In which we fail to visit Market Harborough

This morning we actually set the alarm clock which meant we got going a whole hour earlier than usual.  By 10.30 we were at the top of the Foxton Locks and third in the queue to go down.

This is the flight of locks we changed our depature date to avoid going down at the weekend, as they are a popular spot for gongoozlers.  But it seemed Mondays were no different.  They are pretty impressive though.

Anyway, off we set and it's "red before white" again.  All of a sudden I feel like I'm part of some street theatre performance. There are people everywhere and I seem to spend a large part of the time asking them politely to move away from this paddle or out of the way of that gate.  However, almost without exception they are genuinely interested in what we're doing and ask questions, tell their children what's happening, and many are are happy to help open and close gates.  They're having a great day and so are we.

At the bottom of the flight we have to go through a swing bridge before mooring up with the intention of just becoming gongoozlers ourselves, but the pub looks nice, and its canalside garden looks nice so before we know where we are we're ordering lunch.  Just as it arrives the heavens open and we have to make a dash for the covered seating.

Afterwards we walked halfway up the flight again, stopping at the shop to get a "Foxton Locks" plaque to join our "Four Counties Ring" one on the rear doors (though it's not there yet - keep forgetting to buy the screws).  We came back by way of the site of the former Inclined Plane - another wonderful feat of canal engineering which lifted boats from one level to the other sideways in caissons on rails. More info here: Foxton Inclined Plane Trust .  I just hope that, like the Anderton Lift, the restoration will happen in our lifetime.

By the time we got back to the boat it was raining again so we waited until 3 before heading off for our planned stop for the night - Market Harborough.  This was a fabulous journey - a winding canal amongst lush greenery, with far-reaching views over the Leicestershire countryside.  We even saw a kingfisher.  And passed under another of  "our" bridges:

But, when we got to the end of the line, Market Harborough was full - not a mooring to be had.  So we made the most of a glorious evening by turning round and coming two-thirds of the way back again to another countryside mooring "somewhere in Leicestershire".  So we have no idea what Market Harborough is like - but I'm sure we'll find out one day.

13 1/2 miles, 10 locks, 2 swing bridges