White water

Calm on the rowing lake

White water fury

Going , going...

At 3.00 we set off as the shade had left our boat but soon had 2 locks to do in the oppressive heat. As soon as we locked out onto the river we were cooled by the breeze which hadn’t penetrated the canal as it was hemmed in by buildings. We cruised to the next lock downstream and moored up next to the National Water Sports Centre. At 5.00 it was a little cooler so we wandered in as there was no fence separating it from the canal and looked around. 


Gone

What an amazing place. There was a vast rowing lake where canoeists were performing timed sprints. Lottie found a small beach and cooled down by swimming with her forelegs while keeping her back feet firmly on the ground Lottie won't go out of her depth as Lurchers have deep chests and aren’t built for swimming. In contrast to the ordered calm of the rowing lake next to the canal was a white water course frothing with frantic activity.
This was enjoyed by single canoeists tackling the tricky slalom course. One canoeist was overturned but slid out of her boat slickly and grabbed a rescue rope thrown by the onshore life guard. Seconds later she was out of the rapids while her boat swept by the concrete walls. There were also adventurous groups paddling large inflatables through the white water and shooting the rapids.

Exciting ride

It was an enjoyable hours entertainment as we could stand right next to the water for intimate viewing. By 9.00 the heat had gone but already this is the hottest weather we have cruised in. Tomorrow we head down river to Newick




Hold on tight

                          

Nottingham of Robin Hood fame




guess who



Castle rock with caves

The oldest inn looks great for something built in 1159

Medieval house and shop

We left at 8.30 and cruised up the Beeston cut to Nottingham. It was cool but still warm enough to venture out with just tee shirt and shorts. As were cruised past coots swimming through yellow lilies a swarm of cyclists whizzed along the towpath in both directions. It was the work rush hour, how pleasant to cycle and keep fit rather than drive into the neighbouring town.
At Nottingham we replenished our supplies and explored the town which claimed to have the oldest inn in England. I found the brewery museum below the castle fascinating. There were lots of man-made caves dug into the rock. Some were made by poor cottagers who had tunnelled behind their tiny homes to make a small bedroom. Others were carved out to store beer. It was amazing how the brickwork caves and rock wove together.
 Being Nottingham there was of course a statue of Robin Hood in front of the castle which grew out of solid rock. 

Nearby was a medieval house which had been moved to a new site opposite the castle. It was tiny yet the ground floor had been a shop and the upper floor the living quarters, a far cry from the superstores of today. By midday the heat was scorching so we returned to the boat and rested in the shade. 



Sunny Shardlow

Shardlow

We set off at 8.30 while it was still cool. 20 mins later we stopped for water, we need lots while its so hot for long cool showers. The sheep below the lock had all laid down in the shade of a giant willow tree, so I knew we were in for another scorcher. By 11 the temperature was soaring and we had reached Shardlow which used to be a bustling inland port.

Beautiful old loading bay

Now the only boats around are pleasure boats but the old mellow brick buildings are lovely. We passed through the Shardlow flood locks and cruised past the mouth of the Derwent. How wide the river seemed after the canal. Third Time Lucky surged forward as if enjoying the good depth of water under her.

The Malt Shovel  Pub at Shardlow

We moored in Sawley Cut for a lazy lunch. I stayed in the boat with a cool breeze flowing through it but Paul washed the boat. Lottie also went wandering along the tow path fulfilling the saying “Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the Noon day Sun.” Eventually we set off and worked our way through 2 locks the first being automated. The afternoon cruise was pleasant winding between reed beds and willow trees. I worked the 3^rd lock and we moored in Beeston next to a grassy bank. Lottie spent the evening in the shade of a willow tree.

Hot cruising

Canal near Burton upon Trent

It was already hot when we set off at 8.50, so perhaps global warming does exist after all. A hire boater sprinted past as I set off for the lock walking Lottie. The boat slammed into the piling and one crew member jumped off and wrestled it over with a rope while the rest of the crew watched. After he had tied it up the crew sauntered to the lock. It was interesting watching them work the lock, although they had 5 crew on the job they hung around until the captain of the boat bawled orders from his sanctuary on the stern. Third Time Lucky appeared as they opened the bottom gates. At the sight of an approaching boat the crew scampered onto the boat leaving the paddles raised.

Heron fishing  by the tail of a lock

I helped the single hander up but like most solo boaters he worked the lock slickly. After a hot cruise through Burton upon Trent Paul worked the next lock while I waited in the shade. After that I relaxed in the shade of a parasol while Paul drove. This part of the canal boasted many water birds from lanky herons to petite Moor hens with their tiny chicks. They hid along the reeds and overgrown banks, the young cheeping black bundles of black fluff on stilts. Mid day we moored in shade at Willington until the heat died down, but wandered into the village for an ice cream.

Duck with unusual golden chick

We moved off with the day still hot and arrived at our first double lock as a single hander opened it. I told him he could get back on his boat and I’d work the gates not realising this lock was super deep at over 12 foot. The gates were massive but as I wondered how I would open it a passing walker stopped to help. A true English gentleman responding to my distress, and it took the 2 of us to move it. I let Paul work the next lock and then we moored up in the shade.

canal side carved bench

The only other boat there was a hire boat, and the occupants were on an extended holiday from California. They were strangely suffering from the heat. California may be hotter than England but they were used to having air conditioning blasting out. Hire boats don’t have that facility though if you moor right you can get a breeze blowing through the front doors and out the back of the boat. Unfortunately their boat didn’t have any doors or opening at the front so it must have been cooking inside.

Heading north east

 Lottie Lurcher chills while a boat rises



Ducks resting in a row

After a sultry night we left base at 8.30 hoping to work through the Fradley locks before it got too hot. These locks were not as deep as the ones to the North but took longer to fill. It soon became hot but there was not much lock work to be done as people were coming towards us at most locks so gates could be left open. One lock gate reopened as soon as I walked away and I had to close it again. Fortunately the boater coming up whizzed a paddle up as the opposite gate had started to open too. It must be tricky for one man boaters, they can’t do both things simultaneously. I sheltered from the sun in the front of the boat under a large umbrella as I get itchy skin even with sun block and piriton. One wag chirped “is it raining over there?” I may look strange but I prefer to be itch free. Even Lottie, our sun worshipping hound, found it too hot. Instead of indulging her sport of chasing ducks she left them lined up on a rail and paddled up and down the side wash to cool down. We found a shady mooring in Alrewas to have lunch and chill out until it cooled down outside.

The river section at Alrewas

After 3 hours it was a little cooler so we set off again. The next lock took us down onto the river section which was could have been the setting for The Wind in the Willows. Not only were there graceful willows lining the banks but the reed beds whispered in the light breeze. The hot sunshine brought out the dragonflies. One type had feathery turquoise wings and looked more like butterflies as they darted through the reeds and buzzed the boat.

lazing on the river below Alrewas

The water was crystal clear so the long roots of the yellow water lilies were revealed and the grass like water weeds created a swaying forest for tiny fish to dart through. A bigger fish leapt out of the water by the bow, a streak of silver. All too soon the magical meanders led us to the next lock, which we worked lazily conserving our cool in over 28 degrees, only 2 degrees cooler than Spain. Tomorrow will be ever hotter.



Art thrives under the bridges

The contrast to the river was startling. The canal ran arrow straight alongside a noisy road but the birds tried to entertain us as we passed. Because of the intense heat the shade under the bridges was a welcome respite from the sun. After an hour of traffic noise and another lock peace returned. We moored for the night at Branston (the pickle place) next to a large lake. Lottie enjoyed a paddle at the dog pool provided but showed no interest in chasing the wildfowl.



Shugborough delight

Shugborough Hall from the canal




Essex bridge, the footbridge to Shugborough Hall

Essex bridge

As we are within distance of base we decided to strike for home. There were only 6 locks to do so it was a relaxing morning. Lottie missed her morning of locking and asked for a walk mid day. Paul obliged. They will both go home for a rest. We walked across an amazing old stone bridge into the grounds of Shugborough Hall and wandered round some of the park.




Great Haywood lock

We entered Haywood lock without queuing for the first time. Often we wait for over an hour here as it is on a busy junction. We were helped through the lock by a cheerful lad who said he lived on the canals although he had no boat. Well there are worse places to camp.




feed us please

A swan with cygnets swam close to us as our boat passed them demanding food, their necks reaching onto our deck. Woken from her snooze Lottie barked at them enraging the cob. He chased our boat for over a mile pecking at the rear fender as if determined to chase away the noisy trouble maker. Lottie doesn’t realise how dangerous an angry swan could be but I kept her inside out of harms way. Paul had to increase his speed to get rid of the enraged parent. Hopefully Lottie will learn to leave swans alone.




enjoy don't rush

 

We started the day being rocked badly by a hire boater speeding past. A mile further on we passed him waiting impatiently while his partner carried two bulging shopping bags. Mr Speedy  soon caught us up and crowded our stern but we had arrived at the Canal and River Trust works with working craft in the canal and had to advance slowly as directed by the signs for the next mile. Paul slowed even more for a manoevering barge and Mr Speedy  shot alongside us straight into the barges path and rammed it. The CART men were amazed at his stupidity but nobody was hurt due to the skill of the CART operatives. Guys like Mr Speedy give hire boaters a bad name but  most hire boaters are careful and sociable, and bad helmsmen are often privateers. Mr Speedy didn’t learn but caught us up as we approached the next lock. A CART boat was emerging so Paul slowed right up, but Mr Speedy drew alongside. Somehow the bulky CART boat was squeezed between us and Mr Speedy's boat sending us onto the shallows. Fortunately we didn’t stick and made it into the lock. Later we met his partner at the locks and he was charming. After we moored up within sight of the next lock we watched some new hire boaters tackle it. It was highly entertaining to see the men huddled round the boat sharing the driving, 1 on throttle and 1 steering and 1 in command, while the 4 ladies did the hard work of locking. It shows that deep inside those men knew the lasses had bigger muscles than them.