Wistow to Fleckney (Leicester Arm - Grand Union Canal)

Waiting to come into the lock

We decided to leave fairly early this morning as the forecast for later in the day was not so good, so we set off just before 9am under a couple of bridges and then we were at the first lock for today, we are doing 5 locks today.  It was set for us, so didn’t take us long to get through there and onto the next one, but with great difficulty as this pound was really low in water, at least a foot down.  We crawled our way to the lock.  The canal was deathly quiet and we didn’t see any boats.  

Kev managed to get the front of the boat into the side so I could get off and I went up to do the lock.  I opened one gate and he went to come in but was stuck so I had to let some water through and eventually he moved and came into the lock.  The canal was really quiet today and we seemed to be the only boat moving.

Tepees by the lock

We went on to the next lock, the water levels in the pounds seem to have risen a bit and we got along okay without getting stuck.  At the fourth lock, there is a house and there was some tepees or Yurts in the field next to the house, looked like they were setting up for some event, not sure what though.  We were almost up this lock and a boat came around the corner, first one we have seen today, so we left the gate open for them and went on to the last lock for today, Kibworth Top Lock.  

Kibworth Top Lock

The house by this lock is where we are going to stop to get some coal.  I spoke to the chap this morning and he said it is £10.99 for a 25kg bag and if you buy four then he will throw in a 10kg bag of house coal, so effectively the bags work out at £10, very cheap as normally we pay around £12.50 for the same type of coal.

Old chap and house we got coal from

While the lock was filling, Kev went to see the old chap and bought the coal down and the old chap came down to the lock for a chat.  We put the coal on the roof  and was just coming out the lock and a boat was coming down, so we left the gate open for them, hopped on the boat and went on our way.  

Bridge 74

We went under Bridge 74 and moored just there at Fleckney.  We were going to go through Saddington Tunnel today as well and moor just past Smeeton Aqueduct as it is a really nice spot but decided to moor here today and go on to there tomorrow.

We had lunch and watched the Grand Prix and just chilled out.   We had some rain in the afternoon, but it soon went over and brightened up.  We are staying here tonight then moving to the Aqueduct tomorrow morning before the rain comes!

Moored at Fleckney