Who's daft idea was it to leave today?

Blooming typical!  Last week with 20+ degrees, I almost got the shorts out and walking around in a T-shirt was not unheard of, so it was a real shock to the system when we woke to snow this morning and, I might add, on the very day of departure from Langley Mill. It's the Pie and Pea weekend at the Sandiacre lock cottages so leaving on Thursday was a necessary evil to grab our spot before other boats arrive. It also marks the start of the cruising season for some of the moorers in the basin, always a 'looked forward' date on the calendar by all.

7.30 am

The cruise down to Sandiacre wasn't as bad as it could have been. Cold, frequent snow showers and add the wind chill, well this was most unpleasant but when the sun did come out, felt very spring like. We expected the journey down to be long as two boats had left the basin to travel down yesterday meaning all the locks would be against. It was a relief then, to find the majority of the locks full, it all helped to get us moored at Sandiacre and out of the wind in double quick time. In fact, we did the 11 locks and 8.5 miles in 4 hours 30 mins, quite an achievement.

Dark skies full of snow and heading our way!

 

 No dramas at all for once although water levels were a bit low and the top section between Langley Bridge lock and Eastwood could do with a bit of dredging! Lack of boat traffic is probably to blame. Anyway, there was a bit of floating vegetation clearing to do at a couple of locks but apart from that, all went swimmingly.

 Managed to get the last two moorings at Sandiacre and just in time as the weather turned nasty. We needed to be right by the towpath because on Sunday Colin and Iwona's wonderful Labrador, Toffee, is coming for a two-week stay and I didn't want her having to jump over other boaters boats. This does mean there is still space in the Derby Arm for the taking, at least 3 more boats could get in so it will be all hands on deck when they start to arrive.

 

Tomorrow night is games night at the cottage, always good for a laugh and then the main event on Saturday with lots of music followed by the serving of the Pies. Our visitor numbers may be down a bit, Covid has reared its ugly head around these parts although still to date, Ian and I have managed to stay free of the virus. Testing regularly and wearing masks has, no doubt, helped. 

And wildlife,

8 eggs laid this time by the resident Langley Mill Swan.

The Ilkeston Swan