Return to Boat - Junction Lock

 Today's Navigation - River Soar

We set off as soon as we were able - 10:17 - with just under three hours predicted time. We opted for the route preferred by Google rather than the in-car satnav, although both had almost the same time. This took us along the A4 to Newbury, up the A34 to north of Oxford and then across to the M1 vis Silverstone and therein lay one of the delays. We 2wondered whether the main delay - on the A34 - was down to the Grand Prix as it was clear that only the slightest addition of extra traffic at junctions caused the flow to slow right down. However, we made much better speed on the A41 before slowing down as we neared the event. In any event we arrived at Sileby Mill by 13:16. It was interesting to see that Google picked up the specifics of the delays much better than the satnav.

The window had been fixed and we were able to load from the car almost directly into the side window but up course it then takes time to unpack and stow away. During this we were also able to fill the water tank.

Before setting off we opted to fill up with diesel - we were not unduly low, around 65%, but the way ahead does not have many opportunities to fill up. Although we were  next to the fuel barge we still had to turn around and come alongside - we were facing the wrong direction, but this was more convenient for the boatyard to fit the window.

Just after four o'clock we were ready for the off, straight into Sileby Lock. Luckily another boater came and offered to help. They were moored below the lock but were going to turn around tomorrow and head off to Nottingham instead of Market Harborough (Plan A!).

It has to be said that in the unaccustomed heat were were not as lively as we might have been but our plan was only to go up three locks and moor just above Junction Lock.

Cossington Lock was a bit uncooperative - the top gates leaked quite a bit making it hard to empty the lock and the nearside top gate would not open more than half way as something unerwater was catching on it.

We saw from our maps that several spots along the stretch before the next bridge were potential mooring spots. The first was already occupied so we continued about 100m to the next were there was good armco piling, easy to chain up to. The only downside was a load explosive bird scarer in the adjoining field.

.6 Miles - 3 Locks