7th June 2011
After spending the night on a delightful mooring on the outskirts of Market Harborough we set sail early on a beautiful morning to rendezvous with Phoenix at Foxton hoping for a pre 10:00am entry into the lock flight.
Despite some minor but time consuming difficulties (for the second time) with the Foxton swing bridge we arrived at the locks at 9:00am. Because of the number of boat movements we did not enter the bottom lock until about 11:15 having to wait for a group of Leicester bound boats to descend. Phoenix the previous boat to Python in the queue was allowed to start the ascent of the flight at about 10:15 as the last boat in the previous south-bound group of three. The delay did however give us the chance to explore the site of the Inclined Plane in lovely sunshine and take some photographs.
The first half of the ascent was very pleasant, but as we worked through the upper flight the rain descended in torrents.
After a brief stop for lunch we headed onwards through improving weather towards our planned destination. However we decided that we would rather spend the night at Welford. We moored up at the end of the Welford Arm and visited the village with its lovely church and one shop and then on returning to the canal, we visited the Wharf Inn to sample it excellent drink and wholesome and reasonably priced food.
Written by: Arthur Naylor