From Malcolm2.Jones@uwe.ac.uk Thu Sep 23 08:56:25 1999 Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 12:41:55 -0400 (EDT) From: "Jones, Malcolm2" Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Cc: Gwyneth Williams , Alvechurch Boat Centres , "Noseley, John3" , Christine Subject: Trip Report - Leicester Ring - Part 2 (long) Day 5: Blaby to Mountsorrel. As usual, a reasonably early start, while the youth of Leicester were still asleep; enjoyed the relatively rural run into Leicester, tied up at Castle Gardens in the centre of the City. Although access to the moorings is by BW key, somehow two boys were already there, sitting on the landing stage. They seemed reasonably pleasant, so we asked them to keep an eye on the boat for us while we were away. Now for the tourist bit - and a bit of ^Óhunter gathering^Ô - found the cathedral, with a very loquacious steward who was only too happy to answer questions and explain things - for example did you know that the rotting remains of King Richard III were dumped in the River Soar when his tomb (in Greyfriars Leicester) was looted during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. There is now a modern memorial stone to the King in the chancel of the cathedral. Back out in a welcome shower of rain to look for food shops, we found the Shires (looking much like the Galleries, the Arndale Centre, the Grafton Centre, etc.) complete with standard scenic lifts and cash points, but nothing so useful as a food shop. Once the escape committee had come up with a satisfactory plan, we broke out and found some real shops and a proper market (complete with stall-holders calling the odds - something the youngest crew hadn^Òt experienced before). Eventually also found a Tesco which produced the necessary stores which we promptly took back to the boat and began consuming. We^Òre sure we could have found more interesting by-ways to poke around if we hadn^Òt all been hot, hungry and tired. When we set off, we managed to avoid all the unsigned weirs through Leicester. SWMBO had thought that the bridge ahead looked rather low - fortunately she wasn^Òt steering at the time. Soon we were out into more rural scenery again and began to have company in the locks. A shore party produced a fine collection of ripe blackberries for pudding, an event to be repeated later in the trip. It was great to see several boats on the way back from the working-boat gathering in Nottingham, including Ivor Batchelor taking a well deserved rest on the towpath in the sun. One of the junior crew managed to slip while getting on after a lock, but fortunately fell into the boat rather than the water. First aid was administered to the afflicted portion of her anatomy, which required her brother to go round the outside of the boat rather than through her cabin to spare her blushes. Reached Mountsorrel in time for tea/supper/dinner and moored opposite ^ÓJustice^Ô - the boat used in the Waterways World videos. After supper we adjourned to the pub, where we had arranged to meet a friend of Anne^Òs; then back to the boat for coffee, followed by more Harry Potter. Day 6: Mountsorrel to Shardlow. An earlier than usual start as the day looked long in prospect, though some of the crew only roused briefly to ask if it was lunchtime at 10 o^Òclock, before finally stirring at the sound of cake being passed around with the ^Óelevenses^Ô (^Ónot until you^Òve had breakfast Tim^Ô). Meanwhile the crew had had to contend with an apparently abandoned BW barge (^ÓMCB12^Ô) at Barrow Deep Lock; before we could ring BW to report/complain the crew appeared to work tug ^ÓLittle John^Ô up through the lock to rejoin its tow on its way up to Leicester. At Loughborough the Hunter/Gatherer went ashore to Hunt down Sainsburys and Gather provisions for the crew. Onward down river, passing more unconverted working boats including FMC N.B. Rudd. Also saw N.B. Jackal and butty Hereford tied up near Normanton, but no sign of Chris or Jan. We had been followed into Loughborough Lock by Peter le Marchant Trust wide boat Symphony, carrying a party of disabled people for a day out. At length we reached the Trent and remembered to turn left (all those warnings about Cranfleet weir had worked!), passed the entrance to the Erewash Canal, promising to visit on another occasion. Up to Sawley Locks, where a notice advised that the lock keeper was engaged on engineering duties (lunch?), so we had the fun of working the lock for ourselves (^ÓLook, I^Òm opening the gates with one finger. When do we get another one of those?^Ô - Tim). We^Òd passed the lowest point of our journey. Your correspondent missed the progress up to Shardlow, in order to prepare for the crew a culinary treat of Tenghai Curried Lamb, but apparently we passed the Peter le Marchant Trust narrow boat Serenade (at one of the narrower spots of course), before mooring right outside the Malt Shovel - perfect! (I think the pub staff failed to notice that one of the crew kept popping back to the boat to refill her tea mug during the evening!). While the skipper was left guarding the curry, some of the crew tried to hunt down the Heritage Centre - it was shut, with no clue as to when it opened. Day 7: Shardlow to Burton. Another earlyish start, in order to water before the lock, and get to Burton in time for the brewery! We were joined at the first lock by N.B. ^ÓHakuna Hakara^Ô (No Hurry), with whom we shared locks for most of the morning. Among the boats moored above Shardlow lock was Fulbourne, but no sign of Martin L. These wide T&M locks seem to be typified by short top gates and very high cills. Never mind - with due caution we didn^Òt sink either boat. However, SWMBO got a tad nervous when the bow nudged the cill of Aston Lock and was getting well doused with the water leaking round the gates to form a pretty waterfall (Charlie of the famous Dimmocks would have been proud of such a ^Ówater-feature^Ô). Dropped Mair and smallest crew person off at Stenson for a blackberrying walk. But on this stretch there are less bridges than normal, so less bridge-holes at which to recover walkers. So four miles or so later we thought we^Òd better tie up and wait for them (and you thought canal boats could only travel at walking pace!). The alternative, that they walked all the way to Burton, might have been OK with Mair; but Tim would really have had something to moan about, although any excuse will do! Some debate as to where was best to tie in Burton, as we wanted both Sainsburys and a brewery tour. So we ended up with a ^ÓCaptain^Òs Navigational Error^Ô and tied near Jannel Cruisers, with Marstons on one side and Bass on the other. Walked to our preferred brewery - Marstons - to be kindly received, but to discover that your correspondent had dreamt that they offered tours on a drop-in basis (but ring Lesley in advance and she^Òd be happy to arrange something). Set off on a long hike to the Bass museum, discovering as we walked that in Burton of all places we were not within easy reach of a pub which looked even half suitable. Hot and foot sore we arrived at the Bass Museum just in time for last admission. The museum was quite good, especially as the visit ends in the bar to collect a free half pint - thirst quenching Victoria (a museum special at only 3.8% abv) was chosen and enjoyed together with 3 Tangos (what an embarrassing party to take to a brewery - 1 under 16, 1 Methodist and one non-beer drinker!). Sainsburys having been spotted on the way to the museum, we hit it on the way back (preferring to shop without the shopping list than walk the mile or so back to the boat only to turn round and come out again). Sainsburys^Ò brave offer ^Ówe^Òll help you load your car^Ô doesn^Òt extend to boats; but we did try all the free tasters they were offering. Staggered back to the boat for supper and more Harry Potter and bed. Did you know that Marston^Òs distribution yard by the canal works virtually all night - SWMBO can vouch for the 03:30 departure! More to come. Malcolm ------------------------------------- Malcolm L M Jones, System Accountant, University of the West of England, Email: Malcolm2.Jones@uwe.ac.uk Tel: 0117 344 2733 --- The UK Waterways Network - http://www.ukwaterways.net/ * bringing the inland waterways community together * You are currently subscribed to canals as: george@adiva.com To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-canals-407N@ukwaterways.net