We do make Sandiacre, not without problems, though.

 Wednesday 21st

This mooring was lovely and quiet, and we should have slept well except for the worry of the engine. Waiting for Tom to turn up, Ian did a few more engine checks, including checking to see if water had got into the diesel, it was a beautiful red colour with no moisture signs at all, just as it should be. I had to give up one of my plastic beakers used for when the grandchildren came round for drinks, Hmm, best not serve orange juice in that any more!

Tom arrived around 10 and first thing he did was to rev the engine. Clouds of smoke, first grey then white, unsurprisingly. What baffled me was why did Tom put his hand over the exhaust when the white smoke appeared? Turns out this was a good way to check if soot was present, it's a tried and tested method, apparently! So it appeared that both Ian and Tom were right when they mentioned injectors. Maybe Tom should have asked Ian to do that, it would have saved him a journey, but just goes to show how Langley Mill Boatyard puts their customers first. Ian knows a place in Hucknall that has sorted the injectors out for us in the past, so said he would deal with it. Toms advice was to go steady and definitely try and make Sandiacre today.

Within ten minutes of Tom leaving, we were on our way. Still the issue with low water levels and the bottom being too near to the top. More and more reeds encroach the canal from both sides, and the towpath hasn't seen a mower in months...hmm...if at all! The locks are in a state, paddle gear missing, anti-vandal locks not working, gates that are impossible to move and some that won't open completely. In fact, the journey was every bit as stressful as I thought it would be. One time, many, many years ago, this was a lovely canal to cruise. Now I'm wondering if this will be one of those that Richard Parry talked about on Midlands today this morning when he told viewers how getting the funding from Government was becoming an urgent matter. Many canals will close if they can't raise the funds. The Erewash is rapidly becoming completely overgrown, so much so that soon we will have to rename FS, the African Queen! Too much work is needed on all aspects and not enough money to do it. ECP&DA do what they can, Pentland the workboat is out often, but there is only so much the society can do. In fact, between the M1 motorway bridge and Sandiacre top lock (roughly 2 miles) 3 sunken cruisers were seen! One by our mooring on the lock landing at Sandiacre. If I sound dejected, that's because I am. Will our time on the canals soon be over. It's a question we both have asked ourselves many times and am very afraid it will.

Okay...having said my piece, these next photos will show what I mean. 

Greens Lock was one where I had to squeeze through the top gates as both would not fully open. One paddle was taped with the ratchet gear missing. Ian struggled to open the bottom gate paddles, they squeaked and squealed as they were wound up. Then as I descended I noticed a worrying amount of water coming in and hitting the opposite lock wall holding FS onto the side.

It was so bad that the water wouldn't equalise to open the bottom gates, and no amount of straining against the beam could get it open. I was all for climbing the ladder when two ladies and a child appeared, saw Ian struggle and offered to help. It took all 3 combined effort to get that gate open.

With FS pinned to the side, and even with engine revs at almost maximum, (clouds of smoke again) FS only just crept forward. Ian had to push the bow away from the wall with a pole to get me moving! It appears that it's not just the ratchet missing, but the paddle has either disappeared or is stuck in the open position! So could this be the reason for low water levels? 

Ian has emailed the area operational manager with a list of other things he found on our journey down. This is his list

 Shipley Lock :- Excessive rubbing on top gate mitres - May need new wood inserts. Above lock the trees overhanging the lock landing, need the lower branches removing

Trying to see through a mass of leaves as I made my way to the lock was nigh on impossible.

Stenson Lock :- Towpath Side bottom gate, Windlass post is very loose - may need replacing
Barkers Lock :- Towpath side bottom gate, Handrail securing board has come adrift - see photo

Greens Lock :- Neither of the top gates will open fully into the recess due to debris behind the gates. Also, as the paddle gear has been removed from the offside ground paddle the paddle has lifted sufficiently to allow water through the culvert making it almost impossible to open the bottom gates. Either needs the paddle gear refitting or the rack fixed in the down position.
Gallows Lock :- The rubbing plates on the new bottom gates have not been fitted correctly. They are too far back from the edge to be effective. - See Photo

Stanton Lock :- The new anti-vandal locks fitted to the bottom gates need the stop plate on the spindle repositioning, as they exert too much pressure on the bolt to allow it to retract. Someone has already attempted to remove the towpath side unit and the fixing nuts are missing.

At Sandiacre, opposite the visitor mooring, there is a tree branch/bush across half of the canal which will need a grapple to pull it across to remove it.

A short length of towpath has rings opposite this fallen shrub, effectively stopping any boats who want to moor.

 I must say, Ian got a reply almost immediately. It was from Oliver Lockett thanking him for the email. Most of the problems were known and are trying to be addressed, but some needs specialist equipment, especially replacing the windlass post at Stenson, and at Greens there was talk of dewatering the canal to fix the paddle. Hopefully we should see an improvement when works will be carried out over winter.

Ian didn't mention those sunken cruisers, no point, I think CRT are already aware of those. Not sure if they know about the rowing boat, though. It was right by the lock with a rope wrapped around a bollard. As I entered the lock, I had to laugh when that boat, still floating, tried to make its escape. Ian raced to grab the rope, missed and had to come back for the boat hook.

Burnt cruiser under M1 bridge

This as we approached Sandiacre

And this one above Sandiacre lock.

There is a story of how this one was sunk. It came from the owner, who was trying to bale it out. Apparently his mate was sleeping on it, got woken up by youths where a confrontation took place. In retaliation, the youths sunk the boat!

Ian with the owner.

The plan is to take the injectors to Hucknall to get serviced and we aim to be at Sandiacre for at least a week. Thankfully we have our generator, and that, with the solar panels, should keep the batteries topped up 🤞