Clive B

Bollards........lots more bollards!

We went through and back a couple of weeks ago and it was lovely. There are river level boards just below the lock and when we went through they were only an inch or two below the red, even though this was before all the recent rain. The top part of the river section is quite narrow and windy so it might be interesting steering downstream if it's going a bit fast. I thought the warning notice was a bit more strongly worded than just advisory though - "WARNING River extremely dangerous in flood....... Only proceed when the water level is in the green zone. Do not proceed if water level is in the red zone." The Black Lion at Consall forge is worth the journey though, but make sure you're hungry as the portions are immense. That said, you have to get past the Holly Bush - a great pub and an idyllic mooring. Have fun

I went past it a couple of weeks ago bobbing about in the middle of the channel. I wasn't too bothered about giving it a slight nudge but didn't think it would look too pretty if it got pushed and caught between me and one of the moored boats. The owner cheerfully pulled it back in and tied it up when I called over, but then said it was made of steel so I couldn't do it any harm. I beg to differ but if, as others have said, it's been there for years I guess he knows something about it.

I've just read a report about the fire at Stone which destroyed 3 narrowboats last night. Dreadful news for all the owners, but especially as one of them was the Phyllis May, owned by Terry and Monica darlington who, as many boaters will know, took her safely thousands of miles across France and the USA and wrote the lovely "Narrowdog" books about their journeys. Commiserations to them both and thank goodness no-one and no dogs were hurt. ThisisStaffordshire article

Hi Janice & Dai ....... congratulations on your new boat. Isn't it a wonderful feeling when you finally take control of the tiller after all those months of waiting. I think we passed you on Sunday at Swarkestone as we headed back to Mercia on Missy Moo. On time and on budget too..... suitably impressed and extremely jealous! Maybe ours will be finished too by the time you take up residence in Willington, but maybe not!. We'll keep a look out for you and say hello. Happy boating Clive & Kay

We have been to the Nadee, although not used their end of garden moorings. We went on a quiet summer evening last year and had a lovely meal in a fairly empty restaurant (we were quite early though). The menu was indian but with a bit of a european twist and dishes are served in a western style, ie you get your own dish, rather than sharing from all the dishes placed in the centre of the table. They have clearly spent a lot of money landscaping and furnishing what was the old pub beer garden into a more beach-like area to make a very unusual canal-side bar-restaurant. If you go there you don't have to use their moorings as there is plenty of space on the towpath opposite. If it doesn't take your fancy, there's standard pub fayre at the Ragley as mentioned and in Willington which is about 30 minutes further on. Oh and don't worry about Stenson - by the time you've managed Aston, Weston and Swarkestone, you'll know what to do and Stenson's not much bigger than them - we did them 2-handed on Missy Moo's maiden voyage a couple of weeks ago and survived. Enjoy your holiday.

There are a number of pictures on the Mercia Marina website which might meet your needs. Shakespeare Line Narrowboats. There's an email contact address on the website or you can go on the forum Mercia Marina Forum and drop a note to the administrator, username Aprilmay, who is the "resident photographer", Mike, and takes great pictures. hope this helps

Let's hope you stay off the beer till you've finished for the day - that's our boat you're painting! I agree with Chip - you made a fantastic job of Brian's first boat and it looks lovely on the water...... and, going back to the thread topic, it's a LB too. Here's to the next one