Travels by Narrowboat

Kevin & Aslan have spent a few days sitting out a storm, at Sawley. Now Kevin must choose whether to continue west, along the Trent & Mersey Canal and eventually north, towards Stoke On Trent, or to carry on south down the River Soar and Grand Union Canal, through Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, the city of Leicester and beyond.

A large part of life on the UK canals, is the sense of camaraderie among the boating community - and Kevin experiences this as he and Aslan continue along the River Soar, towards Loughborough and their overnight mooring, at Barrow-Upon-Soar. Whilst ascending locks, fellow boater's are more than happy to lend a hand and later, Kevin purchases fuel for Aslan, even though the vendor is closed.

It's all ahead Leicester, as Kevin & Aslan continue their unbounded passage along the River Soar. Later though, even the most free and liberated soul can succumb to an uncharacteristic bout of pontificating (or two), once in a while. Fortunately, a walk through Leicester's past and present, puts Kevin back into a more thoughtful and centered frame of mind.

The UK canal system has never been about speed - the distance achievable in a day at 2 or 3mph, serves to make the environment of the narrowboater, a very small one when compared to that of modern times. Tackling one aspect of living in this 'world', Kevin journeys just 6 miles in 8 hours and through 12 locks, single handed - all in the knowledge that he'll be doing it again the next day.

It is said that no matter how long the journey, or the direction taken, you always arrive back at your starting point. Kevin & Aslan now ascend the flight of 10 locks at Foxton, joining the Leicester Branch of the Grand Union Canal - where Kevin experienced his Maiden Voyage, many moons ago. Heading towards Crick, he passes familiar 'landmarks' and recalls his thoughts and memories from that time.