A lovely time was had by all at last weekend's annual spectacular at the Samuel Barlow pub, Alvecote.
All the historic motors and butties lined up along the causeway
Our grateful thanks go to Malcolm Burge and his team for a wonderful get together and everyone who visited us on our butty boat Echoes over the weekend!
...... and the bows
Each day, there was a parade of boats, each one being scored on their ability to 'wind' (turn around) their boat without damage to other boats and show off their skill.
2 motor boats winding in the 'layby' winding hole
Hare winding
And in the evening, some boats entered the illuminated boat parade...
Crowds on the balcony watch the illuminated boat parade
A boat passes our boat dressed up in lights and all it's passengers were in fancy dress as well!
Monday was a bit of a washout, but some of us finished the day by having a sing song in the bar. Sorry, if we didn't get the chance to say goodbye to you, but we left early Tuesday morning to avoid the crowds.
Fazeley Junction sporting new buildings - looking very completed and smart at last!
The traffic on the canal at the moment is so busy, when 2 boats are involved, it can make the day just a bit longer, hence the early morning starts!
Predictably, this 'continuous moorer' boat was still in the same place after I don't know how any years, on a bend which wasn't designed for boats to moor on!! Come on CRT!!
An extremely quiet Hopwas - usually the towpath moorings are full!
Narrow bit before Whittington
Tree fallen on this privately moored narrowboat - the house is for sale - now minus a tree!
After a few hours cruising, we stopped below the top lock at Fradley Junction, rounding off the day with a long walk to Alrewas for a much longed for chippy tea!
Approaching the narrowest bridge 'ole on the canal! Always a challenge especially on a 15 foot line!
This morning, we set off early to get the Fradley locks done and Alrewas river section out of the way, before everyone else came out to play. Alrewas was really busy with moored boats, probably due to the Craft event happening over the next few days.
Burton-on-Trent's Shobnall Basin - boats manoeuvring for fuel and passing boats, busy busy!
Briefly, we moored just past Shobnall Basin, whilst I sprinted back to the chandlery to buy paint supplies for over the winter. Just reversing out from the wharf, were our friends Nan and Don on narrowboat Xanadu, off on a short break. We keep bumping into people! Glad to know all was well with them.
Flowerpot people looking after this boat
Mill House pub as popular as ever with boaters, shame about the ever encroaching reeds on the offside, making passing oncoming boats an impossible task!
Moored before Willington - Richard putting Turk's Heads around the stern fenders on the motor boat.
The butty is now officially packed away for the winter, Alvecote being our last festival for the year. So sad!
Lister having a spread out in the sun
With the beautiful perennial tones of the A38 in the background, we have moored and taken a breath before carrying on tomorrow towards Lincolnshire. Returning to work is on the list for Richard, where I will spend the winter in pleasant seclusion, painting goods to sell next season....
Are you back on the Witham for winter?
ReplyDeleteyes will be there early next week
ReplyDelete