Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 13:38:48 +0100 From: David.P.Hearmon@sb.com Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report I don't usually do trip reports. My writing style is more suited for drafting legalistic reports at the office and the prose doesn't seem to flow anything like as well as some of our more literary contributors. But I thought I would put finger to keyboard highlighting some experiences with cruising during the F & M difficulty. Friday 30/3/01 After work I drove up to Tamworth where I met Lesley 'Piranha Fish' where we left her car. Then drove back to Braunston. After getting the boat sorted we walked up to the Old Plough passing over the newly opened footpath from Butcher's Bridge up to the village. We had not been in the pub long before Mike and Krystyna Wooding arrived shortly followed by Sean Neil. A convivial evening ensued. Just before closing time Pat and Sheila Campbell arrived for a quick one. Saturday 31/3/01 Several jobs to do this morning. Started off by filling the water tank. Then a quick dash down to the Turn was planned to fill up with diesel. I wasn't early enough and met Ivor Batchelor on Mountbatten just by the marina entrance on their Saturday coal run round the marina. I signalled to Iver that I wanted diesel so we both came to a stand and tied to one another. I then took on 100 litres in mid cut both of us using our engines to keep station and allow other boats to pass. Having fuelled we went into the arm at the marina for a pump out. The marina shop was not yet open so I couldn't get a token for the pump out machine. Whilst waiting I camped on the doorstep of the Stop House to get my Steril Tabs. The Stop House, normally closed on a Saturday, opened promptly at 9 a.m. as promised. I obtained my free pack of 10 Steril Tabs after being asked to read some precautionary information and signing a register with my name, boat name and registration number. Then back to the boat to make up the sterilising solution which I poured over some sponge rubber in the bottom of an old washing up bowl. By this time the marina shop had opened and I got the pump out token. Thay also had some tubs of Steril Tabs for sale. It doesn't say on the tub how many tablets it contains but I would guess something like 200. Pessimistically, I bought a tub at a cost of GBP16. If anyone sees me and needs some Tabs I'm sure we can come to an arrangement, preferably one involving beer. We then set off and after clearing the Braunston area, Lesley 'Piranha Fish' went below to cook breakfast of bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs, Cumberland sausages, mushrooms and baked beans, to be washed down with a cup of freshly brewed black coffeee. This was served as we approached Willoughby. As usual, this was eaten on the move off the slide. Well, off a plate as well if you see what I mean, I ain't that roughty toughty. Approaching the bend just before Willoughby wharf we sighted the first southbound boat of the day, a Willow Wren hire boat out of Rugby wharf. Although I was giving him acres of room the steerer immediately crashed into the bank but shouted a friendly greeting that I was the first boat he had ever attempted to pass. I'm not sure what he thought of me steering with my bottom, rounding a bend, passing a boat and eating my breakfast all at the same time. Still, I remember my first canal holiday and getting stuck on a mud bank within moments of starting off. We proceeded in an orderly fashion towards Hillmorton locks, passing the first of the towpath walkers with accompanying dog. This, despite there being at every towpath access point, plastic mesh or tape blocking the way with notices saying it was closed. I think congratulations are due to the men in green who must have laboured long and hard to put up all the barriers and notices in the time available. Sadly, some people seem to be taking an irresponsible attitude to the precautions. However, most towpath walkers were in urban areas where there does seem to be an infinitesimal risk of spreading F & M. At Hillmorton top lock both a boat's length above and below the lock there was a mesh barrier closing the towpath. By the upper and lower gates there was another mesh barrier with a small opening having a disinfectant footbath in the gap. I stayed on board and Lesley worked the lock. This is not our usual procedure where she prepares the lock and opens the gate, then walks on the the next lock whilst I work the boat through. But this was not possible as the towpath between the locks was closed which disrupted our routine necessitating Lesley to get back on after every lock. We passed Stretton stop where there were several folks being shown the ropes on the Rose narrowboat hire fleet prior to setting out. Last time we were up this way the cut had been covered in duckweed. Now it was completely clear and remained so up to Ansty way where there was a patch or two still about but nowhere near as bad as it had been a few months ago. The BW chaps must have been working hard at clearing it. We arrived at Sutton's stop and moored up. We had only passed seven southbound boats all day. There were several people walking the towpath, some with dogs. Having got fed up with the food quality and dirt of the Greyhound, we walked up to the Boat for a drink. I had a pint of the guest beer, a very platable Ruddles County and Lesley had a Tallisker. No food is offered at this pub so reluctantly we returned to the Greyhound. I sat down with a pint of London Pride. No sooner were we seated than a party of three people sat down next to us and explained that due to a disagreement the husband of one of the ladies would not be joining them and would I like the pint of Pedigree they had ordered for him. Gratefully, I accepted. One of the ladies was attractively well developed in the upper regions, enhanced by the wearing a tight top. She was also attired in a pair of very low cut jeans. I happened to note that these revealed an item of underwear in a lurid pink shade. Lesley, being an expert in these matters, informed me that these items are known as thongs and are worn more for decoration than warmth. They certainly revealed more than a glimpse of a shapely pair of buttocks. I didn't know where to look. After an indifferent meal which highlighted burnt chips made with unpeeled potatoes, we returned to the boat for a nightcap. Sunday 1/4/01 Passed through the stop lock where footbaths were much in evidence. Breakfasted off the slide passing through Bedworth. There was one fisherman in evidence on the southern outskirts of Nuneaton, the only one seen throughout the trip. Through Nuneaton many of the towpath barriers had been torn down. We had only met one southbound boat between Sutton's Stop and Atherstone. We arrived at Atherstone locks where a different system was in place. The towpath through the locks was not barricaded off at every lock but there were disinfectant footbaths everywhere and plenty of notices. I guess that the different procedures are due to the Oxford and Coventry canals being in different BW areas. Down the flight we were able to follow our normal method of lock working, albeit with use of the foot bath at frequent intervals. It appeared that no-one had used the flight that day as the lock walls and gates were dry. Progress was slow as the locks were empty and had to be filled before locking down. Atherstone locks always take an age to fill and I got to wondering whether they had ever had gate paddles. If so, a campaign for their restoration is long overdue. Halfway down the flight we did meet an uphill boat so progress was speeded up. Whilst waiting for the uphill boat I was able to take a look at the new marina which is being built on the site of the old colliery basin. The towpath in Tamworth was freely open from Amington to Glascote and there were several towpath strollers taking advantage of the sunny weather. Only six southbound boats had passed us all day. We arrived at Glascote and moored in Steve Hudon's basin. Jobs scheduled are a bottom blacking, repaint of gunwhales and counter bands, new fire extinguishers, crimped on battery cable connectors and possibly a drain point to be put into the engine cooling circuit. Then we are all set for the Easter cruise, possibly to Stratford or possibly to Worcester. Regards, Dave H ---