Day 6 - Thursday July 6th - Crane's Lock, GU Leicester Section to Leicester 11 miles 7 furlongs, 20 miles, 9 hours 20 minutes
Set off at 7.20am, straight into Crane's Lock. While coming down the second of the Newton Locks I became aware of a boat following me through the first one. Sat in the next lock with the opposite gate open for about 10 minutes while they caught me up. I will always wait if I know there's a boat I can share with, faster for me providing they don't moor up immediately below the lock! This boat was planning on stopping to use the facilities at Kilby bridge, so we ended up sharing five locks. Only two on their boat, but we settled on them opening and closing the bottom gates, while I went on to the next lock to get it set up. Seemed to work quite well. Just after the last of these five locks the heavens opened again, although the rain was not quite as heavy as yesterday's. Several lightning strikes must have been very close as there was only a fraction of a second delay between the flash and the thunder crack. Enough to make one wonder about the sanity of standing sopping wet on the back of a steel boat in the water. Still, they all missed! Tied up briefly above Kilby Bridge lock, as there was a boat coming up the lock. Used the time to visit the weed hatch - quite a lot of weed to remove, and to make (and drink) a mug of tea. By this time, the rain had eased off a bit and the thunderstorm had moved on by a mile or two. No sign of the other boat I had been sharing with, although none expected, as they always moor up if it rains (reasonable since they have a cruiser with a centre cockpit). Shared with another boat for the last six locks into Leicester, before arriving at the Castle Gardens secure mooring at 5.15pm. Received information from someone on a bike that the river level was in the red at Swan's Nest Weir beside Belgrave Lock - hopefully it will be dry overnight and the river level will subside. Moorings full apart from 20ft at the upstream end. There was someone on one of the boats, so I asked for (and received) permission to moor alongside. The other boat ended up tied to the odd 20ft of mooring, the stern tied off to some railings. Time for a lie down and then a shower before wandering into Leicester to join the ringers for practice night at the Cathedral. Afterwards adjourned to the wetherspoons pub for a couple of beers and a chat and in my case something to eat. Weather - Thunderstorms Forecast - Sunny Intervals Terry Streeter NB Arun - Leicester ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/ygtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
