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