Gutted that I wasnt on telly!

But Free Spirit was!!! She was caught on camera twice when the article on Google Trekkers appeared on East Midland news this morning. So it seemed that my interview wasn't good enough, which is not surprising since I waffled my way through it! Anyway we left to do the 4 miles to Sandiacre around 9ish. Duck weed was ever present right up to Long Eaton lock and then it disappeared completely. Now I had the chance to look into the crystal clear waters for fish movements. There wasn't any! Maybe the Environment agency hadn't stocked the upper sections yet, although I had heard that a huge carp had survived the pollution and was hiding somewhere topside of Dockholme lock. We noticed the new fishing pegs had been extended further along the raised flood bank section with one being built right by, what I can only describe as, a vision hazard!

Willow curtain obscuring the view.

 One of the new fishing pegs on the right.

 Looking back it looks even worse. I think the owners of the tree should be made to cut it back!

Once above Dockholme lock I was amazed to see a wooden fence erected smack bang in the middle of the lock landing. It wasn't until we went past that Ian pointed out the collapsed coping stone and bollard. This barrier a bit more substantial then the usual orange Defra rash. Health and Safety perhaps?

With a stoppage due on Sandiacre lock in January, I hope they will take the opportunity to replace this at the same time. Knowing C&RT I doubt it! Arriving at Sandiacre we found to our dismay another boat moored where we usually moor. A phone call to the owner of this short section of water ( it doesn't belong to C&RT having been sold off once the Derby canal was filled in )and we were told the boat in question had a broken gear box and would have to stay for the time being. We couldn't pull alongside the boat as the boat sizes were different and the two sterns wouldn't have lined up. Jade would have had to cross her legs for a couple of days, not the best thing for a dog who can poo for England! So there was nothing for it but moor across the canal, throw the mud weight out to keep the bow still, attach a centre line to the T stud on the bow of the broken down boat and hope we stayed put! But first we had to take all our wood off the roof and into our garage. With no access to the bank the easiest way to do this was to stay in the lock. We felt pretty convinced that no boats would turn up from the river as overnight it had once again gone onto red boards. As to boats coming from Langley Mill, highly unlikely as the Erewash is not the best used canal on the system. So we sat for over an hour unloading and then having lunch before moving the boat to moor up.

Already the boat felt more stable.

Long Eaton lock had only one ground paddle and a gate paddle working so it took forever to fill!

Poor Jade was enjoying a lie down when this cygnet appeared.

Didn't take her long to leave!

Jade giving the Cygnet the evil eye!

Tomorrow is the ECP&DA work party at the lock cottage and Ian has already been singled out for certain jobs. As for me....... now that we have shore line from our bungalow I'm going to get our Dyson hoover from the garage and give the boat a good going over.

And finally:-