Beeston Marina.

Oh Dear.

Let's say to start with - the staff there are lovely. That's about it. Mooring on a long dilapidated pier. Bits have been replaced but its still rickety and not at all confidence building.
To access this pier one has to turn back into the current of the Trent and manouevre thru a tiny entrance and low bridge - extra difficult when to they mor up one of the ( many) abandoned/ neglected boats in the entrance way. result... damage to wheel house.
So, found a mooring at Sawley - a bit more expensive but heaven in comparison. Even tho I'm surrounded by the waterway version of an infectious disease...... Bubonicus Canaltimeus.

Turning into a tiny space with a heavy current pushing the boat down stream is something I find difficult at best. I go to slowly to maintain headway. Hope I'll get used to it.

Alrewas to Willington.

The Trent and Mersey Canal, once known as the Grand Junction Canal, was one of the last profitable canals. It's a shame to see British Waterways letting it decay. More of that later.

Alrewas is a beautiful old village - it's name coming from " Alder Wash" the alder trees giving the village its early industry in the form of woven baskets and fencing. Picture postbox England. Thatched cottages and some fine pubs. Leaving the village you enter the R. Trent briefly, avoiding the weir is useful - not scarey it's protected. Then down thru Wychnor. It was at the Wychnor boat festival that some guy was filling petrol cans aboard his boat and it exploded a couple of years ago.

After meandering down the few gentle locks you come to Willington and the canal deterioriates rapidly from here on. The western approach to Willington is rock strewn towpath side and silted on the other. This continues pretty much thru past Shardlow. At bridge 16 there's even a grass island in the middle of the canal, pass on the right and go aground. Going aground, or at least seriously scraping the bottom is common all along this stretch. My boat has a 2ft draft.....
should go most places. The big double locks here are a nightmare and I ask BW to provide weightlifters or elephants to help with the winding gear and opening the gates... top ends leak so badly that the lock is never quite empty.

Back to Willington.
Another beautiful village marred by the dreaded blue and maroon. 3 pubs, one railway station, Co-op, florist hmmmmm thats about it. Oh yes Loos... BW and public. The Green Man is my favourite, fine Bass and Pedigree + W&D guest beers.

Dreadful mess further down at Findern with residential boats on Non-residential moorings either side of the canal both in the Marina and opposite. When I moored at Findern a couple of years ago it was a wonderful friendly mooring. Think that my ex's extra-marital activities there wrecked the spirit and comradeship that's so important to the canal community.

The pub that was at the mooring is now a private house. Another trend sadly common.

New Beginnings

So, the house is sold and new boat bought. ( How come men always get less from a divorce than adulterous women?)

LLAMEDOS. Read it backwards.. a 40' centre cockpit narrowboat. Its a beaut. 12mm bottom and a fit out is immaculate from central heating to pump-out ( so useful after a night of strong beer)

Sunday 23-04-06
Lesley ( new lady in my life), Dan and I set off from Jannel in Burton. I love the setup at Jannel. Never met a more friendly and helpful boatyard crew. Jan, Ian, John ( have you retired again??) wonderful people.
Off up the T&M to Alrewas trying to get used to new fangled steering, hydraulic, wheel, joystick bow- thrusters etc, take a bit of getting used to.

What do I find???? Bloody Canaltime EVERYWHERE!! BREEDING LIKE RABBITS. MOORING AT LOCKS PIDDLING ALONG OR TRYING TO DO AN AYRTON SENNA. Love em or hate em you've got to hate em. Maybe you've heard my canaltime song.. to the tune of "little boxes"

lesley's first time on a boat.... brave lady, locks no prob, me... no prob - what a woman... and what's more she aint alcoholic like the last model.

Dan has been boating with me for years. Legendary Blues Harmonica player and that one good friend everybody needs.
Anyway...rant over back to canal.

Alrewas to Willington