On to the Ashby

Saturday 26th March

On Thursday morning we left our mooring at Atherstone about 7.40am, as we were up and about early as usual. It was a cloudy start to the day and cool again too and by the time we were going through Nuneaton it started to rain so I left Kev at the tiller and took Jaz inside.
Once we were at Marston junction Kev turned onto the Ashby canal and when we got to the moorings at bridge 5 we moored up for the day.
Yesterday was a complete contrast to Thursday with the sun shining quite early. Good Friday then was a nice start for the Easter weekend but unfortunately the forecast wasn't good for the rest of it!
We were away about the same time as Thursday and it was lovely in the sun, and we had the canal to ourselves, there were a few fishermen about making the best of the weather.
As we were through Coventry Road bridge we noticed a boat across the canal, the stern was close to the bank on the towpath side and his bow was at the other side! He had been moored outside the pub at Trinity marina, we couldn't tell at first if anybody was on board but we could see as we approached slowly that the engine wasn't running and so we managed to back up slightly and got into a private mooring that was empty and Kev got off R&R then he went to pull the boat back onto its mooring& tie it back up!

All tied up once again, no sign of the owner!

Our good deed done we carried on our way, we were going to head for Stoke Golding and we arrived at the 48 hour moorings there in brilliant sunshine, so Kev was pleased as it meant that the solar panels would do a good job of keeping the batteries topped up. We took Jaz for a walk up to The Dog & Hedgehog pub at Dadlington and we sat outside in the sunshine, there were great views from there. The village had some lovely properties and one had a very odd form of transport......

 Kev took this photo of a horse drawn caravan on a drive, no horse anywhere!

After we had finished our beers we walked back down to our mooring and walked across the field to Stoke Golding and we stopped to have another beer in the beer garden at The White Swan pub, bit of a pub crawl, as when we had finished our beers there we then walked to the next pub George & Dragon and sat in their beer garden. We were making the best of the weather like quite a few other people were! When we got back to R&R we sat in the cratch, a few boats on the move now including 3 hire boats from the Ashby hire boat company, we feel for them as the weather isn't good for the next few days but I am sure they won't let it spoil their holiday!

Rock & Roll with the Roosters!!

Wednesday 23rd March

We arrived at Polesworth visitor moorings about 11.30am to find NB Roosters Rest moored there all on its own so we moored just passed them, Terry had come out to help us. It was lovely to see Pam & Terry again they are a really lovely couple and good for a laugh too!

Jaz on the lookout for Pam & Terry!

Both boats like bookends!

Once we were moored securely Pam made us a cuppa, she had a hair appointment for 1pm so I had a walk with her into Polesworth village leaving Kev & Terry back at the boats. While Pam was having her hair done I had a walk around as I have never been into Polesworth village before although we have passed through it several times this is the first time we have actually managed to get moored here. It is quite a surprising village with a good mixture of properties.

A lovely thatched cottage

This house  above is opposite the Coop & just passed it is the church entrance  & Old Abbey

This is the old gate to the Abbey

This is information about the Abbey

After a walk about I went to the hairdressers to meet up with Pam, as I got there the hairdresser was finishing Pam's hair & so I sat for a few minutes before we both left and headed back to the men back on board R&R having a couple of beers!(Surprised! No not a bit) So both Pam & myself joined them!

Later on after having a good natter and a few more beers Kev & Terry went to one of the Chinese takeaways & brought the food back to R&R and very enjoyable it was too. A lovely time with Terry & Pam as always.

This morning we were all preparing to go our separate ways, Roosters Rest was heading to Fazeley while we were heading off towards Atherstone.

Just leaving!

Big smiles as usual, bye for now.

We got to the the bottom lock at Atherstone and after we had gone up the first two locks we moored and had a bite to eat and take Jaz for a walk before setting off again and we went up the next 4 locks and are now moored between lock 6 & 5 & will stay here for the night.

Good weekend at Fradley

Tuesday 22nd March

We spent the weekend at Fradley, we went to the Swan a couple of times and there was a new barman called Mark who was lovely & very friendly too. There wasn't food being served as the  new owners were having the kitchen fully refurbished but hopefully Mark said that they should be ready to serve food for this coming Easter weekend. There was new central heating system in and apparently upstairs in the living accommodation there hadn't been any central heating as all the rooms had electric heaters plugged in! So I expect the electricity bills would have been high for the previous owners!
On Saturday there weren't many boats about but on Sunday what a different story, the sun was shining and there were quite a few boats passing both ways. Plenty of people about too as the car park next to the cafe was full and also there were plenty of motorbikes going to meet at The Swan car park too. The first bikes were mainly Harley Davidsons but more vintage bikes arrived too and Kev had a walk to see them.

 Some of the bikes leaving Fradley

What a beautiful day it was and some people were even in T-Shirts, but what a compete difference Monday was! It actually started quite bright but as we left our mooring and moved onto the water point it clouded over! I had put a quick wash on and by the time the water tank was about full the washer had finished too!  We then set off & Kev went to Junction lock to empty it for me and then once I was out of the lock I turned left onto the Coventry Canal & Kev walked to open the swing bridge for me.  As were were cruising along it became quite cold and miserable but at least it wasn't raining!

As we were on the stretch of canal beside the busy A38 heading towards Streethay Wharf I saw a woman walking 2 black Labradors she shouted over to me asking if we were heading for the Thames and as I answered her I realised who she was, it was Lesley from Nb Yarwood and following her was Jo at the tiller so Kev took a couple of photos as he passed us

We started seeing swans preparing their nests!

These 2 we have seen several times in the same place"Huddlesford Junction"(if they are  the same pair)

When we got to Sutton Bridge we moored and went to get some shopping at Asda, it is about a 15minute walk to Ventura retail park where there are plenty of different stores.

Once we were back on board and our shopping unpacked Kev took Jaz and walked to Fazely and I followed on R&R and that is where we moored for the night. We will head to Polesworth today where we hope to meet up with Pam & Terry on NB Roosters Rest who are already there.

A few good days cruising & a Gem of a pub!

Thursday 17th March

We have had some good weather since leaving Shardlow, on Monday we were moored above Stenson lock and had a walk across to The Bubble Inn which is a pub we have never been to before even though we have been past plenty of times, we took Jaz and actually sat outside in glorious sunshine!
On Tuesday though the weather wasn't as good but at least it didn't rain and the towpaths are recovering from all the wet weather, we moored just before Shobnall Marina at bridge 33 and we had a walk to a pub that Kev had been told about when he was in the dry dock blacking R&R. It was about a 20minute walk and is on Cross Street opposite the Coors Brewery and it is called The Coopers Tavern. I don't know how many of you fellow boaters have ventured to this little gem but what a surprise it was to find a pub that was once a place where the breweries used to store bottled beer and the men started to have a drink there so much so that it was then made into the pub it is today! Very friendly too, I only took one photo as there where a lot of people in the other 2 rooms, and I felt a bit odd taking photos but now I wish I had...

This is the main bar the till is the blue object on the left of the photo where you are served!

Yesterday morning before we left Shobnall Kev reversed R&R into Shobnall Marina to fill with fuel 59 pence per litre and then I walked with Jaz to our first lock of the day Branston Lock while Kev stayed on R&R following me to the lock where I did have help from a nice young lad called Michael, he is always around helping people through the locks and he had helped us last year when we were heading back to Shardlow. Once we up through Branston lock I got back on board with Jaz, and Michael closed the lock gate for us, he went walking off ahead of us with his dog and was waiting at the next lock which was Tatenhill  and helped us once again! We said our goodbyes to him there and we carried on, by the the time we were through Wychnor lock and on the short stretch of river leading to Alrewas the wind had picked up, We finally got up through the lock at Alrewas and managed to moor before the water point.

This morning I did some cleaning and Kev washed the towpath side of the boat, another lovely day, although this morning it was a bit grey but after lunch with the sun shining we had a walk with Jaz heading to Fradley and we did think to stop for a pint when we got there but we both realised neither of us had any money with us! So we didn't make it that far and turned around before we got to Common lock.

Jaz almost grown up now and has just finished her first season!

Our hosepipe reaches the first water tap so Kev filled up our tank!

Start of 2016 cruising!

Monday 14th March

Well we are now back aboard Rock & Roll and ready to start cruising again, we actually got to our marina in Shardlow on Saturday. We unpacked the car and once we had everything put away in their places and had taken Jaz for a walk we went into Long Eaton for some shopping at Asda. We wanted to move out of the marina that day as the flood lock was going to close on Sunday morning for repairs so once we had got back with the shopping we left our marina and had a short cruise and moored on the visitor moorings passed the pubs, we wanted to moor where the pubs are but there were 3 boats already there and there wasn't enough room for us but that was fine. On Sunday morning Kev left me here and took the car home where he cleaned it and put the cover on it & plugged the battery charger in to maintain the battery level, the plan was that he would ride his motorbike to my mam's in Hull, put the bike in her garage hooked up to another battery charger & then get the train back to Long Eaton today. But as it was such a lovely day he decided to come back on his bike and is leaving it on the marina. All good plans change!
Yesterday morning after Kev had left I took Jaz for a walk to see if there were any sign of work starting on the flood gate but nobody was there. Later on in the morning 4 hire boats passed heading in the direction of the River Trent which was in flood as was the River Soar, so about midday I had another walk with Jaz and found the workmen preparing things at the flood lock.

This was when I first had a walk

Then later on plenty of activity!

You can just see one of the men in the water, there was another at this side too

Looking back at the flood Lock

I carried on to Derwent Mouth Lock I found all 4 hire boats moored and all locked up!

There were 3 private boats ahead of these all waiting for the River Trent and the river level markers were in red. I noticed at about 4pm 2 of the hire boats had gone down through the lock and apparently   the hire company had sent their men back for them, there was however a private boat just entering the lock to go onto the river.

We are heading off from Shardlow today and probably moor at Willington for the night.

Moving Home & Boat Blacking!

Friday 29th January

Firstly I hope everybody had a good Xmas & New Year, we have been very busy since we got back to our cottage in Burton Pidsea. When we moved from Roos where we had lived for 25years we missed it very much (well probably me more than Kev) & wouldn't have left had there been a property for sale that didn't have a garden or hedges that would need taking care of whilst we are on R&R. Then a friend of mine, Pam who lived in Roos told us about a cottage that had been totally renovated and we did know which one it was and a man lived in it and he had since died, so a couple had bought it for their son to buy once they had completed the renovation work, but he couldn't get a mortgage! Anyway we put an offer in which was accepted in November and we managed to get moved in on 19th December! In time for Xmas so we have been very busy and now we hopefully have somebody who is going to rent the cottage in Burton Pidsea fingers crossed, we have used a letting agent so she will make sure we don't have to worry while we are away on R&R.

Kev had got R&R booked in for blacking at Shobnall Marina for Friday 22nd January, his friend Nigel had offered to go with him from Shardlow Marina to help him with the blacking while I stayed at home with Jaz, I dropped them off at our marina on Tuesday 19th January and then came home.

Jaz with her Xmas toy

Kev & Nigel arrived at Shobnall on Thursday afternoon and they went across to see Gareth at the dry dock  who told them he would come out to them on Friday morning at 9am and sure enough at 8-50am he came to R&R. They followed another boat that was going into the dry dock for a rudder repair and by 9-45am they were on the chocks in the dry dock and then Sam (Gareth's son)began to steam clean our Hull!
Kev & Nigel asked Gareth if there were any good pubs nearby, and they both ended up in The Coopers Arms which according to Kev was like stepping back in time. Think I will have to give it a try when we pass through Burton upon Trent!
Over the weekend Kev & Nigel managed to get 3 coats of Comastic on the hull & repainted the tunnel bands. Kev had been dying to get the boat out of the water so he could finally see what condition the hull was in and was pleased to find it was fine and so too were the anodes and so he didn't have to replace them even though he had bought new ones but they will keep for next time the boat needs blacking.

Kev would like me to say that all the people in the marina & chandlery were all extremely friendly and would like to say a big thank you to Gareth, Sam & Dave and he would highly recommend Shobnall marina to anyone wanting to use it for DIY blacking etc.

Kev brought R&R out of the dry dock on Monday morning and made his way back to Shardlow marina & on Wednesday morning Jaz & I arrived at Shardlow to pick both Kev & Nigel up and come home. 

A job well done, Kev is pleased with it and we will be back on our travels around the beginning of March, we are heading for the Thames this year and so we hope that we will get to see Carol & George on their wide beam " Still Rockin" on our travels.

I would like to wish everybody a belated Happy New Year.

Back home now

Sunday 1st November

We had a nice weekend at Willington although the weather wasn't very good, but on Saturday (24th October)we had a walk to Repton even though it was showery we managed to get there without getting wet.

This plaque is just at Willington Bridge over the river Trent

Walking over the bridge the footpath is only at one side and very narrow and we were glad we didn't have Jaz with us as the road was quite busy too. A bus was coming towards us as we were crossing the bridge and he slowed down while he passed us. It is ok when cars pass but anything like a tractor, lorry or a bus means you are quite close to the wall with the river below. 

Looking across the bridge, no footpath on that side!

The river Trent below us.

Lovely thatched cottages in Repton

The cross in the centre.

We walked to the right of the cross to the Red Lion pub as it started to rain, (good excuse for a pint) and as we sat inside the heavens opened up and it poured down but by the time we had finish our drinks it stopped so we headed back to Willington. In the pub there were a few photos of people who had attended the school here and one was the earlier Sherlock Holmes actor Basil Rathbone along with another photo of Jeremy Clarkson. The school at Repton is spread out around the village, a lot of the different departments like the sports complex looked quite new. It was about a 20minute walk and if it had been a sunny day it would have been lovely as you always see places differently when the sun is out. 

On Sunday morning we were getting ready to leave our mooring to go across to the services for water etc when another boat got there first so we had to wait, which is just one of those things but the couple didn't fill with water at first they decided to do a DIY pump out instead! The man got his hosepipe attached to the tap and then washed his boat!! We then made the decision to start to pull across to them and wait as if we stayed on our mooring while they finished someone else may have come along. They had already been at the services for over half an hour and we had to wait nearly the same again!

Anyway once we had  topped up with a little water we emptied cassettes & got rid of some rubbish and then made our way to Stenson lock where there was a boat waiting to go into the lock so we were able to share it with them. There were volunteer lockies on too so they told both Kev and the man from the other boat to stay on board so that was a bonus, no such luck when we got to Swarkeston lock though and both Kev and the other man had to get the lock ready. We let the other boat exit the lock first as we were going to stay at Weston for the night and they were carrying on to Nottingham.

We moored on the moorings close to the lock and these were going to be winter moorings from 1st November, CRT men had just put up the sign there.

Monday morning about 8am we were ready to leave so Kev pushed the bow off for me and went to open the lock gates as it was full. As we got to Aston lock there was a boat coming up so we didn't have long to wait, and when we got to Shardlow lock the gates were actually open so we went straight in! 

We were soon back at our marina and we spent Tuesday cleaning, packing etc ready to leave for home on Wednesday, although Kev will be back on board in another week or so as he wants to do a few jobs and Nigel will be at his boat too. They are both going to sort out getting a slot to get both boats  into a dry dock for blacking etc probably in March next year so I will stay at home while they do that.