The joys of boating!

 A quick shop at Aldi before we set off. A few essentials...wine, wine and oh yes wine! Not all for me of course, Ian did get one bottle for himself!

Today we made for bridge 3 on the Ashby Canal and the journey to it was not without a few mishaps. Mostly the offside vegetation which caused us no end of problems, especially those boaters who moor  opposite. Then there are those who insist on mooring by a bridge hole. Vision completely obscured and fingers kept crossed that nothing was met.

This one was not too bad although it could have caused problems if another boat had been trying to pass.

A chainsaw could do a decent job of opening the channel. Ian mentioned he may have to get one for the  boat! What...was he telling me he didn't have one? The man that carries everything didn't have one???? I was in shock!

I rest my case... my lord

At a particularly nasty bend the overhanging branches was a menace and immediately after was a bridge hole. Here I got FS well and truly stuck, saw the boat's bow just in time as it entered and I went immediately into reverse. Tucking in between two bushes, all would have been well had it not been for an inconsiderate plastic cruiser owner who decided he too wanted to come through and not wait. FS's bow had by now been pulled toward the bridge 'ole by the boat passing and had I been able to proceed, FS would have continued on her way unscathed. As it was that cruiser speeded up, me back into reverse to try to avoid a collision and bring the bow back from the bridge hole, we missed by inches! He gave me a cheery wave, if looks could kill he would be pushing up daisies by now! Anyway the stern was well and truly stuck, the bow was free and headed back toward the bridge and then from behind another boat turned up. OMG, the joys of boating!!! Ian to the rescue with the boat pole and managed with some effort to get me free. That boat behind almost hit me up the backside, thankfully he stopped in time and all this could have been avoided if that chap in the cruiser hadn't been so blooming impatient!

 

The stretch from the pedestrian bridge to Boot Wharf is always a bit of a trial. So many moored boats on the offside, some breasted up and with moored boats on towpath side, the channel was down to one boat width.

  Luck was in today as nothing was met but approaching the Wharf a boat set off just yards from FS's bow. Wow, what was wrong with that boat? Obviously water cooled but instead of the water going down into the canal it spurted across the water like an uncontrollable water hose! Anyone walking along the towpath or moored boats would get a drenching! Thankfully he pulled over just past the railway bridge after 19A.

How close???? And why pull out when he could have waited!

j

 

The rest of the way was uneventful and all too soon Marston Junction came into view.

I made my way down to the cratch, camera in hand and fingers crossed water voles would be seen. And my luck was in because one was seen swimming across from one side to another. Quite a distance away and these photos were the best I could do.

Lovely to think voles are still very much in evidence on the Ashby Canal.

By bridge 3 a long stretch of piled edge without a single boat moored. Most unusual as this is also a popular mooring. 

 

This was also the ideal spot to spruce up FS's paintwork. Her shine had gone and a dull bloom was all we could see. Out came the car Colour Restorer (from Halford's) and with Ian vigorously applying the cream and me rubbing it off, the difference was outstanding.

Good stuff that colour restorer!

Ever the glutton for punishment the polish then came out and we did the side all over again. 2.5 hours it took to complete both jobs but oh so worth it. Just have the starboard side to do now.

And seen on route