LEAVING THE RIVERS BEHIND

Hi

That's it we have now left the rivers behind and are now on the more sedate Canals.
Spending a little time in Nottingham was ok its not the most exciting of towns though it does possess a cat Cafe we went in last year thinking it looked a nice cafe but realised you had to share the whole place with CATS who would do that, Anyway from there we moved up to Sawley where we stayed in a marina so we could get some domestic jobs done its easier that way. and the shops are just a bus ride away in a little town called Long Eaton for such a little town it has everything and all in one place you can walk between Aldi, Tesco super, Sainsbury's, Iceland, B&M and loads of little independent shops including a fantastic Cheese cake shop really nice stuff and cheep.

We also had a sail down the river Soar to Loughborough again a very pleasant little town, we moored at the end of the line.  the river continues to through to Leicester and then joins the Grand Union we just took the arm into the centre very weird moored outside a fitness centre and Travel Lodge travel lodge I don't mind But  a fitness centre Ahhhhhhh Why do they have these great big windows so you can watch is it Vanity is it "look at Meee" is for voyeurism what I  just cannot see the point of it ???

Today we left the rivers behind we left the lower Trent and got onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. You arrive at a junction where the River Dawent , Trent and the canal meet, it is rather a anti-climax no big locks or huge dams just a gentle tootle along if it wasn't for the signs you would never know.

We are now at a place called Shadlow its quite historic this is where the river traffic met the canal traffic in its heyday there must have hundreds of boats here exchanging cargos as the big river boats couldn't go any further and vice versa for the canal boats. We are now heading for Burton upon Trent Keith and Carol are meeting us there and spending a few days with us, really looking forward to that its quite some time since Keith and I did some fishing,

Again I don't seem to have much to say OH yes I am glad to see the back of the Big plastic chicken (cruisers) and Wide Beams they constantly remind me of big bullies you know the sort you had at school because they were bigger they thought it gave them the right to push in and seem to give them that sense of superiority. I never liked them at school in the Army or in the work place in fact I will say I go out of my way to be obstructive with them, they seem to take the centre on any river pushing everyone to the side, except for me I hold my ground and also stay centre (I know I should use my own side of the river BUT why should I?)  I am 17ton of steel they are about 6 ton of flimsy plastic there is only going to be one winner. Now does that make me a bully?? Maybe BUT if they keep to their side of the river I do likewise and we pass in perfect harmony I don't go looking for trouble but if it finds me I will accommodate it . You like Noreen will think me mad maybe I am " I JUST HATE BULLIES) Also there are rumours along the tow path that all boats will soon be paying for their FOOTPRINT, that is to say at the moment I pay my licence fee according to my length (Baot Length)
which is 60ft I am 7ft wide now a Wide Beam at 60ft and 12ft wide only pays the same as me when it come to locks a lock will take two narrowboats (that's what they were made for) but will only take one wide beam. they take up twice the space so they should pay for that space. most canals when very busy will take two narowboats breasted up if two wide beams do it they block the canal.
Glad I got that off my chest All wide beams and cruisers should be resigned to wide rivers and leave the canals to the boats that they were designed for.......

Speak when our kid goes home there should be some tales to tell

God Bless
Buggerlugs

End of the Line in Loughborough

The junction of the river Darwent, Trent and the Trent and Mersey canal

Thank God there was a sign

Very basic but Necessary ?????? 

FIRE IN THE HOLD

Hi Everyone

Well that's 99% of the River Trent behind us we are doing a little detour off the Trent and down the River Soar to Loughborough only take a couple of days sentimental really as my Dad always spoke of the place with awe as he took an engineering degree there.
Lincoln and Boston were worth the visit though  Boston we thought was a disappointment. We remember going there a about ten years ago and thought then what a quaint place it was But now all the quaint shops are East European Supermarkets, the only other shops are hairdressers, Barbers, Bubble pipe coffee shops or the ubiquitous Charity shop I thought Peterborough was bad but Boston being smaller is in one word Awful it has just been taken over.
Lincoln is lovely though again not as quaint as we remembered I know we cannot live in the past but surely we should retain some of our heritage  soon all we will have left is a few Postcards to remember it by. The east  of the country really seems to be getting overrun by the Eastern Block, I know that we are a tolerant and hospitable nation and long may we be so But when it comes to our heritage being taken away along with our district customs and dialect it time to stop and think.
Leaving Lincoln and Boston behind we set of back down the Trent into Newark making go speed we were ready for a few days off in Newark However at the last lock before Newark the lock keeper informed us that due to the FESTIVAL moorings are very sparse, On arriving we could see why there wasn't enough room to moor a canoe however we did spot a Narrowboat that was gesturing for us to pull alongside which we did and since then we have become great friends of Mary and Sean who we have been meeting up with on a regular basis. the Festival was POP with groups like UB40, Storm Patrol and Oasis, they may mean something to some of you but nothing to me, But on the whole it wasn't bad because we were over the other side of the river the noise was quite acceptable and the music not bad AND to us on the river it was free.
From Newark to Nottingham the Trent was as usual wonderful we are above the tidal section the river just meanders along it is wide and slow so beautiful and majestic arriving in Nottingham we spent the first two nights on what is revered to as the steps outside the County hall and next to the cricket ground  plenty of moorings, shops, museums and fishing nice place
leaving Nottingham it beautiful weather we were all set to have a gentle cruise to Sawley where we are at the moment However yesterday morning we set off after about an hour cruise Noreen nipped in to make a brew and came back with the news that we had a burning smell in the boat Noreen took the helm and I went to investigate I soon realised that we were in trouble and that yes we had a problem in the engine room. Under these circumstances "Don't panic Mr Mannering " I through the isolator switches for domestic and Engine switch the engine off and glided Buggerlugs to the tow path After lifting the engine covers I found that the 175am Domestic alternator was very hot not being able to find the cause I decided to run the engine with the covers off that lasted about ten minutes when the bloody thing just burst into flames now we were buggered ( It  reminded me of when I was at school in the music class we sang a song ""Fire! Fire! Fire! down below its bring a bucket of water boys there's fire down below I wanted to sing it start singing but thought better of it. again Noreen took the helm and guided it into the side whilst I got the fire extinguisher and dealt with the fire, on inspection this time, we did have a problem but at least now it was obvious what it was as the alternator was now a smouldering mess. It was now time for a brew and give the job a "coat of looking at" As this alternator has now been in the hands of three experts I considered it time to close the door on it, my decision is to now charge the batteries using the Power pack, disconnect the alternator removing the van belt and isolating the wiring and leave it until we get back and let Danny have look. that was yesterday and touch wood everything is working  sort of??????
But in true Hodgkinson spirit we continue until something else happens But hey I keep saying if everything goes according to plan how bloody boring would it be....

Stay safe,,, Stay well.
Buggerlugs

The Steps in Nottingham

Nottingham central Arch

The Glory Hole Lincoln leading to the river Wethem

Noreen getting measured for her roll as Captain

The Boston Stump

Its is the biggest Parish Church in Britain

Called the stump because seen from the surrounding fens it looks like an

old Tree stump

Taken by our friends Mary and Sean

who we met in Newark

The River Trent

,,Hi

As I said earlier we were to arrive at Keadby on Tues ready to go down the River on Weds prior to going down the river you have to have a briefing from the Lock keeper its just a case of telling what time you are going, what the tide will be doing and the weather conditions. I started to become concerned when the lock keeper checked to see we had Navigation lights and that they all worked.
We  were going down on a late slack tide leaving at 16.40, which to me seemed on the late side as it  normally takes  about 5 hours on a slack tide to reach Torksey Lock , that  meant  that we would be arriving at Torksey Lock at around 21.30 which even at this time of year is getting dark. 16.30 arrived the wind was still blowing at 18/20 mph feeling a bit apprehensive we sailed out of the lock and onto a very low river wind blowing like hell I was warned about the dangerous sand banks we weaved and dodge (as much as you can do with a 60ft 18ton narrowboat)   narrowly avoiding the sand banks that had suddenly appeared due to the low tide. We missed them all. After 2 hours of riding a slack tide we eventually found that river had started to behave itself however the weather was still gloomy with no moon the sun disappeared behind a huge bank of heavy cloud and would no be seen again until the next day, as it was now quite dismal not dark but that awful dusk when everything becomes distorted in dim light the river was quite full of debris have trees, tons of garden waste and the usual flotsam and Jetsam of any commercial waterway
I was now getting concerned that there was a chance in this dim light with that part of the Trent being mainly farm land and the beginning of the Fens it is quite featureless so maps are not a great deal of use about half a mile from the turning you pass under a railway bridge where there is an island that you have stay to the port side once passed that we had the turning in our sights Noreen on the bow giving directions and keeping us clear of the mounting Flotsam and Jetsam we sailed in a very quiet deserted mooring. Big high fives all round and we settled into a peaceful nights sleep.
I would recommend that trip to anyone really exciting fun.
We have now travelled down the Fosdyke canal into Lincoln, Mooring are few and far between so we have had to go into Brayford Pool that is now a CRT (marina sort of) we are here until Sunday then we go down the river Witham 31 miles to Boston I do believe that this is as far east as you can go by narrow boat I know some have gone straight through and across the wash with the aid of a pilot BUT well if I wanted to do that I would have bought a Coaster
Stay well
God Bless
Buggerlugs

The M18 IN SIGHT

UNDER THE M18

THE GAINSBOUROUGH MIDDLE ARCH

though be now things were getting dim

  

sMALL ACHIEVMENTS BIG STEPS

Hi everyone

I am now convinced that all boat yards/Marinas have the same method of working and management I know that this is not universal and maybe it is only the ones that I visit. so far this trip I have been held up for three days because waiting for a simple job like buying paint all because the guy a few domestic problems Family must come first I know that so I will dismiss that one, then another two days because a part that was ordered took three days to arrive they say because of the courier I say because they forgot to order it and now we have been in this boat yard three days just waiting to do a 5 hour job. before coming here I ordered 5 110 batteries no probs I have 6 in stock. could I have assistance to fit. no probs I will assign someone to assist you. 
great we thought and headed down river to do the job, on arriving we found that there was no mooring for us so we have sat three days on a slipway though they did manage to give us a shore line and electric when I ask if I could have the batteries I had ordered I was inform that his assistant had sold two of the  AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!. Here we go again so I spent a day clearing the engine to make better access to the battery bank and the next day waiting for batteries to arrive, Yesterday morning I was informed that they had arrived so I went over to the office to collect them NOW we are talking about 5 110 leisure batteries each one the size of two car batteries I ask if they had a truck to get them to my boat I will find you one the lad says and returns 30 mins later with an very old truck with four flat tyres having vented my displeasure at this young man and pointed out to him the pure impossibility of transporting this half to loan on THAT LOAD OF SH----, it was then refered up the chain of command were a decision was made to put them on the pickup, the young man could not drive so I did that Ahhhhhhh!! I was then loaned the same young man to assist with the fitting. For those who have never fitted Batteries on a boat let me explain the fitter ME has to accommodate himself in a little hole 5ft wide 7ft long and 3ft deep however in that space you have an engine, with all its accoutrements making a total area of  3ft wide  6ft long and 3ft deep now the batteries live in a cosy little space that you have to arc lights to see it. Now I am the fitter and to save me having to extradite myself from this glory hole everytime I need to take one battery out and put one in, you have a loader who sole job it is, is to take the old battery off me and then pass a new one.  this was going so well until after the second one he was called away to hold the rope of a boat going into dry dock AHHHHHHHH! however before he went on this errand of mercy I insisted he carry the remaining batteries so I could reach them.
After two and a half hours of cursing I eventually arrived at the stage when you turn the battery isolator switch ON keeping all fingers crossed that nothing blows up UREKAH nothing did then the engine on and everything works I was elated. feeling like King Kong Noreen and I rebuilt the engine room replacing all the panelling
To celebrate this achievement we decided to have lunch out and do a bit of shopping. the sky was looking very grey and overcast so we donned our heavy coats its only about a 30 min walk into the town BUT it is surprising just how wet you can get in 30mins we were both wet though to our nickers shoes socks everything was soaked our Brolly  was blown inside out and our teeth were chattering.
into Lidl where we left a trail of devastation behind us and another trail of slippy floor signs
As we left Lidl we decided as it was cold, wet and windy we would have lunch in the best Ice Cream Parlour in Yorkshire where we made a bedraggled spectacle. though we were welcomed and had a great lunch I celebrated our achievement by have a whopping great big TUTI FRUITI .
That was yesterday it is now 08.00 and we are going to get ready to fill up with Diesel and put water on then we are off to Keadby Where we join the River Trent

God Bless everyone
Buggerlugs

My celebration Ice Cream

ANOTHER RESTING PLACE

Hi everyone

Buggerlugs has developed a few problems, one of the three alternator's has decided that it has had enough and wont work it just happens to be the domestic one and fortunately it was purchase here in Castleford less that 12 months ago so we are getting that sorted under warranty it maybe due to the fact that the batteries have neared their end of life and they are not holding the charge overnight  So once I have refitted the Alternator (hopefully today when I get it back) we are heading off to Thorne where I have secured a birth for a couple of days and where I will get my NEW batteries fitted
The unfortunate thing is that it has all come to a head in Castleford where the world stands still, they have only just discovered the WW2 has ended, post is delivered by Donkey cart, and in general life is very slow, that to most people sounds Idyllic however when you are waiting three days for a spare to be delivered to complete a repair it becomes very frustrating (The alternator took 1 hour to test discover what was wrong and order the part then it has taken so far three days to have it delivered)
IF it arrives today it will take 45mins to fit the part I can then pick it up and get underway to Thorn there I will fit it back in place. as the engine will without it and do batteries at the same time.
I do hope that I havnt bored the pants of those who havnt a clue what I am talking about, at times I wonder if I do??
Whilst moored up here in Castleford its quite convenient as the shops are within walking distance and its quiet so all in all its comfortable  except we have had to watch our power usage though the Solar panels are good and with all this sunshine they are proving invaluable.

Jubilee Bridge Castleford

Biggest Building in Castleford, still working though grain now comes by road

The Weir Don't worry we use the lock on the navigation cutting

Cheers everyone

Comments welcome we feel like Missionaries out here in Yorkshire

Buggerlugs