Time to run the River Soar.. Planned to get up at 7am, get some bits done ready for an early start so that we can get to the marina north of Leicester. Didn’t quite work out that way.. alarm went off.. got turned off.. got up a few hours later! oops!
There is something nice about being on a river.. not only because I can give the engine a good run and a clean out, but in the winter, not only is there no one about, its nice and wide too – albeit a bit twisty!
Got to lock #38, the first lock before we get onto the river.. checked the boards, and the levels are all green (exactly as the web site stated.. https://riverlevels.uk/search ) so on we go..
Aylestone Mill Lock.. remembered that I should be taking photos!
On through Leicester City.. not seen ANY boats moored so far.. not a good sign..
Waiting to get through Freeman’s meadow lock.. opposite the home of “The Foxes”.. the 2015-2016 Premiership Champions.. Leicester City Football Club..
Pulled in on the floating pontoon at Friars Mill Business Centre to top up the water tank again as the washing machines on whilst were moving.. not a bad spot.. even got electricity bollards that use keypads to type the code in.. no cards.. so should look into how to get some of the codes for these..
Pulled out shortly after another boat from the pontoon, and buddied up with them through the remaining locks of the day..More weirs to avoid.. more sharp corners.. and through Belgrave lock, near to the National Space Centre (https://spacecentre.co.uk/)..
And onto Leicester Marina.. full up the diesel tanks, full up the 2x5L jerry cans.. a bag a coal to add to the rest on the roof ready for next week.. and on through Thurmaston Lock to the mooring on the other side..
Not sure of the mooring.. the concrete siding is rather high, and the boats loaded up so riding rather low.. raised the fenders up as far as they can go, and used the extra large fender at the stern so we should be OK. Also moored up pointing upstream, so that if anything comes over the weir and past the boat, it wont get fouled up round the rudder and the prop..
All in all – a very pleasant winter river run in the sun!
