Friday and an energetic day of seven heavy double locks in 3 miles, made easier because we were - unusually on this trip - accompanied by another boat. First, we filled up with water at the well maintained CRT services at Kilby Bridge.
Leaving Kilby Bridge
Going up
Top lock gates, in a filling lock
Pulling the boat in against the wind, while Denis closed the lock gates
Since doing the Leicester Ring in 2014, we'd wanted to revisit the beautiful setting of Wistow with its abandoned medieval village and church set in rolling fields visible from the canal. We moored within sight of the church - one of our favourite mooring spots - and walked to it from bridge 78. After seeing the exhibition in the church, we walked to the Rural Centre in Wistow and then north back across the canal to Newton Harcourt.
Canal bridges are unusually high this stretch
St Wystan's church, Wistow
Our visit fortunately coincided with this exhibition, which meant the church was open - the artists are all local with a particular interest in churches. The work was exhibited throughout the building, which was originally built in the 9th century to commemorate the murder of Wystan, Prince of Mercia (the village was originally 'Wystanstowe').
St Luke's, Newton Harcourt. The yellowish colour is ironstone, from which the tower was constructed in the 13th century.
St Luke's churchyard
A memorial, carved by his father, to Christopher Gardner who died of scarlet fever in 1924 aged 8.
Fairy inkcap mushrooms in the churchyard
A flourishing floating garden
Parting view of Wistow church as we head south to Foxton
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