After the exertions of the succession of wide beam locks that brought us up from the River Trent to Kilworth, today marked a change to a very different style of cruising. Only the Foxton 10 and the Watford 7, all narrow and generally staffed with volunteers, we have extended level cruising, often through some pleasant and varied countryside.
Today for forecast looked as if it was going to be cloudy all day,. but actually what arrived (and is probably what was in the forecast model) was a lot of cloud cover but extensive blue sky in between. The temperature was pretty much as expected, still quite warm but much pleasanter and often with a good breeze. It is hard to think of better cruising weather.
As the photo shows, there were a few darker clouds but Mike gave them a stern talking to and reminded them that they had 0% chance of delivering rain at last until lunch time! Just for once they behaved themselves.
After about three quarters of an hour the first major landmark for today came into view: Saddington Tunnel. This is about half a mile in length, very well constructed and totally straight - the end is in sight before even entering.
It seemed as if a rather boat had been through as at times there was definitely something in the air, slightly alarming at first until it was confirmed that we were not actually on fire! Inside, with just the light of the headlamp it is difficult to be sure quite was around but we were not asphixiated.
By the time we emerged into the open air much more blue sky had arrived (actually, it more that grey clouds had disappeared! The blue sky is there all the time, just that we do not see it)
Plenty of rolling countryside to enjoy.
Saddington Reservoir Feeder did not look as if it was topping up the long pound with much extra water.
Sometimes those darker clouds gave more texture to the background and were rather attractive just so long as they remember that 0%.
We had been going very slowly and there were extensive banks of reeds to contend with - even more than back in May. We even stopped at one point to check the weed hatch but nothing much was found. Just the effect of the reeds on narrowing the channel. Just before Debdale Marina we passed the sign that is really the explanation: that stretch is designated an SSSI and so cannot be managed properly for boat use. We also wondered how much the added growth contributes to water consumption and the drop in levels? Ironically, the extensive vegetation overhanging the towpath (and being quite a hazard for walkers) made it difficult to read the notice!
We pulled in to Debdale Marina to fill up our diesel tank. Alas, when Christine went to the office to announce our need, she was given most apologetically the news that the pump was broken! Just as well we always try to keep the fuel level not much lower than half.
It was around 11 when we reached Foxton Junction. We first headed to the services for the usual activities. The water point had good pressure so we were finished much sooner than we had anticipated.
As soon as Mike was ready to stow away the hosepipe, Christine went in search of the volunteer lock keeper with 'the book' - as boats can only go one way at a time through Foxton Locks, there is a queuing system, first come first served! The news was that four boats were in the process of descending and we would have a wait of perhaps an hour. Still, gave us a chance for a mod morning mug of coffee.
Eventually we were given the go ahead to enter the bottom lock. With so many volunteers on duty and only us and one other boat waiting to go up that it was quickly clear that we would have an effortless trip to the Top Lock! Christine stayed ashore to chat with folk and Mike stayed aboard, only waking up to move the boat forward a lock length every few minutes (actually he had to be woken up on one occasion when he missed the gates ahead being opened)
We came out at the top just under an hour after starting. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful if just a little possessive of the lock operation! We headed straight to the nearest visitor mooring to tie up for a slightly late lunch.
It was decided that we could proceed a little further, not quite to the next tunnel, depending on where we find a mooring around Theddingworth. We immediately passed Dolly (Boy and Horse), originally intended to celebrate the role of horses in early canal trade. However, it is also important to remember how young children from a very early age were once put to work, often for their parents, working long and arduous hours.
Now away from the SSSI, our progress was much smoother yet the scenery still very green, more so than when we passed through in May when much was still coming fully out.
It was also good to note that the strange rattle we had both noticed this morning had now gone. (Mike had checked the weed hatch Uxter plate whilst waiting below the locks)
We cruised for about an hour, reaching a stretch where there at least six mooring spots marked on Waterway Routes map. Just after Bridge 51 we picked a spot where the trees were no quite so over-arching.
For most of the afternoon we noticed a faint sewage smell but could not locate it, or even be sure of its direction. It came and went at times as we wound around the hills (this was quite a contour canal). After we moored we tried to discover what might be its source. The next bridge, 52, is called Stink Farm Bridge but no such farm appears on even the old OS maps. Google yielded up reports of a couple of possible issues but were so old we would have expected the problems to have been fixed by now. A mystery (to us) Where we moored was not too bad.
8.4 Miles - 10 Locks