It’s definitely autumn now, lots of leaves falling and it seemed to get dark quite early, very different from when we arrived. I couldn’t just go straight into the Marina first thing without having a half hour spin down the Wey.

Then turn around and back home….T42 really wanted to keep going onto the Thames and up to Oxford, and truthfully I wanted to as well.

But back into Marina, top up the fuel and set her up for long term mooring. We’ve done all the packing. I’ll give the hire car a quick wash, she’s covered in leaves, and touch the blacking on T42’s hull where we’ve bumped something. Perhaps a visit to the Anchor pub ? I didn’t get round last night as it had started to rain again.

Australia, here we come !

Another wet day, but fortunately only drizzle whilst we were loading T42 at Kings Bromley. It poured on the motorway, but stopped long enough to unload at Pyrford once a widebeam had been moved off the slipway. We had hoped to get to Walsham Gates but there’s every possibility of the river going in flood, so we’ve moored outside the Anchor pub on the canalised, non flooding, section.

Tomorrow we have to top up the fuel tank and then prepare for long term mooring. Also some packing ! and we are all set for the long trek home. My ears have finally cleared just in time, that head cold / man flu gave me a run for its money….

Yesterday afternoon the sun came out, on went the solar charging and we sat out the back chatting to our boating neighbours Eddy and David. A lovely couple who live full time on their 60′ apart from the winter when they take their motor home to Spain or Portugal…..

The local church clock chimed away, and the butchers produce was delicious last night. We spent the evening with our neighbours again, and gave them a lift down to the services at Fradley Junction this morning. Morning tea turned into lunch then we decided to cruise the last 3 locks to our pick up point. It’s blowing a gale, which made mooring difficult, hopefully it will die down tomorrow morning on the slipway.

Leicester Ring done ! We are starting to think about going home, where somebody is waiting! But first one more night on the Wey, and an overnight stop in Western Australia to see mum and dad….

A grey overcast morning but no rain so we set off on our last full day. A few small locks, and a water point to make things interesting. However as we approached Wychnor Lock passing boats commented about the river. I knew we had a mile or so to do on it, but apparently the recent rain had made a “proceed with caution”

H seemed to be getting nervous, but as we entered the river Trent all seemed OK. Then we went round a corner, under a narrow bridge and past a weir, suddenly I needed almost full throttle to make headway. We battled on round another corner, saw the next set of locks but had to head directly into the full stream to get past the next weir, complete with white water. It was a good test for T42 and she responded well. H was very relieved to get off the Trent, and into Alrewas.

This is a pretty little town, with excellent shops so we are provisioned for the rest of the trip. We also made friends with the Narrowboat behind us, books exchanged and drinks later on. I’m going to watch some boats “shooting the rapids” whilst going downstream, I reckon it could get a little hairy…..

Black and white mini to go with the house….

A wet morning so we stayed put until a passing trad who displaced so much water, probably 25 tons, sucked us away from the bank pulling out one of our pins. Not an ideal place to moor, so after lunch when the rain stopped we moved on. Of course 30 minutes later it started raining heavily, but with only 2 locks to do only the helmsman got wet. One upside was going thru Burton upon Trent, a bright blue and orange kingfisher posed several times on trees as we passed. Superb but impossible to catch on film sadly. With the batteries charged we are moored at Branston, only 5 hours and 7 locks from our final destination.

There is a large water park alongside, sadly its raining again, but the Canada geese are honking away, and several swans drifting around.

It’s good to be on a canal again, but it’s fairly uniform agricultural land with occasional villages. The towpath has mainly hawthorn hedge, with occasional breaks to views.

One other uniform thing are the massive 14′ deep wide locks. Some present a real challenge for Hazel, and I climb out of the lock on a slimy ladder to give her a hand. She’s very good scrambling across the lock to open 2 ground paddles and 2 gate paddles as we are going upstream for the next couple of days. Luckily CRT volunteers did the last one, promising and delivering a “smooth” ride.

Long lost relatives at Swankstone Junction ? We passed a couple from WA earlier.

We are moored outside of Burton upon Trent tonight, hoping to blast thru tomorrow weather permitting. It’s looking very dark and grey at present……

A few showers setting off from Zouch this morning, and straight into a lock. On taking off the alternator belt squealed, we’ve already adjusted once, then bang as it broke. We pulled over and I replaced it in 4 minutes, good enough for the Ferrari team Rico said.

A couple of other boats caught up with us, and we all squeezed into the next lock.

By now we were reaching the end of the River Soar, where it joins the Trent. This is a massive expanse of water, and has some large Dutch barges on it. We’ve also just completed the Leicester Line, another canal and River system for T42.

Then it was a turn into the Trent, and we are going up locks rather than down. Sawley Locks are manned and automated. A relief as they are rather deep ! It’s also the the home of the Derby Boat Club, Lazy Otters Marina. Time to say goodbye to Rico and Lorraine for another year, we really do enjoy their company, and sharing the work makes for a more enjoyable holiday. Till next time guys …..

We’ve done 2 more locks by ourselves, but the rain has set in and we’re moored for the day now. It’s about 12.5 hours to Kings Bromley Marina where we are being trailered back to Pyrford on Friday. We can take our time over the next couple of days..

Another glorious day, apparently it ends tomorrow, sailing down the Soar.

It’s a maze of side rivers, weirs and channels. Large numbers of Canada geese are cropping the fields and water weeds.

It’s also been declared a holy river by the local Indian population. That means it’s good for spreading ashes, we’ve passed 2 large groups doing so and have managed to get downstream / downwind in time. One group was at a boating service point, Coco the Chihuahua and his young master helped us moor, and posed once I’d asked his mum.

Barrow upon Soar was a pleasant surprise, lovely scenery and friendly folks.

We are moored at Loughborough Arm at present, pronounced Luff BuRRa. A quick provision at the local Tesco then into the country again. We are looking for good moorings in case we are moored up tomorrow to avoid the rain and winds forecast.

So we are on the long downhill slope to Leicester, passing numerous homes..

Some have nice gardens, whilst others look a trifle unkept.

Upon entering Leicester there are a lot of swans, Leicester City Football Club, numerous University buildings and the Mile Straight.

For a city it’s remarkably tidy, green and graffiti free so far. The girls are out shopping, then it’s a few more locks and out into the countryside again.

It took a while to find our evening mooring spot. Great to be back in the country, on a river surrounded by lakes. One more day of fine weather then the rains are coming…

Out cruising by 8.30 this morning. Superb reflections and only 1 boat past us all day.

Churches, cows and general scenery, it all drifts by…

Life doesn’t get much better if you are a “slow boater”. Tomorrow Leicester