« Busy Days

UK Waterways Ranking »

We’ve completed the filming of the Leicester Ring DVD. Here’s Susan, steering our boat towards London at the end of the Leicester Ring filming.

It’s seemed like an obstacle course as we dodged the weather, refilled empty pounds, waited for broken lock gates to be mended and found long lines of boats turning up just when we wanted to manoeuvre the boat for filming. We’ve also shared locks with some very helpful boaters.

We’re just past Calcutt Locks on the way back to Birmingham. We hope to reach Warwick tomorrow (Saturday) and tackle Hatton on Sunday morning - we can lend you a windlass if you’d like to help.

« Loughborough to Syston

Norton Junction »

Our progress through Leicester was swift and without bother from the vandals other boaters have reported and we moored at Kilby Bridge, considered by many to be a safe haven.

We almost caught up with a boat after a couple of locks and we were hoping to share the remaining locks with them but they moored up and we cruised past them - not knowing at the time that they had a broken throttle cable, awaiting the arrival of River Canal Rescue.

It was hard working all the wide locks on our own. They are all slightly different and the best order to open the paddles to avoid pushing our boat around seemed different at each lock.

It was just plain hard work holding the boat with the centre rope in each lock until we reached Double Rail Lock - neither side of the lock had centre bollards. There were three on each side but two were close to each other at the bottom of the lock and no use to us. Rather surprising after the recent fuss about centre bollards.

We moored at Kilby Bridge and were bothered by children on bikes trying to set the BW workboats adrift, until they realised we were filming them.

Then they cycled up and down the towpath shouting a lot and swinging tennis rackets at anyone who stuck their head out. Once again they disappeared when we started filming them.

Aquaholix, the boat we passed in Leicester moored behind us, and we heard about the broken throttle cable from Mike and Debbie Gunn.

We planned to cruise together through the rest of the broad locks which was fine until we reached Bumblebee Lock, the first lock of the day. All four gates were shut and all four paddles down but the pound above the lock was completely drained.

After reporting the problem to BW and walking the pound to check for a breach we had to open both sets of paddles at the next three locks to get enough water to refill the pound. As I walked the pound I was surprised to see no sign of any fish, or any rubbish or any other disturbance.

The rest of the day was great, with our new found friends Mike & Debbie Gunn on Aquaholix sharing the locks and the work. They were very co-operative when asked to go first or second between the locks and to use a particular side of the lock so it kept consistency in our filming. If only they were available every time we meet broad locks.

We made it to Foxton, and we’ve filmed the Market Harborough Arm, so all we need is sunshine tomorrow morning for us to head up the staircase.

This will be the highlight of our Leicester Ring DVD so sunshine is essential – and before 12:30 so it’s on the correct side of the boat for filming.

After that we just hope the repairs to Watford Locks which shut them today have been finished.

« Passing a Blog Reader

Busy Days »

We left Loughborough Basin early this morning, to make the most of the forecast early sunshine. There had been lots of heavy rain overnight and more forecast for this afternoon. Pillings Flood Lock took us by surprise as this normally has both sets of gates open in the summer but they were closed today and we had to work it as a conventional lock, with just 3 inches (75mm) difference in levels.

Barrow upon Soar looked great while the sun was out as we carefully navigated through the centre arch of the stone bridge an managed the sharp bend each side of the bridge.

Warming itself in the best of the sunshine was this cormorant, which simply watched us cruise past. The water from the last few days rain was flowing over the weirs, as here just below Mountsorrel Lock.

We’re moored at Syston, hoping the weather will be kind enough for us to cruise through Leicester tomorrow.

« We’re pased Trent Junction

Loughborough to Syston »

The weather had been very unpredictable over the last few days. The decision to moor up yesterday turned out to be right with strong winds, heavy showers accompanied by thunder and lightening.

The noise of the rain was deafening in the cratch while venturing there to take the photo.

Today we made it as far at Loughborough and moored in the recently refurbished basin before the showers arrived.

Just before we left we had a comment left on our blog by Nick Ferrar saying he was cruising the opposite way round the Leicester Ring so we would be passing somewhere.

He explained he was cruising on a boat from Oxfordshire Narrowboats so when we spotted one of their fleet coming round the corner we had the camera ready. There was just time to check it was Nick as we passed - hopefully he’ll leave a comment when reaching home to name the other four crew members.

« Branston & Willington

Passing a Blog Reader »

The forecast said rain so we planned to stay put today but, when the sun was shining at breakfast time, we decided to set off and see how far we got.

We passed a heron and an otter on the way to Trent Junction where the sign makes it clear which way to go.

Were moored at Zouch Cut, and wondering how big the gaps will be between the forecast showers tomorrow. We hope to get to Loughborough and, perhaps, beyond.

« Cruising past the Minworth Breach

We’re pased Trent Junction »

We made it to Willington yesterday, including passing through Branston Lock where everywhere looked so dry and parched and in need of rain.

Today we stayed in Willington as it rained all day and it was too dark to film. We were spotted by Andrew Denny from Granny Buttons who dropped in for coffee.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, we’ll have another try at heading for Trent Junction and, perhaps, a little beyond.

« Update on the Breach at Minworth

Branston & Willington »

« Breach on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal

Cruising past the Minworth Breach »

We were please to find that the recent breach at Minworth, mention in our two previous blog posts, had been fixed in just a few days and we were able to leave Birmingham along the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal as planned.

Approaching Farmers Bridge top lock we spotted Jim Shead walking near the top lock and he was soon winding the paddles to help us down. We had first met him just a few weeks ago when he helped us up Farmers Bridge locks.

He worked a few locks but we soon had him steering and the thirteen locks were accomplished rather quicker than expected with his help. Thank you Jim - I hope you weren’t late home for lunch.

Further on we passed the site of the Minworth Breach where vandals had opened the paddles on Lock 1 and allowed the pound towards lock 2 to overflow. The water actually flowed down the towpath past lock 2 and onto the road below.

You can just see the new fencing in the distance in the first photo, just above the person’s head, and the closer show shows the embankment rebuilt after the original one was washed into the road below.

We’re moored near Alrewas on the Trent & Mersey Canal as we are filming the East Midlands or Leicester Ring, clockwise. Which should we call it? We might pass through Burton upon Trent tomorrow if the weather holds, or stop short if the forecast rain arrives.

« Jim Shead steers Waterway Routes

Update on the Breach at Minworth »

I’ve just received an email from British Waterways alerting boaters to a breach on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal between Minworth Locks 1 and 2.

Due to vandalism the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal has been breached between locks 1 and 2 on the Minworth lock flight and the canal is closed between Curdworth bottom lock and Aston Top Lock (& Perry Barr top lock). Engineers are currently assessing the situation and further information will be provided on timescales for repair once the situation has been fully investigated.

These pictures show the length of canal in question, looking towards Fazeley Junction as if cruised out of Birmingham from Minworth Lock 1 to Lock 2.

No doubt there will be more reports during the next few days about what the vandals have done and how long it will take to repair.

We plan to cruise along there next Friday, just a week today, so I hope it is very minor damage. With long lengths of canal drained it will take a long time to refill, even after the breach is fixed.