Saturday 11th October 2008

Hopwas to Fradley Junction today.  Weather cloudy and threatening rain. Set off as usual at 9.30am nice but breezy cruise to moor up at 2pm in Fradley Junction.  Walked Bill around the lake and up to the Mucky Duck (The Swan) for a sociable afternoon.

Sunday 12th October 2008

Staying in Fradley today.  Got the Sunday papers from the shop and after a long walk around the lake again with Bill into the Mucky Duck for the afternoon.  Another good craic with locals and boaters.  Also saw this sign in the nature reserve, does this mean that the Boardwalk has been moved to a place called Accessible or is it that BW can't spell.  Your choice!

Monday 13th October 2008

Left Fradley Junction just after two hire boats went the same way.  Bad mistake, it took THREE hours to go through only three locks in two miles.  So decided to stop in Alrewas and let them get on with it.  Excellent decision, good shops, Post Office and THREE pubs!  Only got as far as the Crown and decided to make it my local for the duration of my stay.  Great pub, nice people and a group of real boaters.  Had a couple in the afternoon and back for early doors, very comfortable.

Tuesday 14th October 2008

Set off for Branston at 9.30am.  Nice cruise up through Barton under Needwood apart from being very close to a main road for quite a long way.  Tied up about 1pm and walked up to the shops and found a great pet shop for Bill, he's in heaven, many treats and back to the boat via the Bridge Inn to find it completely empty and even so they still wouldn't let Bill in - do these idiots NOT want business????  With 5 pubs a day closing in England maybe they should rethink their policy! So decided to carry on to Willington.  Passed the massive weir a Alrewas which can get very hairy and even impassable in high waters and floods, passed the massive Coors brewery and the wonderful Marston's Brewery in Burton upon Trent to tie up in time for a quick shop at the Coop and a couple of pints early doors in the Rising Sun.

Wednesday 15th October 2008

Decided to stay over as the weather id decidedly iffy.  Took Bill for two long walks, one in each direction up and down the cut.  In the Sun for early doors for a few.  On the way back who should have also moored up but none other than Andy and Liz on Nb Snowgoose, last seen at the Ellesmere boat festival last September on the Llangollen Canal.  Had a good long natter to catch up and will see them again tomorrow.

Thursday 16th October 2008

Wandered down the towpath and up into to town for a few bits and pieces.  Called in on Liz and Andy for coffee and nattered all morning.  Too late to move on today so arranged to meet them early doors after doing a few jobs around the boat (any excuse to stay over).  Started off in the Rising Sun then moved right opposite to the Green Man for a couple more.  Good evenings natter.

Friday 17th October 2008

Took Bill up into town to stock up and said goodbye to Liz and Andy and set off for Shardlow by 10am.  Lovely cruise, though back into big double locks now, no probs just takes a bit longer and you need to be a bit more aware of what's going on while the boat's in the lock.  Tied up in Shardlow by 4pm between the Malt Shovel and the New Inn.  Sadly the Shovel is closed for renovations.  Good news is that Bill's welcome in the New Inn.  Jon, Louise and Nicky came to visit (1st time in 15 months) great to see them again and all probs hopefully smoothed over.  Stenson Lock was my 1000th lock since I started 20 months ago!!!! Must have a beer or two to celebrate.

Saturday 18th October 2008

Staying in Shardlow today. Nice long walk along the towpath and up to the garage and back.  Called into Dobson's Boat Yard to see if they had and moorings available for Christmas when I go back North and also Millar Marine re the electrics and the fridge problem.  Still no power to the fridge?  Jon, Lou and litte'n came over for a few beers.  Another good day.

Sunday 19th October 2008 - The Day of the Soaking!!!! read on.........

Long walk with Bill and back to the boat.  Stripped out what I thought was the fuse from the bank of batteries to find two broken wires inside.  Took it round to Miller Marine who very kindly soldered the wires back FOC - Thank you very much for your help.  Refitted the unit but it's obviously not the problem as there still is no power to the fridge.  Plan B - get an electrician in.  Will ring Paul Harris when I get to Barrow upon Soar.  Off to the New Inn for the pm and an early night or so I thought.  However, about 11pm Bill wanted to go for a walk so on with the Crocs and armed with a torch off we went around the village.  Now remember the boat is moored on a very tight bend so only the bows and the stern are touch the bank with about a three foot gap from the path in the middle of the boat.  Well just ask who tried to get back by walking down the path I thought was down the side of the boat -- SPERLASH!!!  --  straight in the canal, however, came out a damn sight faster than I went in.  Not in long enough to even register if it was cold (mind you that could have been the alcohol I'd had since leaving the pub?).  Good job there was a big white van between me and the pub so nobody saw this nitwit go in.  No longer a virgin but a REAL BOATER now. Twat.

Monday 20th October 2008

Long walk with Bill to get the papers then off towards Loughborough where I started from 20 months ago.  Bit windy but no real probs.  Came through most of the locks with another boat which makes life a lot easier.  Dieseled up at the boatyard below Kegworth Deep Lock and tied up outside the Albion in Loughborough by 4pm.  Walked over to Sainsbury's for a few bits and pieces.  The new moorings at Loughborough Wharf looked very good with all the amenities.  5/6 berths, water, waste disposal and showers, only problem is it's only a 24 hour stay limit.  Into the Albion early doors with Jon, Lou and Nicky.  Lovely relaxed evening.

Wednesday 1st October 2008

Set off for Fenny Compton at 9.30am.  Lovely day and a windy cruise up the Claydon flight of locks (5) + Cropredy Lock, Varney's Lock and Elkington Lock.  Tied up by 4pm and into the Wharf for early doors.  Who should I meet but Brian and his staffy Rebel off Nb Daisy, last seen in Lymm last year.

Thursday 2nd October 2008

No rush so staying over another night here.  Long walk with Bill and into the Wharf with Brian and a group of other boaters, good craic.

Friday 3rd October 2008

Set off for Napton at 9.30am. Lovely winding part of the canal, a couple of hairpins and a cul-de-sac!  Tied up above the bottom lock at Napton by 4pm.  Into the Folly Pie Pub for early doors and had to try one of their famous pies, excellent snake and pigmy.

Saturday 4th October 2008

Set off to Braunston after another long walk with Bill. Bit windy and cold today but tied up near the Gongoozler's Cafe by 2pm.  Walked Bill up into town for a few bits and pieces from the shop and the butchers.  Went to the Wheatsheaf to see Dave the landlord.  Good couple of beers.  Sadly hardly any of the bunch we met in May come in now, either sold up or moved on.

Sunday 5th October 2008

Sorted out laundry at the marina and off to the Wheatsheaf by 3pm.  Saw the ladies who live on Nb Rune moored just below the bottom lock with their border collie, Sally.  It's amazing you can hardly tell the difference between Bill and Sally from a distance.  Good afternoon in the Wheatsheaf.

Monday 6th October 2008

Set off for Newbold on Avon at 9.30am.  Fabulous weather all the way.  Saw Nb Piston Broke in Rugby, last seen on the Thames in the floods at Abingdon as I was heading for Reading.  Sadly the Barley Mow won't let Bill in, heathens, well it's their loss and the Boat Inn next door is boarded up now.  Quiet night in.

Tuesday 7th October 2008

Started off for Hawkesbury Junction after a walk with Bill into town for a few bits and pieces.  Miserable weather, soaked through but tied up by 3pm and round to the Greyhound to see if they will let Bill in - YES - so hard a quick brace and back to Beau.  mega lasagne and back to the Greyhound for a few more - excellent pub.

Wednesday 8th October 2008

Set off for Harthill by 9.30am.  Fab weather thank goodness.  Sad news though, the Navigation Pub that David and I had such a great evening in last year is derelict.  Not a window in tact - must have been a good Saturday night???  What a crying shame.  Got to Hartshill by 3pm and had a good run around in the grounds next to the moorings.  Found a fantastic little pub about a mile up the hill from the canal called the Malt Shovel.  All the usual suspects plus a spitting image of 'Carol' - argh - spiky hair and a mini dress 2" below see level!!!  with thighs like an elephant too cor shouldn't be allowed out - enough to frighten a police horse.Joined in an ad lib quiz with the locals with daft questions and answers.  I don't particularly like juke boxes but this one was all the oldie music from my formative years - no the 60's not Al Jolson!!!

Thursday 9th October 2008

Set off for Polesworth at 9.30am.  Beautiful weather again and glorious scenery.  Even the eleven locks through Atherstone were a pleasure.  Just as we were going through Bradley Green who should be coming the other way but Nb Adagio last seen when we were waiting for the lock keeper at Frankton Locks on the Montgomery to open up last September.  Tied up in Polesworth at 3.30pm and took Bill for a long walk down the towpath and back down into town for a bit of a shop.  Went into the Red Lion for a couple of pints and blagged some beer pump badges, i.e. Holden's Black Country Special Bitter, Abbot Ale Spitfire and Hobgoblin.

Friday 10th October 2008

Left Polesworth at 9.30amon route for Hopwas.  Fabulous weather and again beautiful scenery making this another lovely cruise.  Tied up at 3pm.  Went over to the Red Lion about 4pm after a long walk with Bill for early doors and met a great bunch of locals taking the piss out of the landlords taste in music, which varied fro Mariachi to Trad Jazz!  A couple of things also happened, 1st last night Bill started scratching to go out but not for a pee, he had heard something splashing about and when we looked it was a stoat after the ducks.  The thing that happened was this afternoon as we were passing a tree where the birds were going crazy, what looked like a branch fell out of the tree into the canal.  Only it wasn't a piece of wood as it shook itself and swam to the bank - it was another stoat who promptly ran off.