27 March 2018 Spring is here and jobs to do

27 March 2018 Work Day and jobs to do

Annie on the River Soar

Last Saturday 24 March saw us at Retford & Worksop Boat Club, taking part in one of our Work Days. Liana found plenty to do, sorting out the clubhouse. John, three months after his operation to have a new titanium knee, is walking around ok, but can't lift  much, so worked with our friend, Boat Club Secretary Chris Turner, deciding on permissions and access to our club website, for which John was asked to be webmaster. Thankfully, we have a club member, ace website designer Darryl,  to advise us and do all the clever stuff, once we have clarified our vision of what we require. We spent time looking at excellent websites for Lichfield Cruising Club, Stafford Boat Club and Thrupp Canal Cruising Club.

Annie needs various jobs doing, not all of which will get done immediately: Repainting is overdue, blacking is due this year, the Isuzu 4LE1 engine needs servicing and checking for the source of a slow oil leak, engine bearings need checking, Cratch cover needs repairing again by our local sailmakers at Market Rasen, plus our rear cover on the semi-trad stern has shrunk, so we must replace it. Yup, like houses and cars, boats can swallow your money!

We must encourage folk to use the River Trent: It's lovely on the non-tidal section, from Nottingham to Newark. If you contact CRT at Newark, and take advice from the excellent lock keepers at Cromwell Lock, they will make sure you travel safely with the tide between Cromwell Lock, Torksey Lock (Lincoln and Witham to Boston), West Stockwith Lock (Chesterfield Canal) and Keadby Lock (Yorkshire).

West Stockwith Basin on the River Trent (Annie wasn't flying)

Approaching West Stockwith Lock

Approaching Keadby Lock  on the Trent near Scunthorpe

Looking back, we have travelled to the extremes of the canal system during the last three years, to Thames and Kennet & Avon Canal to Bath and back (2015); to Yorkshire as far as York and Ripon, Huddersfield and Leeds, then to Liverpool, River Weaver and back down Trent Valley (2016); and our latest retirement adventure across the Wash to Kings Lynn, Great Ouse to Bedford, Middle level Fens, the beautiful River Nene and on to Grand Union, London, Thames and Lee & Stort, then home: All fantastic trips!

An amazing sunset/

Looking forward, we fancy returning to old haunts around the Midlands this summer, including the Leicester Ring, Birmingham, Four Counties Ring, Llangollen and maybe down to the River Severn and Gloucester. Our Wash companions Chris and Elaine are keen to do the Severn Estuary, so plans may change if we think Annie is in good enough shape.

Good luck with your plans for Spring!

I love canal and river sunsets!