Is that a bird or a plane

We left Polesworth at 9.00am and were soon met by the wildlife. We had two geese fighting in front of us and they were making a hell of a racket. We made our way slowly through Tamworth and were then attacked by a swan trying to take off in front of us.... He just made it!!!

We then went through the two locks in Tamworth where we topped up with water and waited for the locks to be in our favour. The canal then went into the country side and we were taking in the scenery when we were attacked again. This time from a very low flying plane because the canal was right at the end of the runway. We just manage to take this photo before we nearly got hit by his wheels. We bet the pilot enjoyed buzzing us...

We got to Fradley Junction, where even on a Friday was very busy with people watching other people. We headed on to the Trent and Mersey and up through the three locks before we were out in the countryside again. By this time it was getting on for six o clock so we thought we had better moor up.. We're getting used to this long day lark.... In the evening we had a Friday night Curry and a few beers, the perfect end to the perfect day!!!

Moving on up in the sunshine

We woke up this morning to the mist on the water at sunrise. It gave us the urge to get going so we set off at 9.00am. We soon got to Hawksbury Junction with clear blue skies and got through Sutton stop lock with no problems. We then turned and went up the Coventry canal passing the Ashby canal and some other unusual characters. We got through Nuneaton dodging the odd telly chucked in the canal and then up to Hartshill. We passed Les on n.b Valarie (see link) and stopped for a quick chat before we headed on up to Atherstone. We got to the locks to find two other boats in front of us and as these locks are slow fillers it was very slow going... We got through them in just over two hours and decided to moor up at 5.00pm, just as the sun was setting. We chilled in the cratch reading and recovering from the twelve locks and seventeen miles we had done today, a record for us.We did have a bit of a chuckle because we got a call from ITV in the evening, asking us to vote on who we thought was best on the Election debate on Sky, so we voiced our opinion and they will be sending us a five pound voucher...The funny thing is we didn't even watch it... It just shows what a load of old tosh these voting polls are.....lol

Shouldn't have stopped for lunch

We were up early this morning and quietly left our man with the generator. It was a lovely day and we made our way up to Newbold where we got water. Then we went through the tunnel where you don't need to use the tunnel light, due to it's lights all the way. We took it nice and steady but it did get busy in places. It must be because holiday makers couldn't fly that they have taken to the canals, and what a week they have all picked. The hire companies must be rubbing their hands. What we must say is that everyone we have seen is having a great time, which is lovely. We were sitting on the stern soaking up the sunshine and taking in the views until lunchtime.
We made the mistake of stopping for lunch because we sat in the cratch and just got a little too comfortable and then couldn't be bothered to move after that. Hopefully the pictures will show why!
Notice the swan on it's nest!!!
See, we told you it was difficult to move!!!

Food shopping top up

We left Kev & Ann after a late start and made our way up to Clifton for a pumpout. It was a bit busy but we managed to get in there. We then made our way onto Rugby and got a mooring on the 24 hours at Brownsover. We then got as much shopping as we could carry (inc beers) back to Derwent6. It was a lovely day and we sat out in the cratch in the sunshine with the papers.We have had some prat here running his generator all day so we could see how we managed to get a space here ok. This guy has been on these 24 hour moorings a week and is now getting a name for himself, are we bothered, we will be off tomorrow....

We went for a walk in the afternoon and came across this house, the birthplace of Lawrence Sheriff the founder of the famous Rugby school

4Evermore beers

We left in the morning and got the train back to Derwent6 having some lunch at Euston Station on the way back. We got to Derwent6 at about 3.00pm in the afternoon and just as we were opening up the door n.b 4Evermore came round the corner. We jumped out to help them moor up in front of us. That's handy we thought, we could have a cup of tea as Derwent6 was completely shut down. Well no chance!!! out come the beers. This is typical of Kev & Ann's lovely hospitality... We did have seven beers in the fridge but other than that, nothing! We had run the food right down due to us going down to Kent. Anyway! then the chairs came out and then we were offered some delicious egg fried rice and a few more beers and then wine and then it was pate on toast. We went into the evening and Derwent6 had still not had the electrics turned on, so we did that about 6.00pm and managed to run the engine and turn the heating on. We stayed on their boat as the fire had been lit and it was warm and cosy. We left at around 10.00pm after a fantastic afternoon and evening with them... We owe them one and will return the complement next time. Thanks guys!

Down for the ice dancing!

We got the train down into Kent from Rugby station which is a 30min walk from Derwent6. The boat was being looked after by some friends of ours who were moored along side us so she is in good hands. We got into Kent on the Friday night and stayed at our friends Bernie & Sarah's. After a fried breakfast Del and Bernie went out flying their glider's (something they used to do as kids). They still had them in the loft and thought it was time to rub the dust off them and reminisce a bit. Al left with Sarah and they went to the O2 to see Dancing On Ice with Torvill & Dean. In the evening the girls were out eating while the boys were out drinking... Great Fun! We stayed at Bernie & Sarah's for another night and then were taken down to Al's Mum and Dads for lunch. We had some quality time with them in the afternoon and evening.

Taking it easy!!!

We had a bit of a lay in this morning, but when up, got on to the cleaning jobs. The roof got a polish as we are waiting for the volcanic ash to come down and all the hinges got a grease up. Al cleaned all the interior of Derwent6 and Del did the porthole liners. The sun was out in the morning, but it soon clouded over. We chilled out in the afternoon just reading and playing the guitar and watching the golfers. We haven't been hit by a ball, Yet!

The sun came out again later and we were passed by Les on n.b Valerie. He held his boat along side Derwent6 and we had a good old chat for 15 minutes... Hopefully we'll see him later... We chilled in the evening with some telly and a DVD.

Filters and Film

It was a very cloudy day and funny that it was very quiet... reason being, there were no aircraft in the sky's due to this volcanic ash coming from Iceland.

So it was a good day for changing that fuel filter, so the covers were off. After removing it the new one didn't go on as far as the old one and it just seemed forever to prime. In fact it nearly took about half a hour, so we hope the priming pump is working OK. But after fitting it Derwent6 fired up like a dream. Some other jobs were done like cleaning the bilge out and greasing the stern gland bearing. Also Del torqued the engine mounts and fixtures.

In the afternoon we went for a walk and ended up at Cineworld where we went and saw the film Cemetery Junction. We were the only ones in there and it seemed funny having the place to ourselves and we've got to say we thoroughly enjoyed it. When we came out we went to Franky & Benny's where they had a lunch time menu of two courses for seven pounds. It finished at five o clock and we got in there at three minutes to. Touch!

We then walked it all off getting back to Derwent6, and it turned out to be a nice evening. We got back just in time to see the big debate on the telly....Hmmmm

Keeping Derwent6 on Course

It was a cloudy morning with a very cold wind and a strong wind at that... We thought we would stay warm like this fella and light the fire. We stayed put till the weather brightened up and at midday we set off. We passed bridge 80 which still appears to have deluded the winter stoppages. Don't know why because it looks like it will fall down any minute and we took it very easy going under it.

As we cruised on the weather just got better and with the fire lit Derwent6 turned into a furnace.We were also surprised to see more moorings going in on the Barby Straight, and we learnt that this will be another full blown marina due to open this year (we know someone who is working there). (http://www.barbymoorings.co.uk/)

With the sun out it was quite nice going down through Hillmorton Locks but the wind made it a bit tricky.

We always get the problem of hirer's opening up all four paddles here and not knowing what to do. It must be because these locks are all on their own and too far for the hire company's to take them through one. Perhaps good instructions on the gates might help. We then found a nice mooring along side the golf course where we can watch them all tee off. Hopefully we're out of sight of the flying balls, but we are looking down the fairway. We sat in the sunshine in the afternoon reading. During the day Al had been using all that heat to slow cook some gammon which we had in the evening...melt in your mouth stuff.. beautiful!!!!!!

Fuel filter hunt

We had bright sunshine trying to get through the portholes this morning so we were up and about early. We fancied a walk so we walked back into Braunston through the meadows and on to Midland Chandlers. It turned out that they couldn't help us on the fuel filter front... typical!!! We then walked along to Union Wharf Chandlers and they were very helpful. They actually had Beta filters marked up with what engines they fitted, so we got a fuel and oil filter. We wanted a pattern so we can search for a motor factors and keep a stock on Derwent6 at the right price. We also picked up a big tin of Brasso for eight pounds..a bargain, we know where we will be going again... We then walked up to the high street via the store, and back across the meadow and back to Derwent6.. Our exercise for the day.

We pulled the pins at around 1.30pm and did about three miles before we saw a garden we liked. The weather had turned a bit and it had got very windy, by 6.00pm it had started to rain. We had dinner (toad in the hole) and then watched a DVD and a early night... It had felt like another busy day!!!!