Sorry!

Sorry that I haven't posted anything since Saturday but the only reason I have, which isn't really a reason at all, is that it's been sunny and we've been enjoying every minute of it. 

It's Thursday evening and we are moored just below Buckby top lock, one of our favourite stopping places. 

But, what happened before that? Well, on Sunday we set off from Sileby. 

As you can see, a clear blue sky ahead of us. 

The captain took the helm and it was full steam ahead. 

Past some moorings near Cossington. 

A reminder of home, a wind turbine! 

This is the Hope and Anchor pub, one which we have passed many times. 

A canal's eye view of the space centre in Leicester. 

And now, approaching our mooring for the night at Friar's Mill. Ahead of us is Willy Worm, a boat we shared many of the locks with today. 

Monday and off again through the city. 

A last look at our mooring. 

Here is Leicester proper where the swan population is very large. At one point they all decided to take off and flew straight toward the boat - just as we wer going under the next bridge. Some hasty landings were made just behind us. 

Harvey managed to pop out from his office to wave us on our way. 

Not a brilliant picture but it's Leicester City football stadium. 

In the evening we stopped at Kilby Bridge and visited the Navigation for a wonderful supper. 

Tuesday and off again. 

This is what it's all about. Lovely! 

Vapour trails in the sky, sun on the tiller - and Brigid working the locks with Hilary from Willy Worm. 

And there is Willy Worm alongside us in the lock. 

Doesn't the canal look great when the sun's shining. 

There we are, an action photo. 

This looks like a wedding venue with, instead of a marquee, two wigwams with connecting tent. 

Approaching Saddlington Tunnel - only 880 yds long. 

The end is in sight! 

Here we are moored for the night just before Foxton Locks. We managed to meet up again with our Australian friends, Graeme & Hilary on Willow. They had followed us through Standedge tunnel but took a different route to get to Foxton. 

And another sunset to round off the day. 

Well, Wednesday was Locks day. 

One last look at Willow and then... 

Into the first of the 10 locks. 

Now moving on into the second. There are two sets of five locks in a staircase and we had to wait in the middle so that two boats coming down could pass us as we were going up. 

Here's an arty picture of the captain at work. 

 

The red ground paddle has to be opened before the white one. 

 

This is because they use a system of side pounds which saves water in the long run. 

One of the side pounds. The canal engineers were very clever at devising means of saving water wherever possible since, once it has gone out the bottom, it's gone for good. 

And, lastly, a view from the top. 

The swans were obviously not impressed by our achievement. 

Here's a lovely bronze boat horse near the top of the locks. 

There was quite a heat haze in the afternoon. 

And here's the captain relaxing after a busy, very sunny day. 

And the obligatory sunset. 

Thursday, today, and is was push on to Watford Locks. 

The morning started off very misty and stayed that way until about midday. This is Crick Marina. 

Look at the detail on this railway bridge. Nowadays they are just plain concrete. 

We made our way through Watford locks, picking up another fender round the propeller (that's the 2nd this holiday), met up briefly with Willy Worm again and then headed down through Buckby top lock. 

One of the houses just below the lock. 

Now moored for the night with, hopefully, supper at the New Inn later.