Ringing the Bull

We've just come back from the pub. Remember 'The trip to Jerusalem' ?

We thought it would be nice to go back when it was not so crowded as it was at the weekend, and look round properly inside. It is a great place with lots of small areas cut out of the rock. We played a new game, Ring the bull.

The ring is suspended from the sandstone ceiling and you swing it to hook over the horn on the back wall. We had a demonstration from Dave, who turned out to be rather an expert!

We got better with practice but never as good as Dave with his many different swings from different places in the room. Something new and good fun.

Earlier on in the day we visited the Nottingham Caves, there are so many underground in the city. Many used as homes, for storage, air raid shelters over the years. See http://nottinghamcavessurvey.org.uk/aboutcaves.htm

We also went to the Crime and Punishment experience, which was very thought provoking as it showed how criminals in the past were dealt with, often so inhumanely, and really made us think about what should be done to help offenders today. Not many photos but this one was from the wall in the exercise yard, grafitti from 1880.

Ian and Karen

Sandiacre to Nottingham

Good Friday afternoon we tied up at the Padmore Moorings in the centre of Sandiacre. Although traffic was quite busy, and the pub opposite a little noisy with customers outside enjoying the sun, it was a pleasant place to be. It had been a very hot day and was very pleasant eating our evening meal out in the sun at our new table.

This moorhen was sitting tight as we went past.

The bridge over the start junction with the Derby Canal.

The other side of the bridge is a good footpath and line of the canal bed visible on the way to Derby.

We have been seeing a few more families of ducklings around the last few days.

The other side of the lace mills (see previous post). Now converted into flats. But still a very elegant building.

Tacet, second from left at the Padmore moorings.

Saturday morning saw us up and moving off at 7.30 to work through the town of Long Eaton renowned for 'naughty boys'!

At Trent lock we stopped for the services and bacon and eggs for breakfast. The Lock tea rooms had this on offer. 

After filling with diesel at Sawley, we started our journey down the Trent to Nottingham.

Working through the locks with nb Nautilly. We moored up just beyond Sainsburys and Castle Marina at about 2.30pm. Along this stretch the navigation is canalised. Looking around the city, after a cup of tea and a snooze, we found St George's Day celebrations going on at various pubs and in the market square. It was extremely hot and people were enjoying cooling off in the fountains and water feature there. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and that splashing around had not been vetoed by 'health and safety'!  Unfortunately we forgot to take the camera with us, so no photos.

Sunday morning we went along the road to grace church http://www.gracechurchnottingham.org/ to their Easter service. We were made very welcome and enjoyed celebrating Jesus' resurrection with them.  Enjoyed chatting with folk afterwards and hearing about their move into the old Ministry of Labour, Employment Exchange building.

Today we have the camera so here are some shots of Nottingham.

The caves in the sandstone rock under the castle.

Pub called 'The trip to Jerusalem' claiming to be th Oldest Pub in England, and built into the sandstone rocks below the castle too. The rooms inside have little alcoves cut out of the rock, creating a unique feel and experience.

Former British Waterways building now home to Wetherspoons and nightclubs. 

Almost next door was this warehouse with Fellows Morton & Clayton across the top. For a long time Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd were the largest and best known canal transportation company in England. They had a large fleet of boats which ranged far and wide over the canal system. They carried diverse cargos which also helped them grow. http://www.fellowsmortonandclayton.co.uk/u_FMC-History.asp  It is now a popular pub. 

In the evening we walked down to Meadow Lane Lock which takes the canal back onto the River Trent. By bridge 1 we spotted this post, haven't seen one like this before. It looks as though it would have turned so as the horses walked through the bridge, the rope pulling the boat would have turned the roller and not got worn on the bridge.

And finally......

Roses at Easter! Beautiful!

Happy Easter everyone.

Ian and Karen

Erewash Canal continued

After a quiet morning with Ian catching up with work and Karen cleaning the boat, polishing the red to bring back the shine, we set off to complete the length of the Erewash up to Langley Mill.
Along the way we passed the old stables and the slaughter house for worn out canal horses at Shipley.

Lovely old buildings, not much call for them now.

At the end of the canal is the Great Northern Basin and junctions with the Nottingham and Cromford Canals, both of these are now closed. This was the toll house for the Nottingham Canal.

Looking down the Nottingham Canal, just a few moorings now.

Looking towards the Cromford Canal, some restoration work going on.

Further south the bed and towpath of the Nottingham Canal.

We walked into Eastwood from the canal basin, this town is famous for being the birthplace of D.H.Lawrence, and this is his home in Victoria Street. We didn't follow the town trail exploring connections in the town with Lawrence.

We then made the return journey to Ilkeston and our safe mooring of last night.

Jumble enjoying the garden!

Erewash Canal

We left Loughborough on Tuesday morning, and made a leisurely cruise towards Trent Lock, the junction of the River Soar, River Trent and Erewash Canal.
We stopped at Kegworth where we had lunch, cut Ian's hair out on the bank and then walked into the village.
The weather is again so lovely, very hot really. We would have been pleased with two weeks like these have been in the summer previously.

Overnight we moored just short of the junction. Approaching Trent Lock at 8 am this morning, the sky was really blue (not like the photo) and reflections were great.
The advise is to make an early start to get through Long Eaton.
I have been chimney spotting today, not sure what factories they served but they are impressive.

Unusual shape at the top.

This one has become a mobile phone mast!

A very imposing building alongside this one, again not sure what it was.

We stopped at Ilkeston and walked into town. The cinema was very grand with long canopy down one side. For the queuing customers or waiting for the taxi home?  

Unfortunately while we were enjoying the town, someone added their tag to the name of our boat with a green spray can!

Fortunately it came off easily with brush cleaner and Tacet is still her name.

We decided not to stay the night but moved up one more lock and moored at the garden moorings of  fellow Boaters Christian Fellowship members. Thanks Alan and Hazel.

All Steamed Up

We left Leicester around lunchtime on Friday and worked down through the 9 locks to Mountsorrel.
A lovely village with lots of interesting buildings, 4 churches, and a new library building.

At the top of Castle Hill stands this war memorial. There are no castle ruins but large stones show a building once was there. It was a very steep climb, well, the way we approached it. We found an easier way down. The view was impressive.

Looking down on the village.

Looking towards Quorn, I think.

The Butter Market which is in the centre of the High Street.

After exploring the village on Saturday morning we moved off to make our way into Loughborough. Only 1 lock to work, Barrow Deep Lock.

Then Sunday, we had timetables to follow and places to be, so watches on, back to the real world. 1st the Palm Sunday service at Loughborough Baptist Church, then back to the boat for quick sandwich and get Jumble, and walk to the Grand Central Station for the steam train to Leicester. 

Once we arrived in Leicester it was another walk, partly along the river to Abbey Park Pumping Station which was having a Steam and Food Festival.

One of the 4 pumping engines was in steam.

The engines were used for pumping sewage.

The pump house itself was beautiful with such detail and ornamentation for something so industrial and workaday.

Outside in the grounds were other various bits of machinery, this is a steam shovel,

and a coal fired fish and chip van.

Then back to Loughborough, a different locomotive this time. Sorry no technical details, just a photos!

We were just back in time to return Jumble to the boat and then back the the Baptist Church for a performance of parts of the Messiah. Phew what a busy day.

Spring Flowers mosaic

Just a quick post today, a peek at spring.

Karen

Enjoying Leicester

We have enjoyed a few days in Leicester, looking round the markets, the Newarke Houses Museum, the Cathedral,and eating out. Some of the colourful sights from the markets.

Everything a pound

Laid out in the traditional way

Tempting

Gateway to the Castle

The castle area is now gardens which is where our moorings were.

Views of castle yard

St Mary sub Castro Church (bell ringing for 2 hours last night!)

Inscription as follows:

John Wesley 1703-1791

JOHN WESLEY who with his brother CHARLES founded the Methodist Church,"looked on the world as his parish". Over a period of 50 years he travelled 225,000 miles, on horseback throughout Britain preaching some 40,000 sermons. He brought the Christian message to people who may not otherwise have heard it, especially to those in the new industrial towns. In 1770 he preached to a large crowd here in Castle Yard.His opponents tried to disrupt the gathering.  As Wesley himself records, "a man was sent to cry 'fresh salmon' at a little distance: but he might as well have spared the pains, for none took the least notice of him".

Moving on towards Loughborough for weekend.

Ian and Karen