Hot Huddlesford

We left at 6.45am and made our way through Alrewas and soon got to the lock at the other end.

Then it was on to Common lock, which has had a lot of problems lately, so we were lucky to get through here.

Just a short cruise from here we got to Fradley locks with its small, low entrance.

We then stopped for water outside the café and services but the café didn't open till 10.00am, so as the water tap was so slow, and Derwent6 was quiet empty, we had bacon butties on board.

When we were full (our tummies and our water tank) we got to the top lock and took the turn onto the Coventry canal.

We now have a nice section again with no locks which is nice in the heat. It was just starting to warm up again.

We entered one bridge and a drone was right in front of us, we just smiled for the camera.

It was a little on the shallow side but with us at nearly tickover we didn't have a problem.

We moored up at one of our favourite places Huddlesford but were annoyed by the amount of flies here. Hazzard of the farm in hot weather.

We sorted out telly just in time to celebrate the 100 years of the RAF, it really did make you proud to be British.

We also knew the pub did a nice two for one pizza on a Tuesday, so it was rude not to have a couple of pints and have one.. We got back to Derwent6 to watch the football (as we now think it has given England some luck) and to be honest we have loads of beer.. So we face France if we win our Semi.. Good Luck Boys against Croatia, the country is behind you. COME ON ENGLAND!

Scorching Alrewas

Wow we have really had some weather and the canals are the place to be to try and keep cool.. When you get in the sun its just intense heat and when trying to sit out in the cratch you needed a towel to sit on.. Don't even think of touching the steelwork, unless you want 10 degree burns, you can fry an egg on the roof (not that that's going to happen)
But we are loving it, we have telly here for the tennis and football, three pubs to choose from, a Co-Op and post office, and some shade.. If you want to move it has to be early in the morning as the heat is exhausting.
So we have stayed put for a few days soaking it all up. The fly screens are in, in the side hatches and portholes.

And the BBQ has been doing overtime with a really good butchers just up the road.

We have meet up again with friends Carol and Alan off n.b. Holly Hobble and we had drinks and scones to start of the afternoon, finishing with us walking to a local Indian past their new car, where we had a brilliant ruby..

We ended up back on Holly Hobble for more drinks to finish the night..

Also keeping us company is a parrot on a boat opposite, He has kept us amused by singing "Get it on" by T Rex, telling boaters who pass to 'get over', and when the dogs barked telling calling their name and saying "Get in" He also had a lovely whistle which was lovely to listen to.

Early start tomorrow as we have the urge to move.

Hot! Hot! Hot! at Alrewas

To miss this hot weather we decided to do some early morning cool cruising..  We left at 6.45am and trickled by the moored boats at Willington. Someone was on the services and pushed off behind us with the same idea as us.

It was an hour and a half before the next lock so it was a nice slow and pleasant cruise through Egginton and Stretton before we got to Dallow lock in Burton on Trent.

These are all single locks from now on. These locks are a bit tricky with the paddles up because they push the boat into the gates and a lot of reverse is needed to keep off them.. Slowly, slowly is always the answer..
We then passed the Brewery of Marston's with that lovely hop smell to get your taste buds moving.

We then got to Branston Lock which feels like its in the middle of nowhere.

It was all a little bit black and white here!!

At this point we had lost the boat behind us and then passed the water park and on to Barton turn lock, which is the trickiest of all, because it is difficult to close he gates. Derwent6 gets a little bashed in this one and its difficult to stay away from the gates with its water rushing in over the bow..

Its so noisy on this section due to the lorry's from the works on one side and the A38 on the other, not a good place to moor.. The canal gets cleaner as it turns back into river here and we get to Wychnor Lock.
As you exit you're back on the river and we pass the weir and then get to Alrewas Lock.

 As we came up we had our fingers crossed for a mooring, and there was one which fitted Derwent6 perfectly.
Phew! it was midday and the heat was just beginning to take its toll, now we could just chill in it.
Del posted a card at the post office and Al did a little bit of lunch to keep us going.. We were just relaxing about when friends Carol and Alan of n.b Hollyhobble turned up to see us.. It was great to see them again, as we tried to see them on the way up, but somehow missed each other..

 

We had a quick catch up and a few beers together before they had to go back to their boat and we were also meeting up with more friends in the evening..

After a shower we walked to the Crown pub to meet John and Louise who were just planning a trip out on n.b Ploddin' along, and heading for Wales. It was more beers and eats for us with some fun mixed in as always..

We are so lucky to have all these people round us.. We got back quietly to Derwent6 at 11.30pm and it was still warm. Windows and doors open we fell into bed.......

Sawley to Willington

So we have done nothing for the last couple of days due to the world cup and Wimbledon.. It has also been tough in the heat but we're not complaining..
We have been very low on diesel and decided to stay put till Wednesday because the marina opposite us was closed on Tuesday, which was handy with England playing Tuesday night.. It turned out to be a great win for us all and we are so pleased to see England in the last eight..
So today we had to move and got ready to go at 8.30am so we could get on the diesel pump. They also had a water tap here so it was a double whammy..

Sawley marina did us a good price so it didn't turn out too bad but we still took 240 litres.
From here we were on our way again and with the flood gates open due to the lack of water recently, we did our last bit of the Trent to get to Derwent Mouth Lock.

Some narrowboaters don't do it slowly.

We soon saw the mouth of the Trent and Mersey at the start of its 90 miles to Preston Brook.

This took us into Shardlow and we tiptoed through here. It seemed so calming after being on the river..

We joined the queue at Shardlow lock and met up with a couple going up. The guy had had two knee replacements as well, so Del and him chatted knees in the lock, and they both agreed it was the right thing to be doing, taking it easy on them..
We followed them through the next two locks at Aston and Weston, and it made light work of these tough doubles.We were overlooking the field of wheat turning to a golden colour in the lovely warm weather.

 At Swarkestone lock we said our goodbyes.

The heat was intense again, and we were pleased to be on the water.. It just gave you a cool breeze even though there wasn't any breeze.

We pushed on to the deep Stenson Lock which had lock volunteers on. This lock was leaking bad and took an age to fill but we got out in the end..

We then looked for a spot to moor up at Willington and managed to get in on a mooring with some woods for Tooty to play in and keep cool for tonight..

We then had a quick cold shower and walked down into Willington where we sat in the pub garden and had a bite to eat with a ice cold beer.. The problem was we had a few too many ice cold beers and they went straight to our heads before our walk back.. We were giggling and laughing as we took a long slow walk back to Derwent6. It was boiling on Derwent6 and Tooty was out like a shot into the cool wooded area.. We had to sweat it out till the sun went down.. Loving this hot weather!

Sports Day!

Today was a cleaning and Sports Day. Del was up early taking off the condensation and then doing the brasses early before the heat hit us..  He was done by ten so we then got ready and walked over to the café in the marina here.

A full English was on the cards and its well worth the money here, its huge! We had a walk round the chandlers and then walked back for the Grand Prix and football..

Sawley, a nice retreat

It was Saturday, and we don't normally move on Saturday's but again the weather was so nice and the Trent is so tame. We pulled the pins and got to the flood lock at Beeston. Its a tricky mooring here but its not normally very deep.

We passed through and entered the wide flowing Trent again..

We had a lovely tail breeze which kept us cool as we ate crumpets for breakfast on the go. No charts are required on this section just follow the big arrows to avoid obstructions.

After an hour we came to Cranfleet lock and there were four volunteers working it for us.. We got the green flag to enter and they roped us in.

As you exit you go into Cranfleet cut which is a big crossroads of canals.

The Erewash on our right and the River Soar on our left.

We had planned to do the Erewash and might regret not doing it, but the weather has made the river shallow so I expect the Erewash would be tricky with Derwent6 draft of 2' 6". We then got to the Sawley cut lock and here there are two locks. We had a little rubber dingy in with us and we then found a spot to moor up in..

Its very pleasant along here and the wall is not too high. It was very hot again, lovely!

So we sat out in the cratch with Tooty till the football was on in the afternoon and watched the Argies go out of the competition..

We then walked up to the lockkeepers retreat for a couple of pints of their Sloe gin cider in the sunshine. This micro pub is owned by ex lock keeper Dave who brought it when he retired.

It is only open from 4.00pm and only on certain days. He has some great beers which he selects himself or gets what the customers want..

We just made it back for the Portugal game and watched them go out as well, come on England!
We sat in the cool air watching the moon rise till bedtime.

Nottingham stop, then Beeston

An early start for us as we walked round the retail stores just looking for stuff. We need some new bedding for Derwent6 but we are having trouble finding the right one, just like we did when Derwent6 was new ten years ago.. Al also posted a few cards and bought a few birthday presents.
We then went to a bar to watch the England game, a game we lost, Oh Dear!
With Al nearly back to full strength and off of the medication, she was drinking beer and we over did it slightly. Del was just happy to have his drinking companion back..
The following morning, Al was up early as she wanted to get a big food shop in before we left Nottingham..  She called Del when the trolley was full and we got it back to Derwent6 and set off.

We didn't plan to go far and it took us just an hour before we moored up at Beeston.

 In the midday sun Del went out on his bike for a couple of hours to get some exercise. Football again in the evening sunshine, we are just loving this weather..