First leg to the Peaks.

27^th June 2018

Well, we left Yelvertoft on the 6^th of June on the way eventually, to go to the Peak District. Turning left out of the marina and at a steady 2000 rpm from the old BMC engine we traversed a well cruised length of canal, the Leicester Arm. At those revs the engine is comfortable, the boat running at 3 mph using the sat nav on our phone as a speedometer we can see all that is going on about us.

We thought that going over same canals we would get bored, but you would be surprised how much the scenery changes in a few weeks. The lambs were growing up, the hay is higher, the corn is swaying in the wind. Why in our youth didn’t we appreciate the beauty all around us??

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said that youth is wasted on the young..how true it is ….although it has been attributed to George Bernard Shaw as well I believe.

Passing the next marina down the canal….Crick... there were a few boats moored on the opposite bank. When you leave a mooring its good practise too, as in a car, look before you pull out. Some clown didn’t as we drew close to him...straight out, not looking, I didn’t have to take avoiding action as I was going a bit slower, however did drop the revs a bit.

As he went past he looked a bit sheepish, I think he realised what he’d done.

The ironic part was the name of his vessel….Narrow Miss…….It was …

The first tunnel we meet is the Crick tunnel. As we approached the same, I remembered to remove my glasses because of the brilliant darkening tint. When you go into the dark entrance with tinted specs you can’t see a thing until your eyes adjust.

There was a boat on her way out so we approached very slowly. Jake and Carly below decks for safety reasons. I was as close to the right hand side as I could be too give her plenty of room, when suddenly there was an almighty bang. I thought for a minute she had hit us, but there wasn’t a shudder down the boat you normally get with a collision.

We looked back and the other boat by this time was stretched right across the canal her nose buried into the bank. I think she must have hit some thing under the water line as she came out of the tunnel, luckily there was a boat behind us so she had some help. There are some sad people who think its good to drop rubbish into the canals of this country. Safes, push bikes, motor bikes, all sorts of metal work. Supermarket trolleys. Etc.

They can do a lot of expensive damage…. feral kids who believe they can do what they want and get away with it. So sad.

The rest of the trip to Lime Farm marina was totally uneventful. Watching the wild life in the evenings. Found out moorhens like corn flakes, also they put their chick’s first was so cute watching them feed the young ...Jenny was a bit miffed as I shared her breakfast with our feathered neighbours.

Not in a rush we had a night at the top of the Hillmorton flight then on the Sunday we had a wander down to the cafe for a naughty iced bun and a lovely cup of coffee.

We had passed here many times but never stopped. Had an overnight at Newbold, a couple of beers in the Barley Mow and my usual hug with the lovely landlady Kelly and a good hand shake from Simon her husband.

On the Tuesday we arrived at Lime Farm Marina, ready for John to do the couple of jobs Jenny had asked him to do.

We are just about getting used to the different time zones on the canals.

We have had so far GMT.. you all know that one. BST when the clocks change ...and there is canal time, which can vary depending which canal you are on and any other circumstances which may alter it.

The one we are just getting used too is Brady time..

We were booked into the marina for the jobs on Tuesday and we are totaly ignored by everybody, to quote Steve one of the guys ...didn’t know you were coming.

Eventually, when its time to go home John turns up, just as I'm cooking evening meal, to do one of the jobs. Similar the next day they are all busy and we are fitted in at the end of the day..reason one day they are off to drive E type Jags and the Saturday he’s off to get a new pickup. Joking apart he’s done us a good job and reasonable price so we are all ready to go. John and his lovely wife Sarah have a good attitude to life I believe they work to live NOT live to work. So glad we have found them. Saved us a load of money with their honesty, and their work is good. Also I get a lovely hug when we leave as well...Sarah that is . . not John, I’m glad to say.

Peak district here we come…...planned a stop over at Hawksbury Junction on the Saturday and a meet with my daughter on the Sunday. Sadly she had to cancel due to other family commitments so we pulled our pins and moved on to Marston Junction.

After we stopped for the night just sat down opened a beer the phone rang.

Hi Bob ‘where are you’ the voice asked …..on the boat I said ….It was our friends from Yelvertoft and they had just moored at Hawksbury thinking we were there.

Next morning they caught us up for coffee and a chat. We decided to carry on and have an overnight at Atherstone. There is a lovely local pub in the High street, so we had a good natter until dinner time. They are early starters, so Jenny waved them off out of the window as they slid past.. Me ?? I was fast asleep still. Well that takes us up too the 20^th of June. Jenny has just gone to Tesco for supplies. Watch this place for the tails of the old age travellers.

Bye bye for now.. XX

…..okay, he forgot or purposely left it out, I call him goldfish brain, he-he, made me laugh...cruising along in open countryside a farmer was watering his field, the hose swung over the canal, I managed to get inside but Bob was left outside….as per picture...

and lastly a short film of the canal we have passed through.