From norman@cix.co.uk Sat May  1 11:21:16 1999
Date: 21 Apr 1998 13:10:09 GMT
From: Ian Cardinal <norman@cix.co.uk>
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: 3 days out on the Soar at Easter

Last year we had 3 sun-drenched days on the river from Sileby Mill:
having enjoyed this so much, we decided to repeat the experience with
some friends this year, enjoying the early Spring.

Then came THE FLOODS! All over the Easter weekend we watched weather
forecasts avidly as the levels yo-yo-ed up & down. At one point the Soar
was described as a large lake between Leicester & the Trent. We were sure
we would not be able to go. What is more, one of the boats was stuck in
Kegworth shallow lock, the previous crew having to be rescued by the Fire
Brigade!

By Tuesday the boat was returned & it was clear that the river would be
open again with care, so we packed ourselves off, getting just above the
Lock at Sileby for the night. All would be well, we thought, provided (1)
it didn't rain & (2) we went up, rather than downstream.

Wednesday it rained all day. There are very great limits to what you can
do on a canal boat in the rain; especially when your friends have tiny
children. Fortunately the central heating in "Millstream" was able to dry
out coats & gloves. Even so, when the water was pouring over both ends of
Birstall lock at 4pm we decided to call it a day.

Anxiously keeping an eye on the tightness of the ropes, I was relieved to
see the rain finally fizzle out @6pm. Even when we awoke in the morning
to see the weir running high, the sunshine deceived me until we were
about to set off and...... a little BW man advised us strongly to stay
put until the gates of the lock were clear of water. So stay we did.

It was very pleasant in the relatively sunny day to sit there. We even
found the local "chippy" for lunch. But it was frustrating when you only
have 3 days. By mid afternoon I thought we might be safe to proceed, but
the ladies had had enough. So round we turned & headed downstream, to the
relative safety of Watermead country park.

The last day was...interesting. There was still a LOT of water around,
and we were struggling with the current, especially after the Wreake
joined us at Junction lock. But by lunch we were back at Sileby, to the
safety of the boatyard. Getting moored by the fuel barge was an
interesting experience too, but with John Evans's help, all was well.

NOT the holiday I was planning, but a good experience, by & large.
Hopefully another year things might be different!

(BTW the cold weather meant that no-one saw the tattoos!)

Ian Cardinal

(aka Norman the narrowboat)