Day 16 - On The Narrowboat - Welford to The Foxton Locks

This morning we woke up late.  Had a good night sleep. Could be that we remade our bed, although it has still got to be the most badly fitting linen I have ever encountered.

We had a lovely home cooked breakfast and then said our goodbyes to our neighbours and off we set towards the Foxton Locks and our way back to our starting point.  Yes, the Foxton Locks are the 10 big locks that we started with and I chose to do them on the way back again.  So of course it was lovely weather all day, cold but blue skies.  But of course as we approached the locks, the heavens opened and it rained.   

So off the boat I hopped with my raincoat, and worked our ways through the 10 locks all the way down to the bottom of the canal.

Very tiring. There were also lots of Gongoozlers (narrowboat spectators) who try and help, but sometimes get in the way, but at least one is not on one's own.

I fed the ducks while we filled up with water.

We then decided to moor for the night just beyond the restaurants, after the first movable bridge, which you have to open across the canal to get the boat through and then close again. 

 

As I opened it, here comes an American couple overtaking our boat which Paul is directing slowly towards the bridge.  The man whom we named Hank, (no we did not know his name, it just rhymed with Yank), shouts out : "Okay if I go first ?"  ...and proceeds to go full steam ahead in front of us! How rude!!  Obviously he did not read the manual, "Etiquette of the Waterways".

We showered and dressed warmly and hopped off to go to the Bridge 61 pub for a drink, they are supposed to be famous for their cider. Very interesting old pub. 

 

We then went to the Foxton Locks Inn for dinner again.  

I had the same Fish Pie as last weekend and Paul enjoyed the Pork Belly, with mustard mash and Savoy cabbage.  He says it was delicious.

I think Paul is glad to be getting back tomorrow.  Not sure if he is short tempered because his knees are incredibly sore and he can hardly walk, or if he has a bit of cabin fever like I do.  As much as I have enjoyed our weeks adventure on the canals and it was better than I hoped it would be, I won't be sorry to get back to land and get my land legs again.  My head feels like it is rocking from side to side even when I am sitting in a pub. I am cold tonight and am looking forward to bed. 

Tomorrow we head towards Market Harborough and dock at the Union Wharf Marina for the night, handing the boat back on Monday morning. Cellphone reception has been as bad as we expected on the canals, only sometimes getting 3G reception or wi-fi at a pub in one of the villages.  We have seen some amazing sites, some truly quaint villages and met some lovely people.  We both agree that we love the UK.

So goodnight to all our family and friends from the village of Foxton, in Leicestershire, England.