Loughborough Basin

Today's Canal : Loughborough Cut

We started today with several possible plans. We would have liked to be able to attend the church at Normanton tomorrow as it sits right beside the navigation. However, he only possible option for mooring is at the nearby pub and we were concerned that it might be a big ask on a bank holiday weekend to be able to stay there this afternoon and tonight.

However, our over-riding concern was waste disposal and water input! The closure notice at Barrow Mill (former) services clearly stated that there were no facilities until Trent Lock at the stat of the Erewash. We used those at Loughborough Basin twice last year but that was before the new toilet etc closure policy was in full force. The CaRT online Network Map clearly shows them still at Loughborough (as it did for Barrow Mill!) as well as some at Bishop's Meadow Lock that we spotted last year as under construction.

All this might just have been of passing interest were it for the fact that two of our three toilet cassettes were now full as also all of our three waste bins. The remains of the puffer jacket from Lime Kiln Lock are still in a plastic back on the roof. We worked out a plan to cope so long as we reached Trent Lock in two days, but it would mean losing some po the leisurely stopovers that are possible on the way down the Soar.

On another hot and sunny day, but this time with a refreshing gentle breeze, we set off in hope! As this photo demonstrates, the sun was in the wrong place for good photos as we cruised the mile to the basin.

The road sign in this picture did catch our attention - not an obvious name for a street in Loughborough. However, Swabisch Hall is a city in Germany and is one of four European places twinned with Loughborough.

As we arrived into the basin we were pleasantly surorised to see only one other boat on the mooring pontoons

1 Mile - 0 Locks

Car Shuffle

Rather than leave it until next week, we opted to take the chance of being near to a railway station to do the car shuffle - moving it from Brinklow to Nottingham Castle Marina. It turned out to be an unusually complicated operation, more so than most and did require Mike to do two things for the first time.

He booked the outbound train tickets last night on line. This took some while as, after quickly identifying the preferred journey, the payment process was seriously flawed. The route was three stages and the system would only allow for the third one to be purchased. After several failed attempts to buy the whole journey Mike gave up and bought just the third one and then the other two - as a single -purchase - separately. In the process he discovered that National Rail now charge £1 to receive tickets from a station machine, only e tickets are free. The first purchase offered to download a rail pass to Google Wallet - so this was the first 'new thing'.

The second purchase was different and only offered physical tickets from a machine - at an unavoidable £1 charge! No e ticketing available it seems.

This morning Mike left the boat in good time, around 9.45, just in case there was an issue at the machine. As it happened when he arr3iuved at the Ticket Office there was a person sitting at the desk, looking very unwanted. He was more than willing to extract the paper tickets - at no extra charge!

The first train was to Leicester, only a short ride. In the distant past there was a direct line to Rugby the nearest station for Brinklow, but that was 'rationalised' by the infamous Dr Beeching. Today the journey involved either two or three changes. In this case, the second leg was to Birmingham New Street - not the obvious direction on the map! 

Here, Mike wanted to pick up some lunch as the connection was quite generous in time. However, New Street is formed of different zones and changing trains usually involved checking out of one zone and then back into another. Food stands are both 'in' the zones and in the central concourse. If did feel as if the number of lunch on the go outlets is much reduced. The first ticket let Mike out of a zone but and to the other zone where the third train was expected. First: no where to find a sandwich. Second, the train Mike thought he was travelling on was delayed indefinitely! Fortunately he checked his email ticket (the rail pass does not show journey details) and found that somehow the system had sold him a later ticket from a different train company! At least it was on time but from a platform back in the first zone!

At this point Mike discovered that either the gate or the pass does not allow for Zone changes - but real people do, fortunately. In the end the final train ran to schedule.

Now to get from Rugby Station to Brinklow Marina. Mike was about the last person out (having misremembered the station layout - he has had this problem before) and by the time he was at the taxi rank, none were to be seen. After waiting a few minutes, he saw another taxi driver obviously waiting fro a pre-booked fare and asked for guidance. he quickly rang a friend who was only three minutes away (really!) who took Mike to the marina very efficiently. A road works closure meant a detour around narrow lanes. At one low rail bride, a transporter lorry with a large piece of machinery was standing talking into his phone and looking rather worried. Even turning around would not be easy on the narrow road.

Mike collected the car from the far end of the marina (where he had been asked to leave it out of the way) but then had a protracted argument with the sat nav which seemed to have taken umbrage at being out of use for three weeks! Eventually, can and phone agreed to talk to each other and he was on the way.

A shortish cross country route brough him to the M1 which took him most of the way to Nottingham. Being the start of a bank holiday weekend, heavy traffic was expected but the whole journey was distinctly unbusy the opposite side had a short tailback for no obvious reason for a mile or so. The satnav proved its value once leaving the motorway as the remaining journey included a large number of roundabouts, each with different layouts! Mike arrived at the marina well  ahead of the original ETA but first had to make contact with the office.

Next on the itinerary was Nottingham Station, just over a mile away. Options offered included a walk along the towpath, the nearest tram stop not very close or an Uber. This latter was the second 'new thing'. Fortunately, anticipating that this might be needed, the app had already been downloaded but lack of familiarity with its intricacies did not help. Aided by the lass in the office, it did not take long for an Uber to be booked and paid for which arrived quicker than it took Mike to walk from the office to the marina entrance!

The ride to the station was very efficient and dropped Mike at the entrance. First glance at the departures screen suggested that a slightly earlier train might be possible. However, signs also asked passengers to be patient as a new computer system had just been introduced and the staff were still getting to grips with it. By the time Mike had ticket in hand it was past that departure time.

No matter as by the time Mike had reached the platform that train was now indefinitely delayed! the final train then to Loughborough was just about running to time and, as it happened,  Mike was back at the start point at the time he had put on his provisional trip plan! He was back at the boat just seven hours after leaving it.

Meanwhile Christine had been doing some well needed laundry (danger of running out of essentials!) which very quickly dried as the weather today was a dramatic change - from grey and chilly to heatwave! The forecast is now for that almost unheard of event, a hit and sunny bank holiday!

Christine also unpacked a desk fan that we had just bought in hot weather last year when we were prevented from further cruising by the drought. The minimalist assembly instructions took time to unravel but she found the cooling air flow a life saver in an otherwise almost repressive heat.

As an addendum to today's excursion, these two items are available to see on one of the buildings on one of Loughborough Station's platforms.

Thomas Cook later became much more adventurous but this trip is widely considered to mark the start of packaged holidays. Before then, travel was much the preserve of those who could afford to travel independently, but with plenty of family or business connections to help them on their way.

An interesting biography can be found here but essentially by 1841 Thomas Cook had already become a keen member of the newly growing Temperance movement. This trip was specifically to enable other members from Leicester to attend a rally in support of their cause being held in Loughborough. Tickets included, as well as the travel fare, lunch and musical entertainment (no doubt of a suitable sober form!) But this combination of benefits made this indeed a package tour.

Loughborough

Today's Navigations : River Soar, Loughborough Cut

We set off in good time this morning - the first lock was less than 200m away. The lock had been left full last night and nothing had moved yet today. As Christine brought the boat down to the lock, the one that had moored behind us, Duchess, arrived keen to join with us. We did have to apologise that we were planning to stop above Barrow Deep at the service point.

Although the morning was rather grey it was also definitely a bit warmer, with almost a heatwave promised for the Bank Holiday weekend ahead. Two boats exiting the lock was a bit tricky - the lock landing was shortened by a sunken boat tied to the far end and the usual steps alongside the bridge were technically fenced off. Eventually Mike ignored the fence and squeezed around the end!

Immediately we passed the 'must have a pic' view of the bypass weir.

After an enjoyable cruise for half an hour around various twisting bends, we arrived at Barrow Mill, just before the Deep Lock. There have been boater facilities here for a long time and we were in need of both water and elsan. We were a bit concerned as we recalled seeing a stoppage notice that there had been problems here a few weeks ago. However, the CaRT Facilities Map indicated that the elsan and water were still here. After hooking up to the water tap we discovered notices on the walls saying that all waste facilities here had been removed (the toilets had closed under the new policy anyway) It also stated that the nearest options were either back at Memory Lane in Leicester or above Trent Lock at the start of the Erewash Canal. That does seem a long separation! There was no mention of Loughborough Basin facilities which are also still on the website. As we plan a fairly slow few days, movement wise, we hope that they remain available . . .

The assortment of unusual leisure boats were all in dock at this time but they are sure to get plenty of exercise over the weekend.

We moved on the the lock where Ann, another Waterways Chaplain, was preparing the lock. There was also a group of young people who were keen to be involved. It is good to be able to answer there questions and to let them  have a go at opening paddles and gates but it is always worth keeping a close watch to make sure that they do not come to any harm. No prospect of that here, thankfully, and as we left one of the lads expressed clearly genuine thanks for 'teaching them how it works and letting them have a go' (But hence why no pix)

After leaving the lock it was a chance to catch up with Ann. Initially we moored well down the lock landing for a coffee. In the process Ann opted to stay with us into Loughborough as she was planning to catch a rain back to Leicester where she lives.

Just after the multi arched road bridge we spotted these splendid shelters for those seeking refreshment at the adjacent pub.

It was a pleasant 20  minute cruise down to Pillings Weir and Flood Lock.

As expected the flood lock was open at both ends so we were quickly off the river and onto the Loughborough Cut, a long bypass into the town which rejoins the river below Bishops Meadow Lock.

We moored just after passing under the Great Central Railway Bridge and bollard moorings ideal for a short walk to the train station. We had lunch and our visitor lft to catch her train well after three o'clock.

But we have our on reason for stopping here, short of the town centre. We now plan that Mike will do the car shuffle tomorrow, taking the train from here back to Rugby, car to the marina at Nottingham and then a train back again to here. At one time, Leicester had a direct connection to Rugby but which was lost in an early 1960s rationalisation (aka closure plan) As it is now all options are convoluted and with either 2 or 3 connections - and then finding a taxi to the marina.

5.4 Miles - 2 Locks

Mountsorrel

Today's Navigation : River Soar

Another shortish cruise today. Our updated trip plan showed us getting to just above Barrow Deep Lock today (where there should be facilities) but we also realised that tomorrow's segment was shorter than calculated. Pilling's Lock is really a flood lock so, at this time of year, we are very likely to be able to cruise straight through. There are a few moorings above Mountsorrel Lock but they can sometimes be filled up quite quickly. Anyway, we set off on the basis that we might do four locks (to Barrow) but stop earlier if space permits (above Mountsorrel)

Just as we were slowly preparing to set off to the nearby Junction Lock we saw a boat coming down so we asked if we could share. Turned out to be another of the boats moored along with us at Castle Gardens!

Sharing locks can, in the right circumstances, be easier and perhaps quicker - but not always. It also means that it is impolite to hang about taking photos rather than open and closing gates promptly . . . Part of the reason why we have so few photos for this blog entry. 

We found leaving Junction Lock trickier than usual - somehow Mike took several goes at getting the boat to pull away from the lower lock landing, not helped by new and extensive willow growth at the far end. (Well, steerers do have to have a good reason - excuse? - for their errors!)

Below the lock it was sad to see a house left derelict. On the 1990s OS Map it labels this as Osier Villa but it will take some effort - and cash - to save this house from demolition. OK< so it is now next to a busy link road between the A6 and A46 but plenty of properties have been satisfactorily upgraded with triple glazing.

Althiugh we did not find many photo opportunities for the blog, the cruise is very pleasant, meandering route.

Sileby Lock gradually came into view, with the boatyard and former mill alongside. The boatyard were very helpful back in 2021 when we were shot at and needed a replacement window pane. We also spotted Tyto Alba moored as it has been for some years, outside the mill. We noticed that it has 

had a repaint and some changes to its colour scheme. Also, a different style of barn owl on the name panel! It always did look smart, now looks even smarter.

Onward once more - we told our lock companions that we may be stopping above Mountsorrel Lock. Surprise though when we realised that no-one at all was moored on the short stretch above the lock! By lunch time two others moored, one either side of us but they continued their cruises a little later. They were replaced in the space behind us by another of the Castle Gardens boats! In such a popular spot it is unfortunate that there is only room for one and three quarters boats to moor.

Christine wandered down to the lock and scouted out the menu offerings at the popular Waterside Inn. Abandoning any claim to healthy eating, she had decided that her back needed special treat(ment) with at least some proper chips tonight, Back at the boat she found Mike quite happy to go along with her suggestion of giving our resident chef a night off and she phoned to book a table for 7 pm.

STOP PRESS

Just for the record, the boat behind did tell us that they stopped at the Hope and Anchor water point and found that it does not work at present.

3.3 Miles - 3 Locks

Junction Lock

Today's Navigation : River Soar

We, have a regular (ish) Zoom call with a friend from our time in Wadebridge. It gives an opportunity to keep up with events down there, even though it is now five years since we moved away. Watching recently a stream of an event in Truro Cathedral did bring home to us how personnel have changed and where we would once have known quite well all the main participants (and others) we could recognise more than perhaps two or maybe three.

Today's call began at 10:30 and at least we had a reasonable mobile signal and the connection only froze for a few short moments. It was around 11:45 when we finished and quickly untied the boat to set off as planned.

As we knew we would be late leaving we only planned a short trip today, just a few miles and one lock, In addition, the weather forecast last night did suggest rather a lot of rain during the day, interspersed with some sunshine. As soon as the rain clouds spotted that we were casting off they opted to unleash some water - but only a very light shower and brief as well. The White Horse towpath bridge crosses part of the downstream mill race for a Mill serving the once small village of Birstall. Wikipedia suggests that there was a mill here in Domesday times.

The river winds around the flood plain and a lot of substantial vegetation has grown up, making it look very scenic. Alas, it also makes it difficult for the steer and in this photo, the growth from the two sides was so close together that the boat was swept by both.

As we passed the almost hidden entrance to Leicester Marina blue sky and sunshine broke through for a while. Two boats that passed us as we cast off - they had just come down the lock - turned into the marina so we anticipated that we would not have long to wait at the one lock we planned to work through today.

Thurmaston has quite a substantial weir stream that takes most of the river flow around the lock. On the other side of the stream is Watermead Country Park, with its memorial to King Lear.

As is often the case with river navigations, the change in level can be very different from one to the next. Here it is quite shallow, officially 1.07 m. A boat was just starting on its way up so we had to pull to the side. Two small cruisers were inappropriately moored which meant that a more complicated manoeuvre than need be but we did need to leave enough room for the other boat to come out safely. They left both sets of top gate paddles open "as it makes it easier to close them" - does it and what about the standard instruction to close them on departure? Christine did feel that they had not had much prior experience before hiring this boat at Barton Turns Marina. 

The Hope and Anchor pub looked very neglected when we passed it last year. It had once been a Green King Hungry Horse family pub-diner but closed in that format in 2024 after it was seriously flooded. From the canal it looks as if the new owners still have a lot to do and its web site is only in  the early stages of construction.

We had heard that the water point on the edge of the pub car park had been removed but a tap is still visible. We did not stop to check if it also supplied water! It does not appear on the CaRT map but neither is it listed on the set of boater facilities that have been closed!  (We shall have to wait and see what there is at Barrow Mill which is also inconsistently listed) It may, of course, have been that the Hope and Anchor water point was never CaRT's responsibility anyway - this sometimes happened. It may also no longer work! It did last year though.

And so to the junction with the once-navigable River Wreake (known as the Melton Mowbray Navigation to where it once ran and here it joined with the Oakham Canal)

Just beyond is Junction Lock but we planned to moor immediately above. There is plenty of good armco to tie to and also a long stretch of river below with little real opportunity to stay the night.

5.2 Miles - 1 Lock

Birstall

Today's Navigations : Grand Union Leicester Branch, River Soar

We had an important aim today that significantly affected our schedule - we were running perilously low on water. On addition we were almost at the point of needing to start using our third elsan  cassette. This one is rarely used and bringing it out is an admission that we need to plan carefully!

There were two options we thought we knew about from last year but neither are on any maps, including the CaRT website. If they did not pan out then the nearest we could be sure about was right down at Barrow but even here our confidence level was not 100% because there had been reports a couple of weeks ago of problems here but nothing to say that they had been fixed.

And so we set off with every confidence that we would fix it all! But would it be misplaced confidence?

Our first option that would at least fulfil our most urgent need was the Visitor Mooring pontoons at Friars Mill, just a short distance from our overnight mooring. The problem here is that there is no designated Water Point, but taps on each of the service bollards.(It was planned that these would also supply an electric hook-up but They have never been activated for some reason. Perhaps they became available just as CaRT was beginning to review what services it should provide and what could be closed. Hence almost all of the showers, laundry and toilet facilities have been  closed) Because there is no dedicated Water Point, we were dependent on not only our memory from last year but also that there would be room to tie up. As luck would have it, when we came around the corner we could see plenty of space and when we landed the first thing was to turn on a tap to check before tying up properly!

So that was the larger worry out of the way and we continued. The next part of the city which perhaps ten years ago was very run down and, to be honest, an eyesore. It has now been redeveloped - nearing its completion - and even the developers on the website for the remaining properties admits that. On both sides the properties are three storey and quite densely packed. Nevertheless, they are not cheap - £400K for three bedrooms and £500K for four.

At today's first lock - North Lock - we were again lucky as a CaRT work boat was just leaving the lock after having to run water down up the next pound which had seriously emptied overnight with the bottom gates at Lime Kiln being left open. The crew kindly worked us through. This was especially welcome as the towpath and lock landing is unusually high above the normal water level, making it quite tricky to get on and off from the boat. Strangely, the only feature we managed to photo was anew mural on the side of an old industrial building. Something much less striking was there last year.

We did manage a picture to show just how low the water level was - we were advised to keep to the middle - and this was after extra water had been run down.

And so to Memory Lane. We stopped overnight here last year, even though Adam subsequently let us know that these are supposed, in time, to become residential moorings. The work seems nearer completion than last year and the end patch nearest the main line of navigation has been worked on to provide Boaters Facilities (the sign is clear but the facility has yet to appear on CaRT's online map) Unfortunately the small compound that has recently been built appeared only to contained rubbish disposal bins and was labelled Customer Waste, So where was the elsan? We knew that there was one accessible from the pontoons so we went there. As we were leaving the workboat arrived back and the crew told us that the Customer Waste does include an elsan disposal option but it was not easy to see without very close inspection, hidden behind the bins! Still, it is great that there is the full range of the Boater Facilities that CaRT now consider their responsibility. Leicester has long suffered from a lack, deterring any effort to restore confidence in boaters to stop over here.

And we did eventually spot a very small notice  that said Residential Moorings Coming Soon - but it was rather faded!

 
A boat as coming up Lime Kiln Lock - we think we had seen them earlier on this trip. They bought the boat last year during the drought and moved aboard but this is the first time that they have really ventured to cruise any distance. They seemed very pleased with their choice!

Below the lock, suddenly our engine started to struggle and we lost any forward momentum. This was not the first time we have picked up rubbish here. For some reason this is now almost the only stretch of the canal through the city where the water and the surroundings still need some serious attention. Opening the weed hatch - first time this year - it was apparent that we had picked up some sort of insulated jacket, the innards filled with kapok stuffing. This can be one of the worst things, other than a spool of barned wire, to clear as by the time you stop it is firmly wrapped around. We do now keep a particular type of patio knife with a long handle and can use that to pull the offending mass apart, but by bit. It took around 45 minutes, par for the course for this type of item.

We stopped on the mooring rings just above Belgrave Lock to have lunch. We did not linger as we knew that we had to make some distance to find an overnight mooring. Birstall is next and in the past we have found that particularly popular. Just before we were ready to leave one of the boats that was moored at Castle Gardens last night came by, a single hander. As we approached the lock he was only just preparing to descend  but kindly spotted us and re-opened a top gate.

We were now on the River Soar proper which will last until we join the River Trent, except for the Loughborough Cut.

Thurcaston Road Bridge dates from the 15C and now only buses and taxis are allowed to use it. It has several arches, each a different size and only one is navigable. Two arches are clearly labelled No Entry - let's hope that no-one thinks that they can try to squeeze through the two smallest ones!

The Leicester Outdoor Activity Centre looks splendid but alas nothing was happening today. Through the trees we could just see some enormous timber frames. Far too high for Mike's sanity even to contemplate using them!

The river was very bendy and all too often encroaching vegetation meant constant attention to weave the boat around and avoid knocking anything, including the steerer, into the water. Eventually the long overflow weir, prosaically labelled as structure 14A, heralded our arrival at Birstall Lock, just behind the boat from Belgrave. Although he lives in Leicester Marina, a short distance further down, he was planning on mooring just below, as also were we. he assured us that there would be plenty of room - and he was right, even though there was not much left after we had both tied up! 

3.9 Miles - 4 Locks

Leicester, Castle Gardens

Today's Canal : Grand Union Leicester Branch

We did not plan on moving much today: we had a bit more shopping to do and were pleased to be able to find a space to moor at Castle Gardens which is close to the large Tesco superstore. Timing around making this move meant that it was unrealistic to attempt to go to the morning service at the cathedral (only a few  minutes walk from the mooring) so opted to go instead to Evensong at 3:30.

We left our overnight mooring around 10:30, now completely empty. (It is a pity that there is still a poor reputation for mooring towpath side with only four spaces at castle Gardens which are almost always fully subscribed. We certainly had a good, quiet stay here once again.

We made sure that there was a good gap in traffic and moved swiftly across to the navigation side of the water. We certainly had to maintain a careful watch even cruising under a mile.

One of the bridges is aptly called Swan Bridge as there are plenty around. Last night most of them seemed to take part in a flying display along the length of the straight. Makes for quite a spectacular sight and sound when almost all of them join in at the same time. Sorry, missed the photo op!

There was room for at least two more longer boats on the Castle Gardens mooring as we arrived one of which was a hire boat from Canal Cruising that passed us a little earlier. We moored as close to the far end as we could, making normal use of the oddly positioned cleats. But then the two boats that followed us down the locks yesterday arrived - they had stopped a little earlier than initially planned. The first arrived and hovered, clearly hoping that we could magic up enough space for them as they really did not want to be on the towpath side for their two day stay. We and the boat next back did in fact mange - just - to do that by smallish adjustment to our positions. The second boat arrived and there was no chance o coming alongside at this stage but the hire boat did let it be known that they were not staying all day. So, the waiting boat breasted up with their boating partners. Conversation once they were tied up revealed that they have a three month hire from Lower Heyford which they have done - on the same boat - for several years. They live in Israel, very close to the Lebanon border. They moved there from Africa about four decades to escape the growing prejudice against them that they were experiencing.

After another coffee break we made our second shopping trip, this time to the large Tesco on the opposite side of the waterway. We began by walking through Castle Gardens (only a small urban sanctuary) up onto the footbridge that is an important pedestrian link to the distinctly student area.

On the route to the supermarket we were suddenly confronted by this remaining railway structure. You guessed: part of the Great Central line. For the next couple of miles or so, the track bed has become largely built over until its route can be discerned close to the northern edge of the city. Much of the line through Leicester was built in an elevated position for various reasons - here as it crossed the Old River Soar.

On the way back we could see that the Canal Cruising boat had now departed and all the remaining boats were neatly lined up, tied to the pontoon.

After lunch we made ready to walk to the cathedral - it really is close from here. Despite some earlier threats of rain, it was very pleasant and sunny as we sat for a while in the cathedral grounds. We had left intentionally early so that we did not have to rush our walk and could also spend a little time inside.

Sadly, we failed to take any successful pictures of the cathedral! Inside the choir were rehearsing which offered a calming background to our time of waiting. The cathedral choir have developed a scheme of going out to small parishes around the diocese once a month to sing evensong, especially in places that do not have the resources to do so themselves. This meant that let behind only a group of five musicians from the Songmen (their term for the professional adult singers - men and women!)

There had been a large confirmation service with the Bishop in the morning so it was perhaps unsurprising that the congregation this afternoon  was sparse. In fact there were only five others beside ourselves!

For those unfamiliar with the tradition of Sung Evensong, all but a couple of hymns is sung by the choir and a cantor. The power of the singers, and good acoustics, filled the whole cathedral space within incredible sound. The setting, mostly by Dalitz, was captivating and used many attractive but less usual, harmonies. Both of the clergy on duty were very friendly in chatting afterwards.

The weather remained fine as we walked back to the boat but later turned to quite heavy rain. The next few days promise a mixed bag of sunshine and showers but our pressing need to find a water tap means that we will have to press on regardless. Elsan disposal will also soon need to be found! Such is the live of boaters but Leicester has long been especially poorly provided with essential services.

0.8 Miles - 0 Locks