A Leicester beauty spot?

This morning we did the two swing bridges and stopped for water in Foxton. At last the boat was the right way round so I could wash off the last bits of pressure washed muck blown onto us a few days ago.

The next port of call was Debdale Wharf for diesel (£1.30 base price per litre).

Saddington Tunnel followed. No bats visible this time.

Before we reached the locks I heard swifts screeching overhead - my first of the year.

So to Kibworth Locks. It was good to be doing locks again - even though all five today were against us.

By Crane's Lock there were horses in a field of buttercups. (The other horses were off to the left.)

We stopped for the day at Newton Harcourt to get out of the wind and enjoy the sunshine.

Nicholson describes the village as a "well-known Leicester beauty spot, popular on Sunday afternoons". Well, we saw two or three interesting old houses, and the surrounding countryside is pleasant, but I really can't imagine the Leicester hordes piling in on any day of the week, let alone Sundays. From the description I expected at least a village green, perhaps with a duck pond, but we walked the main street from one end to the other and didn't see anything like it. Perhaps the good people of Leicester visit the canal here if they can't make it all the way to Foxton. I expect the swan family will still be around on Sunday for them.