Hey Ho and Off We Go

….. Roaming again!!!    After a very pleasant 7 weeks at Trent Lock, we got off the Erewash Canal last Thursday evening when a very nice CART man came and told us that he would unlock the gates and let us through if we left there and then, otherwise we would probably be there for quite a few more days.   This was due to the pollution I told you about last week.   So we locked down onto the River Trent and stayed overnight on the lock moorings ready for setting forth Friday morning.

Thanks to John and Mick at Kingfisher Narrowboats for the jobs done and letting us “overstay” on their moorings!

So, Friday morning saw us cross the River Trent (quite literally) and turn down the River Soar.   Now, previously, I haven’t much cared for cruising on rivers as there’s been steep banks with trees so you can’t see much other than the river and moorings are very limited.  The River Soar is very pretty with lots to look at and plenty of places to moor.   Friday night we stayed just outside Kegworth in the middle of lovely, tranquil scenery.    What we hadn’t realised is that it was quite a hike back up the towpath to reach the village!  Never mind, the mooring was well worth the walk as we needed a few groceries and Sunday joint.   Dai still cooks a full Sunday roast dinner every week so we were pleased to find a butchers in Kegworth which I have to recommend to you all.   We had pork loin and it was up there in the best ever eaten.


Dai is ecstatic with his new prop - it's improved the manoeuvrability and reduced the engine revs which, in turn, will reduce the  amout of diesel consumed (and he has his girlie button back so happiness all round!).

But …. The best laid plans and all that …. Rain started and flood warnings abounded.   The River Soar levels go up and down like a yoyo with any rain so on Sunday we decided to move or risk being on a rising river.   It is not very clear from Nicolsons (canal atlas for those who don’t know) when you are on the river and when you are on the canal - the only way to really work it out is look for the weirs and flood gates.    So we went through Bishops Meadows lock just on outskirts of Loughborough as we knew we were then on canal.   Moored just before Loughborough Lock safe and sound!

Loughborough was quite a surprise to us both even though it isn’t a million miles from when we were housebound near Nottingham!   The town centre is much bigger than we expected - although on reflection, we should have known because Loughborough University is a renowned centre for sports science.   Of course, this week is Freshers Week so students everywhere!!

Yesterday we went through Loughborough Lock and down the arm to the basin for the services.   it’s a small basin with pontoons for 4 boats - Dai remembers there were plans to fill in the basin in the late 1990s but after an outcry, it was tidied up instead and now is quite smart… and the town centre is only minutes away with a huge Tesco and Sainsburys well within “trundling shopping” limits!!

We didn’t stop there however as we prefer to be on the towpath and overnight away from the very nearby pubs, so we just came back out of the arm and are moored just through Bridge 39 on a very pleasant mooring.    Boats have come by today so obviously the River Soar must be open again with water levels back down.

Staying here until at least Friday or Saturday as we have a local coal merchant delivering sometime on Friday (maybe longer if the River comes up again in the meantime - been some sharp showers today and forecast not good).

Since last blog we have done … 9 miles and 8 locks  
Total since Setting Off ….. 1967 miles and  1596 locks  

our latest gadget - and what fun!
Top figure is outside temp
then humidity; then inside temp,
bottom figures are date and time
and the weather boy changes dependent on weather
so he might be stripped to his trunks, in normal clothers
or hat, coat and scarf on!
he also shows deckchair or umbrella or snowflakes!
and it seems to be pretty accurate!

..... following popular demand ....
new carpet (but you can't see the colour
very well.  It's a lot brighter in real life.
Love it !!

River Soar and South here we come

"emergency mooring in floods only"
ummm - well, I suppose if you are in a flood
you'd be very glad to see this

Wasn't flashing when we went by ....
but was a day or two later

cute eh ---- nice to be in Tuggyland

Just when we thought it was safe to go ….

The Erewash canal has a stoppage!!    There was a fire at a big factory a few miles up the canal yesterday or day before which resulted in a “pollution incident” so the Erewash is currently closed at Trent Lock while they re-oxygenate the water.   Might be open tomorrow but don’t know yet.    Mind you, the CART men have let some boats down Trent Lock and a few up today.   I asked about us going down tomorrow and was told we’d have to ask in the morning …… so after being here since mid August moored at Kingfisher Narrowboats on one of their moorings, I guess another day or so won’t really matter that much ….. Except Dai is badly wander lusting and now that we have caught up with family and friends, I am also ready to go.

We are planning on going onto the River Soar from Trent Lock as we haven’t travelled that stretch before.   We have now of course to start planning round the Winter Stoppages but the first one we meet will be at Lapworth Locks from mid Nov to 7 December so we then have some options : might meander there to go through after the stoppage into Birmingham; get through before the stoppage; or change route before then off the Grand Union at Braunston ----- so many choices!!    We will then get onto the Shropshire Union.

Amy and Andy are gone!!     Set off from home last Tuesday evening to get to Heathrow for flight via India to Thailand, night in Bangkok then a 12 hour train journey north to Chiang Mai where they will be working.
So both busy now job hunting to teach English and today had their first demo teaching ---- I’m sure they will soon be set up.      It’s really hot over there right now ---- just as the nights are drawing in here.   We have started to have the odd fire in the evenings but at least the daytimes are still bright and sunny.

We have had our kitchen, bathroom and bedroom carpeted today and its looks lovely!!    We had vinyl tiles in those rooms, because of Foxxie dog and all her hair shedding - but they were starting to lift here and there.    So we are now “taking shoes off indoors” which is something we said we would never do!!   Oh, and had to buy a vacuum cleaner which has to live in the shower!!    No room anywhere else!


Since last blog we have done … 0 miles and 0 locks  
Total since Setting Off ….. 1958 miles and  1588 locks

normal service will be resumed next Wednesday!

Where have all the weevils gone .....?

Still at Trent Lock ---- feels like being on holiday to me with lots of catching up with family and friends.  We are going to be here until at least Sept 12 when Amy and Andy fly off back to Thailand to work as English teachers (so expect an entry spotted with tears next Wednesday!!).

Highlights this last week have been :----

1.  We’ve had some good sunny hot/warm days (now that its September and the nights are drawing in!!).
2.  My mum brought my niece and nephew to visit before they started back to school today.
3.  We won the pub quiz at the Steamboat pub last Friday with our friends Archie and Jackie after the manager’s persistence that we join in!!   The nicest surprise was that homemade sushi was handed around and we ended up with 2 plates full (think other tables must have declined --- it is the most unusual freebie food we have ever had in a pub!!).    Neither Dai or I had ever tried it before and you’ve got to haven’t you when it’s sitting there in front of you ---- it was delicious and full compliments to the manager’s wife who had obviously spent ages preparing it.
4.   We’ve splashed out and bought two new outside chairs which was very opportune with all the sunshine we’ve had the last few days.   Cost us an arm and a leg but, hey, it’s only money!!
5.  Caught up with old friends at The Crown in Beeston where they sell loads of Real Ale and Ciders - a good time was had by all (thank goodness we had a lift!!).
6.  Watching contractors today just above Trent Lock “removing” the azolla weed from the Erewash Canal.  Apparently they were doing a trial (what happened to the water weevils feasting on it?) with two little putt-putt boats and a boom, dragging the weed along the water to a digger on the towpath who then proceeded to haul the weed out into a tip-up truck.    OK, they did get a fair bit out but why wait until it had nearly all gone anyway??    This last week we have seen water around Jandai instead of the Green Carpet, the weed seeming to be disappearing by, presumably,  (1) now fat water weevils (2) a bit of wind and boaters using the lock so flowing over into the River Trent - we understand the weed doesn’t like flowing water so shouldn’t be too much of an issue on there - (3) natural dying off and/or (4) hugely growing ducklings and baby moorhens/coots (or is that cooties and moories??).

Since last blog we have done … 0 miles and 0 locks  
Total since Setting Off ….. 1958 miles and  1588 locks  

card school in action !

but Sam would sooner play with Foxxie!

While Millie at 7 yrs old requested we play
"threes and fours" !!

first boon-full of weed collected (between the yellow
plastic and towpath)

.... and then the digger fishes the weed out

Out of the Black Hole!

“No crimes to report from over the long weekend, although there was a bit of an issue with one boater in Kinver yesterday who was trying to get everyone to move their boats to allow him to 'park' his boat in between. 
Officers attended and all those present were spoken with and the late-arriver-boater was advised to park further up. All was sorted in the end.
(P.S. Do you 'park' a narrowboat'?)”
Copied from Staffordshire Canal Watch Post on Face book ---- bit of canal rage?!

Out of the Black Hole last Friday ---- thank goodness.    It’s a necessary evil being in the dry dock but doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it!!    We are still at Trent Lock at River Trent end of the Erewash canal as the weevils obviously aren’t very hungry and we are still stuck in the multiplying water fern carpet!!     Ha ha, not really although we were told that an entry on Canalworld Forum said it was not possible to go up the Erewash because of the Azolla weed spread !  We are still here for a couple of weeks as we visit family and friends in the area and have more necessary appointments to attend.    John and Mick of Kingfisher Narrowboats are really good letting us stay on one of their moorings so we are off the towpath and the mad cyclists - there seem to be more than a fair share of them here because the towpath is very well maintained and hard surfaced.

Had many visitors this last week ::::
Amy’s fiance’s parents and sister came on Saturday and we had a reasonable meal at the Steamboat pub which has been re-opened now about 3 weeks.
My mum and neice Millie came for a picnic with Amy.
Fred and Lisa arrived with pressies for Foxxie - Lisa has knitted her a blanket and pillow which was so very kind and thoughtful as Foxxie does like going to sleep snuggled up with her head higher than her body for some reason!

We went to Colwick Park Sunday for Amy and Andy’s “daytime” engagement celebrations (we are two old fogies who couldn’t possibly manage the evening pub crawl around Nottingham).    There was a BBQ and live music (Andy is in a local rock band) but unfortunately we had to leave before the swimming in the lake commenced ----- although Foxxie found the water to be very much to her liking!

Bad rain here today and no boats at all spotted cruising by on the canal although there have been a few on the River Trent.

Since last blog we have done … 0 miles and 0 locks  
Total since Setting Off ….. 1958 miles and  1588 locks  

mmmm ---- comfie
Foxxie enjoying her new cushion knitted by Lisa

Amy and Andy at their waterside engagement celebration

I need a long lie down before my waterski-ing lessons begin !!

spot the difference (not counting one is shinier than the other!)
yes, New Prop is bigger!!   it's 18/12 replacing the 17/10

... and here it is in situ

We’ve had a very exciting week with so much happening I am quite exhausted!!

Been in Kingfishers Dry Dock since Monday lunchtime and come out Friday ---- several jobs to do while we are in
1.   Bottom blacking
2.   Fitting of THE new propeller
3.   Found a tiny leak on the diesel tank which is now mended
4.   Fitting of a plate on the weed hatch.    Most boats come with one but for some reason Piper shells don’t so we’ve now had that rectified.
5.   Dai’s Girlie Button is now fixed too ----- its been k-nacked for about 6 months or so and could only be fixed in dry dock so he decided he could wait until now for the yearly blacking.    Simple job to do once they could see the problem.    Something must have hit the bow thruster prop and busted a fixing so Mick just had to get the old off and put a new on and hey presto - back in business
6.   A guard type thing welded across the bow thruster ends to stop what happened from happening again!

So, yes, the New Prop duly arrived from Crowthers Marine in Oldham on the agreed delivery date - their help and guidance has been first class.   I am now duly looking forward to going waterski-ing when we get out onto the River Trent …….

My daughter Amy has got engaged to Andy - I am really delighted and now have to decide whether peach, apricot or powder blue suits me best …..!!!!

Dai celebrated his 60th birthday again at the weekend with my family ---- BBQ in the drizzle under the gazebo at my brother and sister-in-law’s and a Very Good Time was had by all ……

New specs on order for us both ---- well, we expected to have to cough up when we made the optician appointments and at least because we are staying around here for a few more weeks, we are in the one place to sort it out.

The Green Carpet is still very much in evidence here at Trent Lock --- those weevils put in the canal to gobble it up obviously aren’t that hungry

Since last blog we have done … 0 miles and 0 locks  
Total since Setting Off ….. 1958 miles and  1588 locks

not enough there to feed me, never mind rest of them!

one sausage or two ??

Think the men folk have gone to raid the beer fridge Mand!

at least it wasn't dark this time when Ian and Irene went past us!!

This steam launch was built in the 1930's and the engine in the 1890s

We’ve heard of the Red Carpet

…….. Well, the Green Carpet is out on the Erewash Canal !!    Just like last year when we were here, the green water fern is covering the canal and I’m now going to be dead cheeky and pinch the following from our friends Irene and Ian’s blog  nbfreespirit who are moored just a boat away …..

 the dreaded Azolla Weed. There is an interesting article  on the BBC news which you may be of interest on how the environment agency are trying to eradicate it. W have also heard on the grapevine that 2000 weevils had been introduced further up this canal and as these weevils are the only thing that has any effect on the Azolla, we live in hope that they will soon be chomping their way through the plant otherwise the stuff will soon be in every waterway in the UK. ( It has already shown its appearance at Sawley and that's upstream from us!!! It only needs a few plants to have stuck to the hull or fenders for the plant to start spreading.)   

I went out to take some photos to post on here but it’s just started slinging it down (in fact, I am having to write the blog by candlelight as it’s so so dark!!)  So, again, going to pinch a photo or two from Ian and Irene (owe you a pint guys!!).    Oh no, not needed to as Dai has battled the elements so you can see OUR pix below!!!    

We have come up here ready to go into kingfishernarrowboats dry dock for a bottom blacking.   Are planning to hang around here for about 4 weeks to see family; friends; opticians, vets, etc etc.   Amy and Andy fly back to Thailand on Sept 12 so we will resume our travels after then ---- oh dear, need to start thinking about where to go for the winter once the Stoppage Lists have been studied.

So this last week we have cruised slowly from Willington stopping for a day or two at Weston and Shardlow --- through the broad locks starting at Stenson (where the bottom gates never seem to fully open) and ending at Derwentmouth Lock where I had fun and games earlier today running round like a mad woman cos no matter what tricks I tried, both bottom gates would not keep closed while I filled the lock!   Luckily another narrow boat appeared so with their help and Dai mooring up, we did manage it eventually!  Then there was no lock-keeper at the electronic lock at Sawley ---- I am sure there was last year during the summer months.   Irene and Ian told me later he is only there at weekends.     It is an easy lock to work as you just follow the written instructions on the operation box and press buttons as you work through the phases but it is a devil getting on and off as you enter the river.

For those of you (men) who Dai has discussed propellors with for the past year ----- well, the new bigger one is being cast as we speak and should arrive next week when we are in dry dock so I’ll be sure to let you see photos of it!!    This is about as exciting for me as watching paint dry (or blacking bitumen as I will be next week) but Dai is VERY excited about it.

Since last blog we have done … 13 miles and 8 locks  
Total since Setting Off ….. 1958 miles and  1588 locks  

errr - what's so funny Dai???

Shipwreck at Derwentmouth Lock
It was probably the owner jumping back onto the boat.
I nearly cripple myself everytime I have to do it !

At the cross"roads" of Trent and Derwent Rivers on T & M

Which way?   Which Way?
OK - we'll go onto the Erewash canal then

Foxxie says "woof woof" (roughly translated as "I agree"
"Dogs are part of the canals too "sign by Trent Lock Services.

Yes, the canal is under that weed somewhere
on the Erewash Canal by Trent Lock

This gives you an idea of just how thick and "solid" the
Azolla Weed is on the Erewash Canal