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

Today was supposed to be a lock free day, but the fine weather meant we could push on ahead and bank some miles for a rainy day. Some fine reflections in the water.

So after 5 hours cruising, going thru a tunnel and topping up with water, we arrived at Foxton. This is a double set of 5 staircase locks. Another fine bit of engineering. The girls were gently reminded by the lock keeper “red before white and you’ll be alright” so that the water is correctly diverted to the side pounds after filling the next lock.

View of 1 set of staircase locks, double this and you will get a sense of the scale. Originally it was an inclined plane, where 2 cassions moved in opposite directions sideways up and down the hill. However it proved a very unreliable system and only the tracks remain, and the staircase locks that replaced them

Well the girls limbered up with 6 locks straight after breakfast, luckily we were joined by an experienced crew who made it a pleasure to cruise with. This was followed by a 2 mile tunnel, and 2 way with a spare inch between the wall and any oncoming boats.

Then it was a short time to Napton Junction where we turned onto the Leceister line proper. This is a narrow canal, everything is a bit tighter on them, but we prefer it!

It feels a proper canal, and we can double up with Lazy Otter in the Locks.

To finish the day off we had 3 more normal locks and a staircase of 4 at Watford Gap. This was an impressive feat of engineering, and required the right paddle sequence. After we had done the first the lockmaster left us to it, recognising an experienced crew ! We are on schedule and have at least 4 more sunny days to bank up the miles.

Another early morning, are we on holiday?, saw us moored at the slipway with Norm arriving at 7.30. He has taken over from Ray Lily who has moved us numerous times, and did a wonderful job loading us.

A few hours drive saw us at Calcutt Marina where Rico and Lorraine in Lazy Otter we’re waiting for us. Water tank filled up, goods restowed, good for cruising. Just a short day today, 3 locks and 2 hours to Braunston. This is a major canal town with lots of facilities. It also has numerous graceful ironbridges.

We are being spoiled tonight with a 3 course dinner cooked by Lorraine. Tomorrow sees numerous locks and a 2 mile long windy tunnel ! Looking forward to it all.

Marionette was the original Sea Otter, being just 18′ long, the one behind it is the same length as ours at 27′. Tiddlers compared to the traditional 72 footers. I’ve climbed onto one of the bridges to get a wifi signal for the dongle. Here’s our mooring tonight.

Another early start saw us arrive just after 9am. Hospitality for the day was the Goodwood Mess, a WW11 airforce mess complete with officers. The Doc said I was fine…

The film studios were filming the Italian Job, complete with actors, cars and props

Whilst the Earls Court Motor Show had a fantastic display of Aston’s, including Valkyrie and an original publicity shot for the mini.

Racing wise the highlight was the BROOKLANDS Trophy, for Bentley’s up to 1930.

Over 30 of them thundering around the circuit. As well as many other special cars with unique history. They even recreated a fire in the pits to simulate Aston winning the world championship in 1959.

And finally a few fashion shots for Sally…

By 3pm it was 27 degrees and we were both fading fast. I didn’t really do the event fully but feel glad I actually made it ! Oh I got a few brochures, books etc as well…

An early start saw us arriving at the Revival by 9.30 with a good run down apart from some missing diversion signs. Luckily we’ve been enough times to know roughly where to head. Hospitality was in the Barracks today, which turned out to be a bit of a hike from the car park, H’s feet were suffering by the time we got there…….

Surrounded by American D Day vehicles, and a few classic cars, it made an impressive sight. Those amphibious “ducks” are large vehicles.

After an early lunch we ventured out to watch some of the demonstrations, races and parades. Particularly poignant was Lady Susie Moss being driven around the circuit in an Aston Martin DB3S, followed by some notable cars that Sir Stirling drove. He is seriously ill, and Lady Moss was in tears as Lord March read out his career. Having won his first race here, ended his career here after a nasty crash and raced at all the Revivals he is known as Mr Goodwood.

We decided to start heading back to the car park after visiting the paddocks and shops. A very nice man offered to drive us across the infield in one of the hospitality early Landrovers, relief for H. A number of notables were seen in the pits, an Aston Martin DB3S coupe, so ugly it’s rather nice, like the Ferrari “Breadvan”

An impressive line up of “normal” 3’s and Jaguar C types.

As well as the odd Ferrari or two. As usual the fashion was amazing, plenty of Mini’s and associated girls ! However it was rather warm, 27 degrees, so some of the public dressed up in full officers kit looked slightly wiltered , and a lot of wives hobbling around on heels !

It’s an amazing event, where else would you see a Vintage Rolls Royce ice cream van ?

Or Roger Clark’s / Stirling Moss’s MGB parked in the car park.

So an amazing first day, I’m glad we made it and are ready to repeat it all tomorrow minus the high heels !

1st blast was Woking Hospital. I last visited here some 60 years ago whilst being born ! Unfortunately this morning one bloodshot eye had turned green, and the infection had spread to the other one. So off to the hospital where the practicing nurse said it was the worst case she had seen……..after some tests involving orange dye, i now had traffic light eyes with orange tears streaming out, not a pretty site. Next to Boots to get a script filled out, then Hazel set up a bathing station and is administering all care required. It’s going to take some weeks to clear up, hopefully the holiday can continue.

2nd blast was RHS Gardens, Wisley. Massive changes including a new entrance, shop and re development of the old glasshouse site, including the removal of the old glasshouses I used to work in, a bit sad so I shed a few more orange tears…

This site will house laboratories, world farm food and a roof top garden all where the glasshouses used to be. Thankfully some things remain the same, with some glorious hydrangeas on Battlestone hill, and miniature Cyclamen near the rock garden.

Paphiopedium insigne “sanderae”, I remember growing this clone…

Depending upon how I feel tomorrow we will try a trip to Goodwood Revival, with a longer day hopefully on Sunday.

Today the Jaguar Car Club of Tasmania went boating in the UK! Gordon had flown in from Tassie yesterday, and spent the day with local brother Keith aboard T42. Neither had been narrowboating before, but were amazed at the River Wey and its corridor of calm. We went thru 3 locks and 1 set of gates to the New Inn at Send for lunch. Then back to Pyrford via a stop at the Anchor Inn for afternoon refreshments. A great day guys, kept us busy so we couldn’t worry about our colds……We have decided to skip the first day at Goodwood Revival, as we have to provision the boat, and have yet to visit RHS Wisley.

Gordon, Keith and Tasotter messing about on the water…

Gordon tries his hand on the tiller, and does a great job!