Fleckney to Smeeton Aqueduct (Leicester Arm - Grand Union Canal)

We decided to do the bit we didn’t do yesterday, Saddington tunnel and moor at Smeeton Aqueduct, so we set off mid-morning.  We wanted to get moored up before the rain that was forecast came.

Inside the Tunnel

Saddington Tunnel

We were soon at Saddington Tunnel and through we went.  We didn’t meet anyone in the tunnel this time and once through the tunnel, now went under Bridge 72 and moored at Smeeton Aqueduct, a very long journey for us today, all 1½ miles it!! 

Coming out of Saddington Tunnel

Underneath Smeeton Aqueduct

Smeeton Westerby Church

The villages of Smeeton Westerby and Kibworth Beauchamp didn’t seem to be too far from the canal and there was a footpath to Smeeton Westerby over the fields.  You could get to it on the Aqueduct, so we set off on the path. It took us through a couple of fields and over a few stiles, but the path was very well marked as all the footpaths seem to be in Leicestershire.  It was less than a mile to Smeeton Westerby and we were going to walk the road to Kibworth Beauchamp but then we saw a path by the church marked Kibworth Beauchamp ¾ a mile, so we took that, it took us through a field of sheep and past some horses and through another field with cows in, but they were the other end of the field so that was good.  Over a few more stiles and soon we were in Kibworth Beauchamp.  It is quite a big village with a few shops, a pub, a post office and a café/deli.

We had a walk around and then stopped in the café for a drink and a toastie.  It was dry when we set out but during our time there it started to rain, we had brought our brollies with us, so we didn’t really get wet.

Kibworth Beauchamp

We walked back through the footpath and into the field with the cows.  This time though they were near the stile and they had calves with them.  I was a little nervous going through them, so I went first and Kev came behind.  One of the mothers didn’t like us being in the field or it could be that she took a liking to Kev as she followed right behind him and every time he stopped and turned around, she stopped, then when he walked on so did she, it was a bit comical and scary at the same time.  I hot footed it across the field and left him to it!! When Kev was nearly at the stile, the cow went into the field.  

We walked on across the other fields and back to Smeeton Westerby.  We had a walk up the road but nothing really much there just a few houses so we went back to the footpath and headed back the way we came.  In the last field, more cows with calves were in our path, they weren’t so bad and we got past them without any incidents, one of them just started mooing.  Over the last stile we went, up the path and then we were back on the canal.

Footpath to Smeeton Westerby

It was a really nice walk (apart from the cows!) and well signposted.  The rain had eased off while we were coming back, so that was good.  During the afternoon the rain got harder and it rained all evening, but we didn’t worry as we aren’t going out again.

It’s a really nice quiet spot here at the Aqueduct and there are supposed to be several kingfishers around here.  We haven’t seen any today, but hopefully we might see them tomorrow morning before we chug on unless of course its still raining, then we will be staying put!

Moored at Smeeton Aqueduct

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

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

We are turning around today and going back down the canal.  It was hot, humid and sunny as we turned around in the winding hole which was just past where we were moored at Kilby Bridge.  We stopped at the services to get water, get rid of rubbish etc.  While we were there another boat came into the services, a girl who was on her own. She asked us if we were going through the locks and we said yes, she said did we want to share with her.  Her Mum lives nearby and was coming to help with the lock and also her mum’s partner was cycling down the towpath to meet her and help with the locks as well.  It sounded like a good idea to us, so we said that would be good.

Coming up Bumblebee Lock

We set off along the canal to the first lock, we are doing 7 today.  It was full so we had to set the lock first but with two of us doing it, it didn’t take long.  Through this lock and onto the next one where we met the chap on the bike who had come to help as well.   Having an extra pair of hands really helps.

Chugging onto the next lock

The next couple of pounds between the locks were very low of water and we had to stay right in the middle of the canal otherwise we would have got stuck on the bottom.  Kev did have a bit of trouble getting in one of the locks, he went so far in and just stopped, but he gave it some welly and eventually got into the lock.

Almost up Newton Top Lock

We met a few boats coming down so the last couple were set for us, which always makes life easier.  We all worked together and before we knew it, we were in Newton Top lock, our last lock for today.  The girl who was on the other boat, her dad lives in the cottage by this lock, so she stopped to fill up with water.  We said bye and thanks for the help and went on our way down the canal under Bridge 80 and 79 and then moored just after there in the spot we moored at on the way down.  It is a nice sunny quiet spot.

 

We had lunch and watched the Qualifying of the Grand Prix, then walked up to the Rural Centre just across the fields and up the lane that we visited on the way down.  It was quite busy again today.  We had a wander around and went in the Deli and bought some Turkish Delight Pistachio flavour and some home-made Baklava made by the Turkish chap who runs the shop.  We also had an ice-cream and then walked back to the canal.  It was very humid and we heard some rumbles of thunder as we walked back to the boat, but it didn’t come to nothing and the sun came back out, it was still very hot though.

We are staying here tonight, then chugging on tomorrow, not that far though just through five locks and a tunnel.

Moored at Wistow

Day with John, Sharon & Smuggley Bugs & Day Trip to Leicester

Thursday 20^th August

Our Lovely Indian Meal

Cheers, lets tuck in!

We spent a nice morning with John, Sharon and Smuggler walking up to Wigston which was about a 20 minute walk from the canal where there was a pedestrianised shopping centre with the usual mixture of shops, a Sainsburys and an Aldi.  We all got a few supplies, then walked back down to the canal.  In the evening John and Sharon cooked us a lovely Indian meal, lamb with chickpeas, an aubergine dish, spicy green beans and rice, it was absolutely delicious.  I made some Chapattis to go with the Indian meal.  This is only the second time I have made them, but they turned out okay.  I also made a lemon cheesecake for dessert.  We had a lovely evening eating great food, chatting and drinking gin and wine.

Friday 21^st August

Bye Bye John, Sharon & Smuggs

I got up before 8am this morning, that’s early for me!! John and Sharon are chugging on this morning, so I wanted to see them before they went.  We said goodbye to them and waved them off down the canal.  It was lovely seeing them and spending time together.  We may catch up with them again before we all go back to Gloucester, but if not, we will see them in October when we get back on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

 

We are off to Leicester today, so we walked up the road to get the bus.  It’s abut a 35 minute bus journey into Leicester and the fare was £4.20 return each, so very reasonable.

Fruit & Veg Market

Leicester is a nice city with lots of different shopping areas.  There is a big outdoor covered market with lots and lots of stalls selling fruit and veg really cheap.  Needless to say, we bought lots and it was really good quality as well.  There were other stalls selling clothes, flowers, cards, etc .  We had a nice walk around all the stalls then went into the indoor market where there are meat and cheese stalls.

We then went to the Lanes where there are independent shops.  We went into the Guild Hall where there was an exhibition about the Magna Carta and the History of Leicester.

Leicester Cathedral

We walked around to the Cathedral, but unfortunately we couldn’t go in as there was a service on.  It was reopening in a couple of hours so we said we would go back later to have a look.

Leicester

We went for a drink and a bit of lunch in one of the many pubs.  It had a Gin Room with over 20 different gins but wasn’t open until 5pm, that was a real pity! I know where to go next time we are here.

We wandered around the shops again, then went to catch the bus back.  When we were on the bus, we realised that we hadn’t gone back to the Cathedral to look inside.  Never mind, we plan to take the boat to Leicester next time we are this way, so will definitely do it then.

We walked back to the boat with all our goodies from the market.  I think Kev’s arms were dropping off by then as the bag was very heavy with potatoes (4 huge ones for £1), Melons (3 for £1), a load of bananas for 50p, two mangos for £1, 12 nectarines for £1 and two punnets of English strawberries for £1.  We could have bought tons more, but then we would have needed a lorry to get it all back!

We are staying here again tonight and turning around tomorrow and going back down the canal.