Our trip around the Leicester Ring Sept. 2016

[Mantaray]

Mods. please move if I have posted in the wronge section.

 

We hired a boat from Edan canal Holidays, "Katie-Marie" out of Pillings Marina for 2 weeks starting 2nd September 2016. I did update a post on our progress, but thought you may like to see some pictures as well.

 

Day 1

Friday 2nd

 

By the time we had loaded the boat and gone through all the standard hire stuff, it was 4pm by the time we left Pilling Marina, turning left towards Loughborough.

Within 10 mins I could tell that boat was going to be a pleasure to helm. The boat was after all new, only having been hired out for 2 one week hires before us. The engine had 48 hours on the clock when we picked her up. At 48ft in length, she was very responsive, with no shaking of the tiller.

First lock was Loughborough Lock then Bishop Meadow, by now we had got back into the swing and things could only get better.

We moored for the night above Zouch lock.

 

6 Mile, 2 broad locks , 3 hours cruising

 

 

Zooch Lock

 

Day 2

Saturday 3rd

 

Up early this morning, as the forecast was for rain later in the morning. As we descended Zouch lock the sun was out, but that didn't last for long, as the clouds started to roll in. By the time we got to Radcliffe lock the rain was with us, not heavy but drizzle.

We continued up onto the Trent and through the manned lock at Sawley, until we stopped above Derwent Mouth Lock to let the rain have its way.

By 3.30pm it had dried up so we set on our way again, finally mooring for the night at Findern.

 

19 miles, 12 broad locks, 8 hours 20 min cruising

 

Day 3

Sunday 4th

 

Late start today due to the Archers, so didn't leave until 11.40am. It was nice to be back on narrow locks, broad locks are hard work when you're the only boat.

Passing Willington, where our old timeshare boat was moored, we headed down and through Burton upon Trent , stopping just after Snobnall Basin, to nip to Morrison's (5 mins walk away)we finally called it a day below Barton Turn Lock.

 

10 mile, 2 narrow locks, 4 hours 10 min cruising

 

Tatenhill Lock

 

Stretton

 

Barton Lock

 

Day 4

Monday 5th

 

11 am start. Pushed it through to Alrewas, as I am not too keen on the section of canal down pasted the A38. Then a more steadily pace through to Fradley, where we stopped at 2.20 pm, for an hour. Unfortunately the Canal shop was shut, I had hoped to pick up a replacement tilly light, so a coffee and cake was in order.

It was then onto the Coventry/Fazeley canal, aiming to stop at Hopwas. Hopwas was full, so we continued on eventually stopping about a mile north from Fazeley Jn.

 

15 mile, 8 narrow locks, 6 1/2 hours cruising

 

 

 

 

Day 5

Tuesday 6th

 

Woke up to a beautiful day, clear blue skies. After a stop at Fazeley jn. services, to fill water and empty waste, we headed on to Gascote Locks, after the locks we stopped again and did a quick shop at the co-op.

As we passed Alvecote Marina, I noticed one of the Shakespeare Classic Line boats ( King Lear) in the boat yard opposite the marina. The last I heard, all the SCL boats had been moored at Redhill, but were no longer there when we had past. As an old SCL timeshare owner, I would be interested to know what has happened to the boats, looks like they may have been sold.

We had an early finish, mooring at the top of Atherstone locks, as we wanted to go into town in the morning.

 

12 miles, 13 narrow locks, 6 1/2 hours cruising

 

 

 

More to follow.

 

 

[Mrs Trackman]

Thanks for the update. I enjoyed following you round the system by your daily updates but good to see your comments and photos. good you enjoyed it. Did you lose out when classics stopped or had you already sold your share?

[adam1uk]

A couple of the Shakespeare boats, Malvolio and Portia, are now on hire from Gayton Marina.

[Mantaray]

Thanks for the update. I enjoyed following you round the system by your daily updates but good to see your comments and photos. good you enjoyed it. Did you lose out when classics stopped or had you already sold your share?

 

We were one of the unfortunate who lost out. We were offered the chance to walk away and did. We didn't lose overall and had our money worth over the 14 years of ownership.

A couple of the Shakespeare boats, Malvolio and Portia, are now on hire from Gayton Marina.

Interesting,Are they still in Shakespeare livery?

[Mrs Trackman]

an unfortunate episode but pleased you felt you enjoyed your years and you obviously still enjoy boating. quite miss seeing the Shakespeare boats on the t and m.

Edited September 17, 2016 by Mrs Trackman

[adam1uk]

Interesting,Are they still in Shakespeare livery?

Yes they are, which is partly why I noticed them.

[___]

The SCL boat Cymbeline is operating out of Alvechurch still in SCL colours. Strangely the name is spelt differently on the top bends than it is on the cabin sides.

 

JP

Edited September 18, 2016 by Captain Pegg

[Victor Vectis]

Late start today due to the Archers

but................as a fellow 'Archers' fan may I recommend this podcast http://dumteedum.com/

[Mantaray]

Yes they are, which is partly why I noticed them.

 

The SCL boat Cymbeline is operating out of Alvechurch still in SCL colours. Strangely the name is spelt differently on the top bends than it is on the cabin sides.

 

JP

 

That is very interesting. if they are still in SCL livery one would assume that they are still owned by the SCL timeshare owners.

I wonder if the trust company that took over the boats has had to split them between a number of management companies. We took the option to get out, as we were given very little information on what the future could hold, and we were asked to pay an extra £150 maintenance fee, we felt that we could be letting ourselves into an ever growing money pit.

 

If anyone has any more information, it would be interesting to find out what has happened with the boats and if we made a good or bad decision.

[Mantaray]

Day 6

Wednesday 7th

 

Atherstone is one of my favourite canal side towns, the main shopping street is only 5 mins walk away and has some great independent shops as well as all the normal high street shops. there is also a new Aldi now.

Shopping done, we headed on our way. making good time until we arrived at Hawkesbury Jn. In front of us was a novice crew on a 70ft hire boat, having great difficulty getting round the turn and into the stop lock. much to the amusement of all the bystanders at the pub.

We also had 2 novice crews behind us, both unsure as to how the lock worked so we gave a little tuition and then got on our way, mooring up at 7pm just the other side of Ansty.

 

16 mile, 1 narrow lock, 5 3/4 hours cruising.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7

Thursday 8th

 

As we were not far short of a day ahead of schedule , we had a midday start today and headed into Rugby, stopping at the new shopping park by bridge 58, then on to Hillmorton locks where we stopped above the top lock for the night.

 

11 miles, 3 narrow locks, 3 3/4 hours cruising.

 

 

 

 

Day 8

Friday 9th

 

As we were meeting our son and granddaughter at Braunston on Saturday, there was no rush at all today. After a 2 hour cruise we moored at Braunston Jn. mid afternoon, and went for a walk down to the marina and up to the village. As night fell, the wind and cloud cover started to pick up and it was a bad omen for Saturday.

 

7 mile, 0 locks, 2 hours cruising.

 

 

 

Day 9

Saturday 10th

 

Was greeted by wind and rain this morning, not what we wanted as our Son and granddaughter, both first time narrow boaters, were joining us for the day.

However, with wet weather gear on, we started back towards Hillmorton locks in the now quite heavy rain. Our son was not too impressed getting wet, but our granddaughter didn't seem to care, she was more interested in feeding the wild life.

Arriving at Hillmorton, we went down the locks, turned round and came back up the locks, to give our guests the full lock experience . As we came up the top lock the rain finally started to dry up and the return trip was still a little blowy but dry.

Back at Braunston when time for our guests to go, our granddaughter protested saying " but I haven't feed all the ducks, they will go hungry"

Despite the weather , an enjoyable day was had by all.

 

14 mile, 6 narrow locks, 5 1/2 hours cruising.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mantaray]

Day 10

Sunday 11th

 

The rain had gone, and it was a nice sunny morning.

As we were now a day behind schedule, we needed to make some time back. So it was an early start as I wanted to try and make it up Watford locks before nightfall.

The 6 broad locks at Braunston were against us and we were on our own, so not an easy start to the day. However once through Braunston tunnel, we made good progress arriving at the bottom of Watford flight at 1 pm. We had a 1 3/4 hour wait, as 7 boats were on their way down, on the boat behind us ,in the now growing queue ,was a young live aboard couple, who took their ferret for a walk on a lead while we waited.

Once up the flight, we headed on to Crick where we stopped for a coffee and to use the Wi-Fi at The Moorings, so my wife could download the Archers, which she had missed in the morning due to Braunston Locks.

Refreshed and with a happy wife, we moved on again finally stopping north of Yelvertoft at bridge 28/29.

 

15 mile, 13 narrow locks, 7 1/2 hours cruising, 1 3/4 hours wait.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 11

Monday 12th

 

Dry and warm again today, we were still a few hours behind schedule, so set off mid morning aiming to the bottom of Foxton locks.

Foxton locks took me by surprise, arriving 1/1/2 hours before canal planer had said.

I went down to book in to be told about a 3/4 of an hour wait, which extended to a hour only then to be told that another boat was on its way up and it would be another 3/4 of an hour wait.

What eventually turned into a 2 hour wait, came to an end and I was let into the first lock. Down the fist staircase, passed another boat going up in the pound and on down the second staircase. 45 mins later I was at the bottom and mooring up for the night.

 

12 1/2 mile, 10 narrow locks, 4 1/2 hours cruising, 2 hours waiting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 12

Tuesday 13th

 

Nice day again today. headed out of Foxton on to Saddington Tunnel, stopping just the other side at bridge 73, to pop over the fields and get some supplies from the co-op in Fleckney. Kibwoth lock was soon upon us, and once again we did the next5 locks on our own. However our luck changed before Newton Top Lock as we court up with another boat and were able to pair up with them all the down to Kilby Bridge. Although it was nice to share locks, the other boat was in no hurry, now I know there is no rush on the canal, but I did not get out of tick over between Bumble Bee lock and Kilby bridge and I was still caching them up.

We moored at Kilby Bridge, and spent the evening chatting to a couple on a fibreglass cruiser, that we had been meeting throughout the holiday. They were from Leicester, and did not have a good word to say about it, and were planning an early start to get right through Leicester the next day.

We agreed to leave together and pair up through the locks in the morning.

 

10 mile , 12 broad locks, 6 1/2 hours cruising

 

 

[adam1uk]

Sounds as though it was the same incompetent volunteer lock keeper on duty at Foxton as the day we went down. The two lockies had, we thought, agreed that the three boats at the top could go down once the two boats coming up had cleared the flight. The first boat went into the top lock, and the rest of us shuffled up. The lock keeper at the bottom then announced that he was letting another two boats up, and those at the top would have to wait. The boat in the top lock had to reverse out, and breasted up to us while we waited. And waited. Then when we were finally on the way down the top staircase, he let another one up. It took them so long to get to the middle, that each of the top five locks had a boat in it, waiting. The idea of controlling boat movements really seemed to have gone to his head.

Edited September 19, 2016 by adam1uk

[Mantaray]

Day 13

Wednesday 14th

 

As agreed last night, we left Kilby Bridge at 8.30 am with our new friends and got a good system going. They would set and open the lock gates, so I could go straight in, then they would follow me in. once down, they would go out first and head off to the next lock, while we shut the gates. Using this system we made good progress down Freeman's meadow lock and onto the Leicester mile. We had hoped to moor up at Castle Gardens, but they were full, so we continued round the corner to Friar's mills, but they were also full, so after a quick chat with the other boat, it was decided to head on down to Birstall. All was going fine until we exited Lime Kiln lock. Our friends had gone ahead as usual, so it was a surprise when I came round a corner to find them stranded in the middle of the canal. Their engine had cut out due to picking up some rubbish. we got them to the side and had a look to find a big bit of carpet raped round there prop, with the help of a couple of BW workers who happen to come by, we got it cleared and where on our way again.

 

 

12 mile, 16 broad locks, 8 hours cruising.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14

Thursday 15th

 

Today I have a bit of a dilemma, we do not need to be back at Pillings Marina until 10.30 Friday morning, but our new friends want to be mooring at Zooch tonight.

So do we have a slow day and leave our friends to go on without us, which could mean we end up doing the locks alone ( not good if I want a happy life) or do we go on with our friends and get back to the marina a day early.

After a quick chat with the other half option 2 was agreed upon. we used the same system as yesterday through the locks, but were joined by another cruiser at Cossington Lock so went 3 up.

The second cruiser stop at Sileby lock to go to the candle factory, so it was back to the two of us through Mountsorrel and on to Barrow.

We stopped at Barrow services, filled water and had a drink over in the Navigation Pub, before heading for Barrow lock. Exiting Barrow lock we said our goodbyes and waved our new friends away.

10 mins later I was making the left turn into Pilling marina.

Now the fun was about to start, not only did I need to moor at the fuel pump, but I also needed to then moor the boat back at her mooring.

 

To get to the fuel pump, I needed to come down a channel between mooring and turn the boat 45 deg. To my astonishment I succeeded in the task with flying colours, first attempt with no collisions or bangs.

 

Now getting the boat back on its mooring, was another thing all together, first I needed to get the boat back off the fuel mooring, then reverse her onto her permanent mooring without hitting any other moored boats. Now I know my limitations, so I chickened out and asked one of the maintenance staff if he would do it for me. It took him 2 attempts to get her on the mooring, so I think I made a good choice.

 

It was now only 4pm, so what should we do? We could stay the night in the marina, get up early to pack and hand the boat back at 10.30, or pack now and go home ( we are only an hour drive away)and have a full day tomorrow to do whatever. We decided to go home early, so by 6pm we were on our way home.

 

All in all we had a great time and good weather. Glad we have done the Leicester ring, but would not do it again. We did not enjoy the board locks, the wife has said she will not do broad lock again unless we have a 4 man crew.

 

Having lost our timeshare with SCL, I don't know if we will be able to afford hiring a narrow boat again, so this could be our last time. Although I will miss the canal system, so you never know.

 

9 mile, 6 broad locks, 4 hours cruising.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total for whole holiday:

 

169 miles

 

56 narrow Locks

 

48 Broad Locks

 

69 1/2 hours cursing time.

 

Now I was told that the boat had a full tank of fuel, and I was required to fill her back up on return.

This I did, and it took 95 litres to fill her, which seems a bit high to me. that works out at just over 3mpg, would this be correct or was the tank not full when I pick the boat up.

 

Chris and Helga.

[adam1uk]

Litres per hour would be the usual way of measuring a narrowboat's consumption, and most modern engines would use something between 1 and 1.5 litres per hour. So 95 litres over almost 70 hours seems ok to me.

 

It would be a shame if you ruled out broad locks. The Leicester ring has some of the most difficult broad locks on the system. The ones down to Leicester seem hard work because the gates keep swinging open, and the Trent sand Mersey ones are deep and fierce. Also, none of them are in a flight. But Hatton, for example, is broad but quick and fairly easy. Basically what I'm saying is that you shouldn't judge all wide locks by a few, and that you'd be missing out on a lot of great routes if you ruled them out.

[Mantaray]

I understand what you are saying, but try explaining that the the wife. .

 

We have done Hatton flight a few years ago, but that was with a 3rd crew member and we were lucky to pair up with a CRT work boat. I'm not saying that we will not do broad locks ever again, but not if it is only the 2 of us. There is still a lot of narrow canal we have not done, so plenty to keep us happy.

[Mantaray]

Litres per hour would be the usual way of measuring a narrowboat's consumption, and most modern engines would use something between 1 and 1.5 litres per hour. So 95 litres over almost 70 hours seems ok to me.

 

 

Cool, Feel happier now.