Maurice and I travelled down to Alvecote early on Saturday morning, arriving at 09:30 to a warm welcome from members of the Coventry Canal Society who had been on Python/Panther security duty. The two boats had been moored together in the lay-by alongside the canal bank and just behind the ‘Cheese’ boat.

Although quite a few locals ventured in, the event on Saturday was really restricted to boaters, where we could meet and talk ‘boating’ to friends old and new (including a fellow member of both the Trust and RWBC who happened to be passing through on his way from Clayworth to Oxford), without the usual crowds and sideshows seen at such events. We renewed quite a number of acquaintances and made many new potentially useful contacts. It is strange how you meet someone again after several years and both of you remember the lock, event, or even bridge where you previously met.

We enjoyed a truly excellent day, with good weather and a hearty lunch at the Samuel Barlow pub. The evening entertainment provided for the boaters was loud and not (we were told) quite as enjoyable as it had been on Friday evening.

Sunday dawned another lovely sunny day, it started early for as we were awakened by the arrival of a large white van doing (it sounded like) wheelies around the gravel car park before 6:00 am. This was immediately followed by loud voices and heavy things being dragged about outside Python. When we eventually emerged from our on-board campsite sometime later, to find that the noise had been made by the team bringing and setting up the Hog Roast stall. By now (about 7:30am) other stalls were being erected all around us and goods for sale were being set up on displays. The show opened to the public at 11:00 and the site was thronged with visitors throughout the afternoon. Lots of people showed interest in Python and the canal restoration work being undertaken, though many did not know where the Chesterfield Canal was located and that it was connected to the system via the River Trent.

Following the prize giving, the show started to wind down around 4:00 pm and so we prepared for the journey home, packed away our display boards, tidied up the boat, carried out the necessary Thetfordery (emptying the portable toilet), and bade farewell to the Panther Crew after securing the covers on Python.

For more photos of the Alvecote Festival Click Here: http://timlewis.smugmug.com/Other/Alvecote-Boat-Gathering-10th/17980751_jd7vcN#1377271862_63xxhzq

Next the IWA National at Burton on Trent at the end of July…………….

Written by: Arthur Naylor

As an extra note from Thomas, Pete, Maurice, Arthur and the rest of the Crew, We would so like to see you there especially towards Friday evening for one of many special events that Python and her crew are delving into... If not we hope you come down in the weekend!

The Dates are Friday 29th - Sunday 31st July 2011 at Shobnall Fields, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 2BB

For more Info click here: http://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/the_waterways_festival/home