Crotch strap

Very sunny and reasonably warm today. We're home on dry land having survived a long-weekend cruising. The weekend started sunny and almost summer-like only for that pesky cold wind to return requiring sweaters, then coats and finally central heating, which worked throughout. Tardis Two was facing the opposite way we wanted to go. The winding hole at Stensen lock is silted-up and can only service a 45 footer. The next one through the lock could fit a 62 footer if two live-aboards were not moored in it. Previous to leaving the marina I had walked down hoping the warn them I was due to turn round there, so expect contact at some point. The first tatty boat had no-one at home, whilst the other obviously had people aboard who were protected by a large fenced garden and locked gates. It was impossible to attract their attention and their little terrier in the garden refused to bark or make some sort of attention raising commotion. I gave up and returned to the marina saying "sod it" under my breath. Once through the lock I approached the winding hole with all the intention of turning, whatever. However, Lynne got cold feet and requested I go the the next listed at Swarkestone, almost a mile away. By the time we arrived the light was fading and the winding hole listed in the Pearsons guide was nothing of the sort. It is now a wharf filled with tuppaware boats. We passed several signs saying no turning allowed in the wharf, originately the end of the now abandoned Derby canal. As we arrived I breathed "sod it" and started my turning routine. I can proudly confirm the turn was successfully completed in a very confined place without touching another boat. Bow thrusters are wonderful. We moored nearby and could not get the new aerial to work. It was a cold night.The next day we did the return journey past the bland scenery we had viewed the day before mooring near the Dragon. We resisted the urge to visit. A cold night and morning when we set off for Burton Upon Trent and Shobnall marina where we bought another centre rope, a gangplank and more fenders. It has to be said the Trent & Mersey canal is not the most picturesque or interesting I have seen and needs some TLC, particularly cutting back the overhanging trees on one side which severely narrow the available channel. (not the best cruising in a new boat with "soft" paint). Wildlife-wise we passed 3 swans nests, ducklings and swallows (the first of the year. Better late than never). We have yet to see a heron or a kingfisher, apart from two concrete ones on top of totem poles at the start of the Kingfisher trail. Again, lots of dogs and joggers. Whilst moored at Shobnall Fields we were woken very early by two mallards pecking loudly on the boat hull. Lynne went out to investigate despite my fears of her falling in, but she scared them off from the stern deck without the need to walk along the boat side (not recommended). Another note for boat equipment... a shotgun with night-sights. We stupidly stopped at Eggington wharf for water. You could not imagine a more ludicrous place to put a water point. You either have to moor in the narrowest part of the canal under a bridge or somehow reverse into the wharf full of tuppaware boats. I chose the latter, only to find Tardis Two was too long to get out again. Various boaters offered advice, all different. After a long struggle they all advised us to go back to the winding hole we had left many hours ago, so we yet again saw the same piece of canal, Boring or what? It was quite cold when we finally arrived back at Stensen, mooring perfectly. We again attempted to get the bloody TV dish to work, having spent 3 days TV-less. I'll call the guy today. I also removed 2 Morrisons bags, some baler twine and non-definable lumps of plastic from the propeller. The water was very cold. Health-wise it was not a bad weekend apart from a dizzy spell entering Dallow Lane lock which caused me to hit the closed gate, fortunately causing no damage to boat or lock. Two other dizzy spells occurred but with less serious consequences. Margaret had bought me an early birthday present by way of a lifejacket, an over the shoulder mini version in dark blue rather than Hi-Vis, which I hate. It has a crotch strap which prevents it floating away without me when or if I fall in. It also inflates itself once it hits the water. For the first day it was very uncomfortable until I discovered how to adjust it, delaying my soprano career for some time.