Thursday 28 June 2012

A FINE DAY AT FOXTON LOCKS

A FINE DAY FOR FOXTON LOCKS

With the weather we have had this year we have decided not to let it stop us doing the things we like and with that in mind, and the fact that I did not want to face any housework we set off for Foxton Locks in Leicestershire.

For those of you who have never been it is a great place to spend a few hours just wandering along the canal side and marveling at the steps of locks that go up (or down depending on where you park your car).
 It is a marvelous feat of Victorian engineering and at one time there was a lift to the side of the locks themselves which lifted the boats from the top to the bottom.  Sadly this has long gone but the building that was the old boiler house for it is now used as a museum.

To either side of the locks are scenes of rolling fields which to me epitomize the English countryside with a village nestled in the hills and cows grazing in the distance.
The lock itself is very narrow and there is only just enough room to get a narrowboat down it.
We parked int he top car park and walked down and had a cup of coffee sitting watching the boats but more so a pair of swans with their cygnets who were busy seeing off any dog that came in their vicinity.
I just love the sign for the boat rip - now that was really vintage....


After walking further along the canal we decided to turn around and return to the car so we walked back uphill.
and what did we espy........
yes - the fudge boat - and did we buy any - well what do you think........