Debdale to Foxton Locks

Yesterday Jo and I walked the 1.5 miles from the canal to the Kibworth Shooting Ground so that I could purchase a telescopic sight for my air rifle, which I took with me. I bought my air rifle back in 2007, before we set off on Hadar, with the intention to use it to shoot game, to eat. However I was not happy with using the standard sights to guarantee a clean kill, so I have been waiting for the ideal opportunity to visit a gun shop to acquire a decent telescopic sight. I had discovered on our first time in the Foxton-Harborough area that there was a shooting ground and shop near the canal at Debdale, and I have been waiting for the right opportunity to moor at Debdale wharf and visit the gun shop.

The shop was a bit busy with shooters signing in, and getting gas cartridges recharged, but we were in no hurry.

We were recommended a Hawke Sport-HD IR (3-9x50 AO Mil Dot model) which according to the Hawke website normally retails at £94.95, but we got it for £50, a bargain, and it was fitted to my rifle. The shop being located at the shooting ground was ideal as I could test out and adjust the sight whilst there. We took a target to the air rifle range and with much appreciated friendly assistance from some shooters already at the range, I got the sight approximately zeroed to start with, but I need to readjust it more accurately, I didn’t want to take up too much of the other shooters time, especially as I have targets on-board that I can use to finish off the setting up at my leisure, and in slightly warmer weather. We are looking forward to my first kill going into the cooking pot. Over time it should save us a fair bit in food costs.

This morning we set off for Foxton locks for the weekend. We tried to moor at the 14 day moorings just before Rainbow Bridge, but they are too shallow, and we didn’t want to risk getting stuck with the water situation at present in this area. We were fortunate though to get into our favourite mooring just through Rainbow Bridge, at the junction. We may have a visitor coming to see us Sunday, so we are in the ideal spot for them to find us.

Keith.

Smeeton Aqueduct to Debdale

Despite the weather forecast last night stating that we would have rain this morning, we seemed yet again to have missed it, so we decided to move towards Debdale to get a better TV and internet signal. We actually passed another boat coming the other way today, just before we moored up just west of Debdale Wharf.

Keith.

Foxton Locks to Smeeton Aqueduct

No wind, sun shining brightly, a good day to move, which we did to Smeeton Aqueduct. We did wind first before mooring up near the aqueduct. We look forward to doing a bit of walking in this area whilst we are here.

Keith.

Gallows Hill to Foxton Locks

 

As forecasted today was going to be a damp day. Fortunately just a very light drizzle when we set off. Jo had a tad problem getting the swing bridge to register that it was shut to release the gates, once I had got Hadar through, but eventually it all clicked into place and we carried on to Foxton locks. We moored up at our usual spot before the swing footbridge, just as the light drizzle was getting heavier, but bring it on, we need lots of rain!

Keith.

Union Wharf to Gallows Hill

 

This morning we walked down into Harborough to notify our Doctor, Dentist and Opticians of our new address, the last people we have to notify. Jo also popped into her hairdresser to book an appointment for when we return in 3 weeks times. We returned to the boat, had lunch and then winded in the basin before mooring at a spare pontoon to empty our toilet whilst there was still a Canal Boat Club boat at the sanitary station. However this boat was moved and the sanitary station was clear for us to pull into to top up our water tank. It gave us a brief chance to have a quick chat to a few of our friends at the basin. We then set off in glorious sunshine to Gallows Hill for the night. Not a bit of ice in sight compared to what we were breaking through yesterday morning.

Keith.