From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Fri Sep 5 09:27:10 1997 id AA16015; Fri, 5 Sep 97 09:26:28 EDT for canals-nonews@blacksheep.org (canals@blacksheep.org) To: canals@blacksheep.org Date: Wed, 3 Sep 1997 19:43:35 +0100 From: Michael J Wooding Subject: The Trip Report - part 1 (longish) Hi Y'all, Below is part 1 pf 3 of our recent holiday trip report. This part includes the journey to Hpwas and the GiG. Regards ... Mike nb Wa'Na'Nee'Che ********************************************************************** Wednesday August 13th Weather: Rain showers AM, sunny spells PM Set off from the moorings at Napton top at around 1230 and locked down a very busy flight (everyone coming up going to Henley?). A gentle uneventful cruise to Newbold arriving at around 7.30, where we just managed to find a mooring - almost in the tunnel! A meal and a jug or two of ale at the Barley Mow rounded the day off nicely. Thursday Aug 14th Weather: Hot & Sunny Set off from Newbold at 10.00 after spring cleaning the cabin roof and sides. Stopped at Rose Boats, Stretton Wharf, for a few bits of chandlery and cabin fan number 3. Saw Tam Lin at Harborough Magna and found out later that they had had a breakdown. Saw Coronation at her moorings at Ansty, but no sign of Jeff. Also moored just along from Jeff we finally found Judy and Stan on Blue Heron and Sean with Laplander. John and Gillian off Tam Lion were also there, scrounging lifts on Blue Heron and Laplander. Had a quick chat and then arranged to meet for a Mini-GiG at the Anchor, Hartshill. Cruised on to Sutton Stop where we took on some essential supplies (ice creams) and the cruised to the Anchor, arriving around 5.30. Laplander and Coronation arrived around 7.30 with Blue Heron shortly after in tow behind Mary Ellen. It transpired that Blue Heron had turned one of her fan belts into bits of string! A very entertaining evening in the Anchor. Friday Aug 15th Weather: Very Hot & Sunny Left the Anchor at 9ish after confirming that Stan was getting the necessary spares delivered to him for Blue Heron - Coronation, Mary Ellen and Laplander had already left around 06.45. Cruised to Atherstone top lock arriving around 10.30, finally got out of the bottom lock around 13.45. There had been a problem with a paddle at lock 6, but although the BW man sorted it out pretty quickly, a healthy queue had developed both ways. We also picked up Watershed below lock 7, eventually towing them to about a mile before Hopwas. They were suffering from gearbox problems - the box appeared to be full of bits of them! No problems at Glascote locks, apart from catching the queue up again. We left watershed mooring just past Sutton Road Bridge and cruised the last mile to Hopwas, arriving around 7ish. A quick meal and then into the Club for the start of the GiG! Saturday Aug 16th Weather: Very Hot & Sunny Saturday was a great day all round- the only problem was that there seemed to be no gaps between the drinking sessions! Thanks to Sue and Neil for taking us into Sainsburys to obtain more stores. It was great to meet everyone from the list/ng who was there and put some faces to names to boats. Rose, Judy’s granddaughter stole the show, although Val’s attempted to grab some of the limelight later in the day with that fence trick! The BBQ was a very informal affair with loads of people cooking heaven knows what. Jeff and Benny’s show in the evening was exceptional and the bonfire afterwards with the Kilkenny lubrication rounded the day of for us at about 1.15, with some still partying on and Bruce’s voice getting hoarser by the minute. The only thing that still confuses me though is the Jazz trio that played during the BBQ - there were six of them? Sunday Aug 17th Weather: very Hot & Sunny Arose around 9 and after breakfast helped Dave get Spey ready for the cruise to Tamworth Cruising Club - we were part of Spey’s guest crew as Wa’Na’Nee’Che was facing the wrong way. The photos when eventually processed will explain all, but suffice it to say that one interested bystander commented from the tow path as we thumped by that ‘he had seen all sorts of trading boats on the canal during his life, but never one with a cargo such as this!’. The cargo was essentially **** and **** just aft of the bows sitting on the planking, Val and **** sitting in deck chairs aft of them, Krystyna, Roxy (the dog) and myself seated at a large picnic table complete with large Tetleys umbrella amidships, and Sean, **** and Dave at the rear - nothing strange about that? The rest of the convoy consisted of Corixa II, Blue heron, Zephyr, Jackal & Bakewell, Will Crooks, Coronation, Mary Ellen, Midnight Diamond & But&Ben, Upon arrival at the club Dave decided that it might be prudent to wind Spey before our (liquid) lunch. However, the Bolinder had other ideas, and just as Dave was going for reverse she said no more, so that was that and we quietly, but with an air of efficiency, slipped to a mooring just past the club arm. Had a very pleasant couple of hours sampling the hand-drawn Pedigree in the club and then off to help wind Spey, David and Sean having managed to convince the Bolinder to co-operate. The winding was a sight to behold, even the fisherman who I was almost walking all over seemed quietly amused, and it has to be said extremely co-operative and pleasant about the whole affair. Little did he know then that Chris and Jan were going to wind the pair! A nice quiet journey back to Hopwas and some late solid lunch aboard Wa’Na’Nee’Che. Midnight Diamond returned from the GiG in tow behind Mary Ellen, apparently ran out of diesel. Sean took Laplander out for a night-time cruise around 9.00 with Krystyna et al on board and all then ended up in the clubhouse for a last drink or three together. All-in-all an excellent weekend and all thanks to Syd and his band of helpers for the weekend. Now I need the next two weeks of holiday on Wa’Na’Nee’Che to get over it! -- Michael J Wooding G6IQM email: michael.j@vhfcomm.co.uk World Wide Web site http://www.vhfcomm.co.uk KM Publications, 5 Ware Orchard, Barby, Nr.Rugby, CV23 8UF, UK Tel: (0)1788 890365 Fax: (0)1788 891883 VHF Communications Magazine - Especially covering VHF, UHF and Microwaves From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Sun Sep 7 05:33:22 1997 id AA09883; Sun, 7 Sep 97 05:32:59 EDT for canals-nonews@blacksheep.org (canals@blacksheep.org) To: canals@blacksheep.org Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 10:17:32 +0100 From: Michael J Wooding Subject: Trip Report part-2 (long) Hi Y'all, Part-2 of our trip report is attached, Hopwas to Cranfleet, via the head-of-tideway on the Trent and the Erewash Canal. Mike ******************************** Monday Aug 18th Weather: Very hot & humid Left Hopwas around 9.30 with Midnight Diamond in tow headed for Streethay Wharf and some fuel. Arrived at Streethay at around 11ish and bodies soon descended into the depths of Midnight Diamond and within 30 minutes Gill and peter were able to move under their own steam again - essentially I believe a blocked fuel pipe from the tank, but no doubt Gill and peter will let us know all the sordid details in due course. Both boats left the yard around 11.45 headed for Fradley. We lost sight of Midnight Diamond in the bends and as we turned right at Fradley we didn’t see them again - but as our phone didn’t bleep we assumed all was well. Cruised gently on eastwards down the Trent & Mersey to a very pleasant quiet mooring just below Tatenhill lock, arriving around 6.15 - we needed a rest! A nice pork chop salad, a bottle of Chardonnay and Mary Chapin-Carpenter on the CD - heaven! Tuesday 19th Weather: Very Hot, storm during late evening Just about to leave our overnight mooring when I heard a peculiar noise, suddenly I realised that it was a steamer - Laplander? no it was President and butty heading Fradley way. I learnt later on in the holiday that they had been up the Erewash! Excitement over, we set off around 10 and headed for Jannel Cruisers basin at and shopping in Burton. Saw Burton-on-Trent - 1.5 miles walk each way - not again, although a nice jug of ale in a tiny local pub on the way out of town - should be good I suppose, probably tapped directly into the Bass brewery not yards away! Left the hospitality of Jannel Cruisers around 1.15 and continued on for Shardlow, arriving around 7.30. Dinner and a few jars in the two pubs opposite and the day was done. (They can obviously count in Shardlow, because the jazz quintet playing in one of the pubs actually had five members!). Wednesday 20th Weather: Hot & humid, the odd shower later Left Shardlow around 10 after a pump-out at Dobsons and locked down onto the Trent. Cruised to Nottingham where we stopped intending to get some Nottingham lace for Wa’Na’Nee’Che, but gave up after a short but futile search to find any sensible shops. We did find the ‘Fellows, Morton & Clayton Canal Museum’ though, but which isn’t! It has nothing at all to do with either FMC or the canals, but is essentially a museum of the River Trent. Somewhat disappointed we left Nottingham and headed off downstream to an overnight mooring at the Ferry Boat Inn just below Stoke Bardolph lock. Thursday 21st Weather: Hot with some rain late PM Off downstream again at 9.30 saw us arrive at Newark at around 1ish for some shopping and a look around - a much nicer place than Nottingham. Set off again just after 3 and headed for our downstream limit at the head of tideway at Cromwell lock, arriving at around 4.15. OK I know some people take nb’s on tidal waters - so far I ain’t one of them. Flat(ish) bottomed nb’s aren’t designed for other than relatively still water as far as I am concerned. Had a look around and a chat with the lock keeper and then headed back upstream a mile or so to our overnight mooring at the Muskham Ferry Inn. An excellent little pub this with wonderful food and atmosphere. We spent a great evening in there, just us and a few locals, good ale (whatever it was!) and a huge steak dinner. We stumbled back down the ramp to Wa’Na’Nee’Che around 10 and were not heard of again till morning. Friday 22nd Weather: Very Hot Left the Muskham Ferry Inn around 9ish feeling none the worse for our night before (don’t know why) with a plan to travel all the way back upstream to Cranfleet - especially since I had invited one of my staff from work to meet us there for a meal, etc. Stopped off again in Newark to replenish the beer, wine and spirits locker, oh, and get some food, postcards and presents. Off again towards Cranfleet, suffering several delays at locks due to the early starter bank holiday traffic, but we finally arrived at Cranfleet at 9 just as my colleague and his wife arrived. Had a meal and a few jars at the Navigation and a night cap on board. Saturday 23rd Weather: Overcast then very wet! Left Cranfleet for Sawley Bridge Marina at 9ish to get a security key for the Erewash Canal lock paddles (nowhere else was either open or sold them!) and then returned to start our ascent of the Erewash around 1130. Found a tyre just above Long Eaton lock, but it didn’t fit the propeller too well - nor did the damn thing want to come back off without a fight! Got going again after 30 minutes or so and battled our way up the 14 locks to arrive at the Great Northern Basin at 5.15 - hey there was another lock! (OK, I now know that the lock into the basin is actually on the Cromford canal, so when the book says of the Erewash 14 locks and 11.75 miles it is technically correct!). By now the rain had finally stopped and I somewhat wearily stumbled round to the Great Northern pub to enquire about food - they don’t do any! Thanks heavens for the Indian take-away in the village. Actually there is a take-away and another Indian restaurant, we can certainly vouch for the take-away. We didn’t bother sampling the delights of the pub, but cracked open another bottle of Chardonnay instead. Sunday 24th Weather: More rain Left the Great Northern Basin around 9.45 after spending 30 minutes or so trying to get enough water into the lock to compensate for the 3 inch difference between the water flowing over the top gates and the water flowing over the bottom gates. Cruised down to Trent Lock in varying versions and strengths of rain, rain and yet more rain, although it did more-or-less stop after Long Eaton lock. Saw a Kingfisher between Gallows Inn and Hallam Fields locks - our first this year. Krystyna decided that one of the ropes would look better on the prop just coming out of Dock Holme lock - 10 minutes down the weed hatch later and we were mobile again. Finally locked onto the Trent around 5 and headed up to Sawley Bridge Marina to get some chandlery we saw the day before and then locked back up onto the Trent and Mersey, mooring again in Shardlow around 6.45. Had an very nice meal and a few jars of ale in the navigation (300 yards down the road that services the two canal-side pubs but in the opposite direction), essentially because neither of the two canal-side pubs there do food. -- Michael J Wooding G6IQM email: michael.j@vhfcomm.co.uk World Wide Web site http://www.vhfcomm.co.uk KM Publications, 5 Ware Orchard, Barby, Nr.Rugby, CV23 8UF, UK Tel: (0)1788 890365 Fax: (0)1788 891883 VHF Communications Magazine - Especially covering VHF, UHF and Microwaves From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Wed Sep 10 18:31:17 1997 id AA25891; Wed, 10 Sep 97 18:30:53 EDT for canals-nonews@blacksheep.org (canals@blacksheep.org) To: canals@blacksheep.org Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 21:33:21 +0100 From: Michael J Wooding Subject: Trip report part-3 - final part, longish OK Folks, Part 3, the final part of our recent holiday trip. Shardlow back to Napton. Byeeeee ... Mike **************************** Monday 25th Weather: Rain AM, warm and sunny PM Left Shardlow around 11 after calling into Dobsons for some advice on our water system. It seems that our accumulator needs repressurising. A gentle cruise up the Trent & Mersey. Called into Midland Canal Centre at Stenson lock to have a nosy at the chandlery, etc. - very poor show. Cruised on gently to the Bridge Inn just above Branston lock, arriving around 6.15. Dined on board for a change and then a few jars of August Wheat to round off - yes you guessed - the Chardonnay! Tuesday 26th Weather: Showery start, hot & sunny later A gentle stroll into Branston village for some stores, you must try the sausages available from Branston Butchery - Pork, Herbs and Alcohol - brings a whole new meaning to breakfast! Finally set off again at around 11.30, stopped at Swan Line Fradley for a pump-out and then headed back up the Coventry canal towards Hopwas. However, having decided to moor by the pubs at Hopwas, rather than use the moorings used for the GiG, we found that there was no space when we arrived and that the tow path just beyond Hopwas was still fenced off for works, so we decided to carry on to Fazeley. Good call, as we caught up with Midnight Diamond and spent a very pleasant evening on board her with Gill and Peter. Wednesday 27th Weather: Rain at first dry & sunny later Left Fazeley around 9ish heading for the Atherstone, arriving at bottom lock around 12, number four in the queue and just as the heavens opened up. Worked up the flight with the queue exiting top lock in the sunshine around 2.30 - a little faster than going down the flight a couple of weeks ago! Paid a visit to the hat shop (from our mole at the shop we learnt that we bought more hats this year than Judy! - is this possible?). Walked into Atherstone for a spot of late lunch and some shopping. Left Atherstone intentionally bound for the Anchor at Hartshill, but when we arrived the late afternoon had turned out so nice (I was in fact wearing my new straw sun hat!) that we decided to cruise on, eventually arriving at Sutton Stop around 8. Wandered into the Greyhound for a very tasty Balti and a few jars of ale. A very pleasant end to what turned out eventually to be a very nice day. Thursday 28th Weather: Sunny with odd showers Left Sutton Stop around 10.30 after a lazy start and cruised to Rose Boats, Stretton Wharf, where we filled up with diesel (average consumption 3.75 hours/gallon - even with the extended throttle use on the river), obtained a new tin of stern-tube grease and some new packing for the stuffing box. Passed Coronation at Ansty around 1130, but no sign of Jeff and the boat was all locked up. Just round the corner, Will Crooks and Thorn, but again no sign of Joe et al. Cruised on to Hilmorton and worked up the locks. We intended to stop at Rugby Wharf, but decided to press on to Braunston (maybe pick up the kids from my eldest daughter, who lives in the village, for the rest of the holiday) and arrived in light rain around 6ish. A jar or two of Braunston Brew in the Mill House finishing the day - and me! Friday 29th Weather: Sunny and breezy A relatively lazy day, although I spent much of the morning re-packing the stuffing box and changing the gearbox oil. Our eldest, Amber, the grandchildren and our two teenagers, Michelle and Ashley, all descended upon us around midday, so we took them for a short cruise towards Napton and back for 2 or 3 hours. returned to the Mill House around 4 and continued with the lazy theme. We dined in the Mill House and were later joined by Amber and Sean (our son-in-law) and retired to Wa’Na’Nee’Che for a few night caps - it’s a good job they walked down to us from the village! Saturday 30th Weather: Wet, sunny later Set off from Braunston around 1030 headed for Napton. Stopped off at Midland Chandlers for a quick loo at the chandlery and then we were off towards Napton. Saw Willy No-Name at Napton bottom but no one on board, we assumed that Dave & Co. were in the Folly. Joined the queue to climb the flight at around 1.30, the amount of traffic coming down was horrendous. Had a chat with Ian our resident lock keeper and he said that it had been like this for two days and would probably continue for another two - everyone returning from Henley. Saw Terry and Sue Waldron aboard a friend’s boat exiting bottom lock and heard that Gill and Peter in Midnight Diamond were in the flight ahead of us. We eventually climbed out of top lock (for those of you who are confused about which is top lock - I mean number 14, Adkins Lock!) around 3.35 (we normally do the flight in about three quarters to one hour). No sign of Gill and Peter, but I remember them saying they would try and get back to Fenny on Saturday. Put Wa’Na’Nee’Che to bed in her moorings, collected the vehicles form the farm, unloaded some of the gear and headed for home around 5.30. All in all a very good holiday. The weather was for the greater part of the time very good, and even the poorer bits were most enjoyable. The new water (T&M south, River Trent & Erewash canal) made a pleasant change and the many people and boats we met, some old friends many new, made everything complete. Miles travelled: 296 Hours Cruised: 118 Locks: 136 2 towing jobs 1 GiG -- Michael J Wooding G6IQM email: michael.j@vhfcomm.co.uk World Wide Web site http://www.vhfcomm.co.uk KM Publications, 5 Ware Orchard, Barby, Nr.Rugby, CV23 8UF, UK Tel: (0)1788 890365 Fax: (0)1788 891883 VHF Communications Magazine - Especially covering VHF, UHF and Microwaves