From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Wed Sep 24 15:57:10 1997 id AA29479; Wed, 24 Sep 97 15:56:35 EDT by svr-a-02.core.theplanet.net with esmtp (Exim 1.71 #1) id 0xDxUK-0002Vl-00; Wed, 24 Sep 1997 20:52:45 +0100 From: "Terry Waldron" To: Subject: A TALE OF 3 BOATS (TRIP REPORT PART 3) Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2097 00:10:36 +0100 Travellers: Terry & Sue Waldron Boat: Stella Share scheme: Ownerships Dates: 12 September to 21 September Route: Stockton (GU) to Market Harborough & Return Syston (Soar Navigation) to Shardlow (T&M) I arrived at Stockton at 2030 with Clyde our 13 year old King Charles spaniel (his first time out on the boat) to find Sue had got Stella out of Blue Lias Marina and moored about 200 yards from bridge 21. The water level was very low, even lower than when we were out just over a week ago. What a relief to be away from work and back on the cut. 246 miles by car, 2 traffic jams No miles by boat. Set off 1030 along with Midama, just as I was preparing to set off Willy No Name passed heading toward Stockton locks. A bright sunny morning but quite windy. Going into the bottom lock at Calcutt was as dificult in the wind as I had anticipated, we have been caught out by the wind here on a couple of occasions. Its good to share locks with another boat especially if you know the owners. On going through Napton Jn. I came across one of the HPB boats on the wrong side, he had been caught by the wind and was blown onto me as he was trying to turn. A good run through to Braunston, wind now starting to abate but sun still hot. Braunston fairly busy in particular through locks. Tunnel dry today, met 3 boats coming towards, one of them hit Midama on the way through. Very windy again by Norton Jn. but blowing right direction to take me straight onto the water point.Aiming to get through Watford locks but didnt check what time they closed. moored at the bottom at 1805. 14.5 miles 9 locks. Set off in bright sunshine 1000, met an Australian couple who had swapped their house for the boat for 6 months, what a good idea. After getting through the first lock the lockkeeper asked us to wait for 2 to come down, got out of top lock at 1200. Quite an impressive flight of locks, nice to see the side pounds in use, paddles reasonably easy, gates free and easy to move. The canal now looks more like a river with lots of growth on both sides but yet there are plenty of mooring places. After Crick the canal is winding much like the s Oxford and Upper Thames. The high open spaces give rise to gusting wind, usually in the wrong places and also when you are trying to pass another boat. The Welford arm is fairly narrow and has one lock, the village has 4 pubs, a good pint of Pedigree in the Wharf. Moored 1800. Clyde settling in and getting used to the boat, Sue sat him on the roof today he seemed to enjoy that. 14 Miles 8 Locks A grey and overcast day at 0800 and looking like rain, by 1000 when we set off sun out but wind quite strong and not too good winding today. Got to Foxton Top Lock 1400, 2 in front and 2 coming up, into locks by 1500. Stopped at the boatyard at the bottom, only just enough room to get our 47' boat in, took water on opposite side, the pub looks very nice but didnt stop for a pint.1620 into Market harborough Arm, quite weedy and wooded in parts. Remember your BW key for the swing bridge.Had to wind just after bridge 14 as the basin is closed. Moored 1750. Invited to dinner on Midama. 14 miles 11 Locks. Walked into Market Harborough, a pretty little town with hanging baskets and large tubs of flowers everywhere. Set off in sunshine at 1200, bottom of Foxton at 1320. 3 boats at the top but the lockkeeper did not know what they were doing as they had not told her. Got to centre pound and had to wait for over an hour. had a walk into the museum and round the site of the inclined plane - pretty impressive, I look forward to seeing it rebuilt and working. Got to the top lock at 1600. Said goodbye to Midama as they were going on up through Leicester. Wind light but quite chilly. moored just south of bridge 40 at 1845, a really nice quiet spot. 13.5 miles 10 locks. Although a quiet spot the geese woke Sue up at 0500. Set off at 0900, stopped at bridge 19 to take Clyde for a walk into the village (5 mins walk), got milk and papers. Saw about 10 boats pass us in under an hour. Got to Watford at 1400 and straight through. Stoped at the pub at Bridge 8 for a nice pint of Caffreys but had to moor onto the trees as two other boats moored. Sun quite hot now and have got the shorts on. Stopped at Weltonfield boats, quite impressed with their fit out on Reeves shells, very helpful and knowledgable staff (family business). Moored just after Braunston Tunnel at 1815, a very popular mooring - watch where you moor as quite a lot of water running down the hill and across the towpath. 16.5 miles 7 locks Up fairly early so decided to give the outside of the boat a scrub, intending to move about 1000 but asked by owners of Sceptre if we were going through, set off with Sceptre about 0900, quite a lot coming through the locks, moored at Braunston. Had a look at peter Nichols boats, their hulls look good but didnt have the opportunity to see a fully fitted boat. Viewed a second hand boat and then had a chat with Dave Cowtan of merlin, very impressed with his fitout, very helpful and given plenty of very good advice on fitouts.Set off for Calcutt at about 1340 topped up with water at top lock, had a cup of tea with Roger and Lesley on Silhouette. Pump out and diesel at Calcutt Boats 61.6 litres for 42 hours running (Mitsubishi 1400 engine). Moored bridge 21 1830 and went to the boat for some Caffreys. 10 Miles 9 locks. Up early and got Stella into the marina by 0800, did final clean up ready for next owners to take over later in the day. Drove both cars to Shardlow Marina, left one and took the other to Bridge 19 on Soar Navigation to meet up with Midama again. Eat in the Hope and Anchor, a Hungry Horse Chain pub which serves a very good pint of Wexfords. the meal was very good and very cheap, well recommended. 0 Canal miles Car miles not noted. Set off 1030 in Midama with Sue, Peter and Marilyn. The river is 'canalised in parts and very pretty, in particular through Barrow on Soar. Stopped at L R Harris Boatyard and bought a very nice antique copper Port Bow light complete with oil lamp fittings - this will look good on my boat when I get it in a few years. Its surprising what you can find in the smaller chandlers if you poke around a bit.As you go through Loughborough you go under the old Great Central Railway bridge, a number of wagons there look ready for preservation. moored 1825 at Kegworth Deep Lock. The stepped weir very pretty as is the church in the background. Noisier here as quite a lot of aircraft takinfg off from E midlands, but not too noisy. This lock appears to be much deeper than the 7'9" noted in Nicholsons. Set off 1025 into Lock, extreme care must be taken here if going up, the force from the top gates very strong, you only need to just crack the paddles and it would be wise to ensure two boats in lock. This lock has a redundant, filled in lock beside the usable one and is complete with both sets of gates. Ratcliffe lock very similar. The junction onto the Trent is impressive, very wide and a very popular spot for fishermen. Stopped at Shardlow Marina for a look at their boats, viewed one that was featured in WW Aug 95, a very nice boat with a number of inovative ideas, pity i'm not ready to buy my boat yet as it was just what I want.Finally moored Shardlow - unloaded our gear to the car, what a shame that this trip over and it's back to work.