And we're off.

Two boats passed us late last night from Langley Boatyard moorings and just when we were congratulating ourselves that all the locks from Langley to Sandiacre would be with us. Earlier in the day a boat ascended the lock and moored by the facilities and on asking the question if they would be ready to join us on the 'morrow, the answer was no. So we were resigned to locking on our own. Then when those two boats came past the thought of having to turn all the locks again....groan! 

By 9am we were in the lock. Both cassettes emptied and gas bottle removed and into the car ready for changing. One wistful look back at that moored boat in the hopes they had changed their minds, and we were away.

Summer cruising on the Erewash is something we have never done. Normally we leave Springtime and return Autumn/Winter. So a little shocked to see how much those tall grass reeds had encroached on the navigation.

Looking back

A reed island.

 I'm assuming the white colouration on the water is pollen or seeds but from what???

Met those two boats that left last night by Greens lock. Very surprised at seeing them as I had fully expected them to be long gone by now. But a huge mattress had attached itself to one of the boat props and having phoned C&RT and been told it would be later this afternoon before they could come out, they set to themselves armed with bolt cutters and cut 8 springs in half before the mattress finally came free. They were nearly ready to leave and, having filled the lock for themselves, they waved us past to take the lock and as a thank you, we lifted a paddle for them on all the next 4 locks until we arrived at Sandiacre.

We will be here for a few days sorting out the garage and making sure the new tenants are happy with the bungalow. Then it's off to Bunbury to meet up with friends who are taking Merlin out for a week. We estimate at 6 hours a day it should take us 10 days. We need to be at Bunbury for the 6th September. 

Loads of dragonflies out this time of year.