Friday Sept 19th - 5 miles, 7 furlongs, 12 locks - Radford Semele to
Blue Lias
Total cruising time 3 hours 50 minutes.
Engine start was agreed on at 10am - rather late for me, but when you
are travelling in convoy, what can you do? We actually got going at
10.10am, and soon arrived at the start of the climb up to the Blue Lias.
Andrew had the trusty bike out, and was cycling ahead to set the
locks, but our carefully worked out scheme came to nothing as we were
right behind another boat and were arriving at a lock before Andrew had
a chance to empty it for us. A short visit to the sani-station by Fosse
Road bridge and a phone call from Brian Holt just as I was lining up to
enter Wood Lock beside LT enlivened the morning. Through Bascote locks
and we decided on a short (80 minutes) lunch break at the Two Boats.
Off again just before 3pm, up the last two locks to moor alongside other
cutweb boats outside the Blue Lias at 3.35pm.
Saturday Sept 20th - 100 yards, 0 locks - Blue Lias to Blue Lias
Total cruising time 5 minutes.
Not really a cruise, just a trip to the water point on the other side of
the canal by the bridge to fill the tanks before reversing back to our
original mooring.
Sunday Sept 21st - 1 furlong, 1 lock - Blue Lias to Warwick Fly Boats
Total cruising time 20 minutes.
Untied from our neighbour at 4.30pm, and reversed back to the lock which
had already been set by another passing boat. Shared the lock with
them, and after allowing them to leave first, reversed back to the
arranged mooring with Warwick Fly Boats where I am leaving Arun while I
go back to Belgium. Decided to clear the prop now rather than before
the next time I go cruising, because the water will very likely be a
great deal colder then.
Apart from the cruising, the weekend was very enjoyable. Much chatting
and boozing with long time and new friends. Some success in the
Treasure Hunt and the picture quiz and first ticket drawn in the raffle
allowed me to walk away with the bottle of scotch amongst other goodies.
Terry Streeter
NB Arun - Stockton
