Monday 21st May 2007 - To Crick Boat Show.
We’re leaving Welford without our cupboards. Neil is snowed under with work and we’re only a little job that can wait a bit longer. We’ll have to book him next time we’re through if we can’t find a cabinet maker who can fit us in at short notice somewhere else on the cut.

Surprised there are so few boats travelling down to Crick, most we’ve seen are heading away. What do they know that we don’t.

Stopped at Bridge 27 on mooring rings next to a wooden bench seat. It was an overcast day with a hint of rain and still very cold compared with last week. Phone signal inside the boat is pitiful so we reckon the wooden bench on the tow path must be the canal version of a phone box.

Tuesday 22nd
Moved further south stopping at Skew Bridge for water. Played cautious and crept slowly along until we reached bridge 17, we didn’t want to overshoot and meet a solid line of boats.
Just one boat on the steel piling at the bridge, the rest must be further down sitting in the shallows and using their planks.

Took a walk over the bridge and up the back of Crack’s Hill to see what’s happening on the tow path further down. Boats kicked out of Crick Marina to make space for exhibits are moored nose to tail out on the canal.

Crick Marina came into view with the main marquee and smaller tents in the usual spots but it’s still quiet. Signage has gone up to keep visiting boats away and one or two working boats have taken up position but there’s no show-buzz just yet.

We walked on to the village just as the sun got up to heat and were forced to cool off at the Wheatsheaf. A quick shop at the Co-op afterwards sent us on our way back across the fields to home.
A fisherman has adopted us and when he wasn’t waving his perch pole he played guitar. If there had been room we could have danced a threesome. Just to show him I was no slouch I got the expanding rod out of the locker and cast my fish hook up and down the canal. Nothing, not a bite nor a nibble nor even a sneeze from a passing fish. Felt like playing the guitar.

Wednesday 23rd
I must have impressed someone with my walk yesterday because today I’m invited to walk again. This time we’re off to Yelvertoft or Yelverton as someone calls it. That’s in Devon if I remember right, or is it Norwich? Anyway a splendid place with a small post office/stores and a butcher’s shop.

Maisy met us outside the stores and told us all we wanted to know about village shops and a whole lot more.
The butcher is terribly friendly, everyone gets a good talking to as they ponder the red meat and village prices. There’s a guy making sausages in the back room and when he’s done twisting them he hangs them in the cold store alongside the split cows.

A very pleasant village, Maisy seemed to know everyone.
Taking a different route out of the village we checked out the village pump and the church on the hill.

All Saints Church looked as though it had been extended on more than one occasion but round the back was the prettiest stonework seen in a long while. I tried the door but couldn’t get inside. I feel sure there’s a story here.

From the church it’s a short walk to Skew Bridge and back down the tow path to the boat. Passing the old wooden boat that sits on the canal bed we see Mr and Mrs Swan proudly showing off their new brood.

Back onboard it was time to check out the 3G signal and do some finger poking on the keyboard. Within minutes we had a ship’s portable VHF licence. I’m wondering if we should have registered as a ship before doing this. Now I’ve got questions, what about lifeboats and a funnel or a mast and who should wear the captain’s hat?

The long range forecast says we’re having rain over bank holiday and to ease the pain we can have a baking hot day today. Yesterday was warm but today it’s hot and the barbeque came out again. Only trouble is - flies and boat hirers. Flies get the newspaper treatment but hirers smell the cooking and remembering last nights shrivelled pub pasty they make jokes about stopping with us for the night.

Too nice not to fish and by dusk it was two to me.

Thursday 24th
Doing a stint of several days without access to a water tap isn’t normal for us so we’ve made a pact to stop washing. It’s actually not showering rather than not washing. We can wash in an egg cup of water, after all we don’t want to smell do we?
And our economy seems to be a success. Couldn’t believe the water meter so dipped the tank and it’s true, we still have a 90% full tank.

Now that the weather is holding I’ve been allocated to outdoor jobs. Today I’m mostly down on the engine flats checking the ships electrical system, otherwise known as topping up the batteries.
There’s lots of discussion going on over LED lights these days. Seems there’s more available now than a year ago and prices have fallen enough to make it interesting for those who want to save power.

(For more info and a laugh see this website 28th May)

Friday 25th May
For the first time in a week I won the morning’s fly swatting competition. We cleared them last night but there’s enough in the boat by the morning to keep two newspapers busy whacking them on the walls and ceilings. I feel sorry for the spiders, they’ll go hungry again.

Huge fish spotted. Not just by me but another boater who stopped to check his eyes weren’t deceiving him. This one must be over two feet long, brown (yeh, what do you expect) and whacking the weeds hanging over the canal bank, then circling and feeding on whatever he knocked into the water. Did I have a chance of catching him? Nope, didn’t have a harpoon nor a net big enough and anyway he’d already cruised out of range on his way down the cut to Crick Marina.

As the sun went down behind the trees a treat was in store for us, Terry and Pam popped in after checking in at a local hotel. We sat and chatted and talked boats and I admired their thoroughness in sorting a boat specification and dedication to finding the right boat builder.

News just in (rumour) says BW are being merged or privatised.
Feeling sorry for them, I’ve been racking my brains for ways to help their financial situation. Had an idea that might bring in a few quid – lock sponsorship. Just like roundabout sponsoring except boater’s names instead of local companies. Then I remembered it’s already been done, local lads have already sponsored Bush Lock, Dunns Lock and Aylestone Lock, the very ones I wanted.

Saturday 26th
Crick Boat Show opens today. Walking over Cracks Hill we are there in 20 minutes and don’t have to queue, unlike those from the car park
A shopping list as long as your arm in one pocket and a couple of quid in the other we mingled with the crowds.
The absence of tool vendors consigned my list to the bottom of the pocket. Alright we bought a life jacket for the trip across the channel (one should do) and the odd “I’ve always wanted one of those” things but it was nothing like the shopping trip I’d expected.
We did have some success, we got help with our Canal Planner software and received a complete replacement, latest version, with smiles. Can’t fault their after sales service.

Bumped into a couple from nb.Albert who we’d met on the Nene last year (Northampton to Peterborough 27th July 2006). How they recognised us I’ve no idea because we look just like any Tom, Dick or Harry, but they came over to us as we ate dubious French crepes and exchanged news. Discovered they too run a Blog so we’ll be checking on them from time to time.
Couldn’t explore the show without calling on Mark and Lorain on their brand spanking new narrowboat Lorimar. With a queue like the London Eye we left our boat tour for another day. Mark was standing back letting the builder take the visitors through, I think he would have been happy to sit and enjoy his boat in peace and quiet but that’s not going to happen with a stunning boat.

Bumped into Terry and Pam again doing their boat tours and then spotted Chris and Stelle from nb.Belle doing the rounds. Chris has taken the plunge and fitted a boat full of LED lights and is very happy with them. Looks like we could buy shares in Bedazzled or UltraLeds and make some money this year.

Tony Brooks was doing his freebie training sessions on engines so I booked in. Very useful, not just for the training but also for sorting questions. Feel better prepared for breakdown maintenance as a result. Came up with three cherrys when I got RCR to spill news on typical Beta engine problems.

As that wasn’t enough excitement for one day we bumped into nb.Fair Fa, the great, great grandmother of Balmaha, third boat from Sandhills we believe. We could see some of the tell tale fit-out characteristics by just looking at the woodwork.

Slept well.

Sunday May 27th
Back to the show but the weather had changed, we were seeing light rain and increasing wind. Undeterred we checked out the exhibits, met friends doing the rounds like us and picked up the odd necessity like tins of paint.

A visit to the floating bookshop to buy new books and leave read ones gave our legs a little more exercise on the towpath outside the marina. She’s a converted narrowboat and will be setting off for Saul Festival at the end of June on completion of her fit-out at Welford (another job for Neil). She’ll cruise under a ‘Stop me and buy one’ banner, offering 2nd hand books at the same time as finding a home for those dust collectors on your bookshelves. Now what was the boat name? French Lander 2??

Toured nb.Lorimar and admired the excellent fit-out from Heartwood Narrowboats. The smiles say everything on the faces of two very proud owners, Mark and Lorain and their very happy boat builder with new boat orders in his pocket.

Then the rain and wind really got going. Puddles appeared everywhere, on the pathways, between the tents and inside the marquees.
The rain has had a positive effect, the flies have all disappeared. Two positive effects, hayfever symptoms have gone.

Monday 28th May
It’s Bank Holiday Monday and raining from dawn to dusk. The towpath was deep in water going to the show and deep in mud on the way back. Wellies were broken out and we splashed our way through the mire instead of around it. Memories of walking the ditches beside country lanes going to school in the fifties came to mind, ah those were the days. An hour late getting there in the morning and an hour late getting home for tea but oh the pleasure of wading through puddles up to your welly brims.

Fewer punters today but we’re back there, doing our stuff, talking to equipment suppliers mostly. Still not convinced that a 100 Watt solar panel is worth £760 when it only delivers, on an average bright day, 4 amps when we need something like 10 amps to make it worthwhile.

The atmosphere was good, with entertainment, music, stilt walkers and Napoleon himself.

Food was plentiful and the variety meant never having to repeat the same meal but we couldn’t fault the pasty bar and called here a couple of times.

We thought the aerobatics would get cancelled but there was no stopping the crazy guy in the fast and noisy plane that dived and climbed and splattered itself between the clouds above us. Someone was heard to comment that it wasn’t surprising we won the war with pilots like this.

Tuesday 29th May 2007
Broke the record for getting out of bed and dressed. Mark and Lorain on nb.Lorimar were leaving Crick Marina, heading north past us as we picked sleepy dust from our eyes. Waving back we misread his hand signals and thought he was pulling in for a visit. Up like a flash and tidying away as we stumbled to the stern doors we finally collapsed in a heap on the steps as we realised they weren’t stopping. Phew, we’d love to have you aboard but not so early in the morning next time.

With the show over, life has returned to normal. Found a jar of exploded maggots in the cratch, thought it best not to lift the lid, must have been hundreds of flies in there, and the smell……..

Today, we’re mostly sitting tight. Boats heading north, nose to tail tell us it’s chaos down at the marina, not the place to be when we want the water tap. Water economy is going well, used half a tank in exactly one week, which is a first for us. Though we could have saved more by leaving the crockery outside overnight instead of washing up in the sink.

The weather forecast is lousy for the rest of the week which is a pity because we’re meeting up with nb.Megan on the Leicester Ring. Well that’s the plan but if the rivers are running high then we’ll have to think again and maybe plan a canal only route. But it’s bound to be nice in June, the weather is always lovely because the best people were born then.

Mon 14th May 2007 Union Wharf, Market Harborough.
Rain, wind and wrong location meant Balmaha was covered in nature’s confetti from the flowering horse chestnut tree overhead. As if that wasn’t enough two large dogs dug holes in the towpath and deposited mud up the boat sides and over the roof. I may as well have left the sponge and shampoo in the cupboard yesterday.

A brief shop visit and we were off to Foxton Locks. Watching the boats go up and down the flight of ten we paused at the centre pond as the smallest and the largest passed each other.

Hanging around Tony and Mary’s shop, talking as you do, we met a couple from NZ doing the rounds after a wedding in Aylesbury. Hiring a boat this week and a car the next for a tour of Scotland and Ireland they’ll return home down under the week after (for a rest I shouldn’t wonder). They weren’t the slightest bothered by the rain, they were having a cracking time.

Friends on a Roses’ boat, on the other hand, aren’t so pleased. Their cruise of the Leicester Ring will be curtailed due to rising river waters and the alternative of wandering around the ‘Arms’ will be a substitute for cruising the Soar and Trent.

Tues 15th
Walking to the top of Foxton Locks we met friends Dave, Maggie and Jenny joining the queue to come down the flight.
Booked at number eight they had time to explore the inclined plane, Mary’s shop and the coffee house.
We all chipped in to work their boat through the flight, down to the basin and onto the Harbro’ Arm.

Aboard Balmaha we caught up on news going back anything from four years to a lifetime. Plenty of time was given to recalling our merchant navy days back in the 1970s when we still had ships under an English flag.
Dave made me laugh when I asked him if he’d bumped walls or boats in the tunnels between here and Braunston to which he answered “Both, we hit the tunnel wall and a boat because I left it too late to turn round”.

Wed 16th
Our two boats travelled in convoy as the weather turned from drizzle to rain, making Harbro by late morning and taking the last two spaces. Yet another trek down to the shops (why didn’t the navvies join the canal to the river that runs through the centre of town?) and I was done in. Wouldn’t have minded but most of what I wanted couldn’t be found (fishing tackle shop).

The rain meant we couldn’t go out to play so I made the most of lighting fires in the corner of the room. Food cooked on ‘Rosy’ was eaten on Balmahaha (yummy, thanks) and the evening passed as it should with the girls at the table and the boys in the easy chairs.

Thurs 17th
Today is the parting of the ways as the Rosy crew go south to explore the Oxford Canal while we trundle slowly to Welford to meet cabinet maker Neil. Working their boat up Foxton Locks in the drizzle we say our goodbyes wondering when we’ll see them again. Deepest darkest Cornwall isn’t terribly accessible to narrowboats though it has been done before.

Calling in at the shop we lay hands on a copy of Waterways World with a picture of us sat in Bridge 61 pub, one of Andrew Denny’s photos taken during November’s anti Defra protests.

Taking our turn up the flight we get comments from the lockie who was a little puzzled because he’d seen us go up an hour earlier.
Highlight of the day was watching a boat hirer crawl out of the canal outside the Locks Inn just as we entered the bottom lock. It couldn’t have been too cold because he was still standing there in his wet clothes as I appeared at ground level and took his picture.

Back on the canal and heading south we called it a day north of Bosworth Tunnel and settled down to an evening on our own around the fire. The rain had gone off but was replaced by chronic hayfever. Might just as well bury my head in a bucket of water.

Friday 18th
We’d gone a hundred yards into Bozzy tunnel before it dawned on me that we had no bow light. Cabin lights gave a reasonable glow and I’d assumed it was my eyes taking a while to get accustomed to the light or a dirty headlamp that gave a poor roof outline. Sending the ‘lecky below to check the instrument panel we found the tunnel light breaker switched off. Phew, glad we didn’t meet anyone. Last time this happened I was caught wearing sunglasses and thought the bulb had blown.

Veg cutters are out on the tow paths – hooray. It’s the usual line up, three strimmers one behind the other, two lads and a lassie. Looks like a bowling green now.

Into the Welford Arm we note this is only our second visit ever. But isn’t it busy? Boats come and go like Victoria station. Most don’t stop, or maybe they can’t but we’re fortunate to find a space and go off to explore. Walking up the high street and back across the fields we return to the canal through the trees and can’t help noticing the beauty of the Welford Arm now that winter is over.

Everything has ‘greened-up’ and the hedges are full of the plants that died back late last summer. It is easy to see why the local boat owners don’t advertise this haven of peace and tranquillity.

Saturday 19th May 2007
A bouncy castle, balloons and party atmosphere signal the start of a birthday party on the grass outside the old limekilns.
Rain was delayed until lunchtime but didn’t come to anything and was replaced by a nasty crosswind.
A walk to town (joke) to post a letter and a long-cut across the fields found us next to the reservoir.

A pleasant walk through flocks of sheep and back onto the canal put us in a happy frame of mind. I merrily painted the scuffed paintwork and gathered my thoughts for the blog.
Sitting at the table watching the world outside with one eye and the computer screen with the other I marvelled at the boat names passing my window.

Boats came and went and it was inevitable I suppose, that we should get clobbered and didn’t we get it this time. Poor old Balmaha shuddered, the fridge rattled its contents and if this had been at sea we’d have been thirty fathoms down by now.

“Sorry, sorry” was the reply, “We only hit your cover”. What!! Ripped the cratch cover?
Couldn’t see any canvas rips so it was all down to the steelwork. Michael Winner came to mind “Calm down, calm down, it’s only a boat accident”.

The worst colour for car accidents used to be green, light or dark green, it didn’t matter which.
Now it seems the dreaded colour green applies to canal craft. Couldn’t they hit the reeds, they’re green?

Doohhh. It’s hardly worth putting the lid back on the paint can these days.

ADDENDUM

Didn't get the utility room cupboard this time round, Neil is up to his eyes in preparations for Crick so we'll book in again another time.

Off to Crick show ourselves, lurking canalside somewhere outside the marina. See you all there.
M&V

Wednesday 9th May 2007 – Kings Lock, Aylestone Meadows.
Up at the crack of dawn, half seven-ish, and dashing to catch “Calum” a Viking hire boat as she heads for the next double lock in our direction, we zoom out of the reed beds and onto the M1 of Leicester’s canals.

Calum’s hirers had a disturbed night and I’m not surprised, mooring at Aylestone Lock. Children almost succeeded in setting their boat adrift, only one line was ashore as they returned from a trip up the road and stuff was fast disappearing from the roof. We were just a mile further on and had a quiet night as we always do. The clues are all round Aylestone Lock, crushed tins and graffiti says it all.

Wishing them well we stopped at the old County Arms and did a run to the shops at Blaby. Back on our way an hour later and entering the Leicester countryside my tears started falling, hayfever I guess.
A stop at Kilby Bridge water point was even less pleasant, an hour passed and the refilling hadn’t even kept up with the washing machine so we gave up and drifted over to the 48 hour moorings. Wet hands and runny nose was made worse by serious rainfall. What happened to the summer?

Partly because we hardly took any pictures this week and partly because I’m still drooling over what we saw a couple of days ago I’m sharing my current needs (wants?) as birthday present ideas.
Can’t make up my mind whether to have the bike or the car.

Thursday 10th
We left Kilby Bridge in thick cloud and a strong breeze, heading for Foxton.

Water levels are low again which makes passing other boats a bit tricky. It must look funny seeing two boats steaming towards each other which then skid up the muddy banks as they pass, tilting alarmingly, then slide back down into the water. Down at these levels the prop is digging up the most unusual things – clothes from the 1800s, prams with 3 feet diameter wheels, penny-farthing bicycles and gas lanterns chucked in from the road works at bridge holes. The only good thing about low water is the wind can’t get you. The other good thing is the fish look much bigger down here.

Having heard about Chinese narrowboats it was nice to see one. Shared locks with Mah Jongg heading down to Foxton and had a look at the quality. The split bamboo wood work looked beautiful. The steel sizes were up on what we get from UK shell builders and the price per foot was low, really low. I couldn’t see the point of wooden portholes, they’re bound to stain as soon as the varnish cracks but I understand they’re being replaced by the UK supplier. This definitely wasn’t Chinese junk.

Someone left a horse out at Kibworth Bottom Lock. She was so friendly that I couldn’t get a picture without her sniffing my hand or licking the camera. She hangs around the lock gate hoping to get some attention but some people just ignore her.

Stopped at Debdale for diesel. The price is up a penny from 3 weeks ago to 47p/litre, or up 3p from what it was 6 weeks ago. Is this the supplier’s fault or something to do with making the most of summer’s passing trade?

Moored near Tony’s Turn, so called because Tony Matts turns the trip boat Vagabond here and woe betide anyone obstructing it.

Friday 11th
Still at Tony’s Turn, just north of Foxton Locks. Repaired the water gauge, by fitting a new part from MSC (brilliant postal service) and all is working again.

Steve A called from Exeter. Hi Steve, bring the guitar up here and we’ll have a look at it. It’s got to be the pickup controls making those funny noises if you say it’s not the way you play it.

Another incoming call from John and Jean P meant we wouldn’t be seeing them this weekend. Shame, I was looking forward to seeing what John was bringing back from Spain. Ne’re mind mate, we’ll meet up the next time you can take a holiday from that luxury B&B. Bring us some sunshine won’t you.

Lit the fire, just takes the edge off during the evening. We still have three bags of coal in the bow locker and dried scraps of wood. We know where there’s more but no point in disturbing it until next winter.

Saturday 12th
Almost first thing – we are passed by nb.Ursula again. Last seen up the Coventry Canal, R and P have completed their cruise and are on their way north to put the boat away.

Dave S called to say he, Margaret and AN Other were fresh out of Roses’ on their way anti clockwise, doing the Leicester Ring. We’ll meet up with them and form a convoy through Leicester and no doubt catch up on old times. Dave was a navigation officer in the MN so I imagine there will be charts all over the table in the boat’s saloon. I expect to see his house flag (or a tea towel) on the stern and a pilot request flag on the mast.

Spent the day fitting a bass amplifier and speaker in the cupboard and we were just developing sizeable headaches when the phone rang – Ter and Claire are coming to tea. Spent a lovely afternoon/evening seeing how much we could remember of our early years in Kent, Sussex and Bristol. Tar muchly for the company and the mail drop. Watched the end of the Eurovision Song(?) Contest (sad people aren’t we) and admired Terry Wogan for speaking his mind and mine for that matter. Hope this is its last year.

Sunday 13th May 2007
Moved from Tony’s Turn to Foxton for water and lost the tap from the hose end. Thought I’d got over that sort of thing when we lost one at Raynsway last year but there’s another one in the canal now. Soaked by an explosion of water we didn’t even see where the tap went. Oh well, another trip to the plumbers next time in town.
Admired the new swing bridge and spotted one boat in the inclined plane arm, Paul’s I think. The barrier has gone back across the arm so no one else is welcome just at the moment.

While waiting for the tank to fill another boater warned us not to hang around the water point for too long because they saw a boat come out of the bottom lock, go straight across the basin and mount the towpath where we were standing. Couldn’t help noticing his boat’s name was Crystal Ball. Could this have been a future event I wonder.

Started raining as we left and we motored down to Harbro’ in increasing drizzle which turned to persistent rain after lunch. I’m not complaining, we need the water because levels were 12” down last Wednesday as we made our way from Kilby Bridge to Debdale. This will help make up for it but it’s a shame it rains on the boat hirers who have to keep going when they’re on a tight schedule.

Surprised to see empty moorings at Market Harborough. We cuddled up close to the next boat and went below for lunch. Nothing moving outside the portholes, no hire boats going in or out, even the pesky swan is glued to her nest which is good for our paintwork.

Seeing as it was raining so nicely I took the opportunity to soogi down the decks and paintwork and left the rain to rinse the boat. As the afternoon crept on and the dark got darker we lit the fire, anything to lift the gloom and to provide somewhere warm to dry my socks. Serves me right for wearing my best shoes out in the rain I suppose.
Later a few boats came and went, everyone looking drenched and fed up. Walkers wearing wellies, cyclists plastered up their backs and joggers streaked with mud head down the towpath back into Harbro’.
Don’t know what you’re doing but we’re staying in.

Sunday 29th April 2007
Another sunny day, perfect for a cooked breakfast – yummy. Relaxed by fiddling with the boat and tackling some of the easier jobs like repairing the spade handle again. One must have a spade on this type of boat, especially when cruising far from towns and their ‘facilities’.

Painted the chimney base to get rid of that rusty dribble that spoils the paintwork.

Spotted new boats with 515120, 515275 and 5154xx registrations.

Today is our day for getting hit by boats. First one thumped the side with his tail as he swung the tiller the wrong way, the second thumped us repeatedly, all the way down the side.

Speed wasn’t the only problem, some just forgot how to steer and that’s private as well as hired boats. With the boat perched partly on the canal bed the faster the boats went the more water they drew from under us and the steeper our dive to port with the inevitable crash as drawers and cupboards opened.
Hollering at them usually caused a look of surprise and a sudden cut in engine revs further on up the cut. Too late mate!!

It was getting me down to the point of moving somewhere else, a quiet lay-by with picnic tables would have been nice – no chance - so I decided to try posting notices.

The result was immediate and effective. All but the most thick-skinned Canaltime hirers did the decent thing and our sanity was restored.

We had comments from some boaters, either a tut-tut or “Good on yer mate” and one that made us laugh. Small boys can’t help reading notices out loud and speaking before they think. “What does Please Slow Down, we’re almost out of china mean?”

A walk around the nearest lake was in order and we were surprised not to find ice creams on sale. Had to make do with a glass in the Bridge Inn, poor old us.

Had some fun with a fishing line, no rod, just line and a hook. Roach or roach look-alikes popped out for bread crusts.

Monday 30th
It’s time to move on. Even if we hadn’t got a schedule I think we would have upped pegs and gone, it’s too busy on the Trent and Mersey, we’ve been spoilt by the Leicester Line.
Made an early start before the clouds had parted and met a fella at Branston Lock. Wielding a windlass and a couple of cans of beer (fits the description from Pam and Terry) he opened the gates for us and helped us through. Looking as though he’d spent the night outside next to an open fire, I offered food but he wouldn’t accept anything unless it had a ring-pull. I gave in and gave him a can. Nice fella, had a friendly word for us and kept the place spotless.
While taking on water at Horninglow we met up again with the owners of nb.Lindola. Hadn’t seen this couple since Stoke Bruerne last June. Funny how some boats and owners stick in your memory.

Bridge abutments are often easy targets for the spraycan and can be quite humorous at times. But some graffiti is council inspired and occasionally one is lost for words at the design, colour, and sheer size of them. This one outside Burton was well worth recording and I shall look out for it every time I pass.

But the beauty of trees with their new green leaves wins hands down every time.

Yet another day for getting bumped. Canaltime again, straight out of a lock, no problem there, then sudden left turn and into Balmaha. What’s the matter with them? And he looked like he was going to try it again, until I told him to push the tiller the other way. Doohhhhh.

We just made it to Shardlow as the boat yards downed tools and the village settled back in peace.
We were only just ahead of the hire boat rush for pub moorings and a satisfied grin replaced my “Good afternoon smile” normally reserved for canal walkers.

Five minutes later we sat with feet up as hammers hit pins into the path behind us, then the windows went dark as people passed, mums and dads and quarrelling kids guided by their noses to pub grub and an evening swilling ale.

Tues 1st May
Yet another bright start to the day and we’re off early with Loughborough in our sights. It was good to get off the T&M canal and onto the River Trent.

M1 traffic reminded us of those poor souls having to commute to work. Down here it was another world, nipping along with a merry whistle and sampling the different sights and smells.

Balmaha’s bow breaking the waves sent the occasional spray along the boat and we wished it could be like this all the time. Not a soul in sight we felt as though this place was ours, we could have done this all day and never tired of it but all too soon we came upon Sawley Marina with its enormous notice and the announcement that this was the “Gateway to the Waterways”.

Sawley Locks appeared from nowhere, beckoning us in but telling us nothing of its key operated gates until we’d passed through. Paddles can be wound by hand but it’s useless pushing the gates, hydraulic rams just don’t respond.
Thanks to a passing lady on crutches we didn’t look silly for long, not that there was anyone to see us, a notice in the office window told us the lock keeper was off duty. Gesticulating with one of her sticks she explained there was a switch panel and once we’d learnt the secret she was off at a cracking pace, walking the dog.

Boat through the lock and both of us back onboard we hammered downstream and swerved right to miss the enormous weir. Looking back at the Erewash Canal and the downstream Trent for the last time we turned into the safety of the Soar.

At least we hoped it was the Soar, with no other traffic and just the occasional orange marker buoy we were only 90% sure this was the right way.

But there’s little time to worry because our next right turn pointed us towards the power station, through the open arms of a flood lock and into the tranquillity of tree lined fields once again.

Passing houses on earth mounds and nudging the gentle river flow we discover another boat heading for Loughborough. Pairing up for the locks we are entertained by a couple who yell at each other in a friendly sort of way while ‘her’ dog has a go at anything on four legs.
They seem so unsuited to the confines of a narrowboat, but it’s obvious they wouldn’t swap this way of life for bricks and mortar.

Passing through Loughborough we see preparations are under way for next weekend’s festival and whole stretches of bank are marked out for exhibitors. Clearing the town completely we pull into the side just as the birds start singing again. The sun went down on two tired boaters as the last trip boat passed us on its way home.

Wed 2nd May
There’s no hurry, we’ve got time to dawdle up to the outskirts of Leicester.
A new marina in the making appears on our right, less than a mile from Loughborough. No signs posted at the entrance and no mention of it on the latest Nicholson’s Canal Guide. Tons of room in there, enough to ease the over crowding at Barrow on Soar. Must check this place out next time we pass through. It was tempting to go in there, do a spin and leave again but there would have been questions. Another time perhaps.

The river gets tighter as we rise through locks and the flow becomes hardly noticeable. Places we’ve visited by car present quite a different view from the water. Which arch to pass through? Should we turn left here? Is this the way or just a dead end? The occasional sign post wouldn’t come amiss for those of us on their first time through.

A strange looking craft catches the eye, missed the name but admired the painting skills of its owner. Distinctive and probably goes with an interesting story.

Approaching the brick bridge below Mountsorrel lock we spot our first cluster of Floating Pennywort attached to the river bank weeds. The ‘authorities’ didn’t remove the stuff last year, preferring to wait until the winter frosts had killed it off, but from this point and upwards on the river pennywort is evidently very much alive and well.

Notes on Floating Pennywort - IWA’s May 2007 Bulletin

“A joint initiative by Leicester City Council, British Waterways and the Environment Agency is tackling the highly invasive aquatic plant, Floating Pennywort, which has infested substantial parts of the river Soar. The weed was first spotted on the Soar in Leicester during summer 2004. It is a native of North America and was brought into Britain in the 1980s by the aquatic nursery trade. It has been a problem on waterways around the south east, including the rivers Lea and Wey and on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, but is increasingly finding its way on to waterways throughout the country, probably introduced by local ornamental pond-owners dumping excess growth from plants bought for decoration. Floating Pennywort can form thick mats of vegetation on the surface of the water, preventing the growth of native plant species. It can interfere with navigation and increase the risk of flooding. It is incredibly fast growing and can grow up to 15 metres from the bank in a summer and as much as 20 centimetres per day. A manual removal programme has been led by Leicester City Council in the city and on the navigable part of the river by British Waterways, partly funded by the Environment Agency. The plant is notoriously difficult to eradicate, and it is likely a clearance programme needs to extend for several years wherever it occurs”.

It seems a pity that 2006 saw such an infestation with nothing more than ‘observation’ with the result that river currents during stormy weather caused clumps of weed to break away and travel as far as Mount Sorrel, a distance of 11 miles.

Ascending Mountsorrel Lock we found nowhere to moor. Beaten to it by patrons of the Waterside Inn we couldn’t loiter long enough to sample Everards ales so carried on.

Couldn’t pass Mountsorrel without calling on Beryl, our RBOA chairman. But there’s no one home, she’s in town so no cup of tea here. The next boat along is Lily Pad which means Ian and Carol (Leicester’s IWA chairman) are preparing for the trip down river to Loughborough’s festival. All the big names in one day.

Our day ends at Junction Lock on the river Wreake, a small detour from the river Soar and close to the entrance to the disused Melton Mowbray navigation.
A sunny sky and warm enough for the first barbeque of the year. Forgetting all of last year’s outdoor experiments I proceeded to turn 16 sausages black and flung most of the toasted bread to the ducks. That was until a swan appeared and persecuted them mercilessly. For two hours we sat there helpless as she gave the mother and her chicks the run around. Do swans eat ducks? I would.

Thursday 3rd
We’ve a little time on our hands, due in at Raynsway Marina this afternoon and then we’re going shore side for a couple of days, leaving Balmaha with manager Dave. I hear a shopping trip coming on.

Friday 4th to Monday 7th May
It’s Bank Holiday weekend and we’re up and away to K’s place for a few days. Crossing the canal and rivers a few times on the way down south means we’re never far away from familiar places and the odd glimpse of a boat. Strange seeing the water from the main road again and even stranger going along at break-neck speed. The odd house job done, a visit to shops, church and abbey gardens under warm grey skies was most welcome. Good food, family for company and a change of scenery, most pleasant.

Tuesday 8th May 2007
After an early start we slipped out of Raynsway Marina and onto the river Soar. As is customary we leave in a shower of rain and have christened the place Rains-Way.

The canal section through town was either suffering drought or abstraction had reduced the levels by 18”, giving us an unpleasant crawl through the lower rubbish layer sitting on the canal bed.

Waterside development has progressed from the centre’s student apartments to my favourite building and a notice announces a successful planning application for residential units. I can only hope that there is a preservation order on this building as it stands.

Rising through Freemans Lock opposite the Walker Stadium I am bombarded by questions about the boat. It’s the same guy I’ve seen before on the bench seat near St Mary’s Mill and this time he asks What are those brass domed things on the roof? Last time it was How much does it cost to run a boat like that? I felt like asking How many of those cans have you drunk this morning? But I decided to leave it until I know him better.
We’ll be looking out for each other in future, so he said. I think he’s right.

Spotted Luke running along the Mile Straight as we passed through town. Luke is the guy attached to one of my nieces. Hi Luke, you looked as surprised to see me as I was to see you.

This is by far the busiest I’ve known the river through Leicester. We must have passed half a dozen boats on the move within a two mile section. I wonder why? Is everyone running from south Leicester, just as we head into it?

Parked at Kings Lock, next to the café. A day earlier and we would have found it open. The Aylestone Meadows around us have sprung into life, coots are diving for weed to feed their chicks, ducks are leading their brood along the river bank, fighting them for each tasty morsel and crows are dive bombing herons.

The water was clear and calling for the fishing rod until the towpath strimmers went into action. Two guys in yellow jackets, joined at the hip cut the same blades of grass while a third blew the trimmings into the canal. Now no one can tell what is cut grass and what is weed attached to the river bed.
Talking of which, weedhatch finds have exceeded all records and we can proudly display packing case binding straps, poly-bags and a lovely pair of lady’s black tights. Now why would those be in the canal?

And there’s some good news – Leicester’s doctors are pleased to announce that the locals are much healthier these days, only one coconut seen floating downstream today.