Oh dear...slight delay in our departure today, could have been worse though 'cos we nearly had to stay until next Monday and all because of a hole!
Yesterday evening Ian decided to put the car in our garage so we were ready to leave Sandiacre first thing. What we saw when walking towards our bungalow was this.
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| See that black gate? We needed to get our car through there. |
Looking at the photo it appears easy to get a car in and out of the gate but rest assured one has to line the car up square to the gate to drive in or out. This then would have meant driving into the hole. So first thing this morning when the workman arrived we asked the question as to when it would be filled in. They were less than helpful stating it could be this week but more likely to be Monday! To say we were not best pleased was an understatement. After having a bit of a meltdown, a suggestion was made to try driving in at an angle. I pooh-poohed the idea saying it would never work but how wrong was I. Gosh, it was tight and I was glad it was Ian behind the wheel! We are talking millimetres either side of the wing mirrors and that was with them both pushed in. Anyway job done, and my blood pressure started to get back to normal. Finally by lunchtime, we were ready to leave.
The short journey to Trent lock seemed to take an age. Only three locks to do but the prop got fouled several times, first with a black sack and then by that blanket weed again. Not so thick and dense as yesterdays lot but still problematic enough to cause the tiller to bounce. I found stopping FS, then a couple of short bursts into reverse, stopping again, followed by a quick burst forward seemed to do the trick and shake it off.
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| I wonder if the waterside grass edges will ever be mown again or will this now be something us boaters will have to put up with. I can see moorings becoming few and far between! |
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| Blanketweed still very much in evidence. |
The usual congoozlers were on the bridge watching our descent onto the river so good job nothing went wrong. Onto the river and in the distance those skies were looking very ominous. Our one thought was get above Sawley lock and find a mooring pronto.
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| Jim and Jenn on Dire Straits |
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| Didn't like the look of that sky. |
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| Sawley lock |
No sooner had FS been secured when the thunder started followed by a torrential downpour. Couldn't have timed our arrival any better!
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| Moored just in time |
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| Could this be a young Swift? |
4 comments:
Hi Irene and Ian, it must be wonderful to be on the move again even with the blanket-weed! Very envious!
I think your young bird is more likely to be a sand martin - swifts have less white underneath and are unlikely to be perched where you can take a photo unless you are quite high up. I have heard if they land on the ground they can't take off without help, the rspb site says they can't even perch on wires as their feet and legs are too tiny!
best wishes,
Debby
Ooooo, lucky yous, and I just had to gasp at your lovely pic at the end with Corydalis and Ivyleaved toadflax.
Sorry I can't identify the bird though, swifts and martins look similar don't they?
Take care now, it's good to have cruising companions and I shall enjoy following your travels again.
Thank you for posting in such detail, accompanied by fantastic pics.
How are the bruises doing?
Ann Makemson xx
Hi Debby, Thanks for the identification. Always good to know I can rely on my readers for answers. Hope you too will soon be able to set off, it's great to be out of the way of crowds. I can't understand why leisure boaters are not allowed to stay overnight. After all the government keep telling us all that the safest place is to be outside.
Anyway take care and stay safe,
Xxx
Hi Ann, thank you for your lovely comment. And thanks for the identification of that plant. Hadn't even looked at it as I was more intent of taking a photo of the bird.
I should take more notice in future (:
My bruises are in the process of changing colour and sitting is getting slightly easier. I'm turning into a right junky by pill-popping every 4 hours on Panadol. Just got to be patient and try not to do too much.
Stay safe and well
Xxx
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