The 'F' word.

FROST, yes, it was cold last night, nothing to do with Gordon Ramsay this time, and we had an early start at 06:30hrs. We wanted to get through Leicester before the bandits got out of their flea pits and found amusement by lobbing missiles at a slow moving target. It was a beautiful morning and we were on the move just as the sun was rising. First stop, water up at Kilby Bridge at the BW works, then it was the big push to get out through the other side of the City. Shortly after Kings Lock in Aylestone there is a pack horse bridge and this is where the River Soar joins the canal. From here on the river is interspersed by short stretches of canal all the way to the end where it merges with the River Trent. Leicester is nothing to fear, yes it's a bit decrepit in places but there's not much of it and the City Centre soon looms up with its ornate bridges along the mile straight. I'm not so sure about parking my barge here on a Saturday night, but I'd guess a week day would be OK. Through Belgrave and you're into the countryside again and there are excellent moorings just after Birstall Lock where there three takeaways, three pubs, a large Co-op supermarket, two taxi companies, a bookies, a hairdressers, an off license and more all within a short walk of the quay side. We had fish and chips from one of the takeaways and it was delicious.
It's been a lovely sunny day all day although a little chilly at times. Tomorrows forecast is not good, cloudy early, rain later.