Part 10 - Sailing along the Soar

It was a beautiful morning as we rose from our slumber and looked forward to the day ahead; Little realising what a long day it would turn out be. The sky was clear, the sun's warming rays lifting our spirits and whilst we enjoyed breakfast we filled the boat up with water. For now it was farewell to the Erewash canal and first stop Sawley marina to fill our diesel tank. So down the lock and onto the Trent turning right to go through Sawley locks, fill up, turn the boat around near the weir and back again to enter onto the Soar. that was the better part of ninety minutes plus.

Meandering along new waters we enjoyed the views, sailing past the huge cooling towers at Ratcliffe on Soar. I always thought they look rather spectacular. We joined another boat and family for a few locks before stopping for a bite to eat after Kegworth deep lock. It seemed cavernous but oddly enough Pearson' canal guide says that it 7'9" deep. I thought at the time it was twice that depth. We could only open one set of paddles to fill it as it was too violent to do anything else. The central rope was tied round some safety cables in the lock and I had to keep the boat stationary by holding it in forward gear. I still can't believe it's less than eight feet.

But as all things canal there is no rush and the afternoon was drawing on. Some of the locks took longer as we waited for other boaters to pass through and we both said we would find a place to moor for the night, Easier said than done. Plenty of space along the river but every time we tried we were unable to moor due to the shallowness of the banks. On we went and then it was all reeds and we'd been sailing for about eight hours now.

So another lesson was about to be learned. Be even more vigilant if you're weary. Our last lock was Zouch lock and we were hoping that as it was nearly seven in the evening there might be space outside the Rose and Crown at Zouch which has its own moorings. I helped Marian with the lock and as she went to open a gate I walked back down the gunwale opposite to her to steer. Unfortunately I forgot in my tired state that I'd put a rubber fender on the gunwale. Suddenly I found my footing gone and I'm still not sure how I managed to throw my right hand onto the grab rail falling like sack of spuds.

Holding on half in and half out of the water a voice carried over from the other side "Pedro where are you?" I pulled my feet on to the gunwale, hauled myself back on the boat and said feebly "I fell in." Marian who says she loves me burst out laughing. I said that it was a near death experience and she should be more sympathetic which rather than stemming her mirth only served to increase it. To compound my slip I had to sail past a line of moored boats dripping from my waist down trying to look as if this style was normal saying hello to fellow boaters enjoying their summer evening.

We were fortunate to find a place for our seventy feet boat outside the pub. The very pleasant landlady was happy for us to stay there for a couple of nights but did say she kept the space clear for diners as they liked to look out at the view. Well their last diner had left and we were moored. Tired but moored. Oh and wet!

Part 9 - Leaving the Erewash and reflections

Our time for now on the Erewash was coming to its close and we needed to begin exploring other parts of the network. We returned to moor for a few days at Trent Lock and one of our daughters, her husband and our lovely granddaughter stayed with us over the weekend that we moored there. Jake sorted out my problems with the horn and front light, he's a good electrician and when we readied to leave after the weekend we were all set for tunnels and troubles if encountered. The weather remained idyllic, blue skies, a pleasant temperature and a very peaceful spot.

To be honest we needed the peace was because Marian and I were both feeling a bit stressed after clearing out our five bedroomed, three reception roomed home for the previous three months before sailing onwards. How does one collect that much? It was such a mammoth task and we had to be utterly ruthless in what we were keeping and throwing away. I remember we had completed one room but feeling no further forward. I insisted on taking some items to the local tip as I needed to see some space. I failed, more items appeared out of cupboards and drawers.

It was really difficult and Marian who took the lead role in the clearance was brilliant. The last month was manic with getting items ready for storage, innumerable visits to take things to the charity shop and the refuse site. Then organising storage and I was so very grateful to my friend Andrew who helped me when I needed it most.

You realise that one doesn't need all that clutter and extras to live and certainly not on a boat with limited space. It is looking back emancipating;  having what you need to live and not having things which seemed like a great purchase at the time but was rarely used after it was removed from its packaging. Which reminds me I still haven't found my olive stone removing tool!

A week or so before we were to set off, I realised we had to get the things we needed to the boat. that's how I knew it was stressful. How on earth could we forget? So it took five or six journeys of  three hundred mile round trips to bring all the items from Somerset to Shardlow where the boat was waiting.

Yes indeed, the peace and tranquillity was much appreciated. Our intention was to sail back along the Trent and Mersey canal and visit some friends and family along the way, but a lock was out of commission for a week at Shardlow so when the sun was up on Monday we were ready to cross that wide confluence and sail onto the river Soar and beyond.

Part 8 - Lowering of the pound

Having safely avoided the madness of Stenson lock we managed to find a mooring near Millership way, a stone's throw from Tesco and Dunelm. That of course depends on how big the stone is and how strong ones arm is, but I digress!, Actually maybe one might need a catapult!! But looking at it in more detail we were moored a trebuchet's distance away. That's cleared that up.

It gave us the opportunity to get some supplies from both shops without having to walk and carry goods over a long distance. In the late afternoon another boat moored in front of us in the direction of Langley Mill, the first boat we'd seen moving all day apart from ourselves. I mention this not because it is particularly exciting or dramatic but we realised in the morning he knew something we did not.

Although I think the Erewash is a lovely canal there isn't a great deal of activity and I can't help wonderingwhere people would moor if there was a lot more boats along the stretch? We found many a place looking possible but getting to the bank was nigh impossible because of silt or concrete ledges to high to allow the hull to move close.

Equally we met a couple who said that they were frequent walkers along the canal and we were the first boat they had ever seen going through a lock in two years. Surprising really.

Well, we slept and decided that morning to get up early and shop at nine because some of Marian's family who live close by wanted to sail to the Gallow's Inn after meeting us at the bridge in front of us. The bridge that if climbed and you walk past Argos and Halfords etc takes you to the Dewdrop Inn. Great local and really well kept ales. Always about six to choose from.

When we left the boat all was well but returning an hour later we both remarked that there was a significant list towards the canal from the bank. It looked to my mind, trying to make sense of it, that something had sailed by really fast. I couldn't make sense of it.

But at 7.15 before we'd left for the shops the other boat started up his engine and left. Now I thought at the time that it was early to be on the move but clearly he knew that work was being undertaken by the Canal and River Trust. A pound in canal terms is the stretch between locks. Unbeknown to us the workers had started draining the water in which we were moored.

We got up to the bridge to meet the family but couldn't tie up there either and now the draining of the pound was obvious. Marian rang the family and asked them to meet us at Potter's lock and we sailed towards it. Round a bend and there were the workers who were as surprised to see us as we were them. They told us to go through the lock and asking if there any other boats following me. No was the answer.

Another chap was at the lock to make sure no one entered and he was quite understanding and helped us out and down into the next pound. As we left, there were two boats waiting and one of the boaters asked how I'd got through seeing as they couldn't go through till the next day. I mischievously said I had a special pass. But seeing the look on his face I told him the truth. We didn't know they were draining the pound. But one thinks they might have checked the stretch first and before our boat began to keel over.

It's definitely not always quiet on the Cut!