Well finally at last we have been able to move on from Leicester Marina.  It was with mixed feelings as we have enjoyed our time there.  Especially one ice breaking day when we just HAD to go for pump out whilst part of the marina was still frozen!  The area over by the pontoon was free flowing however we had to break up the ice behind, beside and in front of us.  It was thicker that we had thought.  I lost hold of 2 boat poles on the way over but luckily we were able to retrieve them both.  

So this morning we waved goodbye to Julie the marina Manageress and set off towards Birstall Lock.  Got safely through the lock only to find that about three hundred yards further on there was a tree across the river.  It was quite a large one which looked as though it had arrived there on the recent flood water.  Taking our trusty poles we walked down to see if we could move it out of the way.  No such luck it wouldn’t budge.  So we had to revert to plan B and call Canal and River Trust to come and help us out.

First time we have had to do anything like this and must say we were fairly impressed.  Within two and a half hours they had moved the tree sufficiently for us to continue.  They thanked us for our patience, and we left them working out how they were going to secure the tree until they could get suitable equipment there to remove it.

Whilst we were waiting we had our lunch, so 3 more locks to go and we are now moored at Castle Park near to Leicester town centre.  The pontoon here is a floating one to if it does rain heavily we should rise up with it.  But we are hoping it will remain dry enough tonight so that in the morning we can move off and get off the river and back on to the canal proper.