31st July 2011 - I won, I won, I won!

It's currently 2300 ish and I've just finished dinner and I need to go to bed. There are no pictures today because I didn't take any! If you're all good, maybe tomorrow!

In a nutshell, I went to the awards ceremony, just in case, I was fairly convinced I hadn't done enough, then my name is called out. I'm really chuffed, ok, need a new anorak I know, but I've won the Inland Waterways Association, A. P. Herbert, Market Harborough Challenge Trophy 2011, for making the longest direct cruise on inland waterways to the Burton on Trent festival. Also part of this (but you're not sharing the prize!) were messrs Preston, Dunning and Jones, Penny and Son Dave. From what I can make out, this is the only award which has been running continuously from the first ever festival at Market Harborough in 1950!!

Then of course I went for a celebratory couple of pints, I've got people asking me what I won the trophy for (I'm carrying it around with me) I check out a couple of techy things for the boat, have a pork roast baguette for lunch and walk back to the boat, I can't stop smiling.

I near the boat and it occurs to me that not many boats are 'on the move' so I think 'I'm off' So just before 1400 I cast off and head towards Fradley. No queue at the first lock (Branston) but the wind blows the boat into the trees while I'm closing the gate on leaving. Straight into the second (Tatenhill) as a boat is coming down. Straight into the third because a bored bloke is working it!. Then I get to Wychnor and encounter four boats waiting to go up. Never mind, it takes an hour, but then things get spread out again, plus people are (sensibly) stopping for the night. I pass through Alrewas then on to Fradley, no further lock delays. I get some  passers by to shut the gate at Junction Lock for me so I can focus on turning left onto the Coventry canal, no problem, I pass through the swingbridge and take the opportunity to fill the water tank. This water point has the slowest tap in the world and it takes 30 minutes to fill up! It's 2030 when I set off again, looking for a place to spend the night. this happens 4 miles later in the dwindling daylight.

I have dinner, and we're back to where I began!!

Today: 12.5 miles -   10 locks -        7 hours
So Far:  602 miles - 473 locks - 306.5 hours

30th July 2011 - The craft workshop

I walk Penny to the station and then go directly to the site as I'm booked to do 'button fenders' in the craft workshops at 1030. On the way in I'm spotted and thanked for the job I did last night, no problem says me, it was a good laugh! Then I get four bottles of beer as a thank you, need any more help I said! I've arrived ten minutes early and queue to enter the site. I discover that the people in front of me had their propeller fall off on the way, so they've finished the journey by train! I only ever joked about this happening and didn't think it possible, time to check mine I think? I grab a bacon roll and a coffee and get stuck in.

I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Dave Walker was running the workshop, the same guy that I did a side fender with last year, and that's still hanging up down the back! I'm really pleased with this, it's better than the one fitted to the boat! But my arms ache, it took four hours (the workshop was supposed to be only three!) and I had a lot of help with the finishing off. Mine was the second one to be finished, I suspect Dave wanted to get away! I went over to the beer tent, I was supposed to be on duty, but sod that, I needed beer. While I was beering up, I realised I also had to carry the bloody thing back to the boat! And the beer! On a wonderful hot, sunny day.

One thing I did notice while 'beering up' was that bthe festival was lookinjg very busy. I was pleased as I thought last year was a bit quiet, still nothing next year due to olympics, for which I didn't get any tickets, then apparently Newbury in 2013, looking forward to planning a journey there already!

I get back to the boat and take up my harbour master duties with gusto by sitting on the back drinking the beer and having lunch, it was 1630. I deliver the last newsletter to 'my' boats and resume sitting, it's more pleasant now as the sun's dropped behind the trees. A little bit of sorting out, some chilli for dinner, take a photo of this passing by:

It's a scale model working boat towing a canoe with Bolinder engine noise that sounds just like the real thing, it's a great piece of work. Now to update the blog!!

29th July 2011 - A day at the festival

The festival opens at 1200 so we stroll along the towpath to see what's happening. We get in and almost immediately check out the beer tent with a pint of Titanic Lifeboat. We slowly amble around the various stalls and presentations and end up having some Indian snacks form lunch accompanied by cider from the cider tent. It's all boaty stuff, we wander through the Viking encampment without being raped or pillaged and Penny checks out a couple of the new boats on show. I'm not interested as there is a fully loaded working boat arriving on the other side and all I want is for it to be me arriving with it. We walk over the bridge to the towpath historic boat moorings and walk down to Dallow Lock. There is a loaded working pair locking up (Clover and Fazeley) and as they do so another pair arrives to lock down to turn (Australia and Kangaroo).

Looking North from the footbridge:

And South:

Fazeley:

Australia, Kangaroo, Clover & Fazeley:

Trying to get Fazeley onto the mooring, there isn't enough water:

We return to the boat for me to resume duties as harbourmaster. I get a phone call asking if I would help out with the illuminated boat parade, of course I will! So I'm to be on duty at Shobnall Bridge, the end of the parade to prevent chaos should a boat return along the single channel before it's clear. Myself and Penny walk to the footbridge to listen to the band playing, but it wasn't so we return disappointed to Shobnall to await the illuminated boats. I can hear from the radio messages what is going on, and don't anticipate a boat getting to me until at least 1045. There's quite a crowd here and many more at the centre of things. Eventually we get the first three boats, but then a long wait as the next three decide to tie up on their moorings which are before the bridge. The crowd is disappointed and I radio this to control, but to no avail. We get five more in quick succession, the dwindling crowd is pleased and I struggle to contain  five boats in the winding hole while they all get turned and keep out of the way of each other. This is achieved, more by luck than judgement and at 0030 I return to boat for sleep, Penny having got cold and given up much earlier. It was good to see so many local people out to enjoy the boats, I understand all the houses further down joined in with lights and flags. What I should have done was to take pictures, but sorry, I did not!!

28th July 2011 - A day in the life of a harbour master

I assume the duties of harbour master at about mid morning. It invloves a lot of sitting about answering (only a few) questions, mainly about where to book in. I walk up and down a couple of times to make sure everyone is happy and all is well and that's about it. Other than ensuring all the boats are tied up in the right place, we're really here to help in the event of some sort of emergency (fire, medical, etc) as we have radio contact with the site which is a mile or so away.

Some of the historic boats arrive:

There's a showing of 'The Bargee' tonight and the quiz. I'm not bothered about the film, in fact I lend my copy to another boater who doesn't want to walk back to the site. I'd have liked to have gone to the quiz, but obviously it's more important to go to the station to meet Penny. I promised I'd have a meal ready, so we get fish & chips on the way back to the boat (I really couldn't be bothered to cook). There's far too many chips, but the swans appreciated them in the morning.

27th July 2011 - The boats start to gather!

Fully briefed and all kitted up from yesterdays meeting, I assume the duties of Harbourmaster for S18 through S47, feels like a miles worth when you walk it, but I think it's about half a mile and 50 or so boats.

Some shots of the boats gathering for the rally:

And looking towards these from me on S18:

Not so good eh? That and the Marstons trucks that seem to work 24 hours about 20 yards from me! I became aware of this at 0100!! Up early to walk the section, then off to the rally site to book in and sort out a couple of boats who are where they shouldn't be, along with some other mooring issues, then to spend all morning playing boats as more and more show up for opening on Friday.

I hand over to Brian at lunchtime and take things easy for the afternoon. I'm off to Birmingham later for a curry and maybe a drink with Chris. Just have to remember to catch the last train home.

26th July 2011 - I arrive at the National

For a change it's me who's woken by a passing boat at stupid o'clock! It's 0530. I wake again at 0630 as a second boat is passing by, I get up, have a bacon roll and coffee and join them. I'm on tickover for the first mile and a half as I pass the many moored boats at Willington. Always a popular stopping off spot this, must be something to do with the three pubs, a Coop and a Chinese takeaway. It must be one of the few canalside villages to really profit from boats. Through Willington and I cross the River Dove on an aquaduct, there are quite a few moored boats out here too, a few showing signs of setting off. Some moorhens benefit from a stale bread roll and I approach Burton-Upon-Trent. All is pretty quiet still, but I can see at least two boats behind me. I pass 'The Navigation' pub at Horninglow Wharf, the first canal trip pub I ever visited!

The Navigation PH:

I pull on to the lock landing at Dallow Lock and recall that it was the first canal lock I ever did. It's the first narrow one since Foxton.

Dallow Lock:

There's been a few boats up and down already and I can see the 'N' moorings start from the end of the lock landing, not many boats here yet which is a surprise! However, upon exiting the lock I can see the festival taking shape and many boats both sides of the canal, some breasted up. I tickover through and find my mooring 'S18' which is just beyond the Marstons pipe bridge.

The Marstons pipe bridge:

I seem to have been here before! Several times!!! All tied up, I go to check in to see if any help is required today, apparently not but there's a harbourmasters meeting at 1600. Ok. I walk to Morrissons for at least some milk, spend £60 and find it's an awful long way back!! 'S18A' arrives, my buddy for a few days, it tries to get in beside me, but it's a deep drafted boat and can't get to the edge. They have dogs and want to be on the towpath, so disappear to try to get another mooring. I tie the boat up for a second time. I tend to the petunias and use the garden shears to trim the towpath a bit. Then off to the 1600 meeting.

Today:     6.5 miles -     1 lock -          3 hours
So Far: 589.5 miles - 463 locks - 299.5 hours (don't know why, but I wish I'd hung around somewhere for 30 minutes to get round 300 in!)

25th July 2011 - Warning! Don't go into Midland Chandlers with your Credit Card

It was another fine, clear windless morning, so I set off at 0700 on the short cruise to Weston Lock. It's set for me so nice and easy, up we go. It's nearly full and lo and behold, there's a boat coming the other way. It's a perfect morning.

I pass one of these every mile:

It's a bit of a way to Preston Brook! But I'm not going there! Between Weston and Swarkestone locks boaters are starting to wake up and get themselves on the move, most it seems to get past the nasty rally!!

I come round the last bend before Swarkestone to see the lock being set. It's a Canaltime boat crew, I recognise them from yesterday. I slow right down and pass the Canaltime boat which is moored about fifty yards from the lock. We exchange good mornings and I assume we are sharing the lock, so I slide in as the crew open the gates. I climb out of the lock to hold the boat to the side while they come in, and get very confused as another boat (it was following me) enters the lock with me! I look at everyone wondering what is going on, then we're locked up by the Canaltime crew. It was probably that the Canaltime boat was not on the lock landing that caused the confusion, but I suspect the other boat knew exactly what was happening and 'stole' the lock. Very bad form. I apologise (I don't know why, I didn't do anything wrong!) to the other boat and tell them that next time they should move the boat to the landing to avoid any confusion. I think it's only their second day ever on a boat so didn't really know what to do. I told them (at the next lock) that I would have had serious words with the other boat. I think they put it down to experience. I stop at the waterpoint as two more Canaltimes wait to lock down, I wait for a third to finish watering. I chuckle as the shower is running while they fill up, I can't complain as I've been known to do this!! I wonder about how many Canaltimes there are? While I wait I dead head and water the petunias.

The Petunias:

Water tank is full just as the aforementioned Canaltime boat and another come cruising past me. So I set off at a dead slow pace to avoid having to wait for too long at Stenson. I arrive at Stenson and wait for quite a while. Two boats are just going in, and the two who passed me at Swarkestone are still waiting. Never mind. I stroll up to the lock, windlass in hand to help, but it's not necessary there's a lot of people about, most of them eating ice creams from the lockside shop. Another boat arrives and we tie mine to it to make it easier. All's going really well until both of the lock gates won't open fully, theres not enough oomph to make it through. I drop down, start the enging and add the required oomph and we hurtle into the lock, remembering to throttle back before we destroy the cill. I shut down, climb out and we lock up. There's a boat waiting to come down so we untie and go our separate ways again. I cruise past Stenson Marina, this is where it all started one day in July 1977, probably 34 years to the day!! It's got a lot to answer for this place!

Stenson Marina:

I cruise the last mile or so to the Nadee Indian Restaurant, yet another pub converted into something just as useful! And this one is canalside!!

The Nadee:

I then have the idea to walk down to the Mercia Marina Midland Chandlers, just for something to do, and of course to study all the nice shiny things on the shelves that I'm not yet aware of needing! Off I go, it's just over half a mile or so, and wow! isn't the marina big! 580 boats I think. I spend £80 on absolute essentials then stroll back to the boat and wonder what to do with them!!

Right, where's the Indian Restaurant? Oh yes, it's just over there!

Today:  8.5 miles -     3 locks -  4.5 hours
So Far: 583 miles - 462 locks - 296 hours

24th July 2011 - Did the Mayans get it wrong?

I wake up to the most incredible noise, sort of roaring & rumbling. I glance at the time, it's 0600, then in my half awake state wonder in the Mayans messed up and that weird bloke in the States had a point after all! I look out of the window expecting fire, brimstone (anyone know what brimstone is?) earthquake & tsunami and see a fine looking morning. I'm puzzled, then wake up a bit more and realise it's an aircraft taking off, I should recognise that noise having worked at Heathrow for long enough. I remember that East Midlands airport is very near, and having just checked, I'm moored about 2 kilometers from the end of the runway. I'm left wondering as to why I didn't notice this yesterday! Anyway life's too short!! I trundle the mile to Kegworth deep lock, apparently it's called this because it is a lock that's deep! Who'd a thought it? Both bottom gates are open and the paddles up, still, that's the way of things on river navigations. It takes about three weeks to fill and I carefully lock the boat down, they're not joking, it's deep, I can hardly see the boat from the top! I exit through one gate, leaving it open and the paddles down.

Looking back to Kegworth Deep Lock:

Yet another kingfisher is spotted in this section of river. Another boater I heard was bemoaning the lack of kingfishers, well I've seen a couple of dozen during this trip, most of them on the Thames. There are also a lot of canaltime / ex canaltime narrowboats about, I suspect there's still a large number of them resident at Sawley.

Canaltime / Ex Canaltime boat:

Everpresent in the near distance is the enormous Ratcliffe on Soar power station:

And I pass through yet another of these great locks:

All too soon the journey down the Soar is over and we join the mighty Trent at Thrumpton. This is a four way (five if you count Thrumpton weir!) junction. The Soar from Leicester, Cranfleet cut to Nottingham, Erewash canal and Trent to Shardlow.

Erewash Canal entrance:

I turn left and left to head up the Trent towards the Trent & Mersey canal. There is a lock keeper on duty at the 'double' Sawley Locks, which makes life a lot easier (apart from him making me use two rope as there's a big white fender in the lock) I let the fender go first and look at the millions of boats.

The millions of boats:

Then by the marina entrance, during a phone call to Penny, the fender starts being blown all over the place (it's very windy!) A dutch barges exits the marina and turns round and a couple of narrowboats decide to set off, I love it! I navigate carefully through the chaos and pass through the floodlock, a canaltime boat very wisely waiting for the way through to become clear! Under the M1, not so busy at this time of day on a Sunday and into the Trent and Mersey canal. Derwent mouth lock appears and I'm in luck as two boats are just coming out. In I go, and life is even easier as there are more waiting to come down. I stand there holding the boat, the gates are closed for me, and that's it! Ok, I'll go and lift the paddles myself then, and proceed to do so, one of the waiters catches on and does the other side. Up we go and tickover past all the moored boats through Shardlow, one of my favourite canal villages.

Shardlow:

There's a spare mooring, but I decide to carry on for a bit (I'll only end up in the pub!) So I carry on to Aston lock and share it with another boat. Discussions reveal that they are rushing to get through Burton ASAP to avoid the nasty boat rally! My suggestion that they went through Leicester wasn't received too well! I left them to 'rush' on and tied up just past the top of the lock. I notice it's still very busy boat wise, it's still the weekend and start of holiday season I guess! A bit strange though after all those days with seeing less than ten boats actually on the move! I decide to head for Willington tomorrow, there's pump-out, diesel, water, Midland Chandlers, a Coop and oh yes, an Indian restaurant!!

Today:     8.5 miles -   10 locks -  4.5 hours
So Far: 574.5 miles - 459 locks - 292 hours

23rd July 2011 - And all of a sudden it's very busy

Not sure if it's because it's the weekend, or whether or not Barrow, Normanton, Zouch and Kegworth are particularly popular? But I leave Barrow at about 0800, cruise uneventfully for 3.5 miles to Loughborough, some interesting buildings here, drop through Loughborough lock, get to Bishop Meadow lock, passing a boat between the two, and see two boats ascending Bishop Meadow. I decide to top off the water at the top as there's a third boat waiting to come up, then In I go and there are two more waiting! All the way to Kegworth it's non-stop boats, the most I've seen for 3 weeks or so. I thought I might stop at Zouch, but the moorings were pretty full and the lock was ready for me, with yet more boats on the way up, perhaps there's a rally in Loughborough? I don't want to go too much further, need to leave a bit of cruising for the next three days, and fit a visit to 'The Nadee' Indian restaurant at Findern. So I stop on a shallowish spot about a mile short of Kegworth, just past a bend named 'Devils Elbow' And still the boats keep coming, including a lot of rowers whom I assume are something to do with Loughborough University. I take lunch and spot the salmon in the fridge that I meant to have with my broccoli and stilton last night, maybe I'll have it tonight then! Now what do I do with the burgers I was going to have tonight?

Barrow Lock:

Barrow Bridge:

Pillings Flood Lock (easy this one):

One of my facebook friends:

Today:     9 miles -     5 locks -        4 hours
So Far: 566 miles - 449 locks - 287.5 hours

22nd July 2011 - I was going to wash the boat! Honest!

After the ridiculousness of yesterday, I find myself having trouble sleeping and subsequently wide awake at 0630! I get up, have coffee, have more coffee (really helping with the sleep this!) then think "bugger it" and set off. It's 0730 and a great morning, river surface like a mirror and not a cloud in sight, I have to put my hat on!!

The River Soar:

A great time to be cruising. Some kingfishers and a stoaty, ferretty, weasely, mink type thing (I must brush up on my wildlife recognition!) watches me from the bottom lock landing of Junction Lock. Of course, I reach for the camera and it buggers off! All I can say is "it was a black stoaty, ferretty, weasely, mink type thing.

I cruise some more, passing Mountsorrel lock:

Another of my favourite types of lock!

I study the stream warning sign:

And actually take a look at the indicator:

And get confused! We're in the black and that's not mentioned on the previous sign.

Just after 1000 I arrive at Barrow-Upon-Soar and take the first available mooring. I plan the day and decide to go shopping, wash the boat and have a shower. So I go shopping. £60 at the Coop!!!! what the hell is in those bags!!!! Now I understand why Penny has a similar reaction when I'm in Tesco with her!

I walk back to the boat, it's about half a mile, really nice place is Barrow-Upon-Soar! I pass a pub by the bridge, 'The Navigation' Hmmm not much to, look at, oh, a riverside garden, maybe I'll pop back for a pint. I carry the shopping boatwards thinking "pub or wash the boat" I don't come to a decision and am on the boat putting everything away when a narrowboat pulls in to the vacant spot in front of me. It's the boat that locked down Foxton in front of me. We exchanged pleasantries, they'd been to Market Harborough on my recommendation, phew! It had been ok! Where's the pub says Alan, over there says me, you coming? So over we went for lunch and some pints of Abbot. I get back to the boat at 1530 and it starts to rain, no point in washing it now I think, so blog and book and snooze it is then! Alan it turns out is regional chairman of IWA North West (I think!) they're also on their way to the rally.

Just to get my one a week in, I'm having broccoli in stilton sauce tonight.

Today:  4.5 miles -     4 locks -     2.5 hours - a very short day!
So Far: 557 miles - 444 locks - 283.5 hours

21st July 2011 - Into Bandit Country!

Because the reputation of passing through Leicester by boat is so bad (getting things thrown at you, people jumping onto the boat and many more such annoying things!) I decide to leave at first light which turns out to be 0430! Obviously nobody else is so paranoid or stupid so I have the canal to myself. It's also a plan which works in my favour, as the majority of locks seem to default to full, some even have self opening top gates, so rather than follow somebody and have to set the locks, about 12 of todays 17 were set for me, and I could drive straight into 2 or 3 of them. I see a pair of Kingfishers early on, but other than a couple of insomniac dog walkers, there's no one! Dunns Lock has flowers laying by the side, so something very bad has happened here, that's the second this trip as the Stourport bottom staircase had a fatality shortly before I arrived there. These places are dangerous, people need to learn that!

Despite the nasty reputation, it's a very pleasant rural cruise, you'd never know you were only 2 or 3 miles from the centre of Leicester! I pass the Walkers Stadium.

The Walkers Stadium:

This overlooks Freemans lock and weir, the weir had three herons, looking for breakfast I think!

Freemans weir:

I was going to stop in the city centre, on the castle gardens secure moorings, but they were all taken (and I thought Leicester wasn't popular with boaters!) There were some boats on the towpath moorings, but I wasn't happy to stop on these so I carried on, then it started to rain, brilliant! I hate it here and I'm never coming back!! So I cruise through a couple of miles of urban grot, seems they don't bother with refuse tips here, it's all in the canal, which is now the river soar! Thankfully the rain doesn't last too long and the canal - oops, river, becomes increasingly pleasant. I pass a sort of condom thing.

Condom Thing:

Apparently this is the UK space centre! I'll some convincing to believe that!
I would have stopped at Thurmaston, it was very nice there, but moorings all taken, not my day! I end up just short of Junction Lock in a quiet spot, the official moorings have some serious BW works going on, but there's plenty of room further back. In the process of tying up, I slip off the back, I only get a wet foot, but I've tweaked my back a bit and it's a bit uncomfortable at the moment. Hope it's not a problem with tomorrows locks! There's only 19 to Burton, then I get a rest for a few days. Right, time for a nap.

Today:      15 miles -   17 locks -  9.5 hours
So Far: 552.5 miles - 440 locks - 281 hours

20th July 2011 - Where has all the water gone?

A most leisurely 0830 start this morning. I plod in a generally Northwards direction, weather, yes you've guessed, same as! The canal is quite narrow in places, lots of reeds and stuff making it so. I see no boats at all until Saddington (880 yard) tunnel where I see one in front of me heading the same way and three coming towards me! Then it's peace and quiet again. I'm approaching Kibworth top lock when a BW man on a bicycle attracts my attention. He says "the canal is dry in the pound beyond bridge 75, I've phoned for help, will you wait at the lock, I'll get back to you" Hmmm! I get to the lock and it's being set by another single hander, so we lock down and tie up to await further information. This comes 10 or so minutes later when a BW engineer walks up the towpath, a dry pound he says, we're letting water down, please wait here until we get back to you, please tell any other boats that turn up to wait at the top of the lock. He opens paddles and down goes some water. He disappears, we have coffee, two boats show up, we impart the news, seems they're both in a hurry, but that's the way of things. We all chat and stuff, some people have lunch. After about an hour and a half, BW returns and gives us the ok to proceed. Myself and NB 'Cairo' work the next 11 locks together, some of them have water overflowing the gates, some have gates open (in our favour) when we get to them, they are all set for us, which is just as well for the two (in a hurry) boats behind us. I think we just managed not to hold them up. The canal is surprisingly pretty around Wistow. We get to lock 12 of the day, Bumblebee lock and I decide to call it a day, Cairo carries on to Kilby Bridge, as do the two boats behind, I shut the gates of the lock for them. I tie up at the end of the very long lock landing and realise that I haven't taken a single photo! So I take a shot Tyhorn Bridge and Bumblebee lock out of the side doors.

Tyhorn Bridge and Bumblebee Lock from the side doors:

I've been here 2 hours now and no further boats have passed me! What's that got to say about the Leicester Section?

Today:        9 miles -   12 locks -     5.5 hours
So Far: 537.5 miles - 423 locks - 271.5 hours

19th July 2011 - All about Foxton

Woke up at 0540, too early, go back to sleep you fool, wake up 0815 much more like it! Put kettle on to sound of rain thumping down, think about how long I can hang around before biting my arm off, rain stops, that's better. Breakfast and coffee done and off we go again at 0900. It's a bit dark and gloomy, but it's at least dry for the moment. A rare couple of boats come the other way and my thoughts are on whether or not I should pop down the 1.5 mile Welford Arm. I've done it before, but not for ages, I've got time and it'll be nothing like the Slough Arm! I decide to do it, I can still be at Foxton locks with enough time to get down today. Then as I approach the junction, a boat coming the other way turns into the arm! I now have the choice of following right behind, with the subsequent wait at the lock and turning point, or carry on to Foxton, so I carry right on to Foxton, there'll be another time, it's really pleasant along here. Husband Bosworth (1166 yard) tunnel comes and goes along with many black, rainless clouds, there's even some blue bits appearing every so often! I arrive at Foxton top at 1245 and check in with the keeper. Boats coming up, you're second in line to come down. Good oh! I'll have a bit of lunch then. I have lunch and admire my water cans.

Looking down from the top lock:

My (pride and joy) water cans:

Lunch is over and I get bored, so I help the last two or three boats up. Then, after only an hours wait, we're off. The first boat is away and I set the top lock for me, in I go and the keeper appears. Jump on and I'll do the gates he says, then the paddles, then the gates etc etc. He locks me all the way down and I hardly turn the windlass! Pleasant, but I'd get very bored if it was like this all the time!! 50 minutes and we're down the 10 staircase locks. I tie up for the night on the moorings at the bottom.

Napton Bottom:

Today:   10.5 miles -   10 locks -     5 hours
So Far: 528.5 miles - 411 locks - 266 hours

18th July 2011 - And We're Off, Again?

A good time away from the water, got a number of business things organised and found time to consume as much of the Jones's beer and food as possible. A good birthday celebration, thank you Chris and Sarah. Oh yes, nearly forgot, got to see Penny too!

Is it me (and the lack of travelling by train that I do) or is the rail network really good these days? A fairly stress free trip from Rugby to Blackwater and back using three trains, it seemed to work pretty well! And if you book early enough you seem to get some really good prices too! Memo to self, learn to book early!

Anyway, I'm back where I belong, and the fridge stayed working the whole weekend! Battery charger working a treat if you switch it on properly!

I got to Crick (in the pouring rain) at 1330, got onto the boat and thought about what to do, during this process the rain stopped, so I decided to walk into Crick to stock up the fridge from the Coop. This done, water topped, flowers watered, howling wind direction studied, I managed to get the boat back onto canal without hitting anything. It was a bit close, thought I was going to get blown to the end of the marina at one point, but some heavy rpm's and I managed to look as if I knew what I was doing.

I cruised steadily along the very rural Leicester section summit for 3 hours, saw only about 5 other boats on the move and tied up in the middle of nowhere. It kept trying to rain again, but never quite managed it.

Life in the middle of nowhere:

Today:  6.5 miles -     0 locks -     3 hours
So Far: 518 miles - 401 locks - 261 hours

July 15th, 16th & 17th 2011 - Nothing to report

As I've gone home for the weekend. I hope to resume normal service on Monday evening when I return.

July 14th 2011 - Home for the weekend

Off at 0720, cruising the few yards to Norton Junction and the toll cottage we gave some thought to a couple of years back.

Looking towards Norton Junction:

I turn right onto the Grand Union Canal Leicester Section and feel very welcome:

I'm in no hurry at all so cruise at just above tickover for the 2 miles to Watford Locks. At the locks there are 2 boats making maximum use of all of the mooring space, so I struggle a bit to fit into a gap. Eventually I achieve this and scoot off up the hill to find the lock keeper. (you have to book in and get on the list here). I find him on the staircase section helping boats down. I book in and am third in line for ascent. I return to base and have coffee and dead head some petunias (seem to be a lot dying!) Second to go up comes for a chat and says would I go second, ok I'll go second. Eventually the descending boats work their way down and we start up. The first 2 locks are normal ones so boat 1 and me lock up as the last 2 come down to make use of the water. I enter the 4 lock staircase section and notice that boat 3 is struggling behind, so I return to help to find they are struggling with lock 2. A lady with ill daughter, so super Tim starts running (yes actual running!) up and down single handing both boats. I get some help from the lock keeper after he returns from a pee break. Hey the weather is good, it's a beautiful place, I enjoyed it.

Looking to the last lock from the top of the staircase section:

I continue at tick over pace to Crick tunnel. I pass 2 boats coming the other way and take a shot for David Cameron.

There is light at the end of the tunnel:

Then all too soon into Crick marina where the boat is to spend the weekend. I empty the poo and top off the diesel and tie up on the indicated pontoon. Do much sorting and clearing and stuff, book a taxi for 1630 and while away the rest of the day.

Today:     5.5 miles -     7 locks -     4 hours
So Far: 511.5 miles - 401 locks - 258 hours