The weather was a very different story as we awoke. In keeping with the forecast it was sunny and bright but, exceeding expectations, it was all but cloudless all day, much warmer but not yet oppressively so as in the earlier heatwave.
A number of walkers, joggers and cyclists were using a footpath that joined the towpath just above the lock. Mike took a look and could see a rather picturesque small lake beyond, (He never did discover where the path led!)
Alas the lake could not be investigated further as, just beyond the start, it became clear that visitors were definitely not welcome!
Before returning to the boat, Mike picked a handful of blackberries from the hedgerow for Christine to have with her breakfast cereal - they were most welcomed.
A few minutes after setting off, we passed the junction, where the River Wreake was once navigable to Melton Mowbray and beyond via the Oakham Canal to, guess where? - Oakham.
Sadly it has long since ceased to be navigable otherwise we would probably have headed that way as a further diversion in these restricted times (more notices of closure arrived in our Inbox this morning)
There are almost no boater facilities (eg water, elsan or rubbish) in Leicester itself. Hence, we opted to make sure our water tank was properly full by stopping at the Hope and Anchor where there is just a water point.
The prop had not felt entirely responsive on the short cruise here so Mike opened up the weed hatch whilst waiting for the water to fill. He quickly discovered a large bundle of clothing, principally, as is often the case in these parts, dress material covered with gold coloured wire decoration. This particularly difficult to remove as it does not cut way easily, Numerous tears in the fabric were need to persuade it to come away, along with a similar amount of miscellaneous plastic! Ugh!
There has been a succession of updates to a notice warning about a tree across the navigation just below Thurmaston Lock. The latest indicated that narrowboats could now pass but wider boats would have to await a beekeeper to remove a nest that had scared off the tree people!
Although this tree merited reporting (including at one point a full navigation closure) there several more willow trees narrowing the passable space almost to the same extent along the next stretch. Do willow tree just shed branches when there is a drought?
We came up Thurmaston and Birstall Locks with a boat just ahead of us, not quite fully filling the lock by the time we arrived. Just above the second lock is a very wide weir where water overflows around the lock.
Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a large and seemingly well equipped multi activity base mainly for youngsters. A few particpants were visible but it did appear that perhaps most were taking a lunch break! We did not encounter any on the water itself.
Belgrave Lock marks the start of the urban landscape of Leicester. Above the quite shallow lock is a wide weir with only a trickle of water going over.
Above the lock we found a long set of mooring rings that were not on our guide maps. We took immediate advantage to stop for a lunch break!
And so to Lime Kiln Lock - the smoke that can just be seen on the right is from an instant BBQ that a group of young local men were enjoying with a good variety of foods to grill. They also gave us some help with the lock. Well, they did have to prove that they are much more agile than we are these days!
Whilst Mike was working the gates and paddles, Christine enjoyed banter with several of the group. As we were about to leave one of the men offered her a plate with a BBQ'd lamb chop, properly presented (on a paper plate) with two different dressings! It is always good to be able, however briefly, to share other people enjoying the outdoors and, especially, the canal environment. We were suppose to have a photo of the BBQ and group but somehow it has been lost! But you have caught a glimpse of someone in their new cap . . . shush! Don't tell anyone.
We were now well ahead of our schedule - we have been aiming to be in Leicester Saturday night so that we can go to the cathedral the next morning. The city centre is not over-provided with good moorings (and no facilities) So we had planned to stop tonight outside the city instead of pressing on but here we were. There are two 48hr pontoon moorings near the centre but we would have preferred to get there tomorrow! W had seen back in 2021 that the short arm now known as Memory Lane (older maps did not grace it with a name!) was being developed with secure pontoon moorings which would include short term visitor spaces. Despite extensive internet searches (well, ten minutes on Google, let's be honest!) we could not discover whether they had been completed and if they were available.
The moorings seem to be quite secure and partially intended for residential use.
There is a row of storage facilities, such as a number of marinas now offer to residential customers. Alongside a locked gate are mountings for mail boxes in the future. The pontoon has electrical bollards (not yet switched on as far as we can see) and water taps but no place for disposals. The arm is somewhat shallow but passable and is designed securely at the far end. For current users, once on the pontoon there is no way out apart by water.
There is presumably some delaying factor - perhaps a lack of funds to turn the capital investment into a functioning business. Let's hope the problem can be resolved soon as this is a great opportunity to make the city centre a better attraction to boaters rather than somewhere to get through as quickly as possible!
5.8 Miles - 4 Locks
I heard that those moorings are becoming residential, hence why the locks have been changed to make them secure. As for facilities, there’s water on the Friar’s Mill pontoon, and rubbish at Castle Gardens.
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