It seemed to start spitting with rain as we were getting up but nothing much. Several boats passed us leaving the basin before we got underway. One thing I meant to tell yesterday that the River Welland that runs through Market Harborough was once the boundary marking the land of Danelaw to the North. The area of Danelaw was where the Danes laws held sway, to the south it was the West Saxon and Mercian laws of the Anglo Saxons. This boundary was set by treaty in 876 AD but the term was first seen in 11th century. I suppose in once sense anything north and east of this line could be construed as 'The North.' No way.
In the news recently, and for years to be honest, was been the need for more homes to be built. They said that only 200,000 have been built in the previous year. I think all of them must be by the canals as on our travels we see thousands of new estate, large and small. Admittedly I have no idea what 200,000 homes looks like but the new estate west of Market Harborough seems to be huge spreading from Bridge 14 almost to the centre. Then there are the new homes near Hillmorton, Fazeley Junction Middlewich etc etc. The C&RT slogan is 'making things better by water' isn't it
The next bridge, 13, is a turnover bridge as the towpath swaps sides. However they have prevented its proper use as a house has been built, or purloined the land, where the access to the deck of the bridge was on the port side, through the bridge. It is now just a normal bridge! Good job there are no boat horse trips from the Union Basin. The name Union Basin comes from the original name of the canal, The Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal Co. Once the River Soar Navigation was developed to Leicester local businessmen thought it would be a good idea to connect them with the Grand Union at Northampton. The Act was passed in 1797 and was for a tunnel at Foxton and then passing through Market Harborough and onward to Northampton. By 1797 they had difficulties with Saddington tunnel and the money ran out. The canal was terminated at Debdale and this became a busy spot. In 1805 they rethought the plan after various advice and obtained a new Act of Parliament to continue through to MK as a contour canal. It was completed in 1809.
Great Bowden Hall was originally built as the Britannia Inn built to serve the navvies etc when the canal was being pushed through to Market Harborough, so between 1805 and 1809. By 1857 the inn had been developed into Great Bowden Hall. These buildings may well have been part of the stables of the original inn . The new Hall is in side a quad behind them. Beyond the bridge was a farm and those buildings have recently being converted to residential. There was a boathouse on the map beyond the bridge but I could see no evidence of it today.
I got off and did the first bridge as it was so stiff on the way up. Approaching the locks we saw this chap, who looked a bit fed up and resigned to his lot in life.
As I came through the swing footbridge I could see a boat leaving the mooring outside the Bridge 61 pub and heading up the locks. Another was also heading up and so I had high hopes that we would be able to follow them. Helen confirmed this after checking in and we started the climb.
As we started the sun came out periodically. There had been slight rain on the way today, but I only had to have my coat on for a short period. Here we are at the halfway stop.
At the top and ready for another ice cream. I had Black cherry flavour this time. We stopped for a top up of water which was just long enough for Helen to purchase the ice creams and then to eat them.
This pen is still waiting for her happy event as I couldn't see any signs of hatching. Dad to be was paddling up and down, waiting. I didn't see a cigar in his top pocket though.
There was a field of still young lambs. Many seem to have been a fair time ago, but these weren't very old.
There were a few pheasants looking as though they were out in their Sunday best. I imagine a fob watch and chain in a waistcoat pocket.
Helen and I both commented on the way up that there are relatively few mallards, coats and moorhens on this stretch. I have seen no Canada geese but there are a few pink footed geese around, with goslings. As it is not very populated on this part of the canal you would have thought that the ducks etc would prosper. I wonder why not?
There are very few signs left over from the British Waterways days, but here is one, and in yards too. I wonder why the port and starb'd was never adopted on the canals as they are linked with rivers and docks? We met one boat in the tunnel and we didn't come out unscathed!! For some reason he was stopped and as we passed he gave a burst on his thruster that pushed me into the wall at the stern. The angle of the tunnel wall was such that my cabin side rubbed on it. I was going to patch it up once we stopped but I think I will wait until we have finished the tunnels for this trip now.
We passed the Welford Junction and there were only a couple of boats moored.
The River Avon that flows under the aqueduct at the moorings is the boundary of Leicestershire and Northamptonhsire. We didn't go on too much longer, mooring where we had a view for the panels and for us a cross fields.
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