Monday 13th May, I had walked over to the post office to post a parcel and arrived back around 9-30. At 10-00 o clock I turned the key to start the engine and nothing happened, the starter battery was flat. By the time I had walked over to the Chandelry,bought a new battery and fitted it then topped up the Deisel and Gas it was 11-30. We were on our way heading up the Trent to Shardlow. There are six wide locks at the start of the Trent and Mersey on the second third and fourth we locked through with another boat on the rest we were on our own. Having not moved since last July I had forgotten how heavy these double locks are. The weather had been kind not raining until we were mooring just before Willington. Marlene and I both ached from steering and locking. Tuesday morning we left our mooring at 9-30 it was sunny but the forecast was for more showers. From Willington there are no locks until Burton on Trent. By the time we approached Branston(one of our favourite moorings)it was looking a bit dark, however we pushed on toward Barton Turns. Of coarse the heavens opened before we got there. Should not have pushed our luck. We moored for the night below Barton lock. Couldn't get the tele to work so we watched a Couple of DVDs. We decided to get an early start on Wednesday morning, so at 7-15 we entered Barton lock,the plan was to have breakfast at Alrewas. Things were going well when I suddenly started to loose power. Stopping along side the A38 I looked in the weed hatch to see if we had something fouling the propellor, I could only find a few bits of string. We set of again and it was ok, I can only think that what ever was on the propellor had freed it's self while I was mooring. As we approached Wychnor lock it started to rain heavy,we put on our waterproofs and carried on to Alrewas and breakfast. We set off again at 10-00 and found ourselves in a queue the lock leaving Alrewas. We were third behind two hire boats. This remaind the same to the junction at Fradley where we turned left down the Coventry Canal. We are now moored at bridge 89 and the sun is shining between the showers. I have not managed to get signal for the tele again, I am beginning to think my satellite dish may be on the blink.

A Shardlow double.

Having not moved any further than the diesel pump since arriving at Sawley Marina on the first of July,this week we cruised up to Shardlow twice. The first was on Wednesday when we went to pump out the waste tank. This caused me some embarrassment, being a D.I.Y pump out I collected the key from the office and paid the fee. I connected the hose and turned on the power and nothing happened,trying several times without success I finally returned to the office. They sent a man to see what the problem was, it turned out all it needed was priming with a drop of water,simple when you know how. Finishing the pump out we set off to Shardlow,our aim was to wash both sides of the boat as it was covered in cobwebs. The first side we washed at the top of Derwent Mouth Lock,this is the first lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal. As we approached the lock we noticed the side of the lock was covered in school children having their lunch. After finishing the first side of the boat we proceeded up the canal through Shardlow village to the winding hole below number two lock. Having turned round we moored opposite Dobsons boat yard for lunch. In the afternoon we washed the second side then headed back to the Marina. It had been a lovely day,even the weather stayed fine. Our second trip was on Saturday, our eldest grandson Dominic was staying with us for the weekend so we decided to go out for the day. As we set off we found our selves behind two wide beam boats,this would mean a wait at the first lock,however,the lead boat turned round just past the road bridge and the second boat turned up the Trent heading for Shardlow Marina. This left us clear to lock through without a wait. We moored out side the New Inn before taking a walk round the village. Once again we turned below number two lock before heading back toward the Marina. On the way back Dominic took the helm taking it into Derwent Mouth Lock,needles to say he was quite proud of himself when it all went well. After mooring back at out berth in the Marina we walked down to the Plank and Leggit for dinner.

End of season fast approaching.

Would you believe it it's September already,where does the time go. We are just back at the boat having had a nice week at Stephens with the boys. I went on some walks with them round the Berkshire countryside. Marlene is resting her Achilles tendon that she injured before we went to Stephens. Wednesday evening we all went to Pizza Express so we could meet Stephen's new lady friend which was a great success.On Thursday we went Tenpin Bowling in Reading Harry won by one point with me second, I messed up my last ball taking only six pins instead of the eight I needed.The journey home went quite well except the train from Reading to London Paddington was packed to bursting. We had planned to cruise with the boat when we got back,however,I have some more dentist and doctors appointments coming up, nothing really important but time consuming. Next weekend we are looking after our youngest grandson( Duncan) while his mum and go to London for a dueathlon Richard is taking part. After that we are going up to Yorkshire with them so we can visit mother. That will take us to mid September and probably still more dental appointments,so the chances of going far with the boat before the end of the season are receding fast.

At last back on line.

Finally were back on the blog,we have had problems writing in the main box, now I'm pleased to say we are back in business. Since my last posting we have not left the Marina except to top up the diesel. We had planned to go. Out after our check up at the new Doctors,however we both got another appointment. Marlene's for a blood test and mine for an asthma check. Although the appointments aren't until the 24th August we decided to stay in the Marina and do some work on the boat. We also had a week with Pamela in which we visited Wells-Next-the-Sea and did some crabbing off the harbour with Archie. I's a long time since we went crabbing at Wells. While at Pamela's eating my healthy breakfast of Muesli I bit on a hazel nut and broke my tooth. So as well as the Doctors appointments I am now visiting a Dentist in Long Eaton. One thing we have done while in the Marina was to look round a wide beam barge. It was beautiful,with a large open plan lounge and kitchen,a lovely shower room a single bedroom and a large double bedroom. Marlene loved it,so all I have to do now is sell Doublefracture. Seriously they are lovely boats but we would be restricted in where we could cruise. After our doctors appointments we are going to visit Stephen and the boys for a few days. Then weather permitting we will go for a cruise before the winter sets in.

Having a problem typing my blog,will be back when I can.

A gap in our summer cruising.

Over two week since my last posting,but to be honest our boating has been zero. When Nathan came to pick up the grandchildren we went back with them. Pamela had gone on a surprise pamper day and a barbecue was planned for her return. While waiting we went bowling in Grantham. The barbecue was a success except for a couple of showers. Pamela was surprised to see us and her close friends when she came home. We stayed till the Wednesday when taking the train north we visited Richard for a couple of nights before going to my mothers on the Friday. We finally returned to the boat on Monday. Tuesday we went in to Castle Bonnington to register at the doctors. When ever we checked the river it was closed, so we stayed in the Marina and dodged the showers while walking some of the footpaths. One of the days we walked up the river to Shardlow, where we had a pot of tea at the New Inn before returning. This last weekend with the change in the weather we sat on our small patio in front of the boat and relaxed in the sun. Tomorrow we have a health check with the nurse at our new doctors, then hopefully on Wednesday we can do some cruising.

More river closures.

Saturday the river at Zouch was in the Amber so we left and cruised up to Kegworth deep lock. On arrival we found that it was still in the red zone at Kegworth. Mooring up I phoned Sawley to ask the state of the Trent,I was told although the Soar was out of flood the Trent was still in flood. We decided to stay at Kegworth until the Trent was open and we could return to Sawley. A phone call on Sunday morning confirmed it was still in flood. With the prospect of another day at least moored where we were, we decided to explore the local foot paths. Walking half way from Kegworth deep to Kegworth shallow we found a path on the right which took us over several fields to the village of Sutton Bonnington. The day before we had walked from Zouch to Sutton Bonnington to do some essential shopping. On Sunday we found another path that took us back across to the River Sour about a mile from where we were moored. When we arrived back at the boat I once again checked with Sawley to see if there was any change in the Trent. To our surprise we were told it was open to traffic. Armed with this information we left Kegworth. At the end of the Soar where it joins the Trent we turned left heading for Sawley Lock. The river was still high and flowing fairly fast. Approaching the lock the cross current was rather strong but with a little more power we entered the quiet water on the lock approach. Coming out of the lock we were shocked to see the red light was back on showing the river was closed again. Sunday night we moored opposite Sawley Marina. After mooring we went to the Plank and Leggit for our tea and a couple of pints. On Monday we walked round to the Marina and signed the contract for our mooring in the Marina. Returning to the boat we took it in to our new berth. Since then we have spent our time doing jigsaws and reading due to the heavy rain, although we have had a couple of nice days,at least some of the day.today Pamela brought Archie and Amberley to stay the night while her and Nathan go out to celebrate Pamela's birthday.