From tpav@globalnet.co.uk Sun Apr 18 19:28:09 1999 Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 21:24:27 -0000 From: Trevor Pavitt Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: canals@blacksheep.org Subject: Lady Elgar goes North - 3 No great dramas to report ^Ö everything going horribly smoothly (but then we haven^Òt reached the L&L yet!) We finally cleared Milton Keynes and went up the Cosgrove and the Stoke Bruerne locks with nb ^ÓRachel^Ô ^Ö a single-hander whom we have met before. It being a Saturday there was the usual large crowd of gongoozlers at SB top lock. Passed through the Blissworth Tunnel which was much wetter than it has been for the last couple of years. Water levels generally are very good. Reached Nether Heyford and moored at a spot which we have often used before. NH has a useful mini-supermarket, paper shop etc within easy walking range of the canal. A strong wind blew up overnight and it was raining Sunday morning so, as we were ahead of schedule, we decided to stay put for the day and do a ^Ódomestic^Ô. Despite having moored carefully and, as we thought, well out of the line of fire we were hit not once but twice. Admittedly the wind was pretty strong but I^Òm beginning to revise my views on the idea of some sort of qualification for steerers. Monday we went up Buckby with a guy in a 50^Ò motor with 20^Ò butty short strapped. He was the sort of anarchic character who makes life on the Cut so enjoyable and interesting. Bought him a pie at the pie shop. Left him before the Braunston tunnel and went on our way to Barby where we moored at our favourite spot hard by the ^ÓNaughty Boys Club^Ô. We arrived at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and moored close to the stop lock at this historic junction. There is quite a lot of new housing going up but it seems to be sympathetically done. Only excitement was when the dog^Òs lead got swept off the roof into the Cut ^Ö managed to retrieve it with the Sea-Searcher. Turned on to the Coventry canal. Much detritus in the water at Nuneaton; had to stop to clear the screw. The section between Nuneaton and Atherstone is very pleasant, near Mancetter we passed David Kitching taking Judy and Stan^Ò s boat, Blue Heron, from Chirk to Braunston. On this section we also passed one of my favourite boats ^Ö ^ÓIndia^Ô a drop-dead-gorgeous 70^Ò tug by Roger Fuller. Atherstone has good shops above the top lock and excellent moorings below the bottom where we spent the night. Thursday was very wet and one of our longest days, over ten hours. The bridges are getting lower ^Ö we were slow getting our tall exhaust stack down and squidged the brass hoop at Bridge 89 on the Coventry canal. Have now fitted the titch pipe. There is much dredging work going on between Woodend Lock and Handsacre on the T & M; we had to thread our way delicately past barges and heavy plant. Moored on nice visitor moorings in the centre of Rugeley. Much better conditions today (Friday). Lovely stretch of the T & M between Rugeley and Great Haywood. Turned onto the Staffs and Worcs (my favourite canal) and finally moored at Gailey. Should reach Compton tomorrow where we shall pause for a couple of days and pick up an extra crew member before winding and setting off up the Shroppie. Cheers Trevor - nb "Lady Elgar"