Discovery Day

Hard work but it was well worth it.

Some of the motley crew taking a lunch break after putting up the marquee on Saturday

John, Tony, Mike, Bob, Rosemary, Bob and Ralph.

Not all of them by any means but Tony and Rosemary are the main organisers and have done sterling work to make the day a success once again.

A misty start to a long day and the WWI field kitchen is being lit in preparation to provide vegetable soup for the workers.

‘Ay up me duck’ (AKA Tony) ready to meet the public and promote the Dirty Duck race.

The mayor of Grantham enjoying the Lancashire clog dancing.

 He and the mayoress really seemed to get involved in all the events and there were plenty of them. (No not mayors)

And they’re off!

The duck race started at 2.22 and of the 200 ducks taking part I had the dubious honour of winning the booby prize for the last duck over the line. A water pistol to shoot my duck.

Lots of entertainment, stalls and interesting displays I haven’t been able to mention but it certainly was a grand day out. I hear the boat trips were all sold out but didn’t have a chance to get up to lock 18.

Rain forecast for Monday so everything was cleared away and the depot was left as if nothing had happened. A pint of shandy in the Dirty Duck and home – totally Christmas crackered.

Trip Diary (Part 2)

Saturday 27^th Septmber

Huddlesford to Branston Water Park. A longer day than planned. Slow run back to Fradley  where we stopped off for water before the swing bridge. Back onto the T&M and making better headway stopping for lunch at Alrewas and to give the dogs a break. Carried on to Branston Water Park but this may not have been a wise move after seeing all the rabbits and squirrels running around. This means the dogs will not be allowed to run free.

11 Miles  9 Locks

The obligatory photo.

 

Sunday 28^th September

Branston Water Park to bridge 24A.

Plenty of boats moving today, even had two pass before 07:00. Had a lazy start and set off about 11:00. The last two narrow locks negotiated with ease as boats coming through in the opposite direction, not much traffic going our way. Presumably it’s hire boats and people having to get back for start of work on Monday Stopped off at Stretton bridge 29A for some fresh supplies. Another rural setting tonight in earshot of the railway but nothing to be seen.

7 Miles 2 Locks

Tonight’s mooring

 

Monday 29^th September

Bridge 24AWillington to Aston lock

Fairly early start due to weather forecast being a bit  uncertain for the afternoon. Stopped off at Stenson to exercise the dogs and met up with a lovely couple on an old (1928 I think she said) ex working boat called Mecca. Shared the next three locks with them, planning to stop in the next pound down but ended mooring  just above Aston lock as we could not get anywhere near to the side.

11 Miles 3 Locks

 

Tuesday 30^th September

Aston lock to Zouch. Once again we were luck with locking partners all the way to Kegworth Deep lock on Water Vole. Only Zouch lock was negotiated on our own. It’s amazing how good company can speed up and make the journey even more enjoyable. Passing a boat on the Soar above Kegworth Deep got a call from the lady on board that she follows the blog. Well, I was so gob smacked I forgot to make a note of the boat name – Sorry.

We have had so much glorious weather on this trip that it looks like we will be home two days early. Had a couple of days built in to allow for days not fit to travel (Us being fair weather boaters) but none have been needed. The slow cooker has been on all today so it is stew tonight. Had been planning on a pub meal on the way back but early running has put paid to that. But there is always tomorrow.

11 Miles  7 locks (Not counting 4 open flood Locks)

 

Wednesday 1^st October

Back to Pillings a day earlier than planned. Had thought about a stop over at Zouch but the black water tank has decided otherwise. Gauge shows empty but tank is definitely full. The gauge has never been reliable and I suspect the original wiring configuration may be the cause of its failure.

Pump out and back to our mooring for lunch. Load up dogs and washing before getting away home.

Thursday 2^nd October

Catching up with the gardening, things are still growing well with all this fine weather.

Since then it has been a case of doing a bit more woodwork and more catching up in the garden.

Today and from now on it will be going like the clappers with everybody else trying to Help Tony and Rosemary set up for the Grantham Canal Society Discovery Day at Woolsthorpe depot behind the Rutland Arms (Dirty Duck) pub on  Sunday 12^th October. Lots to see and do  see website for details

http://www.granthamcanal.org/events-overview/

Book your duck for the famed duck race.

Trip Diary (Part 1)

Sunday 21^st September

First day of our trip away. Loaded up boat and ran Pillings Lock to Zouch for night stop and meal at Rose & Crown for our wedding anniversary. Plenty of compliments on the way about the boat and one chap in a canoe even asked if the boat was electrically powered. Gave the engine the once over in view of the recent service to find everything OK. Nice short run so we could go for a meal to celebrate our anniversary but unfortunately no meals owing to staff problems. Ah well fish and chips back at the boat. Slept like logs.

6 Miles 2 Locks

Leaving Zouch lock

 

Monday 22^nd September

Another glorious day, Zouch to Aston lock on the Trent & Mersey. Not a lot to report other than it was a thoroughly enjoyable cruise. Good luck with the locks being able to share or having boats emerge or arrive to save on gate openings.

12 Miles  6 Locks (Not counting 4 flood locks)

The Trent above Sawley locks

 

Tuesday 23^rd September

Aston lock to Willington. Set off for a short day about 09:30 following a CRT tug and work boat. Had to take it steady as we seem to be dragging bottom in places on this pound. Caught up by a charming couple at Weston lock where the CRT men kindly waved us through.. As we were taking our time they went ahead and we stopped to let the dogs off and managed to go hard aground doing so. Sods law prevailed with two boats either way as we were trying to reverse off. Shared the next two locks with a single handed tug who upset Karen by insisting on opening the gate paddles well before the water was up to the cill and these locks are over 10ft deep. Stopped for the night at Willington next to the Derby – Birmingham main line but this didn’t keep us awake. Found the local Co-op andmanaged to get some shopping in..

9 Miles 3 Locks.

Stenson lock

 

Wednesday 24^th September

Willington to Alrewas. A gentle trundle down 4 ½ miles to our first narrow lock in Burton set the scene for the day, still scraping bottom in places. Stopped for water at Barton Turn not so much that we needed it but to pull the bow down in the hope of raising the stern and by and large it seems to have worked unless the following pounds are that bit deeper. Moored up this evening just after Bagnall lock. Can’t get over how fine the weather is for this time of year

13 Miles  7 Locks

First Narrow lock under bridge 32a in Burton

 

Thursday 25^th September

A nice slow start to the day. Karen went shopping in Alrewas and came back full of praise for the village, especially the butchers. While she was away the top got dropped and the towpath side of the boat got a quick sluice down. Up four locks and hard left at Fradley into the Coventry canal. Took it slow again to stop the back end dragging in some of the shallow bits. Touched a boat coming the other way at Bell Bridge after running hard aground on the inside of the bend even when a boat width off.

Noticed a fluctuation in the water gauge as we approached Streethay Wharf. Karen reports no taps dripping so we stopped for lunch just after the bridge beyond the moorings. Passing Streethay saw ‘Centurion’ the boat I did my RYA course on last year.

During lunch I inspected the water system and found a dripping pipe at the water pump. Soon sorted but needed to get about ten gallons of water out of the bilge. Set off again making better time as the pound seems deeper since passing Streethay.

Started looking for a mooring  after Whittington but it all either seemed too narrow  or too open in the breeze so kept going until the wooded area just after Tamhorn Park Bridge. The off side warns for firing range, so must not upset the neighbours but it is so quiet  and peaceful here in the trees. Just sitting here listening to the birds and the breeze in the trees and bit of classical music in the background. Karen is busy at the breakfast bar drawing leaves and hawthorn berries. The dogs have run themselves to a standstill and flaked out. No TV reception but what the heck. Chilling out or what?

9 Miles  4 Locks

 

Tonight's mooring

 

Friday 26^th September

Tamhorn Park Bridge to Huddlesford via Bonehill Bridge Winding hole.

Late start to the day as we were still chilling and only intended to get as far as Huddlesford for a meal at the Plough where we had dined with old friends Tony and Lesley some 6 years before when we were on a hire boat trip. Both of us had the steak and ale pie which was very reminiscent of the Crossroads at Weedon some 30 years before.

8 Miles  0 Locks.

A view that may jog a few happy memories J

 

More to come.

 

 

Progress

Well I’m playing catch up again. Since the last entry some more work has been done on the new door tops but not a lot.

The new design incorporates an outward sloping surface with raised ends to ensure rain is kept to the outside.

When up the top has alip which stands proud to run off any water from above.

Still lots more work to do but you get the general idea.

Popped out to Hickling to see what remained of the base for the information board and found it to be rotted so will need replacing also. While out that way I popped into Bassingfield for some timber to convert the old gas storage(We had 4x47Kg bottles for the heating before mains gas arrived in the village) into a paint store to free up more space in the sheds.

In between bouts of woodwork and gardening there have been work parties happening on the Grantham Canal around lock 17 at Woolsthorpe which has started leaking into the lock keepers cottage garden if left full. First job was to clear the access from an adjacent field to allow us to get equipment and plant in.

Next clear off the slime off the brickwork to see what was what,

 and it would seem there is a lot of re-pointing to be done

I have since heard that the mortar is badly degraded and the wing walls may need some serious work.

On top of all this T-A has had her first 250 hour service. Yep she is 5 years old but not seen much use. Owing to the lapsed time all filters and oil replaced and everything given a good going over. Got a trip planned and we don’t want too many problems do weJ

Following days spent loading up and getting ready for the off.