Goodbye Trent and Mersey

Apart from our trip to Norbury Junction, and the associated run up and down the Shropshire Union and Staffs and Worcs canals, we seem to have been haunting the Trent and Mersey since last September. It was therefore something of a relief to leave it behind for a while.

We made an early start, getting away from Swarkestone before eight. The lighter mornings mean that we're waking earlier, although we had to sleep with the bedroom Houdini closed last night as the rain poured down. A couple of guys were just setting off in a van from the BW base as we locked down Swarkestone; they were going to check the state of the River Soar.

As we approached Weston Lock, we passed the Darlington's boat, Phyllis May II, and they caught up with us in time to share down the next three locks, stopping after Shardlow to take on water. No sooner had we lost one partner than we gained another. A BW tug was just pulling out from the towpath with a GRP cruiser, Summat Else, in tow. At first I thought that it must be one that they'd seized for non-payment of licence, but the story was sadder than that. Apparently, she's not long changed hands, around six weeks ago, and has been the victim of theft, losing her outboard engine.

BW were taking her to Sawley, so shared down Derwent Mouth Lock with us. Towing an unpowered cruiser was quite a challenge for them in the winds we've been having today, but they managed to do it without any further damage to the boat.

We've tied on the extensive visitor moorings here opposite the marina. A trip across the cut to the chandlery after lunch enabled us to get a fresh supply of LeeScale descaler (at a fair price, I must say), so I've been able to clean up the kettle and the shower head, and will give the toilet the treatment overnight tonight.

We spent a bit of time gongoozling at the lock; there's no sign of problems with the river levels, I'm pleased to say. Indeed, after the drought we've had, it would be odd if even the heavy rain of last night made a lot of difference, though with the Soar, you never can tell.

Back at the boat, we took advantage of the handy water point to top up the tank, and I hauled the anchor, chain and warp out from the lower bow locker and rigged it. The Soar itself isn't a big deal, but there's that turn off the Trent onto the Soar past Thrumpton Weir that deserves respect.

Tomorrow, we plan to stop at either Kegworth or Zouch for the night.

To Sawley

12th & 13th August

The mooring by bridge 25 was very pleasant, with a great view over a flooded gravel pit towards the river, but was quite noisy since the A50 was well within earshot. On a damp morning yesterday, we set off for the run to Swarkestone and had uneventful boating to Stenson lock, stopping briefly in Willington for a final bit of shopping.

Stenson lock is one of the most challenging on the system, because it is deep and both the ground paddles and gate paddles cause substantial turbulence. When we arrived it was just being filled to take a BW workboat and a hire boat from Sileby Mill. There was a single privateer waiting to come up and even with Sheila's help they found it very difficult. It was by now raining steadily and this may explain why I began to feel rather grumpy. Sheila tells me that this was uncalled for and I guess I ought to be more understanding at times about novice boaters.

Swarkestone was reached just before lunch and we tied on the towpath to the west of the remains of the stop lock, so as to be able to use the water point before setting off this morning. Since we'd finished boating, the weather now improved substantially. The afternoon was spent in our usual way, and we ran a wash load as part of the drive to get on top of as many domestic chores as possible so as to be free to concentrate on work next week.

Sheila also managed to finish her crochet order, and took advantage of a fast internet connection to find some alternative patterns to try out.

As planned, we refilled the water tank first thing and were on our way by eight o' clock. At Weston Lock we caught up with Don on Bluebell. Don is another of the Festival chippies and we stayed with him all the way down to Sawley. It was a great morning for boating and once more we arrived at our destination just before lunch. Here we found Bob and Annie Mayall, chief plumber and personnel manager respectively (not that they get much respect from us – that would be pampering them) on their boat Amber Moon.

Don stopped just long enough to get a pump out and to have a chat with Bob and Annie, then carried on to Redhill. It's worth noting that the pump out arrangement here is very good. For £12 they give you the key to the machine and you can take as long as you need to empty your tank.

After lunch we had a look round the Sawley Marina chandlery, but their selection of fuel filters, and indeed of filters in general, was really very restricted considering what a large captive market they have in the marina.

The weather has continued very fine and we are hoping that it remains so. We've run the final washload this afternoon and will top the water tank up yet again before leaving. The Mayalls are planning to pump out Amber Moon tomorrow morning, so we'll hang about until they've finished and then go down the river with them.

As last year, we'll do our best to post here over the next three weeks, but don't be surprised if things become a little irregular in view of the other demands on our time.

Nearly off the Trent

11th July

We thought we'd made a mistake stopping at Holme Lock last night, as the evening air was rent by the sound of someone setting up a pop festival, probably on the Racecourse. Not that I am biased or anything, but it was a case of demonstrating that volume and a random approach to what note to play next are not a substitute for talent and creativity. It all shut down fairly early, however – we've since been told that there's a do on in Nottingham today, so I think my first guess was right, that what we heard were the engineers setting up, and using stray demo tapes to do it.

Today we made a prompt start after a good night's sleep, getting away before eight. A steady chug up the river brought us to Meadow Lane Lock. As Sheila was setting it, the Shakespeare Classic Line boat Romeo came off the County Hall moorings just up river and joined us in the lock.

They were not, however, carrying on beyond Castle Lock, as they were meeting further crew there, so we went on ahead without them. At Castle Lock, a guy off Eight Lords appeared above it, and as soon as Sheila had more or less closed the bottom gates, whipped up the offside paddle with his long throw windlass.

Sheila shouted to say that the nearside paddle would have been better, as that would hold Sanity against the wall, and things degenerated into one of those distressing arguments about locking technique. He retreated to his boat in a sulk, and we finished working up and left him to it.

We later saw the boat below Beeston Lock, with him still muttering about not helping anyone ever again. He must have gone down Castle, winded, and passed us whilst we were tied at the Sainsbury's mooring. He was now planning to wind again, presumably to return to wherever he ties.

I was strongly reminded of Steve Haywood's piece in Canal Boat the other month, about the problems of dealing with people who live on a boat, but are not in any other sense boaters. From this guy's close conversation with another bloke at Beeston who was already well off his head on strong lager at eleven in the morning, it seems likely that he's part of that community that's using the cut as a cheap living space, but not part of it in any other way. He probably only ever works that one lock.

Ho hum, at least we can just move on and leave the bad feelings behind us.

Apart from this run in, we've had a good day, getting in a goodly supply of stores at Sainsbury's, and making a pleasant run up river to Sawley, where we've tied in front of fellow blogger Linda on Kanbedun Again

Sawley is very busy today, it being Saturday, but we were able to get a mooring on the visitor moorings with not too much trouble. In addition to the hire boat Romeo we've also seen our first Ownerships boat for a month, and of course no end of Canaltimes here by their base.

Tomorrow we'll carry on up the very short final stretch of river to Derwent mouth, and go on to Swarkestone for the night.