We'd planned to set off cruising today, but with Alrewas Lock still closed and reports of boats breasted up on the Fradley visitor moorings waiting to come down, we've decided to stay put for a few more days. It's interesting to follow the reports on the level of the Trent and tributaries on the EA site. You can see the level at Kings Bromley, so above Alrewas, here, and that at Drakelow near Burton here. Using the menu on the left lets you examine other locations too.
Just because the EA says the river is down doesn't automatically mean that it will be fit for navigation, of course, but it gives some indication of how long it's likely to take.
It's better for the mood if we decide to stay until after next weekend, rather than pacing about each day muttering "Shall we go or not?"
Meantime, boots have been cleaned and waxed, and a bit of sound deadening foam reglued to the underside of one of the engine boards. Tomorrow morning we're going to give the roof a going over, touching in various chips in the paintwork, and in the afternoon we'll take part in the Walking for Health group walk.
We've also decided to become Friends of C&RT. This didn't go quite as smoothly as we'd have wished, as a) the website sign up refused to work for us and b) wouldn't tell us why. But I had a very friendly conversation with Alison on the generic phone number (03030 404040) which you can use for everything to do with the Trust.
I was her first "Direct Debit over the phone" case, so it turned into a three way conversation between me, Alison and her supervisor who was taking her through the procedure. We got there in the end, and are now committed to paying £5 per month.
In the fullness of time, this could well become a serious challenge to the IWA. C&RT is destined to become the National Conservancy of the Waterways that was Robert Aickman's original vision. I can see us moving from "What is the National Festival for?" (still no decision there as far as I can tell) to "What is the IWA for?" (not just for giving Neil Edwards a job!).
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