Cruising to Leicester and Beyond

We had allocated a two night stay in Nottingham, it's been over thirty years since we were here last. Thirty years ago Rachael left in a huff after our tour of Nottingham Castle grounds, the tour guide had basically told her Robin Hood had never existed. We ventured back to Nottingham Castle, not to take a tour but to just take a look around the area and it seems now they have grasped the legend of Robin Hood whole-heartedly...much better for tourism! Still nothing that says he existed or who he was but no more 'ifs', 'buts' or 'maybes' on the signage I read either. There was a nice big bronze statue across the road from The Castle Pub where had lunch and a drink or two.

 
The front gate of Nottingham Castle is very impressive but not too much left inside the castle walls, this was another demolished after the English Civil War.

After the castle Rachael was keen to walk around the city centre which had an extensive pedestrian zone. Almost reminded me of home with the "ding, ding" of trams through the streets.

Before we took off the next morning Rachael and I checked out the retail park only 200 metres from the moorings. We didn't need anything in particular, just popped in to see what shops were there. While Rachael spent most of her time in Mothercare looking for bargains for the grandchildren I was next door in a very large outdoor store.

Leaving Nottingham, we cruised out on the last leg of our trip on the River Trent, reaching the junction with the River Soar (GU Leicester Section) and Erewash Canal in a few hours. Straight ahead is the Trent and Mersey Canal, it's only a few days to Stoke-on-Trent from here but we still have over a month before we head home to Australia so it was left on to the Grand Union as planned.

I must admit that our cruise on the River Soar was closer to cruising on a canal than a river after being on the Trent. The Soar's current was much gentler and there were no high sides either. We filled with diesel at Kegworth Marine at the right price of 57p/lt (cash only) and a nice easy jetty to moor at too. We finished the day at the moorings in Zooch. It had been a rather warm day so a trip to The Rose and Crown followed although Rachael wasn't keen trekking along a public path, through a field with a herd of cows. When she saw the moorings outside the pub there was discussion about me going and getting the boat, we put that argument to rest quickly.

We had planned to moor in Loughborough rather than Zooch but we had just kept going, it was such a nice day. A late start and Loughborough was a short cruise on so on arriving we tied up the boat, walk into town and found The Three Nuns Pub had a nice lunch menu. We finished the day at a lovely little town called Barrow-Upon-Soar.

Three lovely days in a row as we headed for Leicester, once again cruising longer than we had planned. However, the cruising from Thurmaston Lock was just plain annoying. I was doing the lock work an I was lucky enough to get to shut every top gate and lower every top gate paddle to Leicester. Only four locks I know, but still!! We did see the culprit leave Thurmaston too, about a 30' narrowboat with at least eight kids on the roof and another half dozen down below, we were expecting a rescue mission!

The cruise coming into Leicester was disappointing, the amount of rubbish in the river/canal was quite bad. We passed many mills on the way in, many abandoned and in disrepair.

We had been told by other boaters back in Lincoln that there were some new CRT floating pontoon moorings coming into Leicester from our direction so we kept an eye out near Friar's Mill marked in our Pearsons. Three boats already moored there and plenty of room for us and maybe an additional thirty footer too. Water on the jetty and I assume from the posts on the jetty there will eventually be power.

There was plenty to see and do in Leicester, I've posted just a few photos from the castle, the guild hall and museum and of course Leicester Cathedral where Richard III now lies.

One of the gates up to Leicester Castle

Gate into the Castle Forecourt

The Guild Hall and museum

Leicester Cathedral

Tomb of Richard III

Heading out of Leicester it was rather damp, mainly light rain. Parking was at a premium in Leicester but I don't think this city parking space will be terribly cheap gauging by the amount of equipment that was up on the high bank preparing to lift the car out.

Expecting more heavy lock arms and tight mechanisms I was back on the locks. The locks heading out of Leicester are not in terribly good condition with paddles that don't work and so are difficult to fill. Several locks have mechanisms taped up and are waiting for the winter stoppages I guess.

There was nothing wrong with this lock below except the cow wanted to have a drink near where I was standing, she eyed me off and decided to try further along the river.

Showers persisted most of the day but we were on a roll and finished the day on a rural mooring just after Lock 18 in bright sun, a 24 lock day!