Part 2 The Erewash canal

Learning quickly that boat life needs a different approach

Now we are below the first lock waiting to enter the Erewash proper at Trent Lock and we have another problem. Marian seems to be taking ages to empty the lock chamber and when I ask why she says that she can't turn the windlass because there is a lock on the gate paddle.

Now we'd been on hire boats over the years so weren't complete novices, in fact spent a fortnight on one in April 2016 on the Llangollen. But some things were new, such as licencing the boat, insurance etc.

Part of me thinks that if you buy a licence for the first time from the Canal and River Trust they might send you an email with helpful reminders. I did get one but it was mainly about how they monitor your sailing and whether they deem you to be in breach of the continuous cruising licence and how they will respond. Welcome indeed to the cut.

One thing they might have told us was the need for a type of key if we came across this type of anti vandal lock. Well we were now both wondering what on earth we were going to do to get through the lock when good fortune once again favoured us. A boat was approaching the lock (the only movement we saw that day)  and they explained the need for a key and helped us by coming down then waiting for us to rise and replace the locking device before they continued on their cruise. We were very grateful but as soon as we were moored I realised that now we had another problem. We would need a key to continue along the canal. We were stuck!

Where did you find them? How would we get one? Nothing for it but have a pint and see what morning brought.

THE ORGANIC ASHTRAY

Making use of available materials!!

Part 1 STARTING OUT

                                      

                                                  Independence day 2016 

The day began with the knowledge that the domestic battery alternator was not charging the batteries, and we needed to leave the marina our new home was moored in. The RCR (incidentally a truly great company)  they came to the boat but said they couldn't look into the cause as their service was not domestic related. But a fellow boater who was having a few problems himself suggested the man helping him maybe able to assist us.

To be honest we were desperate to sail and the whole scenario was looking like we scuppered before untying the mooring ropes. The RCR mechanic got someone to help but it wasn't going to be for a week. However Gary came across from the other boat, looked at our problem, diagnosed the fault and with the aid of an electrical spare corrected it. With enormous relief and the batteries charging we set forth from Shardlow and on to the rather wide current of the mighty Trent river.

Our Leap of Faith had begun with just one of many random acts of kindness we have so far encountered. It wasn't to be long before the next one. Now how is that for creating suspense?

Sailing over the river it was a short trip to the Erewash canal. Easy enough but then the turn onto the canal is made more difficult because as you turn it is at a 45 degree angle behind you and the current wants to push the boat away. We made this big turn and realising much to my wife's horror that greater power was required, I revved the engine up and aimed for the canal bank. Marian waved madly for me to slow down convinced that I was not only now running at ramming speed but I was most definitely going to ram the concrete bank. Boat half in sedate canal waters, wide arc on the tiller, hard reverse and who would have thought any panic was registered in the bow section.

tbc