Into the paint shed……

This morning ‘Chance’ went into the paint shed for the sprucing up work to be done.

Mark had his last cup of tea for at least half an hour!

James having a joke with Mark – watch your head James! – a portent of things to come if ever there was one.

A snug fit in the paint shed.

‘Chance’ is carefully wrapped  in brown paper to keep the majority of it clean and tidy.

Although the gunwales were one of the main things to be done, Mark decided that it wasn’t worth stopping with them – bang goes James’ shiny paintwork on the bow!

One of the more painful reminders is erased.

As the paintwork is rubbed down we all get bluer and bluer!  Apart from being behind the camera Doug was kept busy making tea and coffee.

With the mushrooms off Rachel can start preparing the roof for when the sand gets painted.  While on the roof of the boat, getting the mushrooms off,  James decided to stand up and walk back down the boat.  Needless to say he collided with the first beam he came to and he now has a very large area of damage to the cranium! We just need vinegar to go with the brown paper! 

With ‘Chance’ cocooned the preparation work can begin.

The progress was rapid this afternoon and, although there’s much more to be done, the bodywork is well on its way to being ready for the undercoat.  No more shiny bits showing now (except the top of James’ head!)

MGM’s new boat and a good day’s work.

Yesterday was a bit of a write off as far as progress was concerned. MGM had an urgent job which occupied the paint shed (which was fine by us) so we got a couple of things done on ‘Chance’ before the rain set in and then it became a cosy day inside.

This morning the latest MGM boat ‘Muleless’ went through its final paces next to us.  We had the opportunity to go aboard yesterday when the owners, Della and Gary, invited us to have a look at the inside.  It’s superbly fitted out with just about everything you would need to live in luxury and, with its hybrid power installation, it’s a really beautiful boat.  

‘Muleless’ was being put through its electrical propulsion shakedown - it’s incredibly quiet and very powerful.  Very nice indeed.

‘Chance’ is going into the paint shed tomorrow morning so,with good weather today, Doug took the bus into Leicester for the afternoon and James got going on some servicing jobs – he’s got his head stuck into the Mikuni central heating unit in this shot.

Doug returned just before 6 o’ clock and we had a chat about paintwork, blacking and a host of other things with our boat builders Mark and Rachael before they left for the night………

………. and then we had a a bit of relax in the last of todays lovely sunshine.  James has several jobs under his belt now so it’s been a good day.

‘Chance’ returns “home”.

Yesterday we made good progress up the River Soar, heading towards the Hope and Anchor to meet up with friends Ali and John on nb ‘Triskaideka’. 

The river was flowing very slowly indeed so progress up stream was fairly rapid.  The lock beams at Rothley Lock are unusually massive!

Parts of the Soar are wide and open but other parts can be incredibly narrow.

We got to the moorings near the Hope and Anchor at 5 o’ clock and got settled next to ‘Triskaideka’.  Not having seen Ali and John for about a year, we were given their usual warm welcome, a few drinks and a chat on board their boat.

A meal together at the said Hope and Anchor was very good and the company even better.

We all went back to ‘Triskaideka’ for a night cap.  Our time together this time was short as Ali and John had to be on their way early in the morning.

Our farewell this morning to Ali and John had James being called off the toilet to quickly take this shot and to wave goodbye in his dressing gown!

Our own destination this morning was only a short hop up the river to our boat builders MGM.

This is our temporary mooring at MGM’s island site before ‘Chance’ goes into the dock for a bit TLC after two years of cruising.

This afternoon ’Chance’ has been denuded of button fenders, taff rail and dodger and all sorts of other things.  We’re having paintwork refreshed on the gunwales, roof and both fore and aft. With the hull being re blacked, some new chrome work and new fenders ‘Chance’ should look as good as new again.  We’ll be at MGM for the next three weeks – Doug will go back to Sussex for a week while James stays to help (he’s already been helping to re black another boat this afternoon!). 

How many bloggers can you meet in one day!

(answer at the bottom of the blog)

We travelled the rest of the Trent and Mersey Canal yesterday……

……. a few gongoozlers at Stenson Lock.

It was al fresco egg and chips on the hoof as we made our way “Trentwards”.

Through Shardlow and we’re through the first flood lock before the River Trent.

A crossroads in navigation terms – off the canal and onto the River Trent (coming in from the right) and the River Derwent enters form the left.

We let ‘Chance’ off the leash for a while as we head down, a very calm River Trent.  We stopped at Sawley to take on water and fuel and then moored for the night on the opposite bank.

Our view this morning, after the very thick mist had cleared, was of the distant Ratcliffe Power station working at full pelt.

With the powered facilities at Sawley Locks Doug has an easy time for once!

A bit more of the Trent and we were ready to turn right onto the River Soar.

Couldn’t resist a close up!

We were soon at Ratcliffe Lock………

……… and onwards up the this very lovely river.

A quick  bubble bath……….

……… and on again.  There was virtually no flow to speak of – dead calm and very relaxing.

With some beautiful places to look at, it could have been the lower Thames in places.

Now – at Loughborough there seemed to be bloggers everywhere!

First we meet Ian and Karen on nb ‘Serenity’ travelling with Pip and Roger on nb ‘Windsong’ – we had a quick chat at the lock, sorry we didn’t spend a bit more time with you all but hopefully next time we will.

Doug with Pip.

Roger , Pip and Doug.

Negotiating the tight right angle turn and bridge hole at Loughborough.   We then met nb Petroc with a quick “Hello” to Geoff.

We were soon at Barrow on Soar deep lock and who should be moored up above the lock but……..

…… Mags and Geoff on nb ‘Seyella’.  We were persuaded to have a quick cup of tea with them,  it was really good to meet you both at last, sorry it was only for an hour. 

After that it was off again, trying to make it to the Hope and Anchor Pub at Syston where we have planned to meet up with John and Ali on nb ‘Triskaideka’ for a meal together tonight.

What a busy day!  But great to meet so many friends…..

ANSWER:  5!

A great week comes to an end…….

Yesterday morning we had a quick coffee with Olly and Mark on board before Mark had to head off back to keep the wheels of industry turning.

Sunny start to the morning at Fradley Junction – coffee and muffins all round. Great to see you Mark a shame you couldn’t stay longer!

Canal side “des res” in the lovely village of Alrewas.

Leaving Alrewas and heading onto the short river Trent section.

Blue skies and a delightful rural setting as we head towards Burton on Trent.

At Bartons Turns we came across a few fisherman which, rather quickly, we realised was a competition.  It seemed to be the worlds biggest and it stretched for the next eight miles!

Getting fed up with looking at fisherman we turned our gaze to the other bank.  This is aggregate country and a reminder of our reliance on the stuff these days with this massive complex on the side of the canal.

Two “book ends” !

James became a single-handed boater for a while during the day – Doug keeping Olly company (and enjoying some refreshment!).  By the time James got to Branston Lock (home of  the pickle) the skies were getting darker.

It’s pretty clear when you’ve arrived at Burton on Trent.  The heavy clouds were still threatening above us (until we got to Stretton) when they came down to meet us, and we had three separate deluges – the last one being while we were mooring up at Willington.

This is a very soggy Olly on the mooring at Willington!

But the law of sod says that just as we get fixed up the sun comes out and we have a beautiful evening – lovely rainbow between the trees.

We  went into Willington in the evening for a meal and the Green Man.  You can’t miss the low bridge with it’s florescent  signs!

We had a very nice last meal with Olly as he will be turning back on Sunday and returning to the Manchester area.

This morning it was a sad moment but it’s not good bye Olly – we’ll meet up again.  Thanks for your terrific company during the last week, you’re a star!

We had a brief, but very welcome chat with Mick and Maggie on nb ‘Repose’, (MGM’s showboat this year at Crick) who were moored up a little further along the canal.  Nice to see you both.

As we got away this morning it was also a nice surprise when the kind people (and blog readers) on nb Linton Lass called out to us as they passed.   They live only a few miles from us on the south coast.  Happy cruising to you both.