Crick

We sped through Leicester, having decided that it was somewhere we would visit at a later date. The outskirts of the city were grim, graffitied, and very unappealing as with so many cities. However, the 'straight mile' did have some very impressive bridges spanning the canal. The canal passes the new Leicester City football ground as it comes out of the city centre and into parkland but even this is a bit tatty and littered with bottles, cans and assorted debris.

Leicester Litter

                                  Leicester graffiti at Lock 42

Sid and Jenny enjoying a much deserved ice cream as we emerge from Leicester. Kings Locks, Aylestone. 

We had planned to meet Sue and Pete at Foxton for lunch. It was so good to see them again after far too long. A very pleasant lunch was followed by a most enjoyable ascent of the Foxton staircase locks. Sue kept Sid company on Hunters Moon while Pete and Jenny worked the locks. Sue and Pete had walked here on  numerous occasions and watched boats passing up and down so it was a great experience for them to actually take a boat up.
There is a very particular order in which the paddles gave to be operated and Pete had a saying to make sure we worked them in the correct order: Red before white and you'll be alright but white before red and you'll be dead!

Pete lock wheeling at Foxton 

                            Sid, Sue and 'gongoozlers' at Foxton

Ice creams all round at the Top Lock and then a much needed cup of tea. A lovely afternoon in lovely company.

We had a visit ti the newly refurbished museum on Sunday morning then had a short afternoon cruise in the warm sunshine to a favourite mooring of ours at the top of the Welford Arm.

Well, the weather couldn't last and today we made our way to Crick in wind and rain. In much need of a good Internet connection so after a small shop found the Wheatsheaf and a good beer! Voila!