Spring Summer Cruise 2014 ❹❼

Sheepcote Bridge to Catherine de Barnes

Overnight the weather was frequent showers as the last of hurricane Bertha passed through.

Morning: After a leisurely breakfast and we departed for the Farmers Flight of thirteen locks. We managed to hook up with a CaRT volunteer (Tony) to assist with our decent and we passed three boats before we reached the bottom. Then it was a short cruise to the Digbeth branch and the six Ashted locks followed by the five Camp Hill locks.Most of the pounds were short of water.  We ran a bit of water down from the top of the Camp Hill to get some water running over the lower byewash.

Afternoon: Ashted Tunnel proved to be problematical due to low water levels. We had ate lunch on the move. At bridge 86 (Woodcock Lane) the local hooligans were out throwing stones.

Evening: Ilkeston (butty) and President (steam powered narrowboat) was sharing our moorings for the night at Catherine de Barnes.
 
Wildlife:
Birds: House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Black Headed Gull, Canadian Goose, Coot, Waterhen, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull and Jay, the highlight being a Kingfisher.

Butterflies: Meadow Brown
Bats: Pipistrelle
Dragonflies: Banded Damselfly, Common Damselfly and Southern Hawker.

 

Today's Total.

Miles: 11.0
Locks: 25
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 7.5
Solar Panels: 28 Ah

 

Accumulated Total.

Miles: 1972.3
Locks: 1228
Swing / Lift Bridges: 297
Tunnels: 35
Pump Outs: 20
Engine Hours: 2959.9
Solar Panels: 17252 Ah