25th November 2006
Boaters gathered at Foxton Locks, south Leicestershire, on a cold Saturday morning to show their strong disapproval, even anger, at the grant cuts to Britain’s waterways.
We joined the boat crush under the direction of David Stevenson (IWA) in the late morning as the skies cleared and the sun shone down onto the locks and the boat basin.
This was going to be the scene of a boat blockade and a demonstration of our feelings against the Grant-in-Aid cuts imposed on the waterways by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Armed with ‘Save Our Waterways’ leaflets, posters and collecting tins men, women and dogs prepared for the visitors and tow path walkers.

It was time to explain the impact of DEFRA’s financial cuts on those who use and enjoy the rivers and canals of Britain.
Boats were soon adorned with campaign posters and what might be called a festive spirit descended on our community as Sunday and the main event approached.
Nb.Granny Button’s skipper Andrew joined us before last light and for an hour or so in Bridge 61 as we gathered and shared a glass or two, swapping stories and experiences on the cut.

Not all were preoccupied with the campaign as Mark, on nb.Kayos, was down in the engine room stripping his Eberspacher heater. With a little soldering and makeshift water seals the unit went back into service just in time for his family’s arrival.
We felt sorry for Dan and Carol who pulled up at 2.46pm on nb.Biding Time, arriving a minute too late to transit the locks. Fortunately engine repairs by Foxton Boat Services had put them back on their way south from Blaby Bridge and through Pywell Lock just before they closed for repairs.

26th Nov - Sunday
A bright start to the morning and a jostling for position as boats filled the canal basin in time for the morning visitors.

It was good to see Ian and Carol arrive on nb.Lilypad after Ian’s horrible accident at Beale Park. They are great encouragers and make excellent chairmen of Leicester’s branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA).

A party atmosphere greeted onlookers and the Press clicked cameras on the bridges north and south of us as dignitaries walked onto the boats listening to the arguments against further reducing financial support for waterway amenities.

The mass of floating steel parted and closed ranks again as cruising boats came upon the blockade from the directions of Market Harborough, Leicester and Norton Junction. Boat horns sounded for no particular reason other than perhaps marking David’s speeches and announcing boat arrivals and departures.

The reception from pub and restaurant customers overlooking the scene was one of unanimous support and as the day progressed the crowds came and stayed to watch the spectacle. A roaring trade must have been going on somewhere as food and beer were passed from boat to boat in waves every half an hour.
By the time the sun went down most were ready to drop, some suffering from signature collector’s laryngitis. All agreed it had been a worthwhile demonstration. The point had been made that waterway users shouldn’t have to suffer as a consequence of DEFRA failing to meet farm payment deadlines.
Just as the last light faded, stragglers from Debdale Wharf slipped away under bridge 62 and the rest of us went below to stoke the fires. Sunday evening was all the richer for the company of Ter and Claire who joined us for the evening on nb.Balmaha.

We later learned that similar protests around the country (and Australia) had drawn attention to the plight of the canals and rivers and that a clear message had gone to Government that we won’t remain quiet when threatened with an impoverished waterways system.

One wonders what BW make of all this. They certainly kept their heads down during the blockade. With the spotlight now on DEFRA perhaps BW will gain a point or two in the popularity stakes and they certainly need to do something on that score.

The tow path beside our boat was very restricted by overgrown thorn bushes and word has it that’s how BW will let it stay. I got out the shears and hacked a way through it so that walkers could use the side of the path without muddy puddles.
But one little boy just wasn’t impressed and while his parents looked the other way he jumped up and down in the filthy water and covered our boat in mud. Too bad I was the other side of the boat basin or I might have done something horrible.

Nov 12th 2006 – Sunday, Raynsway Marina, Thurmaston, North Leicester.

It’s off to Birstall by foot across the water meadows, an easy walk even for me, and rewarded by a garden centre selling all manner of bits and pieces that could easily belong on a narrowboat.

Tempted by the Santa on his Sleigh lights but it was the singing, swaying, foot-tapping puppets that pulled at my wallet. Resisted the urge to buy on the grounds that we were going to be miles from civilisation and besides, it wasn’t worth the expense for the benefit of an occasional dog walker. Besides that we had to turn our pennies into food at Birstall’s Somerfield. It’s a good job the hardware shop was closed.

Forward planning brought us into phone contact with Beryl on nb.Wasp at Mount Sorrel. The IWA has facilitated a gathering of its members at Thurmaston and at Foxton Locks on the 25th and 26th in protest over DEFRA’s Grant-in-Aid cuts to British Waterways and the Environment Agency.
With our eye on the lock closures south of Leicester we already had a date with Foxton Locks before a 27th November deadline so it seemed best to apply ourselves on the canals down there. Quite who we were blockading was somewhat a mystery but visions of soot and flour bombs spurred us on.

Nov 14th
Took a call from Paul, a friend from years and years ago. He and Jackie are up country from Devon and will call in on the way through. I am sure there will be lots of news to catch up on.

Nov 16th
Refuelled (thanks Lisa) at 51p/ltr. A little more than the 45p we had been quoted at Debdale but we needed the stuff and had to pay the difference. Squeezed 12 bags of coal into the bow, don’t know where it went but it disappeared and Balmaha developed a noticeable starboard list.

Watched a new boat go in the water - nb.Papillon which arrived on a low-loader and was craned into the marina. We wish all who sail in her many happy years of cruising.

Polished the mushroom vents but needn’t have bothered because two days of rain put them right back where they were.

Nov 17th – Friday
Paul and Jackie’s visit amused us for hours, keeping our minds off the rain and the rising river levels. We caught up on family news and recounted some of our crazy antics all those years ago in Ringwood.

Thanks to you both for a lovely evening and treating us to a smashing meal.

Nov 18th Saturday
Just managed a shopping walk to Birstall before eldest daughter arrived. Gifts of clothes snatched from Al’s wardrobe saw a few shirts added to my collection.
Cadged a lift to B&Q for boaty bits and inspected those bargain bins in Lidl, not forgetting a bottle of Amaretto just in case Steve visits during one of his trips up north.

Nov 19th Sunday
Couldn’t let 4 wheels go to waste so we descended on Sam and Mary’s church (LRC) at the new location - Stony Stanton. Followed that with a huge lunch with funny vegetables at Tezzer and Claire’s and settled down in front of their log fire to the strains of John Mayall.

You spoilt us yet again – thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.

Nov 20th - Monday
All good things must come to an end and we have to quit the comfort of Raynsway Marina in order to head south for the winter.
From the marina we turn left, onto the river Soar towards Leicester. With water levels back down in the ‘green’ we cruised quietly upstream collecting photographs of derelict industrial buildings as we pass through what must be Leicester town planner’s latest headaches.

Floating coconuts, even the decorated varieties, making their way to the sea, don’t make news in these parts any more, but a floating melon followed by bright orange marigold flowers? Something happened over the weekend – does a melon mean a different kind of burial?

I know it looks like I broke it but this is how some of the bollards are at Belgrave Lock. I expected the thing to fall over when I put the rope round it but it’s quite securely fixed to the concrete. Just looks a bit funny that’s all.

Bridges don’t usually merit a second look but there is one in Leicester that has caught my eye. It’s what might be called a ‘Distressed Bridge’.
Passage through Leicester necessitates passing under Aylestone Mill Bridge (No.108) and it didn’t seem the right occasion to nudge the sides as we approached Aylestone Mill Lock.

Downward bulging brickwork and cracking side walls give clues to this bridge’s fate if nothing is done.

Not counting the tugs and workpans at North Lock, four hours passed before we saw another boat. We caught up nb.Biding Time at Blue Bank Lock and worked the final locks together until light failed at Blaby Bridge. Dan and his partner were on route to Crick and working long hours on the boat to achieve this in a couple of days.

Nov 21st
Departed Blaby Bridge, heading for the countryside south of Leicester.
Knowing how desperate Dan (no pun intended) and his partner were to reach Crick with “Biding Time” we were surprised to see them still moored at 9.30am.
Sounding my horn to wake them (I don’t care do I?) a side hatch opens and the cry “broken down” rings out across the water.
Stopping in Dunn’s Lock we back-tracked and found them stuck with a dead engine.
Sam Matts (Foxton Boat Services) appeared along the tow path and after a few minutes first aid we agreed to tow them a couple of bridges upstream, nearer the service van.

We left them in Sam’s capable hands as Dan (oops, splash, up to his waist) went below to find dry clothes.

A thirty minute Tesco stop at Crow Mills Bridge and then we were out of town and chilled by an icy cold wind. Drizzle descended just as we reached our night stop at Wistow and if that wasn’t enough I had to split logs for the fire and clean shoes, axe and stern deck of dog-doos before I was allowed inside the boat.

Nov 22nd - Wistow to Bridge 64 (Tony’s Turn)
Low water levels meant we struggled along, pushing mud to each side as we skim the canal bed. Letting extra water down means the next boat will have it easier but as we climb through the locks we are aware that the water at the top isn’t up to its normal level and wonder why this could be. Did south Leicester go through a dry spell while north Leicester enjoyed a surplus?

It’s a very cold wind today, the sun is occasionally seen as a dull hazy blob low in the sky. Clouds overhead promise rain but it feels like it could snow.

Even the cows try to find shelter in the bushes at the canal edge whilst the sheep mock them as they strut about in their thick woolly coats.

Saddington Tunnel came and went without meeting anyone inside. Bat boxes hang from the roof near the entrances but we’ve never seen anything coming or going.

But we did saw three different Kingfishers before 10:30am. Two were teasing us by bobbing their heads as we approached and then whizzing off 100yds to a twig overhanging the water. The third was on a mission and shot past us looking like an arrow head as it swept up over the lock and descended to water level the other side.

Debdale Wharf was busy with a steel narrowboat under construction. Welding sparks lit up the concrete apron as steel sides stuck to steel bottom and someone’s new boat reached gunwale level.

A little dismayed to see a boat on our intended mooring spot north of Pat’s Bridge (64) so we moored opposite ‘Tony’s Turn’ (Vagabond’s winding point) and hoped it wasn’t a trip-boat day.

With the evening came a surprise call from Debbie in good ol’ Bomo. Several emails must have crossed before disappearing into the ether because neither of us had heard from the other in many months. It was wonderful news - she’d made it to being a granny as Poppy popped her new baby Sophie. Congratulations Poppy and your young man (didn’t catch his name) givussa piccy and we’ll post it here for all the world to see. Thanks for all the other news, we’ll try and keep in touch and if there’s a hot bath on offer to go with that room then you might even see us down your way.

Nov 23rd – Thursday, Foxton
Moved a mile further on, to the edge of Foxton Locks. Mooring rings and a solid concrete canal bank make all the difference. It’s the next best thing to a marina and we shall stay here until the protest marches and cruises are finished on Sunday night. Hope to see friends and acquaintances over the next few days and swap canal news. The weather has improved no end. Clear blue skies accompanied very low pressure and it’s a gorgeous day. A quick wipe down with a soapy sponge has done the boat proud.

More log splitting brought comments from tow path walkers as did the boat wash.
One lady bared her soul about her dreams to move onto a boat but one could see her husband’s horror by the look on his face. I’m sure it doesn’t suit everyone.

Walking down the tow path arm in arm after dark we paused on the bridge to catch the reflection of the Foxton Locks Inn lights.

But our walk ended at the Bridge 61 pub.

Stories from the next room of rats on boats held our attention while the background music comprised a cricket somewhere near the serving hatch tickling his back legs.

The invitation to roast chestnuts on the pub’s fire went unfulfilled because the thing was hardly burning so we cheekily took two chestnuts back to our boat to roast them over red hot willow logs.

3rd to 10th November 2006

Wednesday – The bad news
Today we were privileged to receive the honour of the Leicester Boot. At just after 9pm Balmaha was given the “kick” just below the bathroom window.

The kick was sufficient to dislodge the galley’s porthole ‘push-in’, five feet away, and propel it across the counter and into the sink bowl. The terribly shy donor didn’t want to be identified and legged it towards Dunn’s Lock in the direction of Eyres Monsell (need we say more) as our 5 million candle power torch lit the towpath. Neighbours expressed their concern the next day saying this is not to be expected in the quiet neighbourhoods of Glen Parva and Blaby.
A missing post in the lock’s fencing is thought to be the entry point onto the canal from the ‘EM’ estate and a letter will shortly be drafted to British Waterways, suggesting repairs.

But there’s always someone worse off. News arrived from Pat and Mike on nb.Hyperion following their life threatening encounters with a teenage gang above Wigan locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. They were told by someone in authority that the Wigan constabulary are unable to respond to 999 calls through lack of staff unless victims claim to be facing a gun.

It is believed that the police would welcome boater’s protests and formal complaints as this would add weight to their calls for changes in staff levels.

Thursday – The good news
A beautiful, fresh, sunny day saw us cruising away from Blaby in the direction of north Leicester. Through gently sloping farmland in the sleepy parish of Glen Parva we passed fields of cows and geese grazing the fields alongside the canal. The bright blue flash of a kingfisher and reddish browns of the last butterflies marked our passage from houses to fields.

Housing developments may threaten Glen Parva’s ancient Saxon settlement sites but today we can enjoy an empty Grand Union Canal completely free of other boats. Our eyes wander left and right sucking in the fading greens and yellows of the autumn fields.

Approaching the A563 ring road, news arrives (from an anonymous source) that Alan on nb.Valhalla has undergone yet another canal baptism. Walking straight off the end of the pontoon next to his boat and launching horizontally into Stockton Marina waters, Alan found himself in deep water at 8.30pm last night.
As if this wasn’t enough he dived back in to retrieve his precious trainer stuck in the thick mud below his boat.
This brings it to a total of three dunkings this year, having tested the water previously at Welford and Braunston.

The announcement from Jo, Alan’s caring wife, came in the form of “Trainers from Goldsmith, armbands from Toys R Us”
After first splitting our sides with laughter we decided to join Mike, Pat and Jo in extending our sympathy to Alan.

Passing Kings Lock Café we found everything closed for the winter just as Granny Buttons reported on Monday 6th November.

A note in the window tells us the Café will open again at weekends from 2nd December (10:30 to 13:30) and we wonder if Santa Claus will appear just as he did last year on the weekends running up to Christmas.

St Mary’s Mill has always been a fascination to me. Old factory walls and a hint of dereliction give the appearance of emptiness but whiffs of cellulose paint and the sounds of hammers on metal tell us that it isn’t all over yet.
But this morning’s sun sets off the old mill like a picture and one wonders at its eventual fate.

We last cruised this section of the Leicester Line in July and the closest we’d got to floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) was a picture of the weed on a leaflet issued by Leicester Riverside.

The leaflet describes the mapping and monitoring efforts of 2004 and 2005 and the January 2006 meetings between EA, BW and Leicester City Council who agreed their objectives were to control the weed through a multi agency effort.

One of their tasks was to initiate a campaign to raise awareness.

Beginning at the Walker Stadium we dodged over five miles of floating green carpet that has grown from nothing over the relatively short period of 3 months.

Vast swathes of the bright green weed stretching across the canal and river all the way down to Thurmaston has certainly raised the awareness they sought amongst walkers and the boating community.

One has to say “Job well done”.

Dredging at North Lock (42) was a welcome sight, though our difficult passage through the thick oily black stuff got me wondering how they managed to collect anything in an excavator bucket built like a sieve.

Memory Lane Wharf, just before Limekiln Lock (43) will one day be the scene of modest reconstruction (college car park) and comes with it the welcome addition of boater’s facilities.

We have heard that BW plan to sell off this town centre asset to building developers as their lust for new apartment blocks creeps ever outwards and northwards from Leicester’s city centre.

Finally we arrived at Raynsway Marina after a five hour cruise from Blaby Bridge and had the pleasure of mooring alongside nb.Granny Buttons. It was a day later that we heard the greetings “Hello Balmaha, this is Granny Buttons” and Andrew’s face appeared at the stern doors. As usual there’s always more to talk about than time available but it was a pleasure to share a bottle with Andrew, after previously passing like ships in the night on the Oxford and Grand Union Canals.

As fate would have it, another encounter was just around the corner. Mike and Pat (nb.Hyper-Onion) arrived on Saturday, just in time to see Granny Buttons preparing to leave. With their new four legged addition to the family they took the guided tour and sampled the famous chocolate buttons.
It is rumoured that packets of sweets are thrown to tow path walkers who recognise the Bourneville chocolate connection and shout the magic words “Chocolate Buttons”.

Back to us. Rain permitting, we shall probably divide our time between exploring the rivers Soar and Wreake and catching up with family and friends.
A boat gathering at Foxton Locks later this month may see us join protests against the DEFRA cuts to British Waterways and the Environmental Agency.

The floating protest or “blockade” will take place in the area around Foxton Locks on the weekend of 25th November with the press and various dignitaries attending on the Sunday.

That could be our last official appearance before we head for the hibernation grounds on the Leicester summit.

Oct 29th – Sunday - Bridge 32/33 GU, Leics Line
It’s a sunny day and quite warm out of the breeze. With one day left of the school half term holiday, hire boats scuttle back to base, followed by private boats out to clear the cobwebs before mothballing ready for the cold winter months.
Clocks went back one hour but the early sunshine didn’t help the transition and we were itching to get up at 6.30am. Miles from anywhere there isn’t much to do except chop wood, attempt the odd job around the boat and perform the bi-annual wardrobe change - summer clothes for winter woollies.

Oct 30th – Monday - To Foxton Locks
Leaving the sounds of the A14 behind us we set off again.
Cruising the summit from the A14 to Foxton is always a pleasure. There’s hardly any traffic on the canal, few moored boats to slow down for and plenty of open countryside with inquisitive farm animals lining the banks.
Ducks and swans are few and far between, moorhens out-number coots, willow and ash give way to dogwood and hawthorn bushes.

Passing the Welford Arm and North Kilworth Wharf we were on our own. But just as we began our run up to Husbands Bosworth Tunnel we ran into Mike and Jo on nb.Sarah-Kate, last seen near the milk float incident on the Coventry Canal. Drifting mid canal we exchanged news including Leicester branch IWA info and learned that Ian McD’ had done his shoulder in. Poor old Ian, making a good recovery we hope. Poor Carol, chairing and nursing at the same time.
Through HB tunnel, with a tiny spotlight and another engine humming far behind us, we emerged onto gentle slopes with Market Harborough somewhere across the valley to our right. This might be our winter cruising canal, somewhere we’ll kick iron on days we feel the itch to move. Plenty of steel piling (sorry Sue), no locks and few continuous cruisers, with plenty of overhanging dead wood waiting for a windy day to drop in our laps. But today we are just passing through.
Arriving at Foxton Locks with plenty of time to refill the water tank, we swallow a sandwich and take first place in the queue to descend the ten locks.

Remembering there can be a problem crossing the pond between the two 5 lock rises I proceeded with caution but still whacked the concrete at the entrance to the opposite lock.
Decided to sort this out once and for all and prised the secret from the new lock keeper. Shall try his “trick” on the way back up in a couple of week’s time and report on any success.
No sign of nb.Granny Buttons and locky didn’t have him on his transit list for the last two days so he must be either north of Leicester or hiding down the Harboro’ Arm.
The inclined plane (IP) arm is still closed off while BW’s work progresses and as a consequence the 48 hr moorings have been taken over by long term permit holders. I’m afraid the “mooring prohibited” notice was so faded that we couldn’t read it and we needed a spot for the night. No one was put out and no words were exchanged so we became long-termers for one night.
There was a fresh notice stating “Water point above the locks is out of action” – Oh no it isn’t.
Made a note that the lower water points, other than the one outside Bridge 61 pub will be closed down from November to March. Must be something to do with the frost risk. I wonder how the displaced IP moorers feel about that.
A walk down to Foxton Boat Services saw us restocked with engine service consumables to carry us through the winter, by which time it was getting dark.

Oct 31st – Foxton to Wistow
Re-learnt the trick of keeping the fire going all night.
After a couple of failures I’ve got the hang of it again. It’s alright for some people (M&P) who can afford to chuck a whole bucketful of coal on before retiring but for those of us who only put one or two lumps on each hour it’s not so easy. There’s a rumour going around that we name each piece as it comes out the bucket but we’re not quite that sad.
An occasional shower was predicted as we left Foxton but without a cloud in the sky we set off in jubilant mood. Passing Debdale Marina we remembered our gas situation and reversed in to get a refill. Diesel at 45p/ltr will certainly see us back here again.
Off we chugged, through Saddington Tunnel without touching the sides and out into a different climate with cloudy skies above Kibworth Locks.
Passing through woods was a treat for us ex-townies as colours were changing and leaves blowing high into the air spiralled down onto the boat. Ash, willow and poplar leaves coated the roof as we emerged into open fields.

But any plans to reach Kilby Bridge today were scuppered as heavy rain descended just as we came out of the trees onto the Wistow slopes. There was no time to marvel at the landscape where the medieval village of Wystowe lay before the time of the great plague, we were getting drenched.
Heading for the canal bank at a rate of knots we grabbed a space in front of another boat and practically lassoed the piling before diving below in our sodden coats.
No walkies today I was relieved to hear, rain has set in. Had this been a river I would have had concerns because it came down with a vengeance all afternoon.
No sign of Trick or Treaters all night, but wasn’t that fireworks we heard far away in Leicester?

Nov 1st – Wednesday, Wistow to Kilby Bridge
Fire went out during the night, must have done something wrong. And it has definitely got colder, the butter wouldn’t spread until it hit the toast. But the sky is clear again and the sun is shining so we set off humming a merry tune.
After the rain the fields looked fresh and green with sheep lying on the grass doing whatever sheep do.

Now that half term is out of the way we have hardly seen another boat on the move, one a day seems to be about it.

New notices have appeared since we passed here in July, inviting reports of bad behaviour along the canal. Someone must be collecting statistics.

Passing a friendly, shivering fisherman we finally arrived on Leicester’s southern doorstep – the Navigation pub and the British Waterways base at Kilby Bridge.

Nov 2nd
Another fine day. Lots of activity across the canal meant an early start and one of those rarely captured moments - the launch of a new BW work boat - and no one was there to record the happy event. No champagne, no cameras and no reporters for this workboat. Nothing to celebrate the beginning of its working life on the south Leicester Grand Union Canal.

A short interview revealed there are to be no redundancies to bank staff this year, it was the turn of the office personnel. But they are cautious and wonder what next year will bring.
Moving across to the water point we topped up and checked with BW that their sucking machine was working, then we hit the road with backs to the sun towards Leicester’s back gardens and old factory walls.
A brief stop at Crow Mills Bridge for a Tesco shop and a free display by passing children showing off their fireworks before we moved back into gear towards the infamous Bush Lock.
Shouldn’t laugh but we followed the kids' progress from Crow Mills to Countesthorpe by the whoosh of rockets and banger explosions as they picked their way across the meadows. Nothing secretive or subtle with this generation.
Stopped after Bush Lock to trawl the canal with a magnet for our chimney cap. This drew a few comments from walkers but it had to be done and we succeeded in retrieving our own piece of iron without pulling up trolleys, beds or car wheels. Also trimmed the tree because we have to come back this way one day.
Arriving at Dunn’s Lock we were reminded that this was the scene of a drowning earlier this year. Steph or Stefan lost his life here and is still remembered with flowers and permanent cards in the form of white paint on black backgrounds and black marker pen on the white beams.

A hole in the steel palisade fencing (just one upright missing) marks the point that lads and lassies cross the lock on their shortcut along the towpath to Blaby. You wouldn’t think the gap was wide enough but two lock side fishermen complete with rods, tackle box, and keep nets disappeared through this gap as we arrived.
A lot of money went into making this area vandal free and it has certainly quietened down from the days that cars were rolled across the playing field and into the lock. Anti climb paint has also had success but like most ‘solutions’ it needs constant maintenance.
Generally speaking this is a quiet area, we’ve moored here on and off for ten months and the locals have been very friendly. Dog walkers like to stop and chat and tell you the canal history. One resident lived at the old lock house with his father, a canal lengthsman, in the 1940s. Rumoured to have photographs of that time I am doing my best to bump into him in the hope he will share his family’s canal history with us.
The night was accompanied by helicopters going to and fro and punctuated by the sound of explosions as Leicester sends its money up in smoke to celebrate Guy Fawkes almost succeeding in blowing up Parliament. Sigh.