Welford to Laughton Hills

Last night we met friends of Lisa and David of Nb. What a Lark  in The Wharf Inn Welford for an evening meal. The  service was first rate and food was good and the company was grand, so grand in fact that we were to meet again today for coffee and cake.
After early morning rain pushing through at 5am and again at 6am the day had cleared by half nine as we set off from Welford.

 Up and off from our overnight mooring at Welford

 

 At our first and ONLY lock of the day on the Welford Arm

 

 Turning on to the Leicester main line from Welford

 

 Moored immediately prior to Husbands Bosworth Tunnel...in the nettles

 

 We have moored here in order to walk over the tunnel to visit Jane and Ed, our company of last night, local farmer's and B&B operators and host to David and Lisa when they stayed at the B&B when visiting the Crick Boat Show.

 Jane and Ed owners of the Croft Farm B&B

 

We spent a couple of hours at Croft Farm, where we were made most welcome, tea, coffee and homemade cakes provided, before alking back across the tunnel to the boats and heading off to today's destination the Laughton Hills.

 

 Approaching a 'smokey' tunnel entrance

 

We followed What a Lark through the Husbands Bosworth tunnel but because of a boat that had preceded us the tunnel was so full of smoke we couldn't see David and Lisa until we were emerging into daylight at the other end.

 Emerging into the light again

 

 Large sections of the canal north of the tunnel is overgrown on the off side and needs and severe trim

 Bank repairs under way

 

 Following What a Lark

 

 Laughton Hill

 

We moored below Laughton Hill, an hour's cruise short of Foxton Locks and after a belated lunch I took the dogs up on to the top of the hill to look at the views, and what views they are! 

 

 Yarwood and What a Lark moored at the bottom of the hill

Not too bad a mooring