Foxton frustration



peaceful morning

We started the day in lovely sunshine with mist curling up from the fields. As we locked down we met six boats so the locks were usually in our favour. They were lighter than the ones further north apart from the odd sticking paddle. As we were low on supplies the Captain decided to stop and walk into a large village blessed with a supermarket as there was no other food shop within easy walking distance before Rugby.

Heron fishing

We reached the nearest mooring only to find it taken by a long narrow boat. Either side of the moored boat were deep reed beds making mooring impossible. Normally the Captain would shrug and cruise on but he knew there were no other shops. 

Why are you in our field?

He pushed the nose of the boat up to the moored boat so I could get off then threw the rear rope over the reed bed. I pulled the boat over and we moored with the rear stuck out the other side of the reeds. The Captain had just banged the rear mooring peg in when the other boaters returned from their shopping trip and moved off.

The Captain sighed, moved the boat forward and fixed it to the metal piling making our stern less of a target to other boats.



Foxton pub and cottages

The walk into the village crossed two fields inhabited by curious young cows. they eyed us thoughtfully but didn't follow us. I was glad not to be chased as though Lottie can probably out run them I cannot. 
After a relaxed lunch chomping on our new supplies we set off for Foxton locks. The sun grew hot but we were chilled as the last of the wide locks were behind us. 


On arriving at Foxton at 2.50 I sought the lock keeper out to book our passage up hoping to go straight up as three boats were ascending. Typically he was near the top of the 10 locks. 

towpath below Foxton Locks

He noted our boats name and said there would be an hour to two hours wait as six boats were already booked in to go up and five more waiting at the top to come down.




the bottom of the inclined plane



Foxton locks consist of five locks in a staircase a short linking pound and five more staircase locks. Because you cannot pass in staircase locks we would have to wait until the six boats had gone to the top and the five boats had come down before we could start. However the lockkeeper assured me we would make the assent today.

entering the lowest lock chamber - at last

We walked Lottie along the lower canal then looked at the inclined plane while we were waiting. The inclined plane was a method of moving boats sideways up and down the hill in special cassions on rails. Whereas the locks would take an hour to work when the inclined plane was operational in only took a few minutes to travel the same distance. After our walk we stopped for ice-creams and watched the boaters arrive.

looking back from the lowest lock chamber

However two hours passed without any sign of the boats coming down. New boats arrived but when they asked for a slot to ascend the locks they were told they were too late. Then news came down the locks that a boater had flooded the pound causing a long delay. Would we make it up today or not? It was gone five when the first of the boats came into sight three locks above us. Unsure what time the lock keeper worked to it seemed unlikely that we would ascend that evening.

One down (or up) nine to go

Another boater came back with a rejection and the news that 6.15 was the latest time the last boat would be let onto the flight. 



nearly half way up

Time ticked away and the gates opened before us. Four more boats to go – no the lock keeper had five more boats coming down. However the hire boat opposite us was moored at the pub and its crew wanted to stay the night to eat there.

The second boat to emerge brought entertainment as he wanted to turn to the Market Harborough and there were moored boats everywhere.

the pound between the two staircase locks

“I’m bound to make a hash of this,” he muttered as he started the turn. It was tight. His rear fender stroked our side as he turned into the bank. For a moment I thought he would become wedged across the canal but the fender slid sideways and he somehow completed the turn with inches to spare. With him through the swing bridge our attention turned to the next boat descending.

By 5.45 the lock keeper appeared and confirmed that three boats only would make the climb. The hire boat skipper asked if they could stay behind and the bearded lock keeper agreed.

“Can we have his slot?” a tall man promptly asked. 



Still climbing

“I’m afraid not,” the lock keeper replied. “I’ve turned several boats away before yours so it wouldn’t be fair on them.” The tall man tried to persuade the lock keeper but he padlocked the lock as soon as our boat passed into it. The time was one minute after six and we were the last boat ascending.

Normally Foxton locks are heaving with boats and onlookers of all shapes and sizes but as we followed the other boat up we had the place to ourselves. It was beautiful as the setting sun shone on the gleaming white balance beams and lock bridges. After fifty minutes we glided out the top lock leaving the keeper to padlock it. Around the corner the Captain pulled over to the visitor moorings but Lottie saw the full scale sculpture of a bronze pony and barked frantically.



time to rest

Was she afraid of the strange pony or was she warning it off? The Captain didn’t wait to find out but cruised round the corner. His first attempt at mooring was doomed as the canal side was silted up but as the sun went down he found a good mooring and secured the boat - just in time.