Made it with 10 minutes to spare.

I'm dying!!! Well not literally but I feel like death warmed up. From somewhere I have picked up a virus and am now coughing and wheezing and have a throat that feels like razors are rasping away at it. Didn't really feel like getting up this morning, especially as I had a disturbed night with fireworks going off from midnight onwards, but with rain forecast for today we wanted to make Zouch in case the river came up. Leaving Ian to do most of the steering as well as working the locks, I put on as many layers of clothes as I could to keep warm and stood at the back to keep Ian company. Only two locks to do today so wasn't too strenuous a day and on getting to Loughborough Ian walked to Aldi for some supplies. He also found more wood so now our roof is filled to capacity and the boat starting to feel quite unstable. At Bishop Meadow lock we came across a push me pull me boat. Ian asked the question as to why they were breasted nose to tail and the reply was one needed to wind and on leaving his mooring didn't fancy backing to the winding hole above the lock. So cadged a lift, so to speak, from a passing boater. Well I suppose if one is cheeky enough to ask, one inevitably gets!

I discovered the reason for all the fireworks last night. Seems that it was Diwali (Festival of Lights) last night and Leicester and Loughborough are renowned for the Hindu faith. Manged to get this photo outside one of the houses as we went through Loughborough.

Lights and decorations outside the front door.

We made it to Zouch by 13.30 and within 10 minutes of mooring down came the rain. Threatening clouds had followed us all along the 5 mile route and at Loughborough Lock, judging by the dark sky, we thought we were in for a soaking.

Approaching Zouch flood lock

Would hate to be pinned against this bridge during a flood!

Having battened down the hatches we are now unsure what is in store for us tomorrow. If the river is not on red boards then we will try to get back to the Erewash. If it is then who knows how long we will be stuck here?

A few of todays wildlife.