Victor: In trepidation

OH NO it isn't—closing down for two weeks, Victor is on the loose with a Mi-Fi, and for you who are about to jump and tell me I spelt it wrong, I most certainly have not.

Our trip is 'in trepidation' as it is the first time we have ventured forth on a public Bank Holiday for 18 years, but we need not have worried—the Whit Sunday saw very few boats about, in fact we left the bottom Weston Lock on the Trent & Mersey and reached Dallow Lock at Burton before we met another boat in a lock.

Useless

But let's start at the beginning with Sawley Flood Lock that now boasts of a paddle that 'must be left open', to preserve the level in the marina, that has no paddle gear!  Okay, so the opposite paddle can be left open, but like us, with hardly any depth to the water, boaters just operate the lock from the towpath side. It was just over a year since we cruised up the Trent & Mersey and it is well proving that our Allan Richards is correct about the lack of cash spent on maintenance on the waterways.

Strange markers

After so much rain we were most concerned about the state of the Trent and if we would be prevented leaving once again, but we just made it with the river level marker just between the red and orange, so away we went, to find the level marker at Derwent Mouth Lock however just showing green.  Good eh, the river had dropped a foot in about ten minutes, so we would have been well safe.

I see the work boat firmly moored on the lock moorings at Derwent Mouth had now been moved well away from the lock and the one taking up mooring space on Sawley Cut has also disappeared after my complaint—so someone takes notice of boaters problems.

The hole is getting bigger between the bottom gates of Shardlow Lock, but as one of the smaller of the dreaded six, it doesn't make too much difference. It was here in the lock we again met the pair of swans with nine signets, and only hope they don't make an habit of it, especially when two boats are in the lock. But of course people, and particularly some boaters feed them bread.  Now me, I believe bread is hardly their stable diet, so don't, but of course Jan did, as the result can be seen.

The dreaded Aston

But then the very much dreaded Aston Lock, with both bottom gates wide open of course, as being on such an angle they neither stay open or shut. Jan (well known As She Who Must Be Obeyed) managed the left-hand one, then attempted to close the other, as seen, but as strong as she is just couldn't, so up the ladder scrambled our esteemed, and together they managed to close it, and she had had the sense to break the rules and had first opened a paddle beforehand or it wouldn't have stayed shut. Of course, though the top gates were firmly closed on leaving, before we had gone 20 yards they had both swung open.

I know I go on about this particular lock, and Thomas has personally told boss-man Richard Parry about it, but it's been the same for years, but would you believe in the old days, before an obviously useless team were let loose on it, all the gates worked with just a touch.  I feel sorry though for the hirers and newcomers who I have seen many time struggling with the gates, not realising unless a paddle is opened the bottom gates will not stay shut.

Moored boats

Anyway enough of locks, I'm getting depressed, but though there were so few boats on the move there were plenty stationery, as others have mentioned, and in places were I have never known boats. There were nine between Weston and Swarkstone locks with 16 at Willington, even on the winding hole, with a mere scattering of hire boats, and obviously most semi-permanently moored as continuous cruisers.

An all too often scene these days is poor boaters wanting a bit of telly struggling with those former analogue aerials to get a picture.

This pair of ladies, in a good signal area, were really struggling with one of those pathetic things so beloved of hire companies, that are really not up to it in this digital age. I suggested they turn on their radio—they would have a better chance.

A bit noisy

We knew there was a place by the rail bridge below Weston Lock where we could moor that is always empty, but for the first time ever there was one of the breed firmly ensconced, with his 'butty' making sure no one else could get in, but from the size of his generator, I don't really think anyone would want to.

A happier note

On a happier note, we met the boat escorting the Breast Cancer Walk Half Marathon at Branston Lock, with the ladies walking from Mercia Marina to Alrewas, dressed all in pink of course and calling at the various pubs with their collecting buckets.

Robert Neff, Manager at Mercia who had organised the walk, told us that Avante Leisure Boats had given the boat Puck for two days, with Jo James hoping that they will raise  £1,000 from their efforts.

With the boat were Robert (holding the rope) together with Jo, Roy Whitehouse and Mike Coates, all three  moorers at Mercia.

Favourite lock

On to my favourite Branston Lock, where each gate swings with a gentle pull or push, where you can partly open a gate, step across holding the hand rail and push it open with a foot then open the other.  And such are its paddles that it fills or empties in very few minutes—if only....

A bit different from the later Bagnall Lock, where we met a boater coming out who just didn't know how he could keep the bottom gates closed.  You can't mate, and like Aston you cannot keep them closed when going in unless again you open a top paddle first. And with 'crooked' beams, they are a bugger to move.  I just wonder if the powers that be had different lock repair teams.  One obviously knowing what they were doing and the other who should have been sacked long ago. Mind you the new mural was very pretty and had not been attacked.

Here they are

I mentioned the lack of moving boats, even on a Bank Holiday, then we found them at Branston—26 no less.  Stretching from well before the bridge by the pub and past the piling and with many moored on pins.

Yet I well remember last  year, though a bit earlier when we passed, when the moorings were completely empty. One again it was obvious that the surge in continuous cruisers was making its mark.

Dredged and not

One thing that was noticeable on the Trent & Mersey along its narrow section towards Fradley that it must have been dredged as the boat scuttled away nicely without much effort, but a drastic change upon reaching the Coventry, where the first few miles were very shallow, though it did improved in some stretches.

Though somewhat concerned at tackling Fradley on a Bank Holiday Monday well after 9pm, we need not had worried, for the junction was completely devoid of moving boats. There was just one, that went ahead into Junction Lock only to have the bottom gates repeatedly swing open, until Jan reached them and told the lady that—and you know what's coming—they would not keep closed unless a top paddle was first opened to hold them.  Yes, the crap lock team had struck again!

Not right

It really was not fair of British Waterways and more latterly Canal & River Trust in promoting so many marinas yet at the same time are issuing so many continuous cruiser licences, thus guaranteeing these boaters would have no need of the marinas

King Orchard Marina on the Coventry is a prime example, with as can be seen from the picture, many empty berths yet scores of continuous cruisers moored all along the waterway.  It is about time CaRT stopped issuing the licences, as not only are the marinas they selfishly promoted losing out, but it is getting far from pleasure endlessly having to slow down past the vast increase in moored boats on the canals.

No doubt I shall 'strike again' later!

(Don't forget, the office is not manned so don't bother sending emails—no one to read 'em!)

Victor Swift