Nottingham to London day 4

I was feeling much better today, so we set off for Leicester. Our first lock, Junction Lock took us back onto the GUC.


It had started to rain again today so we were in and out of wet-weather gear and having to cover up the map with a plastic bag. With the wet weather comes hazards and slipping is one of them. When winding down the ground paddle of the lock, my hand slipped and the windlass spun and whacked my lower arm giving me a corking bruise and dull ache for the rest of the day.


We journeyed on passing under bridges and moored boats...


and then the sun showed it's smiling face for a brief while.


We passed through Thurmanston Lock


and the science centre with it's weird and wonderful architecture...


We shared the next stretch of the locks with a couple in a cruiser, which was great for them and us.

This section of the GUC was still lovely and leafy


but I got to thinking that BW doesn't seem to maintain the trees or hedgerows particularly well. We had many a sharp corner where it was difficult to see the way round between large branches hanging over the canal. This is supposed to be a suitable route for a dutch barge, but I wouldn't bother trying to navigate one of those down here.


After another couple of miles cruising by the area of Birstall, we passed underneath Loughborough Road Bridge...



and were heading into the industrial city of Leicester.


We passed some fine iron bridges...


and along by some modern apartment buildings overlooking the canal.


We moored up to get some food supplies and Delia did a runner escaping when I didn't want her to and was playing with me trying to get her in, until Leigh came back with the goods and teased her in as he can do.

We carried on along by the football ground where there were more dead fish floating in the canal. (We noticed a large amount by the science centre earlier in the day) What is was? I'm not sure but I would suspect chemicals.

We found a mooring spot for tonight


just before the restriction site at 38 Kings Lock.



Moored in the area of Aylestone, the surrounding is rather leafy but also heavily littered. We are next to a weir which seems to be a keen spot for fishing.


Delia approves.