Great Haywood

Used the central heating in the morning as the Pureglow had not kept the boat warm overnight – there were a lot of partially burned briquettes in the grate. There was also more ash than I'd been led to expect.

Filled up the water tank and then turned Erin Mae round, so I could get at the bit of paintwork I'm treating under the window. Added a second coat of primer to the patch. It occurs that this may be the best orientation for the pramhood over the winter, given the prevailing wind, providing we can tie the lines to stop the boat from moving too far towards the jetty.

0 miles

Rugeley to Great Haywood

Rain in the morning, but dried up by the time we set out. Intermittent during the day. Stopped at Rugeley to shop. Filled the diesel tank at the Taft Wharf. 169 litres @ 60p/l. Gas bottle @ £22 – result!

Got home in sunshine.

7.7 miles, 2 locks, 4.5 engine hours.

Huddlesford to Rugeley

Grey but dry day. Got going just behind the Chimney Company boat, but they quickly pulled over. Up through Fradley where there was help on the locks. Got past Kings Bromley marina just as another boat was coming out. Tied up outside The Ash Tree on the Armitage Road at Rugeley, and decided to have our evening mean there. That meant not running the engine in the evening, but we turned off the inverter while we were out.

10.3 miles, 3 locks, 1 swing bridge, 4 engine hours

Tamworth to Huddlesford

Yet another sunny day, though a large bank of cloud keep us in shadow for a while. Got going just after nine to ensure we got first crack at the Glascote locks. Fuzzily junction was a disappointment, but we took on water. Strong, cold wind most of the time in spite of the sun. Had enough of the wind by Huddlesford, so moored just north of Brudge 83, in spite of the proximity of the railway track.

8.4 miles, 2 locks, 4 engine hours

Coventry Canal Bridge 50 to Tamworth

Wet morning, but promised to dry up, so we planned a lazy start. Ran the engine for charging and hot water first thing, and got away around 11. Canal was shallow, and I often had to put the engine into reverse to clear the prop of leaf litter, etc.

Tied up above Glascote locks to walk into Tamworth for a prescription. That took so long to collect, because it was not complete and we had to ring the surgery, that we decided to stay above the locks for the night. Ran the engine again in the evening, because we'd had a wash-load running as we travelled.

5.7 miles, 0 locks, 5 engine hours.

Mancetter to Coventry Canal Bridge 50

Lovely sunny day. Came down the Atherstone flight just behind Vic & Sue on NB No Problem. Watered at Bradley Green and tied up out in the sticks, just after Bridge 50.

Cleared out the paint locker a bit. Rubbed down the corrosion under the dinette window and applied Exit Rust. Then did the right hand side of the boat with Showroom Shine. Results still a bit smeary.

4.5 miles, 11 locks, 4.5 engine hours

Nuneaton to Mancetter

Set out on a grey morning, just ahead of a boat which then tailgated us to Nantwich. tied up by Bridge 19 and walked into town to post a letter and do some shopping. Turned out a very long walk, and a very boring town centre.

When we got back and set out, we got a carpet round the prop. Then we got a lot of dog-dirt on our shoes from the spot where we had pulled in to get rid of the carpet..

Eventually tied up just short of Mancetter, with the railway within hearing distance, but a very nice view through the side-hatch up a sloping field to woods.

6.6 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Ansty to Nuneaton

Thought about getting water at Ansty but someone else was there, and the site was messy. Near Hawkesbury we crossed with NB Auriga and bought two 25 Kg bags of PureGlow for £10.50 each. Just before the stop lock we found NB No Problem and chatted with Sue. Got water from a slow tap just round the corner onto the Coventry. Decided to moor up before getting into Nuneaton, so stopped just after Bridge 18. Ran engine in the evening for TV use.

7.7 miles, 1 lock, 5 engine hours

Rugby to Ansty

Cool day got brighter in the afternoon. Went to Tesco first thing, and set out around noon. Did a wash on the way. Got to Ansty much earlier than CanalPlan had suggested, and were able to tie up on rings there

9.4 miles, 0 locks, 1 swing bridge, 5.5 engine hours

Barby to Rugby

Cool and cloudy but dry. Got a pump-out at Grantham Bridge Services in the middle of the Hillmorton locks (£15 with blue), and tied up at the Boughton Road picnic area just after Bridge 59. Really nice mooring.

Went to Tesco's just down the road from Bridge 58 to meet Claire, and she brought us back, plus shopping, for lunch and the afternoon on Erin Mae.

6.6 miles, 3 locks, 4.5 engine hours

Welton Wharf to Barby

Cloudy, cold but dry day. Braunston tunnel behind NB Little Egret, slowly, passing the Coal and Diesel Boat half-way through. Shared the Braunston locks with Little Egret. Picked up water at the junction and headed north up the Oxford. Moored up on armco a mile before the M45. Ran the engine again while making the tea.

6.2 miles, 6 locks, 5 engine hours

Yelvertoft to Welton Wharf

Brilliant sunshine early, with scarcely a cloud, though it got overcast later. Very cold out of the sun. At Crick missed getting in front of NB Conqueror by a few seconds, but fortunately they were pulling in to take on water before the tunnel. Had to pass an oncoming boat in the tunnel. Came down the Watford flight and didn't even have to queue. Saw NB Oldfield at Norton junction, turned right and tied up on rings opposite Welton Wharf.

9.6 miles, 7 locks, 4.5 engine hours

Welford to Yelvertoft

Fine day for cruising, and we're now generally feeling like heading towards home, rather than holing up and seeing the sights or going for long walks. Straightforward run to Yelvertoft, and tied up on the 14 day moorings. Walked to the village for some bread, and met the four painters in the Reading Room.

9.9 miles, 1 lock, 5 engine hours

Theddingworth to Welford

Beautiful morning, but very chilly. Set out around 10.45. Through Husbands Bosworth tunnel, and then decided to go up the Welford arm. Winded before going to the end, and reversed to the basin, in case reversing out was too difficult.

Went for a walk through the village and across the fields to Welford reservoir – looking depleted.

6.6 miles, 1 lock, 5 engine hours

Foxton to Theddingworth

Fine day, sunny at first. Wind got up a little. Cruised down to the winding hole at Bridge 52 to pick up Andrew & Anna and the children. After coffee, winded and went back to Foxton for lunch and a walk round the site. Then filled the water tank and went back to drop them off – about 6 p.m. eventually. Tied up 50 yards beyond Bridge 52.

7.7 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Foxton

Generally fine but cloudy day. Came up the Foxton flight as one of a group of three, crossing at the half-way point with a single boat descending.

Tied up at the second water point, took on water and gave the roof and the front of the boat a good scrubbing. Then moved round the corner to the visitor moorings for the night.

1.3 miles, 10 locks, 1 swing bridge, 5 engine hours

Smeeton Westerby to Market Harborough to Foxton

Fine morning, though a heavy dew. Jim came at 8.45 and replaced the leaking seal on the prop shaft lubrication unit. Then we were lowered back into the water, and settled up with Debdale.

Blacking for sides and base = £12 / foot = £720, inc VAT.
Replacement seal + an hour's labour = £114.50, inc VAT.

Arranged last night to see Andrew and Anna & family on Sunday, so went on a shopping trip to Market Harborough, before coming back to Foxton and tying up on the 7 days moorings before the swing bridge at the basin.

12 miles, 0 locks, 3 swing bridges, 4 engine hours

Smeeton Westerby

Ran the engine first thing, then took Erin Mae 200 yards to Debdale Wharf for the blacking. Walked to Foxton for most of the day.

Asked Steve on our return about the greatly reduced times they use for the Rytex – website says 24 hours to overcoat, and 48 before returning the boat to the water. He said they're going on their experience, and if it comes off I can go back to have it done again.

No time to do the prop shaft seal, so they'll do it in the morning.

On a hook-up for the night.

0 miles, 2 engine hours

Market Harborough to Smeeton Westerby

Went down into Market Harborough to the supermarket. Coffee in baker's tea-shop / restaurant, back up the hill by bus. Mgt got two pairs of gloves from Peacocks.

Set out after mid-day, with the weather still a bit drizzly but better than what it had been. Easy run through to Foxton, and the first swing bridge was much easier than on the way down. Stopped on the visitor moorings at Foxton for lunch, but then moved on to be nearer the marina for the morning. Stopped on some Armco in a nicely isolated spot.

6.6 miles, 0 locks, 2 swing bridges, 3 engine hours

Foxton to Market Harborough

Started out fine, but came on to rain, as promised, around midday. Came up the Market Harborough arm and tied up just before the basin.

Fell getting off the stern in the rain, and tore the dodger's top eyelet.

5.6 miles, 0 locks, 2 swing bridges, 3 engine hours

Kilby Bridge to Foxton

Ran the engine first thing because the batteries were down to 50% after last night's Downton Abbey. Drizzly day, but we needed to get to Debdale, so Steve could see what part he needed for the leaking propellor shaft seal. Got held up at the last lock by a CRT boat pressure cleaning the gates.

Steve came and saw the shaft, and then we moved on to Foxton – went to the basin and then reversed back out of it to moor up.

10.5 miles, 12 locks, 9 engine hours

Leicester to Kilby Bridge

Fine day for cruising, though it was a very long day. Had to do the weed hatch after the first lock. Gave a ride to a family with the twins doing some steering in a very low pound. Tied up opposite the CRT station at Kilby Bridge. Excellent moorings – 14 day on armco and 48 hour on bollards.

8.2 miles, 15 locks, 7.5 engine hours

Birstall to Leicester

Dry but cool day. Got to Castle Gardens moorings at about 12 noon, and there was room for us at one end. Later two boats double-breasted further along the mooring.

Explored Leicester in the afternoon.

4.3 miles, 3 locks, 5 engine hours

Mountsorrel to Birstall

Gareth and Yuko came for coffee. Then, some time after 1, we set out as the day was beginning to get quite hot. Fine cruising and a few rather tough locks. Stopped at Sileby Mill Boatyard for kindling, Supatherm and a floating keyring. Took on water at Leicester Marina – no problem at all with us asking. Ran into Maffi as we were looking for space to tie up. He helped us through Birstall lock.

Moored just above the lock, on Armco.

7 miles, 5 locks, 6 engine hours

Zouch to Mountsorrel

Cloudy day at first, but cheered up and became sunny after lunch.

Called in at Pillings Lock Marina Engineering, and they were able to do the 250 hour service. Didn't need to change the air filter. £100 all in. Used a PelaPump to extract the oil through the dipstick tube.

Tied up just above Mountsorrel Lock.

10.3 miles, 5 locks (inc 1 flood lock open), 8 engine hours