The Festival

Well it has been a dank dimsmal old day here at the festival. We had brief sunshine first thing and now its gone all autumnal. We wondered looking at some of the working boats, I even managed to take some photos of the back cabin of Nuneaton. This was as we had discussed the possibilties of stretching my boat and putting a traditional back cabin in. I also caught up with my friend Rachael and her fella. We managed a pint but it was so cold we should have had hot chocolate to warm us up..
We its the last day tomorrow and come Tuesday we will be off back to the marina and I will be taking a trip back home for a short while, well it is my sisters wedding so I should make an effort.....

This is our mooring at the moment

We step out of the boat to this



Well the IWA has started proper today. It is full of the usual canal resortation projects, various full blown new boats,windows, fenders and batteries. There also working boats and project boats along with all the other boats, campers and day visitors.
We even managed to see Mikron Theatre group as for the first time years they where here. As part of the main arena events there was a falconary display,expcet the wind was blowing so much they where not allowd to fly off a training line.

Have bought much yet,its all too tempting, I might see if there is a bargain to be had at the end of the show. I might get another battery for the boat

Day Four

Well my liver survived last night, but I am not sure my head did, or my thimb as I trapped it in the door as I was going to bed.We did well in the boaters quiz as we came second, one point behind the winners, not bad I thought. We went for a change of scene this morning and drove over to Melton Mowbray to pick up a pork pie for dinner... We even saw an old Bently in the petrol station... sorry forgot the camera.

We are still waiting for the engineer to arrive to try and fix the over heating problem Iam hoping it is sorted before we leave, as I don't want to delay the start of the trip particulary, we shall have to wait and see.

A quiet one

Today instead of being woken up by a cup of coffee it was by the whistle of the steam boat "President" noisy bugger. It did make get up and start the engine to charge the batteries. I love trad boats as I didn't have to get dressed and go outside to start her. Apart from the usual breakfast and the caffeine and nicotine intake during the day I have been reading. It is something I had not done recently but left on my own it has been lovely.. I even managed an afternoon nap.. I love being on holiday.
Well tonight is the boaters quiz, where we get the chance to have a look at the site and sample some of the 50 odd real ales here. I am not sure how my liver will survive, but I will have a go...

Arrival

This morning started early with a cup of coffee at 0645. The T's wanted to get off early, normally it is Em that holds up proceedings but this time it was me, sorry. I drove Paul with Sue not far behind up to Pillings Lock Marina situated on Flesh Hovel Lane, what a great name. At this point I wold have shown you a pic of the marina and the boat, but my internet connection is so slow, its been trying to load the pic for the last 6 mins...

10 mins later

After dropping the car of at Red Hill marina the site of the IWA festival, for the T's to return tonight, I grabbed a bacon butty from the cafe and we where off...
The River Soar is like the upper reaches of the River Thames, twisty and turning through the bottom of the valley. We also had the last blows of hurriance Bill which had come across the Atlantic, which made steering interesting at times.. We did pass a lovely site of a church at Normanton on Soar it even a a little mooring for those wishing to stop and take part in service.
We travelled with a hire boat and shared the locks until we hit Kegworth Deep Lock. We had to stop as the engine temp had suddenly went sky high. We where throwing out black smoke and the engine was struggling for power. After topping her up with water and waiting a while( we managed lunch) we decided to press on abate a little slower than normal. We finally saw the tell tell sign of the power station and we decided we were nearly there.
This is when the mizzle had decided to turn to a more persistant drizzle. We had to turn below the IWA site and face upstream( as all good boaters should do on any river)for our mooring. Mrs T was on the tiller and we went for it at Redhill Marina, things where going great until the wind decided to pick up again and push us sideways. Mr T used the bow thruster a 15ft pole to push the front round, apart from a little scrapping of the bottom we where able to get round and time up on our alloted space. This was next to old friends/harbourmaster and generally nice people Mike and Jen. Soon after our other neighbours arrived Dave and Jane, too many J's for me..
Well the T's have departed for the much awaited arrival on the results on the doormat and I am left for a quiet night on No1, my home on and off the next 8 weeks, ah bliss, till the next installment ttfn

First Day

Well the first day of the grand trip has started. I am at Sue and Pauls, I have been suitable feed and watered and am off to the boat tomorrow. The car is full of bags, guitar, bike and all manner of things to keep things charged up. I am about to turn in and sleep on their sofa, I am sure the fab sausage casserole and wine filling my belly will help me sleep. As we have an early start, to get up to the boat on the River Soar, before the T's need to return home for the evening. As it is a big day on Thursday, Ems GCSE results are out...... Then they will return for the boaters quiz and the event starts proper.....