The Leicester branch - up and down the stairs
With the branch off from the Grand Union mainline the journey into unknown territory began for me. I was very excited that at least the next upcoming locks are all narrow locks for just one narrowboat, which makes them much easier and faster to handle. The Leicester branch of the Grand Union goes through remote rural areas for a long stretch before it gets to Leicester itself. It winds around the contour of the land, which avoids locks for long stretches. The only locks up to Leicester are the Watford and Foxton lock flights, which both contain staircase locks. More on that fascinating concept later. Lots of wheat fields Wild flower meadow Alligator!? Almost right at the beginning of the branch there is another relatively long tunnel, which I passed without incident despite three oncoming boats. Crick Marina is the venue for the big Crick Boat Show that I have been to multiple times, but never by boat. Sadly there is no internet there, which was to become a recurring theme in this rura