Boatmove / Rumpus Fun Cruise May

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2001

Boatmove / Rumpus Fun Cruise May / June

5- Trent Lock to Langley Mill. Erewash Canal.

Saturday 2nd June 2001

Nick and Angie Howard arrived aboard Little Mo and Jackie homed in by mobile phone (actually she was within earshot!!!) The little ensemble eventually departed at 10.20, Earnest being tail end Charlie. Chris Deuchar was about and cadged a lift aboard Little Mo, to collect his car that was left a bit upstream. At Sheetstores Basin Rumpus peeled of for a quick investigation. By the time Earnest was passed, Rumpus shot out behind, having winded, as usual in it's own length!
Chris Alcock - newsgroupie joined the band at Dockholme Lock (11.30) While passing through Sandiacre Rumpus did a little swerve into the bank and shouted back to us. There sitting basking on a tyre fender was a large Terrapin (When Linda cycled back the next day, it was still in the same place!) A couple of fearless Water Voles were seen paddling around - did not seem worried by passing boats - searching desperately for plastic voleoles!
At Stensons Lock a large group of potential yobs arrived complete with a few motor bikes. No trouble, as we were out in force! By the Bridge Inn pub / bridge in Cotmanhay Terry Streeter homed in on us and jumped aboard, after first establishing that there was a spare berth on Earnest. In the wide winding point before Langley Lock Rumpus did one up on a Rumpus pirouette - the Rumpus figure of eight!
Eventually arrived at Great Northern Basin, Langley Mill at 18.10. Brian on Rumpus of course carried on past the boat yard moorings to the real end! - he was surprised to find it was quite wide at the end - windable in a 70ft boat. Brian and Neil got plaques from the temp mooring warden, Len and Neil organised the fitting of Earnest into the small basin for tomorrow morning (sharp left, through swing bridge and in secure spot beside pub - really the start of the Nottingham Canal). Sean Neill (Mr Laplander) then appeared and stayed for a few hours.
It was a bit cold by this time and started to spit with rain, so barbeque style food was cooked in the boats. A *Rosie and Jim* style show, featuring Brian and Shaun the sheep, preceded the meal. At one point there was 9 aboard Rumpus! Wendy's rather quieter 12th birthday meal on Earnest. Jackie and Sean left at the same time as the Dominic's young female friends (Jeanette's the brunette, Dawn's the blonde(r) owner of Shaun!) proceedings soon quietened down and a fairly early night followed.

Sunday 3rd June 2001

Rumpus and Little Mo eventually left about 10.30. Connie was travelled back as far as where Terry had left his car and jumped ship with him, so as to not have a too late arrival back in Sussex. Neil assembled the ship's wheeled tender (mountain bike) and Linda soon departed, to cycle back to Trent Lock to retrieve Passat.
Neil then filled with water and went up to the end, beyond the boatyard. Easy wind, not a whirr of bowthruster was heard. Fill up with diesel in boatyard (30p/L). Len had the stiff swing bridge open (BW padlock) and Neil went bow into the far end of the basin, when just managed to swing the stern in between two boats. One of these was Electra, the Gold's much extended old craft. Linda soon arrived back. Had dinner on boat and then the long task of removing clothes / bedding and valuables then started. Eventually left around 15.20. Looked at the Nottingham Canal in a few places on the way out.