From suevbutler@compuserve.com Mon May 3 18:36:37 1999 Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 14:11:40 -0400 From: susan butler Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: "INTERNET:canals@blacksheep.org" , judy Subject: Trip Report - Jemima D - Days 1 and 2 - Longish [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] Trip report - Sue and Neil on Jemima D Taking in the GU, the Soar, the Erewash, the Trent and the Trent and Mersey Day 1 - Saturday 20th June Winding down^Å I had a bad cold, and really felt under the weather so we didn't leave home til late, and got to Jemima D at Kilby Bridge mid-afternoon after a foul drive. After settling in and having tea we found that the pub still wasn't open, so we walked to the Dog and Gun at Kilby, following a footpath across the fields. This was a nice walk (about one and a half miles) and the pub was nice - although we sat outside as it was such a hot, close evening. There was plenty of light in the sky at 11pm for us to walk back across the fields - we only used the torch on the road section - for safety! (It is a busy stretch of the A50) We were surprised how quiet it was at Kilby Bridge, last time we were here the moorings were almost full, and it was very busy. This time we were the only boat there until early evening when Monsalvat joined us. Day 2 - 21st June - Summer Solstice Kilby Bridge - Thurmaston Lock 16 locks, 13.5 miles, 8.5 hours Very hot and sunny Mad dogs and Englishmen^Å. We set off in glorious sunshine, and locked through the first 4 locks alone, and they were all against us (a pattern that summed up the whole week). We caught up with Monsalvat at Dunns Lock, where the Anti-vandal locks had been vandalised! Monsalvat couldn't get through on One-to-One, but I got a good signal on Vodafone, so I called Canal phone for the first time - which was an enlightening experience: "We are at Dunns Lock on the Grand Union Leicester Section." "Can you spell that please" "D U N N S" "Oh - you are on the Chesterfield" "No the GULS" "No, it's on the Chesterfield" etc etc Luckily Neil got the lock open before I completely lost my rag! She ended up saying that someone would ring me back. I said there was little point as we were now going through - but that BW needed to come and fix the A-V locks as we couldn't lock them up again. I wonder whether they did, or whether they are wandering up and down the Chesterfield looking for us! After that we locked through with Monsalvat and her crew - 2 brothers and a labrador called Emma who delighted in having sticks thrown into the canal for her to fetch - even below the lock gates as the water was bubbling out - but wouldn't walk across the lock gates for fear of falling in! At Ayleston Mill, the river tugs at the boat as we pass the Weir, and we really feel we are on a river now. The journey into Leicester is pleasant - it is a hot Sunday afternoon and the world and their dogs are walking beside the Soar and asking questions at the locks. We are getting hotter and thirstier as the day goes on - there are no real opportunities for liquid refreshment through this stretch! Oldest Swingers in Town Leicester itself is very nice - the Mile Straight is full of swans, and they have gone to town making this a pleasant place to stop and moor. The moorings are very safe (access with a BW key) but there was a shortage of nice pubs^Å We end up in The Soar Point a trendy place, with a terrace overlooking the river - we were the oldest in there by a couple of decades, but were made very welcome. A pity about the designer beers, but nice to listen to the jazz band. My advice to thirsty crews in Leicester is to hang on til you reach North Lock where the North Bridge Tavern awaits. We stopped there too, and enjoyed a quieter pint, and also an opportunity to buy bread and milk at the garage. We left about 6 for a lovely evening cruise out through Leicester - past the factories and mills to the water park beyond and Thurmaston. It has been a quiet day, we have barely seen another boat moving, where is everyone? A perfect evening Thurmaston is a lovely quiet mooring. There are old gravel pits filled with water beside the canal - making a nice 'watery' landscape, we moored opposite the boatyard and crossed the river and canal by footbridge to get to the village. The Chinese take away had been recommended by Chris D and very good it was too. The Unicorn and Star was worth visiting too - a smashing pint of Shipstones! Another light night to walk back to JD, and warm enough to sit on the bow and watch the patterns in the sky. A perfect end to a lovely day. Sue and Neil Happy to be on Jemima D