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.

No weir dramas today.

Talk about a peaceful night here in Birstall. No cars, trains, ducks quacking, geese calling, owls hooting or any other sound. I cant remember when last we had that. Stands to reason then that we both slept in! Our body clocks are beginning to adjust to not having to get up for Jade, although I would give anything to have to get up for her again. After a leisurely breakfast I went for  walk while Ian had a go at shifting the wood on the roof to make the boat more stable. It did rock more then usual on the way to Birstall but that was mainly because most of the logs were on one side. It must have been nearer 9.45am when we eventually untied ropes and got under way.

Birstall weir

This river is a delight to cruise on. Loads to see and plenty of wildlife.  Mind you, get a bit of rain and the water rises very quickly, but equally levels drop to normal just as quick. No rain was forecast for today so no worry's there. At Cossington Lock Ian found more cut logs in the hedgerow. Below him were two fisherman fishing the weir stream and I don't think they appreciated some of the smaller branches raining down on them as Ian rummaged through the cut branches.

I happened to see them and apologised about disturbing their fishing but they laughed it off saying we obviously felt the need to gather more firewood.The next photo was of the weir stream.

Luckily these locals were friendly but not so sure about the statues or bullocks below the lock!

One lock I was dreading was Sileby Lock. A few years ago I had a bad experience when the weir was in full flow. I came out of the lock, got pushed toward the lock landing at speed and when I tried to compensate, overshot the landing completely leaving Ian wondering how he was going to get back on. Putting FS in reverse I managed to get back to the end of the concrete where Ian literally had to leap back on. I was very relieved that today the conditions were a lot calmer and managed to get Ian back on board with very little effort.

Sileby weirs

We stopped at Mountsorrel so I could get some bait and on leaving managed to persuade a day boat to allow us to come in the lock with them. They were very unsure because they were complete novices and didn't want to damage our boat. Day boat size about 30foot! Us 57ft I assured the chap that nothing would happen to our boat.

Spectacular Mountsorrel weir

And not long after the weir came these fabulous European style houses with own private marina.

Barrow Deep

Pilings stop lock. and last lock of the day

Very rural moorings

Fishing was excellent.

And now for the wildlife today.

6 Kingfishers flew past us today and this was the only one I managed to get.

Dab chick

Top knot duck

Grebe

Tufted duck

Sudden stop in bandit country!

Not the best start this morning as no sooner had we pulled onto the facilities then C&RT turned up and left for Kilby lock with the loaded pan!  And there were we thinking every lock would be with us because of our friends turning up yesterday! We even got up early to try and be through Leicester before the youths got out of bed. So it was very slow progress following C&RT for the next two locks, then they stopped to do something to the towpath at Ervins lock and waved us through.

 At Bush lock too much water made it difficult to equalize the water levels and open the gates and then it went from one extreme to another when at  Dunns lock,we ran out of water and scrapped bottom until reaching Whetstone lane lock!

As soon as we got onto the river section we started to make good time. Most of the river locks were with us so I didnt have to worry to much about holding the boat midstream.

Freemans lock

The only boat to be seen through Leicester was ours. No one ever stops other then on Castle Park mooring. It's supposed to be secure but I noticed that the BW padlock was missing from the gate.

 

The Leicester straight. No one ever moors to the bollards.

Pigeons and swans seem to like the place though.

 Now I wonder if anyone else see's this as a mirage. First time we came along the Soar I honestly thought I had to go under the bridge. It was only at the last second that I realized the river went off to the right!

Looks as if one goes straight on.

Head right not straight on!!!

Once through Limekiln lock we noticed a tree cutter crew by the park. No sign of anyone but the small butty housing the shredder was full of good sized logs. Being very cheeky we pulled alongside and took some of the decent sized wood. As we were about to set off, the tiller started acting strange and we only got about 100 yds when we came to a grinding halt! Talk about our sins will find us out! Anyway Ian tried for nearly 45 minutes to free whatever was wrapped round the prop. We were in a notorious area as youths always congregate at Limekiln lock and today was no exception. There was  nowhere to tie up to so I held the rope while keeping a lookout for trouble. Then it started raining!!! Good news in a way 'cause the youths never came to the boat but one can get very wet in 45 minutes! Ian had to give up as no amount of hacking and cutting was going to remove the obstruction. We tried the boat in drive and sure enough we were able to move forward so we made it to Belgrave lock, locked down, and managed to do the 2 mile on the river section making it to Birstall lock. Here we called it a night and Ian had another go at removing what was well and truly wrapped round the prop.

Looked like some wort of fabric.

Moored at Birstall.

After Ian struggled for another 30 minutes the crowbar came out and with a bit of brute force and ignorance finally pulled the thing free.

 At least now we will be okay to do the rest of the Soar. It did worry me traveling on that 2 mile section knowing the engine could stall at any time. Thankfully the flow was minimal so if the worse had happened we would still have been able to get to the side. Still.......we don't need to worry now that the crowbar did the business..

Wildlife on route.