The Soar and Leicester Marina

In cool, overcast conditions we have completed our journey along the River Soar, and enjoyed every minute of it. The Soar is a lovely hybrid of river and canal, with tons of scenic mooring sites. The locks are tough, with extremely fierce paddles and heavy gates, many of them CRT manned, which helps.

We ended today's trip at Leicester Marina where we intend spending two days for a visit from Chloe and a visit to our good friend Sue who is very ill at present, before exploring the Grand Union canal towards London.

We are precariously moored on the "visitor's mooring pontoon, very short and floating. A quick check round the Marina confirmed it is more "Heath Robinson" than our current one,but certainly as friendly.

Apart from being nearer home it appears to offer few advantages but we'll give it adequate consideration before coming to a decision.    

We filled with water and emptied the oblutions at Loughborough Basin before leaving for today's trip.

Apart from being new and modern the basin is too small and badly designed, sadly. The water tap is  badly placed and difficult to use. The advice of a few boaters should have been sought before designs were finalised as in it's present state it is an opportunity missed to put Loghborough on the canal map.