Day Ten - Leicester to Kilby Bridge

We had a frustrating day all due to our own mistakes. We have learned! We are still doing double locks which take two boats side by side. These take some time to fill up or empty but we have time and it can be dangerous to rush things around the locks. Our guide book says, “The widebeam locks seem infuriatingly slow in equating their levels. Just when you think the gates are ready to be opened, a few more minutes have to pass.“ We came across locked locks today to ward off vandals and this meant turning off the engine and Henk passing me the master key to unlock the paddles. Later, we took the key off the bundle of keys and we didn’t have to turn off the engine! Lesson No. 1!
We came to King’s Lock and I unlocked both sides of the paddles and the water slowly poured into the deep lock. A cruise boat owner had moored overnight and he was waiting for someone to come along to share the lock. I tried to open the two bottom paddles but these had an iron bar across them. It took about thirty-five long minutes to fill the lock. It then took Henk and the two other boatmen to push open the lock gate. It was an infuriating lock.
When we came to the next lock it too was locked. We went through the same routine again. And then I found that the second lot of locks which I couldn’t move at the last lock also used a key. The lock was on the other side of the post! Once I unlocked and opened these bottom paddles we were in business. So the cruise boat guys didn’t know about the use of the key for the bottom paddles either.
Then I got grease on my one jacket I have brought with me. All the paddles have grease on them to ease their movement. I was not happy as I’ve been so careful. Then I did it again on the next lock. I was furious! So I spent some time washing my fibre pile sleeve in hot water and detergent in the sink. After a lot of detergent and rubbing I managed to get the grease out. I don’t care how cold it is outside I’m not wearing my jacket when I do the locks anymore!
And then somewhere along the way we lost a windlass which is not good because a boat really needs two windlasses to do the locks. We’ll have to see if we can buy one from one of the marine shops.
So after all of the above we were feeling a little jaded by the time we reached Kilby Bridge. Our next door boat neighbour on the “Rugged Roy II” was very welcoming, helped us moor and gave us some tips for further up the canal.
We had a late lunch and felt saner. There is very little at Kilby Bridge apart from a pub called “The Navigation” and British Waterway Services including water, pump out, toilets and showers. We need to fill up with water before we leave tomorrow.
We had a great three course dinner at “The Navigation” for eight pounds each and came back to the boat to watch this year’s Edinburgh Tattoo.
We have now moved off the River Soar and back onto a canal.
Photos: Trying to push open the lock gate at King’s Lock; The Navigation pub at Kilby Bridge; Henk getting the boat ready for departure at Leicester.