Solace Day 10: Pilling's Flood Lock

This is a sight you rarely see a lock with the gates open at both ends. Well not on locks used to raise or lower the boat. However this is a flood lock rather than a normal lock. Being situated on a river (the Soar) parts of the navigation are canalised allowing the river to flow over weirs. When the river is running high this can cause problems for the canal sections. To solve this flood locks are used to cut off the parts which would suffer from flooding.

Another pleasant day travelling along the Soar. We were a little concerned about where we would spend the nigh as rivers have two problems. First the banks aren't maintained in the way canals are and are often higher than the boat. Also unlike canals there is often private land on both sides.

Since the Foxton flight we had been travelling in company with another boat as the locks are 14 feet wide and much easier handled with two boats. Luckily we found a section of piled bank near Kegworth. It was just long enough to accommodate Solace and Ian and Christine's boat so all was well.