It's been a long time since I have even looked at this blog and I thought it was about time to get my backside into gear and actually write something.  We had a good winter in Market Harborough and finally left, after a few false starts, on the 31st May.  Having spent rather longer than we intended in Leicester and then Nottingham we are now well underway and moored up at Hazelford lock on the River Trent.

View from the boat at tonight's mooring

Although it has taken longer to get here than it should we have had a good time slowly wending our way.  Due partly to the River Soar being in flood and mostly because we decided to stay around for the River Festival we stayed in Leicester for four days.  Had a good time and met some interesting people.  Including a guy who moored up against us and was telling us about his all electric narrow boat that he has taken about 15 years to build.  Fascinating bloke, worked as a technical person for the BBC for years.

Coming into Leicester

C aRT work boat on the Soar

Heading through Leicester

Approaching the lock at Frog Island Leicester

Very peaceful mooring before heading into Loughborough

We left Nottingham this morning after a couple of days stop for shopping and a look round the city and dropped down two locks onto the River Trent.  All the locks are now enourmous, but fortunately they are all operated electrically and are manned by lock keepers, who are brilliant!  They are all very helpful and informative and generally have the locks ready as you approach.

The locks on the Trent are on a much bigger scale than on the canals

There are many different types of boat on the river

Including a water skier!!

Tomorrow we head on to Newarke and then Cromwell Lock and on the the tidal section of the Trent.