Author: Steve Carter

 

Our 4 days in Castle Marina were up and so time to move on. Out along the canal – two locks and then out onto the mighty river Trent. Down thru two massive locks – all automatically operated by lock keepers and thence to a secure and very pretty mooring at Gunthorpe.  Been here before and like the rural outlook, the two pubs, restaurants and a beach for Toby to swim.

Meanwhile, Viv steers us out of Nottingham

“Don’t get me started” but here’s one of the new CRT signs and part of their entirely spurious & superfluous rebranding excercise, oh, and “we’re not going to change all the signs straight away as that’s too expensive”. Well, here’s a very out of the way one and the second I’ve seen today. No facilities at all along this 2 mile stretch through a CITY, just the feeble and often vandalised ones at each end. No refuse points, no water, not even a dog poo bin! Come on CRT – get together with Nottingham City Council and actually WELCOME boaters to this great city.

Out on to the Trent and down to Holme Lock . . .

And who should we bump into (not lit.) but Emma on her “water bike”, pedalling for the great litter campaign, litter picking as she goes. She’s just doing a stretch of the river but a team of water bikers will do 1,000s of miles. See the Waterbike Collective.

Well done!  We’ll see you later.

Plenty of wildlife . . . lots of swallows, herons and even one kingfisher . .

Into Stoke Bardolph lock and then the hour or so down to Gunthorpe

 

Final spot for a few days . . . Emma did catch us up . . . here she is in Gunthrope lock, her litter pile has increased quite a bit! Brave lass all on her own.

And out onto the Trent – looks quite a lone figure. All the best!

Bye!

Meanwhile, this is what we’ve been promising scaredy dog all day – a swim!

Toby and his beloved Flubber Wubber  . . .

 

 

Another hot day – Sunday and what to do? Viv looked up a “What’s On” web page and found that the Ilkeston Brass Band were playing their first concert in Ilkeston – Victoria Park. Only a 12 minute train ride. Hmm, it turned out to be a 30 minute walk to the station and then a 40 minute walk, uphill to the park but it was a Grand Day out! Smoked salmon & cucumber sandwiches packed & off we went.

Someone now has a Senior railcard and so the return fare was only £3.65

Found the station but where were’s t’park?

Ah, found the Erewash canal (see blogs passim)

Following Viv’s Google map directions we arrived – and a very nice park it was too. We were just an hour early – time to eat sarnies and admire the empty bandstand

Come 1330 and it started to fill with various musicians and their instruments

Bit of a mixed bag of music with a lot of new stuff, like Harry Potter themes. They did give quite a few soloists a go, including some youngsters, which was nice. A young lad played a muted trumpet playing a great ragtime jazz piece. Here is a guy playing the cornet (Spanish Eyes) and they had a good go at Khachaturian’s Masquerade suite (waltz) . . .

The only pain was dear old Toby!  He doesn’t like loud noises and a brass band did do a few of those. At first he sat and shivered. The he hid behind the seat. Then he sneaked off into the trees behind, so we had to move! Big, bold, fearful dog, eh? It was a grand day – very warm and a lovely, British thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.

So it was time for us to be Westering Home . . . .

Via one or two “refreshment” stops. This one stocked Shipstones – a rejuvenated brewery. Steve had a pint of Farady (?). Then it was a quick stop at the Vat & Fiddle in Nottingham.

Home to a Sicilian salad . .  orange slices, onions, olives, tomatoes, feta cheese and Sicilian olive oil .

 

 

Saturday in Nottingham. The marina’s chandlery is moving to a new block and so had a sale on – up to 70% off, so we bought a few bits and pieces. Then we trundled on to do our shopping in Sainsbury’s. On the way we met some friends who said they had an interesting night – on returning to their boat around 8 they found a group of lads leaning against the boat and when asked what they were doing it became apparent they were snorted a line of Charlie of the handrail of the boat! Hmm, another otherwise unknown use of a narrowboat! Glad we opted for the marina.

After the revittelling was done we took the Boggle with us, up Maid Marion Way, past the Robin Hood statue and into the Craft Crow for a pie & a pint.

Be a shame not to, having come this far.

The Crafty Crow – notice the monk giving the tourists a spiel, guess he’s Friar Tuck, the well know spoonerism. Oh and there’s Viv and Toby – both have their tongues hanging out – onwards!

Quite a nice and airy place of two levels – with lots of beer:

And craft beers too. We tried 4, 5 & 7

We had fish n chips plus a Club Sandwich and then Steve tried the Tiny Rebel, Great Cornholio (just a half mind) – stunning, as so it should be at £3.60 a half.

Viv found the comfy seats

Very dog friendly – they came out with a bowl and treats for Toby.

Lots of weddings today – not sure about that dress??

 

 

Well, we waited until Thursday came around and Dave’s micro pub opened!  Had a few delicious beers & then gave Toby a swim. By this time our chums on Raven (Steph, Midge & Mike) had walked up from Trent Lock to sample the beers. It is a special place.

Nice selection of beers!

Viv tries an oatmeal stout – very tasty. Meanwhile, back on the boat Steve prepares his signature dish , Paella!

Helped by some Tesco finest Rioja . . . the secret with a good paella, apart all the proper ingredients (here, a medley of fish – salmon, smoked haddock & cod plus a seafood mixture (prawns, squid, mussels) plus extra prawns, chicken,  peas, paellero powder, pepper, fish stock . . .) is to stop the cooking when almost done. Put the lid on and chat for another 10 mins by which time there’ll be no water left around the rice – simples.

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Friday, we were up and off by 8, over for a pump out at Sawley Marina. Take on water then down the lock to meet up with Raven. Down to Cranfleet cut:

And here’s the mischievous Midge! What a poser!

We wait at the exit . . . and out onto the Trent .

All nice & serene now, hardly any flow at all

Lots of geese – in a sort of creche convoy

It wasn’t long before Steph & Mike caught us up – showing us how powerful these little tugs are . . .

 

And then around to Beeston and back to canals.  We’d emailed Castle Marina about a mooring but had no reply. Coincidentally and as it turns out, serendipitously, they sent a reply as we were en route – £12.50/night  didn’t seem bad for a few nights – inc. elastic trickery. We were half expecting Jenny to travel up to see us and this would have been pufick!

Fairly safe haven & lots of amenities plus close enough to the city for our needs

 

 

Well, the quiet Bank Holiday weekend wasn’t. Not for us anyway. Four lots of weekender boaters. Two one night (BBQs, smoke, drinking, noise etc) and then another two the next night. Nice enough but with the strong breeze, it sent firelighter & smoke fumes into our boat and then the ghettoblaster came out. We escaped to our cratch, opened some wine and played James Blunt loudly.

So, Tuesday, we chugged on. A three hour trip to Sawley Cut. Down through Zouch lock with Mel on Last Furlong and then round to Kegworth deep lock and teamed up with a couple we met in Loughborough on Merthain and thence to Ratcliffe lock before out into the confluence (nice word that, confluence) of the Soar & Trent. The going slowed quite a bit as there was a bit of a flow on.  This was the remnant of the big floods seen in the West Midlands (“a month’s rain in one hour”) and this got a lot worse as the day wore on, in fact the flood lock at Sawley was put into operation with 1.5m of water t’other side. Hmm, we’re staying put then.

You know you’re nearing Nottingham when these shapes heave into view:

Ratcliffe power station

Moored on the Sawley cut, opposite the Derby Motor Boat Club – one of our favourite spots.  A big CRT work boat pulled in beside us.

Here’s Sawley locks and beside them, one big reason for stopping here:

Dave’s ickle pub, the Lockkeepers Rest – not open until Thursday!

Meanwhile, there are other pubs around – found this one in the town, the White Lion. And the Old Sawley Brewery. Little Jack, Figaro, Jobber, Tollbridge Porter to name a few of their own beers – see White Lion website

This was a guest beer (and on keg but very tasty)

I think we got to try 3 or 4 beers . . . with the brewery in the background.

The next day, as predicted, turned out to be very wet, a 1cm of rain by 11 o’clock.

It does it all get very quiet in wet weather. There are good facilities here (toilets & showers, water and rubbish disposal) as the locks are manned by volunteers and the pub/cafe is here too.

 

Luffed up then hove to for a whole week. That’s the plan this year. Slowly, slowly does it. Most unusual for us to stay put for so long but then the forecast was good – very good, in fact, often Scorchio! We walked down to Queen’s Park (museum, squirlies for Toby to chase, aviary and just a nice park), around to various pubs, including the still new-ish Needle & Pin; a teensy weeny pub not far from the Swan and serving wonderful beer!

The lovely, tranquil Queen’s Park

Here’s the famous cast used to make the huge bell for St Paul’s

Inside the Needle & Pin! PhD Students playing Munchkin!

A pic of the basin

Helping Mark on Tamsin, reverse round the corner.

Everyday we’d get this lot squeaking outside for food

Plus these two!

Can thoroughly recommend Tarboush, a middle eastern restaurant (run by a Turkish family, I think). Excellent food (Mezzeh etc) and Turkish beer/wine plus a Shisha pipe at the end. I think Steve thought he’d charm a snake!

Former lock keepers cottage – up for sale (£375,000+)

Moving on . . . down the Soar, past Normanton.

Final mooring spot in Zouch.

Lots of fields to walk the dog (boat just visible – middle of photo!)

The Soar looks very majestic here and of course, a good spot for a swim

He went in but couldn’t get back out – so master had to drag him out

 

Lock 55 – looks very leaky

Looking back over the footbridge to our mooring – just behind Red Admiral

And zoomed in. And from behind!  Nice and open for good solar, 4G data and TV etc!!

 

Nearly a week in Mountsorrel, time to move on. Meanwhile, Steve has bid on an antique ship’s clock on Ebay and won. So he’s planning a train trip from Loughborough to Kirkby-in-Ashfield on Monday! So down the Soar, thru Barrow deep lock and on to the canal bit to Loughborough.

Meanwhile, we saw this odd optical phenomenom – looks like two suns? Refraction?

Next day – down through Mountsorrel lock

Lots of wildlife about

Some awfully nice properties in Barrow-upon-Soar, including the one with the canon! Going for £760,000 (indoor pool, sauna, annex, 5 bedrooms??) and a nice mooring of course.

Keen gardeners

Barrow deep lock

I originally thought , aha! lots of CRT volunteers but no, they were from the charity boat (Peter Le Marchant), waiting t’other side of the lock. They all came to help us through.

Steve, showing off his new tiller tassel, bought from a boat selling all kinds of fender like stuff.

It is a deep lock

And there’s the boat – all decked out – for it is a Royal Wedding today!

A very serene river Soar today as we approach Pilings

Another 30 mins and we’re in Loughborough, just round from the junction, on bollards but not outside the Albion PH, for it is no more!

There are however, plenty of pubs to choose from. This is the beer list inside the Swan in the Rushes. We also visited the English Gentleman and the Paget.

Here for about a week – weather looks set fair, if not Scorchio. So we stay put and let the solar energy power the boat.  Meanwhile, here’s Steve with his clock. A Thomas Mercer (c.1920?) ship’s clock, fetched from three bike journeys and two train trips!

We’ve only ever passed through here – not thought of stopping, so that was the plan today, if there is room as there’s only a short piece of mooring by the big pub The Waterside Inn (Everards). It was a delightful cruise with a chilly start but the sun was out and the river was wide & deep, allowing us to almost catch up with Raven! Warp factor 8, I think but no complaint from the engine or the stern gland, which was nice.

Short video – shot of the view from the stern – lovely cruising weather.

A few chaps enjoying the river Soar too

Very serene

And Viv drives too

Paired up in Sileby lock

And finally, Mountsorrel – some tamarisk, ceanothus and weigelia!

And the lunchtime pint!

The pub was geared up with a bouncy castle

Not quite sure of this, taken from another angle??

We chugged along merrily with the tug Raven – 5 locks to Watermead Park – chance for the dog to have a much promised swim & a meal in the pub.

A much cooler and very windy day – Steph zoomed off on her boat Raven

Nice artwork at North Lock, where we had a bit of a queue

Just past that Lime Kiln lock – the prop got fouled – it was a complete sari!!

Arrived at Watermead and Toby gets a swim and to pose in amongst the buttercups

A victory roll after a long swim

Steph has a dog too – Midge!

Is this giant hogweed???

Geese and their new goslings

We enjoyed four days in Leicester and our new companions (Steph & Mike on Raven) were planning to head off and so, it being a good idea to share these awesome locks, we decided to join them.  Meanwhile, we’d had another visit to the Criterion (with Raven) and I cycled down to the Abbey Pumping Station (museum) – all very interesting.

Meanwhile, jolly big “crocodile” spotted in the canal

The beautiful Abbey Park

Complete with some amateur Bollywood productions

Lots to see in Leicester – this one’s for Jenny – marvellous looking church:

And arched doorway, reminds me of St Peter de marefair?

The Abbey Pumping Station museum – still gets steam up!

Marvellous beam engines . . . and a whole museum of all things “Leicester”

The little Bickerton, folding bike was a very good buy – zooms around the (flat) paths.

I filmed a very mucky section of canal, just below Lime Kiln lock

And just above, in contrast, some fancy new moorings in a small arm leading to Leicester College.  New VM?

Trying to frighten off the hoards of pigeon – bit diminutive this rubber snake.