Got a bit stir crazy and needed to spread our wings – doing what we bought the boat for – escaping out onto the canals! Boat is stocked, dog food has arrived. Why put it off any longer – let’s go! Our Summer Cruise#1 is to do the Leicester Ring, clockwise with a big spur off to the Trent: Nottingham, Lincoln & Boston. Contains a wee bit of tidal Trent (i.e. nothing between the boat and the North Sea but that is 50 miles away) but only for 5 hours. Here’s a map – X is where we started . . .
We start down at the bottom right, near Welford . . . .
Thanks to Barry on Blue Moon for the send off photos:
I doff my cap to him & yes, it is possible to escape . . .
Yeah! Escape from Yelvertoft!
Beautiful day for it . . .
Awesomely deep locks at Watford
Ever friendly CRT volunteers – this is John – very chatty and helpful chap.
Final mooring after 3.5 hours – just outside Welton marina
Feels like a whole day chugging – we just aren’t used to it!!
Captain’s Log 1700 05/04/2017: 6 miles + 7 locks + 3.5 engine hours