Market Harborough

Yesterday we knocked over all the locks between Leicester and Foxton, we were on a roll and the weather was improving as the day wore on. Saturday's forecast was for more rain and we wanted to keep moving to position the boat for a meeting with friends from Australia. Today's cruising was going to be much shorter than first anticipated and with the meeting now cancelled we headed through Foxton and turned left on to Market Harborough Arm.

On our way to Foxton we passed through Seddington Tunnel (881 yds) only 15 minutes from our mooring and an hour later we stopped at Debdale Wharf to relieve us of the contents of the holding tank. The rain wasn't threatening but it was very gusty, Serafina was getting pushed about where there was no protection from the wind. Heading into Market Harborough we passed the Visitor Moorings, which were full, and ended up in the basin at Union Wharf. The wind was sweeping across the basin and it was a challenge to get Serafina around and safely to the side.

With no moorings available in the CRT Visitor Moorings, there looked to be space for around ten boats, we decided to spoil ourselves and pay for a mooring in the basin (Union Wharf) with electric hook up at £10 per night.The cruise from Foxton to Market Harborough took us two hours. The canal is a reasonable depth apart from a couple of spots and it is very pleasant countryside to be cruising in.

Serafina moored up at Union Wharf

We spent quite a few hours over the two days looking around Market Harborough. Market Harborough is a nice town, plenty of shops and lots of parks. A market town wouldn't be without its markets, there was a small market under the old grammar school, a 17th Century Grade 1 listed building. We found another market, much larger, on our walk around town.

The church, St Dionysius, dates back as far as 13th Century. Apparently most of the building dates to 14th and 15th Century.

The grammar school with St Dionysius Church in the background

Sunday afternoon we managed to wash down most of Serafina and clean all the windows. By the end of the afternoon all the temporary moorings at the Wharf were full.