May Bank Holiday on NB Oyster Bay

We'd booked NB Oyster Bay for a week's cruise at Easter 2018. However, the River Soar was in flood and we couldn't get out. Too dangerous. A month later, we heard that NB Oyster Bay (the boat owned by our boat builder, Narrowboats of Distinction) was unexpectedly free so off we went for four glorious days over the May Day Bank holiday.  It was exactly how you hope and imagine boating should be
 

NB Oyster Bay entering Mount Sorrell Lock

The weather was absolutely perfect from start to finish - with some tranquil, breathtakingly beautiful early mornings and simply stunning sunsets and dusks 

Early morning, Birstall

Our chosen route took us on the River Soar from Zouch Lock to Birstall, five miles before Leicester.  We travelled for 1.5 unhurried days out, had two nights at Birstall, visited the Great Central Railway for the day, and took 1.5 days getting back.  

Mooring for the evening at The Waterside Pub, Mountsorrell

We were surprised how very quiet this stretch of the river was. The volunteer lock-keeper at Barrow Deep Lock said the river had been extremely quiet so far this year due to bad flooding and was only just starting to pick up.  The Soar had been in flood and folks just hadn't been coming out on their boats

Sunset at The Waterside Pub, Mountsorrell

It was bliss sitting on the bow watching the sun slowly disappear and the wonderful quality of light is something we rarely see in the East Midlands 

Dusk at Mountsorrell. One bright star in the sky