Preparing for our 2025 summer cruise

 11 April 2025 Getting Annie’s BSS certificate and her hull blacked

Last Monday 7 April, we had Phil Read, our BSS inspector,  check out Annie for her Boat Safety certification. We had spent a couple of days sorting out problems last week, so we were pleased when Phil said that Annie had passed with flying colours. This year’s cost was £200, a big increase. Thankfully, our next inspection will not be until April 2029.

This Thursday 10 April, we left Retford & Worksop Boat Club for possibly the last time, en route for her blacking at West Stockwith Basin. We enjoyed another beautiful blue sky day, not rushing along this shallow but lovely Chesterfield Canal.

There were three boats moored at Drakeholes, where we passed through the short tunnel.

NB Rosa Blanca left the visitor moorings before Walkeringham as we approached. Both boats moored at Misterton, where John popped to the excellent butchers and bought Lincolnshire sausages, Hog Roast sausages to try, plus a minty lamb pie.

 We then travelled the short distance to West Stockwith basin, to moor alongside the two hire boats, Robin Hood and Maid Marian.

John tried the homemade pheasant and pigeon pie at the White Hart, while Liana had their chicken and black sausage pie. Both were delicious.

We were up early on Friday 11 April, getting ready for getting Annie out of the water for her hull blacking.

Liana caught the early 0742 bus to go to RWBC and return with our car. She got back just in time to see John steer Annie above the articulated trailer, and the tractor haul it up the ramp and out of the water. John  certainly went up in the world!

We will leave Annie for a week. We have booked to descend the river lock on the flood tide at 0940 next Friday 18 April, to go upriver to Torksey Lock and Lincoln.