Wistow to Kilby Bridge (Leicester Arm - Grand Union Canal)

 Wednesday 20th August

Coming into Newton Top Lock

In Bumblebee Lock

We are chugging on today, so set off along the canal to the first lock, we have seven to do today.  The first one was empty so I filled it up and then Kev brought the boat in. These are double locks but there was no one around to share with, so we only open one gate and one paddle so I don’t have to keep crossing over the lock.  The gates are really heavy but you bring the boat in and the other gate kept opening like it was featherweight, not quite sure how that works.  There were a few boats coming the other way so that helped, but the canal was very quiet really.

We worked through the seven locks and soon we were at the bottom of the flight.  We chugged on along the canal and moored at Kilby Bridge.

Peacock Butterfly on the towpath

Our friends John, Sharon and Smuggler are coming the other way today on their boat and we are meeting here at Kilby.  It was really quiet when we got here, and loads of room to moor, so I texted Sharon and told her this.  We couldn’t believe it but within an hour of me texting Sharon there seemed to be a string of boats coming along and most of them moored up!  After that the canal went quiet again and probably only two boats passed all afternoon.

It had been dry when we started out this morning but during the afternoon, it got very overcast and started to rain which stayed with us for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Evening with John, Sharon & Smuggler

John and Sharon got to us late afternoon, luckily there was a space so they got moored up okay.  John said where they were moored up this morning, the canal was very quiet then seven boats went past them and we said yes and 6 of them moored here!

Keep the noise down, I'm trying to sleep!!

We had a nice afternoon and evening with them catching up and trying the Adnams gin we bought in the Deli yesterday, it was delicious gin.  Smuggler their dog had a dog treat then made his self comfortable in the dinette and spent the evening snoring!!   We had such a lovely evening together that it was midnight before we knew it, so we all said goodnight and we would reconvene tomorrow.

We are staying here tomorrow as well and also Friday as we want to get a bus to Leicester if we can.

Moored at Kilby Bridge