The butty stern, complete with new steel elum (ignore the wood box and paint brushes!)
All week, Richard has been working on getting the bare bones of the back cabin in place, to free up the hold area where the shop will be again.
Unfortunately, he wishes his work to remain underwraps until he is completely happy with it....
Launching the butty from the rollers, slowly does it...
PJ Barber has truly performed a miracle on our butty boat, recreating her back cabin out of steel and fabricating a new stern which correctly 'swims', unlike our old rounded, vertical sided one.
Thank you Paul, Dave and Barry for all your hard work on the butty and fabulous new elum (rudder), apparently a first for Paul! On budget and very professional yard to deal with, recommended.
Approaching Trent Lock above the River Trent at the bottom of the Erewash Canal
I walked the dogs down to the lock, whilst Richard took the boats, breasted up, out of the yard and the short distance to the bottom lock on the Erewash Canal. The butty, in Richard's words, 'swims like a fish', so he is happy.
Entering the lock
A lower roof on the back cabin, makes the butty look more traditional and when it is painted, it should look beautiful. We are delighted with it.
Out on the Trent, with the River Soar to the right and the Thrumpton Weir to the left
So the plan is that we get to Foxton via the River Soar, depending on weather and river levels, but the forecast is good, so here goes!
Passing all the moored boats at Redhill
The Otter at Kegworth
The new elum sitting pretty
Beautiful river
After a few locks, we moored for the night on the cut at Zouch, hoping to progress our journey in the morning....
We loved the lower part of the Soar. It's been some years since we have been now but we will visit again at some point. Can't remember the name of the pubon the Zouch Cut but can remember (well patchily) having a great night in there followed by a massive breakfast the next morning.
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