Market Harborough

A straightforward run up the remainder of the broad locks ths morning, although our first lock had both bottom gates open (all night?) and the pound above was about 2 feet low. No problem though. Later in the morning we had the first of the heavy showers which had been forecast. Very heavy! After Saddington Tunnel our attention was drawn, by a heavily loaded hire boat, to a sheep stranded in the mud on the offside bank. Nuggler Crew Rescue in action yet again. The bit of bank was part of a large winding hole, so inspite of the troublesome wind I turned the boat 150 degres and drove the bows head on to the bank whereupon Pat jumped off and pulled the said half immersed sheep out of the mud, getting herself ankle deep in mud in the process. Meanwhile other boaters were involved unbeknown to us and had crossed the canal by a nearby bridge, and armed with boathooks and ropes arrived just after Pat had done the deed. The sheep seemed to have injured back legs, or was very hypothermic because it just collaped.  Much more dificult to get back on the boat though, especially as Alfie had jumped off as well and was proving elusive. Pat walked back the long way in the end, through hawthorne and over a barbed wire fence, and trashed her trainers as they were now beyond repair. The farmer had been called, and appeared just after we set off again. Passing the bottom of Foxton Locks, the views from the Market Harborough arm would have been magnificent but for the high hedge, but the end basin is very neat with modern facilities and some permanent moorings including a Canaltime base. There is a long stretch of visitor moorings. No TV reception sadly.