4th June 2011
Today we travelled from just outside Normanton-on-Soar, finally taking us away from the flight path of East Midlands Airport to the peace and tranquillity of rural Leicestershire. On our way we passed the Soar Valley Boat Club whose members were very complimentary of Python’s new look.
An amazing number of people since we started, but mainly today, have commented upon and admired how Python now looks and how she sounds with the two cylinder Lister engine. At Bishop’s Meadow Lock I decided to flex the muscles and do the lock for Tom.
This led us toward Loughborough Wharf (a shopping stop) with its newly designed basin, which leaves a lot to be desired regarding turning and mooring. Tom had a hell of a job with Python, but down to his expertise he accomplished it! But, as there was no more room for Mick and Phoenix, we decided to keep going. It seems that for every three Miles forward we do one Mile back!
Along the way we almost ran into some professional rowers and almost definitely into some amateurs, lads that were just having a bit of fun which it’s all about! The movies which we’ve all seen where a little boat is cut in half by a bigger one, did cross my mind.
This is the Great Central Railway Bridge which is a great sight. The GCR used to run through Renishaw on what is now the Trans-Pennine Trail.
Round from there, we saw a brilliant little foal and thought that one day it’d be a great horse to pull New Dawn.
We’ve now moored at the evening stop at The Hope and Anchor Bridge, where we went into the first pub since the Chesterfield Canal – The Hope and Anchor.
Tomorrow brings the longest day so far – 30 lock miles. So I’d better get an earlier night.
Written by Pete Ramsell.