming down to lighten the load were few and far between.

A lot of the locks and bridges are dated between 1912 and 1926 so the fact that this lock fitting dated 1897 is nice to see. I wonder if modern lock fixtures have the same longevity?

As we approached the five locks round Kibworth we saw another boat leaving the lock. We hoped that they would see us and wait. It was too far away for the horn to work. Above the first lock it looked like a wedding was due to take place. At the same time the clouds rolled in and we had a heavy hail shower. I bit cold for a skimpy dress in a tent, in a field, me thinks.

We caught them up and as Helen went a to set the lock they waited for us. We shared the last two locks. It has been a funny day lock wise as our first lock had a boat entering to come down as we got close. Nothing happened so we waited a bit before venturing up to find that one of the two boats had caught something round his prop so they pulled the boats out and swung the lock for us. When we got to the Bottom Half Mile lock it had been turned despite the earlier boats having passed through. A hire boat was working ahead and in the end we had to wait 15 mins before it arrived. I think working ahead is fine but it shouldn't be too far and really it should be only when you are insight of your boat.

We got to Kibworth Top Lock around 1500 so it had taken us six hours to do the six or seven miles and fourteen locks.

We moored up by bridge 73 as we will walk into Fleckney for milk, and maybe a pint whilst we are there.