Sept 3rd
Fishing is quite good at the moment, bites coming thick and fast. The only trouble is the size! All small, a mixture of rudd and roach with not a sign of anything big! I'm only using bread, so maybe that is why, plus underwater weed is present, so I can't fish deep. Anyway, I always say 'a fish is a fish, what ever the size'.
With the Inland Port festival in a few days time, we were asked by ECP&DA chairman Norman to take workboat Pentland from above Trent Lock to the Clock Warehouse in Shardlow. It will be from there that the societies stand will be erected, and Pentland will display posters and photos for the public to see.
From Shardlow we had to make our way to Sue's offside mooring in Long Eaton. Pentland had been brought down from Langley Mill the day before. Our journey meant taking two buses, and intensive research by Ian showed a bus stop very near to where we were moored. It was by the road bridge with buses running every 20 minutes. Our departure from FS was timed to perfection, we had arrived at the bus stop with 5 minutes to spare. But the 5 minutes came and went, and no bus appeared! So we waited for the next one some 20 minutes later. When that didn't arrive on time, we wondered if Ian's research had failed. After a further 10-minute wait, finally one arrived with an apologetic driver telling of a bus breakdown! Of course, the delay caused the timings to be all wrong for the second bus, so more waiting involved for that one. Eventually, about 90 minutes later, we made it to Long Eaton. Sue's house was a short walk away, the boat key handed over, and we could finally set off toward Trent Lock.
Never having taken Pentland on the river before, I did wonder how she would perform. The turn onto the river was a lot easier in a shorter boat, she almost turned on a sixpence. Increasing the revs made talking to Ian almost impossible, gosh her engine is noisy! Anyway, in no time we came to Sawley Lock, speed was reduced earlier than normal because of a dingy and person in the water.
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| The diver was behind the dingy |
Turns out a diver was doing an underwater bridge inspection, a female clambered out to allow us past. Ian asked on the water temperature, and a "Not bad" was her reply.
With Sawley Lock gates open, no waiting was necessary and fore and aft ropes handed to the lockkeeper to wrap around the bollards. Ian kept him chatting, and both were completely unaware of the opening of the top gates by the volunteer lockie waiting for our exit to allow another boat to come in! I tried to shout, but the noise of Pentlands engine drowned any attempt at communications. Eventually they both realised, and they say it's us women that can talk for England!
Derwent Mouth lock entrance was clear of that Pennywort, as were the steps to get onto the landing. This time I didn't miss and Ian could get off with ease. In front was another boat just going into the lock, a locking companion, made life so much easier and quicker as both paddles could be raised at once.
At the Clock Warehouse, an historic boat was already moored. Space had been left in front for Pentland and the instructions from Norman were to go as hard up to the footbridge as possible. Easier said than done! What Norman or the festival organisers hadn't realised was the amount of silt built up by the bridge. With only the correct amount of space left to fit a 35-foot boat, it was a struggle. In fact, Pentlands stern would not clear the historic boat bow, no matter how hard Ian heaved on the bow rope or the revs I gave Pentland. In the end, I pushed on the historic boat stem post, which made it move back just enough so Pentlands stern could slot in. More revs to try and get the bow nearer to the bridge, but all we did was run the front up onto the mud. It will be interesting to see who has the job of taking her back to Long Eaton on Monday, not sure how easy it will be to get her out, hopefully it won't be us!
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