Sunday 1st March to Sunday 15th March 2009

Still in Loughborough and following the same routine with a few notable exceptions.  Wednesday the 4th March replaced the empty gas bottle which is always a bit of a polava  climbing on the bows to get into the gas locker etc. however, £20 for almost 5 month use ain't bad.  Also guess what happened on the Thursday 5th March - YES THE FRIDGE IS BACK.  ONLY 5 weeks to change a thermostat, not bad for the canals I spose?  Told the driver to get Sandra at Sileby Mill Boat Yard to call me to say how much I owe them and guess what - no return call.  So they can wait for their money cos I'm not calling them back this time, let's see how long it takes.  On Wednesday 11th March went back up to Barrow upon Soar for a change of scenery.  Got to have a beer with all the usual suspects and say farewell 'till next year. Came back via Pillings for a final top up of diesel before I set off up't north on my travels again.  Met up with the gang in the Swan on Sunday 15th to say bye bye to them too.  Finally off tomorrow.  Yippee.

Monday 16th March 2009

Found out Redhill Flood Lock is not opening until tomorrow but will go down as far as Zouch and the Rose and Crown anyway for the night.  Took Bill for a walk all the way down through the pastures to Kegworth Deep Lock and a few beers early doors in the Rose and Crown.

Tuesday 17th March 2009

Set off for Shardlow.  Almost off the river Soar and River Trent and back onto the canals at last.  Stopped off in Sawley Marina to top up with diesel and get a locking cap the main tank.  Tied up in Shardlow at one of my favourite places, right outside the Malt Shovel which has now reopened after a refurb. with the same staff and the same locals there so had a good evening.

Wednesday 18th March 2009

Set off to return locking cap, got the wrong one as this one says Petrol and not Diesel, hey ho.  It's only two miles back down the river, or so I thought. the bridge across the Trent that was there is not there any longer so I had to walk all the way up river to the road bridge (500 yards from where I started from!!!) and back down the other side then along to Sawley - 4 1/2 miles altogether to just get there in just under 3 hours.  Got money back and came back via the road - 1 1/2 miles in 30 minutes!!!! Knackered.  Though a few beers in the Shovel should put that right.

Thursday 19th March 2009

Called in to see Norman and Christine in Millar Marine in Shardlow to get a new battery for the bow thruster - £68 bargain - will pick it up tomorrow on my way out.  Met a Geordie lad in the shovel, gawd they get everywhere, Good craic.

Friday 20th March 2009

Called in to Millar Marine and collected and fitted the battery where Norman and Christine made such a fuss of Bill, lovely people.  Met a tupperware cruiser boat called Tuppence with four likely lads and a lass on board.  What a laugh, not a clue but willing to listen and they worked all the locks bar Stenson.  Didn't even have to get off to help - thanks people for your help and company.  Tied up in Willington in fantastic weather, shirt sleeves all the way and a burnt bonce!  Into the Rising Sun for a few early doors and met up with Brian off Nb Daisy last seen in August in Fenny Compton on the South Oxford Canal.  Also Guy off Nb Castle in the Air.  Good to see them again.  Called Liz and Andy who are now in Mercia Marina and will see them tomorrow.  Excellent day all in all, this is what continuous cruising is all about.

Saturday 21st March 2009

Long walk with Bill and then did a long awaited oil change for the engine.  Less than an hour to change the oil and oil filter and the diesel fuel filters, not bad eh?  Met up with Andy and Liz in the Rising Sun for a jolly afternoon.  Nice to see them again.

Sunday 22nd March 2009

Took Beau over to the water point to fill up and pump out.  minus £15 DIY yippee!  Also tried to flush out the airlock, AGAIN, seemed to get most of it out will try again later.  Guess who came to visit,  Daisy, Deb and Shelly-Anne.  Cor good to see them again, haven't seen them in over TWO YEARS - eek!

Monday 23rd March 2009

Weather definitely looking dodgy - should I go or should I stay????  No, lets get on, heading for Alrewas through Burton on Trent.  However, the weather really turned very nasty with very strong gusting winds and torrential rain.  So cut the journey short at Shobnall in Burton just by Shobnall Marina entrance.   Took Bill for a long walk when the rain stopped and had a long chat with the guys from the marina regarding the airlock on my boat.  Armed with their suggestions will try flushing the system again tomorrow.  Bought another fuel locking cap, right colour, wrong size!!! Will change it tomorrow.

Tuesday 24th March 2009

Woke up very early so walked Bill and backed Beau round into the marina entrance - got connected to the mains water to the back radiator and a drain hose from the front and flushed out at least 2 litres of air (that's how much water went back into the header tank), hopefully that should do it, will see later today.  Finished by 8.30am but had to wait for 9am for the chandlery to open to change the fuel lock and get some diesel for the heater.  Set off for Alrewas by 9.30am in much better weather.  Nice cruising only five locks and LITTLE ONES NOW and YIPPEE HAVE PASSED ALL THE RIVER SECTIONS NOW!!!!  Only canals from now until I get to Yorkshire.  Few beers in the Crown.  Nuther good day - but the radiator still doesn't heat up, bugger.

Wednesday 25th March 2009

Walked Bill all the way back to Wychnor Lock then up past the Crown to the village shops.  Weather still very windy and overcast with showers.  In the afternoon walked back down the other side of the river down past the weir.  Early doors in the Crown and a good chat with some other boaters.

Thursday 26th March 2009

Walked Bill down past the weir through the meadows.  In the wash from the weir there was a red breasted merganser feeding.  Last saw a merganser on the Thames when I was stuck at the Shillingford Hotel moorings in the floods in August last year.  Lovely little diver.  So far since leaving Loughborough I have seen many pairs of buzzards, kingfishers and even a young mink playing in the sun on the bank below Bishop Meadow Lock.  Around the weir in Alrewas there are also two swans nests with mums installed.  Helped a boat to moor later in the afternoon called Ami Bovard and the lady on board said you're Bill's dad aren't you?  Well, this time last year on the Staffs and Worcester Canal as I left one lock this boat was coming out of the lock in front of me and we passed and said hello.  Going down the lock Bill decided to run off much to my panic.  However, a couple of minutes later I got a call from that very boat and they had caught Bill for me.  The whole episode took minutes with little conversation apart from profuse thanks for catching Bill and still she recognised me after all this time.  Amazing, later found out they are called Nigel and Sue, thanks again for catching Bill.

Friday 27th March 2009

Was going to move up to Fradley today but it's even windier than yesterday and very heavy rain showers with some hail!  What next?  Same walk in the afternoon with a few beers in the Crown and talked to other boaters and a young couple, Susie and her husband, who have recently moved to Fradley from Cheltenham.  Great company and a good evening.

Saturday 28th March 2009

Walked Bill past the weir as usual.  Decided to move up to Fradley Junction even though still showery and windy.  Only a couple of miles and four locks.  Help a guy called Lee through Common Lock and met up with him again quite by chance later in the Mucky Duck (The Swan) in Fradley.  Lee is also planning to continuously cruise so we had a good natter.

 

Sunday 29th March 2009

Walked up past Shade House Lock and got the papers on the way back from the shop.  Tidied and hoovered out the boat (not before tome either) and walked Bill around the nature reserve and into the Swan for a few beers and guess who was in there, Susie and her husband having their Sunday lunch.  Later Lee also came in so a good natter was had by all.

Monday 30th March 2009

Walked Bill around the lake before breakfast.  Then took Beau over to the water point to try and flush this damned air lock out - again.  Tried the drain on the calorifier this time and got soaked for my efforts.  Still no heat in the back radiator unless you use the 240v household central heating pump!  Set off foe Great Heywood about 11am.  Nice cruise in average weather though a bit chilly as the day wore on.  Saw Alan and Bracken (a Nova Scotia Collie who has bright red fur, beautiful) off Nb Florence E - last seen in December 2007 in Llangollen where we were both there for December.  Stopped and had a good natter.  Got to great Heywood by 5pm and into the Clifford Arms for a few well earned beers.

Tuesday 31st March 2009

Took Bill for a long walk down to Tixall Wide this morning.  The weather is, at last, beautiful.  Clear blue skies and no wind.  Back via Anglo Welsh's yard to see if I can get Mary and Paul's phone number.  Mary is the lady who took me, Henrick and Susanne to the Border Collie Trust to adopt Bill when I couldn't get a taxi.  I lost their number when my old phone packed up but have their number now.  Got in touch and will meet up tomorrow evening in the Clifford Arms.  Excellent. Also found a lovely walk along the Trent past Shugborough Hall.  Had a few beers early doors in the Clifford Arms