nickd

The diesel pump is still in the same place

Have passed by these on my travels

Built that width for wheelchair access

I had a 1980 Dartline between 2007 - 15. Lovely boat, beautifully designed inside, Lister SR3 with a metal cabin not GRP, ex hire boat but the base plate had been over-plated as had a lot of the sides. Very thin sides that corroded badly. A hull survey is a must.

My quip to any passing boat is 'Living The Dream' whilst raising my umbrella that's saving me from the deluge.

On this route The Bridge at Branston and The Greyhound, Sutton Stop are the 'must eats' for us. There's an excellent chippy on Atherstone High Street as well. Agree with Bagnall Lock comments, the bottom offside gate ALWAYS swings open just when you don't want it to, and as the wife leaves the other gate to shut the offside one, that slowly creeps open too! I reverse up to hold the gates in place.

Common Lock At Fradley Closure Top Gate has come adrift. May well be fixed by the time you get down there, but the T&M is closed at the moment.

Looks a bit frantic!

Latest recorded level 1.78m at 4:30pm Monday 11 March 2019. When the water level reaches 1.70m here, minor flooding is possible in this area https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/2100?direction=u

We went in the Anchor for an evening drink (singular) the year before last; I ordered a glass of white wine for Gill, the old lady serving asked if she wanted it chilled, as the answer was Yes she went into her sitting room behind the bar,opened her (domestic) fridge and got a small bottle of white and passed a glass and the bottle to Gill - Slightly unusual I thought but quite quaint. What wasn't so quaint was the Wadworths, she poured about 2/3rds of a pint with a large head. I thought to myself I'll have to ask her to top that one up a bit, then she topped it up from the drip-tray! I was too speechless for words. Mind you on the plus side it was dog-friendly, the locals were friendly (& amused by the beer sideshow) and we were all of the confirmed opinion that the beer was crap. Only stopped for the one drink that night.

Just got back from a four week tour of Midlands canals and rivers, Shardlow - via Staffs & Worcs to Stourport, R Severn to Tewkesbury, R Avon to Stratford, Stratford Canal to Bham, Bham & Fazeley, Coventry Canal to Fradley , T & M back to Shardlow. Saw only 2 Kingfishers in the whole journey, both within 20 minutes of each other below Fladbury on River Avon, Sadly, I think our Kingfisher population has taken a very severe turn for the worse.

We went up the 21 this year in mid July on a Saturday afternoon. Just the two of us and the dog, with the missus doing the locks. We were struck by the friendliness of the locals; on three occasions lads went out of their way to open/.shut one of the lock gates to save the missus a trip round. Yes there were a few cans of lager being drunk and herbal cigarettes being smoked but we never felt awkward at all. Mind you my rosy tinted view may have been different if I had been down the weed hatch a few times

Link to River Level at Drakelow http://apps.environment-agency.gov.uk/river-and-sea-levels/120750.aspx?stationId=2108

After having a disaster with our beloved old 42' Dartline last September (galvanic corrosion with ensuing ebay 'project' sale) we find ourselves boatless. We are having a new build made at JD Narrowboats at Shardlow but that won't be ready until late August / early September. So this spring/summer we are potless as well as boatless and our only boating looks to be carried out vicariously with John Sargent on Friday evenings. Thank God for gin! Nick

JD Narrowboats at Shardlow arranged for mine to be fitted, not sure whether they did it themselves or subbed it though.

Can't see this being mentioned (apologies if it has) but last time we were up the Erewash, albeit a few years ago, you needed a handcuff / anti-vandal key for the locks.

Form a large oval with the shortcrust, bring corners together lengthways and crimp with thumb and forefinger. However, yours look lovely in the sausage roll shape! A different variation is 1/4 tin of corned beef in the middle, a puff pastry square, sprinkle of black pepper and / or curry powder and then fold the square over diagonally, seal and bake. Remember to take a statin after though.

Email for C&RT office (Fazely) that looks after Shardlow enquiries.centralshires@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Onion water is the magic ingredient to any lamb or beef kebab. Don't use too much as it can be overpowering, but a marinade paste of onion water, oil, salt, pepper, ground coriander,cumin & chilli will give the most exquisite of kebabs (especially on bbq). Can be a bit tricky to make onion water if you haven't got some form of an electric chopper: Place the onions in a food processor and process, in batches if necessary, until the onions are pureed and quite watery. Transfer the contents of the workbowl to a finemeshed strainer and set over a large, deep nonreactive bowl and drain, pressing the solids with the back of a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to extract the juice. Discard the contents of the strainer

August / September is probably the best time to hear owls (especially Tawny). This year's young start to explore their locale with the mother in reasonably close attendance, within hooting distance anyway.

I saw a boat called W.Anchor at Shardlow last year

There are submerged posts under the bridge in the central channel under the footbridge, hence the need to wiggle through the channel adjacent to the towpath. There are also submerged posts on the weir side of the river (on the right coming from Alrewas to Wychnor) just after the weir; it is advisableto keep near the left despite the sharp bend. I've never understood why these haven't been marked.

For all the arachnophiles - beware (arachnophobes- don't look!) Incy Wincy

There's Dobsons at Shardlow, maybe worth trying Andy or Darron at JD Narrowboats. It's not a marina as such but the moorings are secure.

Probably the Hawthorn Fly, a big, black ungainly looking thing, with its undercarriage down.