Visit from Steve Cropper C&RT

Last night sunset

Not a lot to report today. Had a visit from Steve Cropper C&RT about a boat moored on the offside below Sandiacre lock. In fact it was the boat that arrived and crashed into the trees on the pie and pea weekend. Boats name is Fly Agaric and so far I have only seen a lone female.  With Steve turning up we wondered if it was moored illegally. From the center to the stern it overhangs the farmers field and the farmer was none to happy about it, so I suspect he arranged for the meeting. Steve then came up to us and asked a few questions about the boat but were unable to help him other then tell him we knew the farmer and confirmed the boat was partly on his land.

We carried on working round the bungalow, clearing the garden of 2 years shrub and weed growth. Our tenants say they have no idea what is a plant or a weed so decided to air on the side of caution and leave well alone. They have now agreed to employ a gardener!  Having kept my camera with me to try and get the Robin I spoke of yesterday, I was lucky enough to get these shots.

We also had an interloper on the boat. Happy to have had it on the roof so long as it didn't poop.

So now that we are completely knackered after all that hard work, both of us are sitting watching the Great British Menu with a nice hot cup of coffee. The wine starts later.

And The birds came in two by two.

What a glorious day today. Just right to do the long awaited jobs around our bungalow. With us not leaving for Trent Lock and Kingfishers dry dock to black FP's bottom until next Thursday, Ian been getting down and dirty by clearing the gutters of a mountain of ash seeds, leaves and moss while I have been treating the pergola with wood preserve and getting more over me then on the wood! Deciding on a break after lunch I took Woofit out along the canal to the river. During my walk I took these photos.

Nb Perch in the background

Is that me mum?

I'm listening

A reluctant mum leaving the nest

Bit of house work

 

Two herons flew by

And the buzzard pair overhead

 Isn't spring wonderful. A Robin is also building its nest in our Yucca plant. So far no photos of it carrying the nesting materials but I'm going to keep trying.

Amazing what can be achieved with a big hammer!

We have been plagued with a tiller wobble ever since the new slightly larger prop was fitted. Having arranged with Paul Barber boat builder at Sheetstores basin to be taken out of water and the shaft and rudder dropped out, we left Sandiacre to travel the 3 miles to the basin. First though we had to leave our mooring. Being boxed in by Electra on our outside and Icing and Crested Lark behind it wasn't going to be easy, but many hands make light work so they say and with Dennis, Margaret, Carol, and Mick guiding us out, it made my our task much easier.

It was sods law that after a lovely weekend the weather turned nasty and so the journey down was a bit damp. Luckily the rain eased while we were at Paul's and before we knew it the boat was high and dry with me left alone at the back. Ian had already jumped off at the bow and to prove it was me that did all the maneuvering I used the photos that Viviee took. Hope you don't mind Viviee. It's not often I get to have a picture of myself at the tiller (:

 photo by Viviee

Viviee photo

and again. Don't I look pleased

Ian inspecting FP's anodes.

The rudder was a right pain to get off. It took brute force by lifting with a fork truck. Then the ramsneck heated to make the metal expand and hitting with the hammer to remove!

Careful of the rope

Give it a hard whack!

Did the job nicely.

Once the rudder was removed Paul took one look and said that, not only was the shaft bent at the top of the rudder, but also bent halfway down where the blade had been welded on. The only way that could have been done is if the shaft was bent before the rudder was attached but surly no self respecting boat builder would attach a bent shaft to a flat blade! Or would they?  We told him about the time Ian (and I stress Ian) hit the concrete at Sandiacre really really hard when reversing. That accounted for the top bend but not the middle. Paul then looked at the rudder itself and found it to be bent in a V shape from the bottom to the middle.  He told us that this was almost impossible to do whilst boating and that his  conclusion was that the rudder damaged occurred sometime during transportation when FP was new.With a smaller prop this wasn't noticeable but a larger prop moved more water against the rudder so any imbalance would be amplified

Paul confirming the bent rudder and shaft.

Sorting the shaft out first

Now for the rudder. Yep that hammer will do the job.

Perfect. Job well done.

After loads of measuring, heating, and hitting with a sledge hammer, the rudder was about as straight as Paul could get it. Paul was then happy enough for us to go try it out . So back in the water for a trial run and I'm very pleased to report that the wobble has almost gone. Still get the occasional shake but now we no longer feel our teeth are being shaken loose! Thanks Paul. Two very relieved and thankful boaters.

The Erewash pollution saga continues.

It has been 17months since the Stanton fire and the polluting of the Erewash. The water quality had improved significantly for fish to be reintroduced to the 5 mile stretch from Stanton to Trent Lock. All seemed well at first but since February fish have started dying. It now appears that although the water tests showed no pollution, something has gone badly wrong. Talk round these parts seem to think a virus is attacking them but what the cause is, is baffling.

 In the darkest hours new life begins. With this in mind I feel it can't be the plants that are killing the fish. After all the ducks and swans all live on foliage and they don't seem to be effected. I personally think that the fish deaths are all to do with the fact that they stir up the bottom when feeding . The ash pollution could be lying on the canal bed and with the fish disturbing the pollutants they are ingesting the ash. A phone call to the Environment agency may be on the cards!

And finally:-

What was the point

In January C&RT closed the Erewash to navigation to repair the dreadful state of Sandiacre lock walls. It needed a massive amount of work replacing and pointing the brickwork. They had an open day to show the public how the lock worked below the water line and also what had been achieved so far. They spent a huge amount of money on the scaffolding and canopy to protect the public as well as themselves. Then after a successful open day the work started in earnest the following day. When it was completed mid February it all looked very professional and well done. That, unfortunately, was as far as it went. With us helping the boats leave yesterday, I was very dismayed to see that, in places, the lock walls leaked like a sieve where the new pointing had been done. In fact it was worse now then before C&RT started it!. I think my heading say's it all.... All that time, effort and money wasted, what was the point!!

And finally:-