Winter cruise and not a great start.

 Things happen either for the better or worse and I wasn't sure which of these applied. 

Firstly our planned leaving date for the long awaited winter cruise was Saturday 9th. Several things stopped us from an earlier departure,

1. Ian's dentist appointment on Tuesday with the removal of one of his molars.
2. The next day Ian had to give a blood sample for his PSA test at the doctors, and
3. Our flu jabs had been booked for the Saturday morning, the day of us leaving Langley Mill.

But best laid plans and all that meant we could leave earlier, hence the opening sentence. 

You see, we got a phone call on Tuesday from the Doctor's receptionist "We have no vaccines available, none were delivered because of the lorry driver shortage so I'm afraid your appointments have to be cancelled" she told us, "But the nurse can do them the following Saturday" she replied good humouredly. "Well that is no good as we would be well on our way to Bunbury by then" I worryingly told her. In the end it was left, something to sort out at a later date, but then the bizarre happened. Wednesday and Ian's blood test and would you believe the nurse asked if he would like the flu jab. Blimey...what's going on? First they have none and now they have loads! Long story short and not only did Ian get his jab but I was booked in later for mine. Apparently the nurse checked in the practice fridge and found it very well stocked so why we had the phone call in the first place is beyond me!

 

Now that we knew we could set sail earlier we stocked up with coal, 16 bags no less, pushed across the other side and filled with water. Then yesterday we left Langley, Ian took FS into the lock and promptly dislodges one of our fenders by hitting the gate and sending it to the depths. We never travel with fenders down, I blame Ian for not fastening the thing securely on the gunwale! Anyway that wasn't all. The fridge decided to play up again. A loud bang had been heard in the wee hours which we initially thought to be coming from the cabin top, but now Ian believes to have been the fridge compressor. It stopped working and visions of defrosting frozen food came to mind but thankfully, on starting the engine, it fired back into life and remains so at the moment.

One last worry was during the travel to Sandiacre. The boat sounded sick, almost stalling at times on tickover. The problem was solved once at Sandiacre with Ian down the engine 'ole. Last year he fiddled with the throttle to try and make it easier to manage, (it was very stiff in forward and reverse) and must have done something to the gear linkage and morse control. Anyway this was rectified by adjusting the linkage and morse cables and so that problem is also solved.  

 

I didn't take a massive amount of photos on the journey down 'cos its all old hat now, just some of the wildlife,  CRT volunteers hedge cutting, something that needs addressing sooner rather than later, those blooming reeds that seem to be prevalent here on the Erewash and the meeting of fellow basin moorers Jim and Jenn on Dire Straits.

 

A missing pawl! There is no way of keeping the paddle raised and could be an accident waiting to happen.

Jim and Jenn

Not the usual duck seen on this canal.

Mum and dad plus siblings on the other side, but would this cygnet leave the lock? It took Ian several minutes to persuade it to leave, whilst having to try and keep the others from entering!

Ratty