Oh dear...This will upset some residence!

Amazed that I could actually see a doctor this morning. The receptionist asked, "Is it an emergency?"  Hmmm, Now what constitutes an emergency I wonder? Am I having a heart attack? NO! Am I bleeding to death? NO! Is CPR being administered?? NO! NO! so I ask myself, what is the reasoning behind asking that question. All they really need to ask is if it is urgent and could it wait until the next day. Anyway, after relating my symptoms she said I could be seen at Long Eaton Health Center for 11 am this morning, quite a result in my book and so we pulled off from the moorings by a shade after 9 am. On route, this dodgy looking craft was being pulled along by a chap in a powered dinghy. Turned out to be Neil, a friend of ECP&DA who was doing a good deed by towing the broken down boat to the boatyard. 

Dreadful photo. Operator error as I had the settings all wrong. ThatsNeil in the rowing boat

We needed to be above Long Eaton lock by the road bridge. After trying several times to get FS to the bank we eventually found a spot, still not ideal but near enough so I could get on and off.

Long Eaton Lock in the distance. Taking this phot looking back as we had already moored by the road bridge.

 A 10-minute walk from the bridge and I was at the Health Center. 15 minutes later and clutching a small box containing enough antibiotics for three days I'm on my way back to FS. Turns out I have a urine infection!

Pulled pins after lunch and headed off to Sandiacre. Up Dolkholm lock and then to the final lock today. The bridge by Sandiacre lock can be a bit of a B and can catch boaters unaware. It's the shape, you see, not a lovely uniformed curve but one side slightly offset. This means that two boats could not go in breasted without hitting the brickwork. The first boat in would have to push across to allow the second boat to join them. But as it was only FS entering this was not a problem.

Sandiacre lock with the offset shaped bridge

This may show it clearer. Note the repaired brickwork on the left.

Into the Derby arm and was greeted by Mike who looks after this bit of the canal for Tony Adcock. Tony purchased this short section when the rest of the Derby and Sandiacre canal was filled in. (Erewash canal leads into it) It was here we moored FS when we purchased her in 2006. Now as part of the ECP&DA society we are allowed to stay for short periods of time.

Then Mike handed us a leaflet. Ah ha.... what was I saying yesterday about the Derby & Sandiacre Canal not starting the restoration? Looks like its all going ahead sooner rather than later. I'm blooming glad it won't be us being inconvenienced though. I do feel for our tenants and the occupiers of Beech House and the barns as they will be the ones with severely restricted access. Quite how they will get on during the excavations is anyone's guess.

 We won't be moving from here for several days. Work needs to be done around the bungalow and Ian has to replace the roof from the woodshed. It took off in the gales earlier this year! I can't see us leaving for Langley Mill much before mid-week. Depends how quick the work can be done.

On the journey,

This is unusual😃 I wonder where this was pinched from?

Long Eaton Lock

That blooming Willow still hasn't been cut back!

And seen on route,

A Top Knot duck!