Farewell to an old friend but hello to a new family member

So.... the stove...crikey, has it really been 6 weeks since that was done? In those six weeks, a new addition to the family has arrived and the first snow of winter (or is it still autumn?) gave a good 4 inches, causing havoc to those vehicles trying to get over the swing bridge from Langley Mill Boatyard. Anyway, I could leave this post at that, but you know me! War and Peace has always been my way, so here goes. Sept 29th, the work started in earnest. Ian's first priority was to remove the flue pipe, not an easy job as it turned out. The silicon was removed and by rights, a sharp twist and the pipe would come free. He dug out all the fireproof foam from around the top, I have no idea what it was called, and with that gone the rest should have been a doddle. Anyway, twisting did no good, so out came a blooming great wrench borrowed from the ECP&DA workshop. That didn't help either, so Ian's motto is 'if all else fails, hit it with a hammer'! Hooray...that knocked what was left of the fire cement from around the flue pipe and another try with the wrench and away it came. 

 

 

Considering the stove was bought new eleven years ago, we were amazed at how much the pipe had deteriorated. No wonder we had a problem with the Carbon Monoxide alarm going off.!

 With a blooming great hole in the cabin top, it was easy for Ian to check the collar. Hmm, that was pretty dire too. His deduction...both the flue pipe and collar would have to be replaced. 

New collar bottom right

It was fortuitous of him then, to purchase the 4-inch flue pipe and a new collar from Midland Chandlers when we moored close to Mercia Marina on our way back to Langley Mill. He struggled to carry both on the walk back to the boat!
 

With the stove out of the way, it was a good oppertunity to replace the tiles to the starboard side behind the stove. Two years it's taken him, I had them stacked in my fishing locker, and made good ballast too! 

Before

After

 Friday work party got in the way of progress somewhat but with one of our members a welder, Ian utilised his skill to make the pipe fit. It took most of the afternoon but by the time the pub beckoned, the stove was back in place and all that was left was to apply fire cement and spray the insulating expanding foam around the top and the job was done.

After it had been trimmed.

Saturday was testing day.  A smoke bomb was placed, lit, and door shut. Then we waited with fingers crossed.

 

Aaarrghhh!!!! That was NOT what we expected! It took the best part of that day to seal all the leaks, nearly all the smoke bombs used but finally, not a sign of smoke was seen. The stove was lit and we kept an eye on the new CO detector. It has a number indicator to show what the level of carbon monoxide readings are. To date it has shown zero..... yeah.....

 

October was a busy month for birthdays. We ended up at our son Colins in Milton Keynes. Grandson Oscar's birthday was on the 3rd, Ian on the 12th and  Colin on the 16th. For years we have always cobimed the three birthdays culminating in a party. The get together happened to fall on Ian's birthday, and preparations for the party was in full swing.

I decided to take Toffee for a walk but on my return, I was in for a shock. A phone call came whilst I was out, my best friend Pat had died.

We had known each other for 53 years, she had been my chief bridesmaid at our wedding. Her husband Keith had been Ian's oldest friend where they both met at college and it was through Keith that I met Pat. Keith died 10 years ago and unfortunately, Pat took it very badly. Slowly Pat developed dementia, forgetting her children but never Ian or myself. So much had happened together in our lifetime that reverting back to our many holidays and get togethers meant we were never forgotten. I was so very glad we went to see her the day before her death, Pat held out her arms and we hugged tightly. Little did we know that was to be our last meeting.

Keith and Pat on our other boat Merlin

Pat was one in a million. Really good friends only come once in a lifetime and Keith and Pat were ours. We miss her terribly but if there is a heaven then Pat will finally be reunited with the husband she adored.

Ian can always find things to do and has kept busy with all things mechanically on the boat, but for me not quite so much. I decided watching telly all day was soul destroying so I purchased three more paintings by numbers. That should keep me busy for a while. 

 The first snow of autumn arrived one cold night in the middle of November. Was I glad of a lovely roaring fire!

   We also had the best news ever when our daughter Christine phoned with the news there was to be another addition to the family. Not another baby Burchnall, nop, a wonderful 8-week-old black labrador puppy called River

A lovely positive ending to what had been a very sad time in our lives.

The last leg

 Sept 28th

We awoke to a slight list, our worst fears because of all the water problems the Erewash has had. Time was 7 am. Looking out of the back doors toward the lock, yep, a paddle was up! When that happened we have no idea, could have been up all night because unfortunately nothing was seen or heard. Sandiacre lock leaks like a sieve through the bottom gates, a gap so big that even when I was ascending on Thursday, the gates didn't close completely until a quarter full. This lock never holds water, the gates are not balanced properly so as soon as the lock empties, one gate swings open. With that paddle raised, it stood to reason the pound between Sandiacre and pasture lock would start to decrease. 

There was a good mile to go to reach Pasture lock and having left later than expected hoping for an improvement in the levels, it took nearly 35 minutes to reach. With our draught of 2' 4" more often than not the bottom could be felt. From there, an improvement, although weed and encroaching reeds also slowed us down. We both dreaded getting to Greens lock, the problem with that paddle stuck in the open position meant the bottom gates were almost impossible to open. Securing FS on the landing, I walked up to help Ian, on the back of the boat there is only so much that can be seen but looking down into the lock, the problem seemed even worse.

It was as we suspected, no way would that bottom gate open. Our only solution was to find another person willing to help, and luckily a beefy chap walking his dog came to the rescue. Our next problem was leaving the lock once up. Both top gates open just enough to allow a boat through. Silt or something worse is behind those gates, It's something CRT will have to sort sooner rather than later.

 

After nearly six hours, Langley Bridge lock came into view. It was a relief to get back on our mooring, get the electric on and have a well-earned cup of tea. 

So the next week will be a busy one for Ian. The stove is a priority, as is replacing the tiles around the back. I may put a few photos on of the progress at a later date, really hoping for quick conclusion.

And wildlife

Reversing onto a fast flowing river, one brave lady.

 Things unexpectedly happens every now and then and last night was no exception. For us to get a mooring yesterday, we had to wait for a blue boat to vacate a space. Our arrival made them realise the Trent was open for travel again. It was to Cranfleet they wanted to go, so they quickly untied and headed off. Sounds simple, but it really wasn't because the one big problem they had was the way they were facing, and it wasn't toward the lock! With a winding hole a good mile further up the Erewash, they did no more than reverse into the lock, descend and back out onto a fast flowing river. The lady at the helm coped wonderfully and even though the current took the stern the wrong way, she calmly pushed the tiller over until the boat came around and started off toward Cranfleet.

Now, that was not the end of the story.  A while later we were having signal problems with the TV, the ariel was too low and needed raising, so Ian went out to do the deed. He came back inside with news that the blue boat was back and moored on the water point! Gosh now we really wanted to know what had happened to make them return. It wasn't until the next morning that we found out. CRT, having released those 6 boats from Cranfleet yesterday, only went and locked the gates again! In fact, the lady on the blue boat turned up just as they were about to walk away. When she asked to be allowed through, their reply, it was much too dangerous for her to travel that section of the river. Strange then when it was CRTs website that said it was now safe for boats to proceed. With them refusing to open up, all she could do was to return to the Erewash, but I could tell she was fuming because she would have to do that reverse all over again! 

So this time we vacated so they could reclaim that mooring, we wanted water, so we changed positions. Having filled the tank, it was head off toward Long Eaton Lock. Joining us on this part of the journey was Richard and Maxine on their new boat, The Tardis. They, too, moor up in the Great Northern Basin, and it was lucky for us that they arrived at Trent lock at the same time, we could share the locks.

That's the blue boat with pram top.

The ECP&DA Friday work party arrived just as we left. Pentland had been brought back to Trent lock a week ago from Shardlow and was in an ideal place for the workparty to dump all the hedge trimmings.  It's one job less for CRT to have to do.

Long Eaton lock was where I picked up something large on the prop. I managed to get into the lock but as for controlling FS when the paddles were lifted, nop, wasn't going to happen. Ian had to grab the centre rope to stop me going forward into the top gate. Soon found out why I had no reverse or forward gear. 

At Sandiacre lock, we said farewell to our locking friends. They wanted to continue to Gallows Inn, we had to stay, so Ian could take our car to Langley Mill and catch the bus back. That sunken cruiser was still there. It really is time for its removal, especially as it's on the landing. Will it still be there next year when we continue our watery travels? Anyway, for now, we have but one day left, for tomorrow it's back to the Mill for the winter.

A green light and then...oh, a red!

 Sept 26th

This morning Ian walked to Derwent Mouth, a good 3/4 mile from the mooring. Notification came through from CRT that the Trent at Alrewas was back in normal levels, but nothing was mentioned about the Trent conditions here at Shardlow, hence the walk to see for himself. Several things were mentioned when he finally called me, There was only one boat moored on the visitor moorings, the pub moorings were empty and the moorings by the lock had three boats on it. What I really wanted to hear was the state of the river, telling me all about the moorings was a waste of time. I just wanted to tell him to stop pussyfooting around and tell me! I'm sure he does it to wind me up. Anyway, river was in the green....yea! 

By the time Ian returned, I had FS started, untied and on the lock landing and was just about to fill the lock when he arrived. Lock filled and about to enter when, surprise, surprise, another boat turned up. 

 

Slight mishap from the captain when he forgot the boat was in reverse, he walked down the gunnel to drop a front fender between the two boats and couldn't get back quick enough to get it out of gear. So the gate that had been just closed by his good lady was suddenly swung open when the stern fender made contact. She was not best pleased!

Through Shardlow, and you were not wrong Ian about the free moorings.

 

Only the River Soar red light was on at Shardlow Flood gates, not the River Trent.

At Derwent mouth, more of that pennywort obscuring the lock entrance. I managed to miss the clump, but not so our locking companion. It wrapped itself around the prop, luckily the boat was stopped before hitting the bottom gate. Armloads of the stuff were removed, this weed is becoming a real problem.

The flow was strong, and crossing the place where the Derwent met the Trent had FS making a break for the far bank. Having won the battle of wills by pushing the tiller to the left, we continued at a fast pace toward Sawley Flood lock. 

The gates were closed, the other boat got there first and did the honours at the lock. 

 

We continued to Sawley lock, very surprised that no lockkeepers were in attendance, and wondered if it was because the river at this section was still in flood. Surely the red traffic light would be on if it was closed. Stopping on the landing, we went off to see what the gauge showed below the lock. Hmm...the level was off the red, but without any indication if it was amber. 

So back to FS and onto the phone to CRT. They told him the Trent was still in flood and not to proceed. "But we hope to have more news in a few hours" said he. Ian mentioned not showing the red traffic light to warn boaters, and his reply made us both laugh. The bulb had blown and not been replaced.

We had lunch, watched a bit of telly and Ian decided to have a look at CRT flood alert website. And we both had to look twice. Cranfleet flood lock was open and boats could now proceed with caution. Well, if Cranfleet was open, then we too could proceed!  Boats started arriving below the lock, yep, no more proof was required.

  As the lock was full, Ian was sent to push buttons to get us down. Gates opened, Ian then had to get back on board. The landing had those two boats waiting, so nothing for it but to climb down the ladder instead. As soon as we got out into the channel we were away, the Erewash turn had to be done, easy with normal river conditions but a right pig if there was a flow.

 

 Ian, having taken the helm, took the turn slightly late and then had to really put the power on. In we shot, reversed hard and stopped right next to the landing.

Once in the lock, we waited for our boating companions. They were also heading up the Erewash, but only to Mills dock for a repaint. He, too, came in off the river rapidly, so much so that I wondered if he would stop before hitting the top gates! 

We will stay at Trent lock tonight, Sandiacre for tomorrow and do the rest of the trip on Saturday, weather permitting.

And wildlife