Crikey...why are there no moorings!

Wednesday 4th October

Sometimes one can moor up without realising what is on your doorstep. Such was the case last night. Glancing out of the galley window this morning, doing the washing up and daydreaming as is my norm, in the distance a ruin. Well, suddenly the daydreaming and washing the pots were put aside and with Ian within hailing distance (in the loo) I told him to hurry up as there was some exploration to do.

View through the hedge.

Turns out this was a medieval Church of St Peter which once was the main place of worship in the village of Stantonbury. The information boards made interesting reading and have taken the liberty of photographing and then cut the paragraphs into sections for you to look at. 

And this is what the church may have looked like around 1900

Looking to FS from the ruin.

 It was well after 10 am before we got going. First stop Gifford Park and to make use of the facilities. It was here we saw Derwent 6 go past and only managed a quick hello to Del. Thought we may catch them up at Campbell Park but on arrival no sign of them and not a mooring to be had. Blast...the one place we wanted to stop to give FS a wash on the Starboard side and for Ian to touch up the gunwales. Even our second prefered mooring at Newlands was full. Could it be something to do with the winter moorings? Are they now available? Although I thought that didn't start until November. Anyway, we found a place to stop but without a piled edge. Never mind, cross pin and hope no speedy boaters come past. We did wash the Port side and Ian touched up the blacking (remember my scrape because of the wind) and filled a few gouges on the gunwale that he was also convinced was down to me! Having a bottle of vodka sitting in the cupboard for ages (we don't drink the stuff) I decided to try Sloe Vodka and see what that was like. So off I went for another Sloe hunt. There are bushes and bushes of them here and I could have made another 20 bottles at least. Of course, I picked too many and now Ian feels we should buy yet two more bottles of Gin.to use them up. We could just throw them in the hedge but....no...the more gin the merrier, literally! The final total of gin made at the moment stands at 16 bottles, but...once we rack the sloes out in December, we should finish with 10 bottles. Should be a good Christmas...hic hic!

Oh dear! Ian looked at C&RT stoppages and noticed that Bagnall Lock balance beam has failed. On the T&M and the route, we would take to get back.

Notice Alert

Trent & Mersey Canal
Starts At: Lock 13, Bagnall Lock
Ends At: Lock 13, Bagnall Lock
Up Stream Winding Hole: at the junction of the T & M and Coventry Canal
Down Stream Winding Hole: below Bagnall Lock
Wednesday 4 October 2017 16:45 until further notice
Type: Navigation Closure
Reason: Structure failure

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Original message:

Due to the balance beam failing the canal has had to be closed pending investigation by our Engineers, an update will be posted as soon as we know anything more.

So not only can we not get back to Langley Mill via Leicester and the Soar because of low water problems, seems we may be unable to get back at all!!! If it's anything like Hillmorton middle lock which has been out of action for months with a balance beam failure, Bagnall could be out all winter!


My wildlife pics seems to be all about Cygnets. They are all getting to an age where the wings need stretching and flight to be tried.