The lock reveals a gift.

 It's typical. One plans for Autumn/ Winter cruising because one believes that all the staycationers would be back home after enjoying the Summer on the waterways. How wrong can one be! In fact those returning boaters at Langley Mill all said the same, Summer was so quiet and only the occasional queue at locks. Well maybe we should have gone Summer cruising instead because the amount of boat traffic on the T&M today was phenomenal!. 

All the locks today were full and had to be emptied. More time added to our expected travel time. We did power up a wee bit on the river section until signs began to appear on the river moorings about bank erosion. Time to throttle back again then.

 

 At Alrewas the number of boats waiting to go down onto the river stretched nearly along the whole length of the moorings. And still more were coming. I remarked to Ian how thankful that our destination was to the North but I hadn't planned on Fradley!

 

An unexpected gift was fished out of Bagnall Lock. A boat had descended and as he began to cruise out of the lock, one of his fenders caught the bottom gate and tore the holding clip from the handrail. Ian saw it happen, told the chap on the boat but he was totally unconcerned. Ian thought it lost, but the white clip could just be seen floating under the surface. The boat hook came in very handy to grab hold. Attached to that clip was this. Thank you very much to the previous owner; replaces the one we lost at Langley Bridge lock.

One reason why it's not a good idea to go through locks with fenders down!

 

Early starts do pay off as creeping past those at Branston water park, as well as Barton Turns, meant we were ahead of the pack. Three boats caught us up at Fradley Common lock, a bit of a blow, we thought, because we had to stop at the facilities after Keeper's lock for cassette emptying and no doubt one would pass us and take Junction Lock. But that boat behind us took such a long time ascending that the deed was done and we got away first again.

It was still too early to stop although Fradley had been planned for tonight's mooring (it was only 12:40) so we continued up the rest of the flight to Wood End. Now this lock has a few problems. Very noticeable was the yellow cover over the top ground paddle meaning only the gate paddle could be used, and this blue rope hung down from the lock and disappeared beneath the service. What was going on? Well I looked on CRT website stoppages and this notice appeared

Woodend Lock will be closed on 18th and 19th October. Our reactive team will carry out repairs to the broken paddles on the bottom end offside gate and at the top end ground paddle. The lock will be dewatered for works to be undertaken  

So the rope must be holding the paddle together! 

Once moored I resumed my fishing leaving Ian to dive down the weed hatch. Good job he did as this was removed from the prop. No wonder the tiller was bouncing well!

 

 Another long procession of boats passing FS going toward the lock and also away. Very difficult to fish in those conditions, but one boat was very welcome. It was Halfie (John) and Jan on Nb Jubilee. Lovely to see them again and hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.

As we are ahead of schedule Ian phoned Anglo Welsh at Great Hayward to see if someone could have a look at FS's engine. He still thinks it's only running on three cylinders. With a positive answer we should get to Hayward for Tuesday evening when a mechanic will be available Wednesday morning.

And some 'on route' photos,

At Wood End Lock

HS 2 will blight this rural landscape. Trees felled in readiness before Wood End lock.

Tattenhill Lock bottom and....

Top

 

And wildlife,

Kestral on the post opposite FS

Long Tail Tit

And an amazing escape by a a bee even though the spider did come down to it. And yes it flew off.

Only small but size doesn't matter!

Much better night was had by me last night. I think those antibiotics are starting to kick in so I didn't dread the actual travelling so much. I must admit yesterday standing for long periods steering FS did take it out of me somewhat. Anyway the day was dry and sunny and with only one more broad lock to do much to look forward too. 

After untying FS around 8ish, Stenson Lock was about an hour cruise away. A boat had come past earlier so had high hopes it would be empty but it was not to be. A massive amount of water was seen  pouring over the bottom gates, maybe high water levels in the next pound? But no, a boat had just entered at the top pushing water in front causing the cascade over the gates. 

 

I'm always glad when this lock is behind me. It's wide, deep and takes forever to fill. No whipping up paddles quickly in this lock! FS would be rocking and bucking and surging from side to side if one was to do that! Oh, and me trying to throw Ian a center rope is of no use either. Such a long way up and I'm the world's worst rope thrower! Even doing my boat handling course several years ago I went to throw it to the examiner and lobbed the thing backwards! Nop, slow and steady was the only way to go.

 

We did make a very quick stop at Mercia Marina. Midland swindlers chandlers had the part Ian needed to sort out our water pump. You may recall I mentioned horrible noises coming from it on our return from Yorkshire in MB and Ian was almost hundred percent sure it was the pressure switch. He returned with the whole pressure switch housing, seems just the switch itself was not sold alone!

After the broad lock of Stenson it was nice to be back on the narrow canals. Wide beams can no longer travel beyond Dallow Lock so we now have only narrow boats to contend with.

The very last widebeam on this part of the T&M

 

Branston Water Park, our mooring for tonight is no longer the wonderful rural mooring it once was. With most of the surrounding land sold for development, every time we travel up the T&M the changes are very noticeable. Houses are going up at an alarming rate and new industrial units have started to dominate the skyline. Such a shame but homes have to built somewhere, I suppose.

Looks idyllic looking in this direction

But look back and houses and the road bridge can now be seen.

 I bought a fishing licence yesterday. It must be well over 2 years since I last picked up a rod and having managed to get bait from Long Eaton tackle shop, I settled down to a couple of hours fishing. I caught, miracle of miracles, nothing big, in fact nothing bigger than 4" but as the saying goes, size doesn't matter! Mostly small roach but a Perch was seen as I reeled it in but unfortunately not landed!

And wildlife,

One for Paul to identify? Thank you to Paul once again. This is a Sparrow Hawk.

Hmm, how will it get out?

Canoes, paddleboarders and gongoozlers

It always happens to us, we try to make plans and things go awry. So we didn't make the 8 am getaway deadline this morning because a couple of things were against us. First a prescription had to be collected from the pharmacy. It was my troublesome diverticulitis that was the problem. Last night it flared up something terrible. Thankfully a very understanding receptionist at the practice put me straight through to speak to one of the doctors who immediately prescribed antibiotics, the prescription arrived at the pharmacy within the hour.  Then as we were about to leave, one of our ECP&DA members turned up with two tables and bottled water. Of course...we had forgotten, it was the Erewash half-marathon today and ECP&DA members would man three refreshment stations along the length of the Erewash canal.  So of course, a long chat with them before eventually pulling pins by 10.30 am.

 

John and Geri

Dolkholme lock was finally getting the lock landing repaired. It's taken long enough, must be two years or more.

Stopped at Trent lock for loo emptying. Filling the front water tank was mentioned but with 7 bags of coal in the well deck, the gas air vents were only 2" above the water line. Probably not a good idea then to weight it down even more, especially when entering a river!

Debris...loads had accumulated in the river lock approach. Lots of banging and clattering from the prop as wood, weeds and even a dead cygnet was sucked toward it.

Calm and tranquil is the only way to describe the Trent today. It would have been a very pleasant journey up to Sawley if it hadn't been for the scullers and canoeists! Weaving one way then another I did fear for their lives at one point. Too near to FS's bow for my liking!

Sawley Lock and still the right lock out of action. Apparently the control panel has been repaired but it is now awaiting a man with a computor to reset it.

First time we have had to wait. One wide beam going up and two cruisers waiting to descend.

And would you believe we also had to contend with paddleboarders at Shardlow!

And gongoozlers at Swarkestone!

With the time now well after 4.30, and with me not feeling 100% we stopped above Swarkestone lock. I'm hoping those antibiotics will kick in cos I could do with a better night sleep.

Oh, and has anyone else noticed the amount of spiderlings riding the wind? Not just spiderling but much larger ones as well! Threads of their silk has appeared all over FS and today we were forever brushing the web strands from about our faces. Most unpleasant!

And wildlife,

 

 

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