Thursday 7/5 Double Rail Lock to Smeeton Westerby

Awoke to a lovely morning. First job, to heat the chocolate croissants purchased the day before from Birstall. Second job which fell to Tim and Mike as Lawrence was still sleeping off the effects of his man flu, which luckily has turned out to be a cold, still it is a man cold, Lawrence reminds me. back to the second job, fixing the rear fender which had become somewhat unhinged when Aqualife had a little disagreement with a lock gate. Lawrence arose and we left our mooring at 8.00am and did 2 locks in quick succession and shortly arrived at Kilby Bridge where there are CART services (Canal and River Trust - the body responsible for the upkeep of the canal system throughout England). We pulled up to fill with water, empty the bins and for our newbie boaters Mike and Tim to take advantage of 'normal' loos and showers. As we were finishing filling up a boat pulled in to also top upwith water, so we waited for them at the next lock so we could do them together.

The other boat was also a hire boat, crewed by a Dutch couple who were on their 9th English narrowboat hire, this time doing the Leicester Ring in two weeks. Marguerite (have no idea of the Dutch spelling, or even if I pronounced it correctly), Tim/Mike and I shared the lock work together, lock wheeling, where possible for the next 7 locks , in a mixture of rain and sunshine, through some lovely countryside - Leicester seemed a million miles away, but in reality was only about 10 miles behind us.

Following then Dutch couple along the canal

 we parted company with them when we stopped for and early lunch near Wistow, where, after lunch Mike and Tim took a walk through the fields to the Wistow Farm Shop, whilst Lawrence had a healing snooze and I had a lovely read in the sun. When the lads returned from the expedition bearing some yummy bounty we cast off and faced the remaining locks of the day. Ground paddles open

Gate paddles opened

Lock nearly filled

Tim and Mike did the last few locks of the day unsupervised. Just as they are about to leave us.

And giving me the opportunity to steer the boat - at Lawrence's insistence.  I must confess a bit of ricocheting took place.

We went through our first tunnel of this trip. Saddington Tunnel, a pipsqueak at 881 yards long

Still, it was a bit creepy

We tied up approx.1 mile after the tunnel at 6.20pm (15 miles from Leicester).  Lawrence got out the BBQ we purchased. Betty and Geoff, here is one for you. A sad man and his BBQ.

Needless to say the snags from the farm shop needed finishing off under the griller. Katie has since emailed BBQ instructions, so next effort should be better. Last pic our mooring for the night, chosen, not so much for the view as for the television reception. Lawrence retired after dinner not sure whether from effects of man cold or depression caused by the lack of success with the BBQ .

We discovered a 2nd damp patch in the boat tonight, so a call to the hire co. Is in order tomorrow.

Election Day here in the UK today, so we have to suffer Tim yelling at the telly tonight.

8miles 14 locks 6 hrs