The Beacon Boat Gathering.

We have just left The Soar Boating club, host's of the meet at their wonderfully situated base, at Normanton on Soar.  A fantastic location, very friendly members and all had a wonderful long weekend.

We last updated at Kilby bridge.  Leaving our mooring with frost on the roof last Tuesday, we watered up and then began the descent into Leicester. The weather has still not decided which season it is, so we had a dose of each! It even at one stage snowed... So a tad chilly and windy, but we were well wrapped up and despite meeting only two boats moving, we made good progress. This was despite the fact that few if any locks were in our favour.

It is a great pity that in the boating world, Leicester has such a poor reputation. (But not in football, apparently!) There are some fantastic, but underused moorings.  It really does need more boats stopping along the towpath.  As ever, we encountered not a whiff of a problem passing through and by mid afternoon we had reached the Hope & Anchor, moored up and called it a day.

On Wednesday, it seemed only a short hop to Loughborough. We moored up, did some shopping and were considering dropping down to Normanton when the wind rose and the sky darkened. So we stayed put overnight.

Our first ducklings this year

all along the Leicester line someone has been yarn bombing the locks
and on a cold drizzly day they really do make you smile

Cormorant on a power cable

On Thursday morning, the weather looked good, but was forecast to deteriorate later in the day. Two locks, some beautiful river cruising and we arrived at the boat club. We breasted up to Serenity, with Willow Too, Dionysus and Hallyth already present, before the winds became too severe. A short while later, Merryweather and Bisbigliando hove into view and battled the now rising winds to breast up to the other two boats.  Wind was the abiding feature of the weekend, although it was not too damp.  Still a tad chilly though and the fire remained on throughout our stay.

It was brilliant to see Beacon owners old and new and we had a fantastic time socialising. The club welcomed us with open arms and we seemed to make good use of the bar facilities! I think the takings were up a little. It is fair to say, a good time was had, throughout our stay, by all. Those who could not make it by boat made the journey by car and along with club members, enjoyed a memorable Saturday night in the club house.

they were chasing John & Greg

Saturday Evening

Boot Hill Toe Tappers

Thanks to Jo for sorting out the cake

& Pauls perseverance on lighting the candles (that had got a tad damp!)

John conducting the band on Raw Hide!

full clubhouse

Viv doing a great turn on Saturday eve

A very big thank you must go to the Soar Boating club for their hospitality, catering & bar services and to Karen and Ian for their hard work as organisers, along with Geoff. It has been a brilliant weekend, so thank you, and to all those who attended.

My weekend was topped by a surprise party in the Plough on Monday. I am about to celebrate one of those milestone birthdays and family travelled up from Northampton, London and the south coast to help me celebrate it. Thank you Jan & Wul, Jane & Paul. Craig, Michelle & Dave, Graham, Helen, Isabella, Harry and Noah. You really all made my day. I was flabbergasted to see you all. The secret was well kept and I never had an inkling that this was planned.

thanks Michelle for a great cake in design and taste!

Now time to give the liver a rest. We have made a short hop today and moored just above the lock at Kegworth. The weather is looking up they say, although, not just here, yet. Sitting writing this in a downpour! If the sun shines tomorrow, we may pay Nottingham a visit.

Leaving this morning

Greg battling the high winds

then Ken & Linda

then Julie & Geoff

Ally getting the final photos - without whom none of this would be possible & Neil

& finally Karen & Ian

Serenity  & Triskaideka sharing their first lock

Karen & Ian going into their moorings

& finally a huge thank you to Jo for my lovely butterfly,
look out for her selling these in the future!

Miles 30.
Locks 26 broad.

Just remind me why we do this?

Well, we are off.

Basking in the spring sunshine then?  Nope! Typical British weather. Thus far, it has been cold interspersed with heavy showers and even with the threat of snow! What a strange winter it has been. Mild but damp. The boat has survived it's hibernation well. A few drawers sticking, but soon sorted once some heat and a dose of dehumidifier was added.

Living so far from our winter mooring does add a few logistical problems though. No quick pop to the boat for the odd job, it's a two hour drive for starters. Once again, thank you to Jane & Paul for putting us up when the need arises. As usual, always a list of jobs/projects to complete over winter. This year, it was upgrading our WiFi and solar panel. Both jobs completed, thanks to Matty (Old Friends boating services) for assisting with the solar. The fitting of a Mimo aerial and routing the twin cables I did myself. Not without some difficulty I should add and perhaps a little cursing. But job done and is works! Nobody was more surprised than me! We have also purchased a new Huawei mifi, with twin ports to match the aerial and up to now, great reception.

After a wash and polish and full engine service a few weeks ago, we were just about ready. Just Ali to finish work, the house to sort, cars to sort and one hundred and one other jobs to complete! After a manic few days, with the car groaning under its load, we set off for the boat last Friday. Once we had found a home for all our belongings and Ali had made a last use of the car for a mega shop, we were set to go.

Sunday morning dawned crisp, but bright. We chugged from our berth and up to the marina services. Topped up with fuel, and began the journey north. Hang on, we are doing the Thames this year. Just a small deviation, up to Normanton on Soar for the gathering of Beacon Boats, next weekend. Having therefore an agenda, we made a fair dent in the journey on the first day, completing the summit pound to the top of Foxton locks. A really pleasant trip, albeit very familiar. Few boats moving apart from hirers and we were surprised to find ourselves on our lonesome at the very popular moorings above the locks. Twas a chilly day though, with a biting wind.

This morning we were ready for the off as the locks opened at eight. We were more than surprised to find that we were the only boat approaching from either end. So, with the aid of the lockys, we were down the flight in a leisurely 45 minutes or so. More sensible people must have seen the forecast and stayed put. But we soldiered on. The skies darkened, the rain lashed us, but on we went. The whole day, we saw two boats moving, and they were together, exiting the second of the wide locks as we approached. Think they were tough Northerner's though!

Between the downpours, the Wind howled. The bottom gates of every lock had to be closed by Ali, before we could fill the lock and as we exited, every attempt to close them failed. Were we disheartened? Well a tad and chilled to the marrow, but we made our intended destination for the day, just after three. Battened down, fire on and chilling (?) out. We aim to traverse Leicester tomorrow. Lots more wide locks. You never know, we may even meet s fellow traveller to share them with!!!

So yes. The weather is not behaving, but we still love it. looking forward to the meet this weekend. Please let the sun shine on us, occasionally!

Miles 28
Locks 22 (10 narrow)
Tunnels 2 (2226yds)

Canal fix with an alterternative view of Bingley three rise

We visited Bingley today as we knew that they had drained the 3 rise to replace the gates in the middle lock.  We were a bit early for the viewing platform but to be honest I think we could see just as much from the walk way on the bottom lock.  The crane spread eagled across the lock was amazing, apparently floated into the full lock on a pontoon, its arms then extended onto the locksides and the crane then lifted its self and the pontoon was withdrawn.

We walked upto the Five rise for a coffee at the cafe, which was fairly busy.  Looking at the height of the bywash channel from this angle explains the force of the water entering the canal as you exit the locks.

Looking down the five rise