But to start at the beginning. For three of our volunteers it was that "Damn! Do I have to get out of bed this early at the weekend" experience yet again, it being the first Saturday of the month and thus the day of a Chelmer Canal Trust Work Party. Off to Heybridge Basin to get the equipment ready, the refreshments sorted and the work boat loaded with everything that would be needed - and maybe a little more just in case. With the sun already feeling pretty strong it was time to head upstream.

Travelling up to Beeleigh and passing strands or rafts of Pennywort goes against the grain so there was some opportunistic 'grab and go' on the way. The further the team travelled the bigger the rafts got. And passing them without dealing with them wasn't natural.

Insufficient time to deal with all of the rafts of pennywort, but there was nevertheless a good amount to be offloaded before arriving at Beeleigh.

And what do you know?! When the workboat arrived at Beeleigh, work from the dinghy was already underway. Such commitment.

A plan was hatched of how and where everyone would work, And then modified to make the operation as efficient as possible. Initially the crew on the work boat would haul pennywort onto the workboat while the team on the bank would haul directly to the bank.

But it didn't take many rafts being pulled on board before the work boat needed unloading.

So a hybrid plan was developed with the work boat being used to take on pennywort directly but also to tow and push large rafts to the shore to be dealt with by the bank team.

There was some friendly dispute about who was working hardest - the crew on the work boat hauling pennywort on board and then pushing other rafts of pennywort to the bank. Or the team on the bank having to haul ashore these unrelenting rafts of pennywort that kept arriving.

It's fair to say that some really love pennywort (especially when it will head home to be added to our volunteer's compost heap!)

One of several unloadings of the work boat

Before, absolutely deservedly, heading back to base for a break and some very well earned refreshments. Collecting on the way our volunteers who had been working carefully down the banks removing the strands that had been left behind.

A break at that point was so important - our volunteers were working hard in the hot sun. But once the drink were made and the snacks eaten they didn't look too worse for wear!

It was clear that we wouldn't be able to deal with everything that was there. But we were going to give it our best shot. So, a slight re-arrangement of personnel and back to the tasks in hand.

More hard work. More dedication to the cause!

However much pennywort had been removed, however much there was left, our valiant volunteers had worked very hard. Back to base, collecting our other volunteers on the way, to declare the end of today's work party.

And then the long slog down the Long Pond to return the equipment and the work boat to Heybridge.

What would we do without our amazing, loyal, volunteers?!

Which meant that again we had time to go searching for places we've never visited where Pennywort might be present. Surrounded by, and in many places covered by overhanging trees, the Ricketts Lock Weir Stream has been a mystery to us. Even flying a drone over it hadn't helped.

So our task, which we were pleased to accept, was to head onto the island and survey the weir stream.

Most set off from Hoe Mill Lock on the Raider. First dropping down through the lock

And then heading downstream on what has to be said was an excellent morning.

While our diver colleagues drove round to Ricketts Lock (to save lugging kit around unnecessarily). This was a good call as we met someone who could arrange access to the private land thee edge of which wanted to survey.

Our Raider friends arrived just at the right time.

Then for some it was off up to the weir on the Raider to start surveying from the weir end of the weir stream

While others on foot started their survey from the downstream end upwards.

We accessed the water where we could

In some places it being easier than in others.

Pleasingly, until this point, we hadn't found any Pennywort - and we'd been able to look at typical places where, if there was any around we would find it. But we didn't!

Until one point where we found just one strand of healthy pennywort.

That felt good, until we then met up with the pair coming downstream.

Their news wasn't so positive. They'd found plenty of Pennywort at the foot of the weir. Damn! Oh well, maybe time to return to base for a break and then deal with that afterwards.

It was a long walk to the start!

But worth it. The refreshment break was appreciated.

After that, an early finish for some. And a trip back upstream to finish the Pennywort below the weir.

And then opportunistically on the way back to seek out small strands of Pennywort that had been spotted on the way down.

Almost back to base

Another really useful work party. Another breeding ground of Pennywort dealt with. We're getting there!

Team 1 met at Hoe Mill. Their task was to go upstream to Dudley's Bench. Dudley Courtman was a true friend of the Navigation and we want to ensure that his memory is preserved. The tasks were to clear encroaching vegetation, and if the weather had allowed it, paint wood preserver on the bench. The weather didn't cooperate and only the former was possible. There was no point in taking anything but the vegetation-clearing equipment.

Even getting two boats through the lock cut was a challenge. Blanket weed and propellors don't go well together!

Of course, keeping up high revs and a good speed can stop blanket weed fouling the prop!

Arriving at the bench's location it was clear that there was plenty to do.

So, work soon got underway.

Meanwhile out on the water there was a bit of pennywort-patrolling going on.

Still plenty to do around the bench

And then some quality control

Before welcome refreshments in the rain

An excellent morning's work

And a return to base, again in the rain

Team 2 met at All Saints Church, Springfield Green. It's a while since we've been there to check out Richard Coates's tomb. Richard Coates was the Resident Engineer on the Navigation, responsible for overseeing its construction. Without him there would potentially be no Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.

A regular visit means that we can keep the encroaching vegetation under control and ensure that the grave can be seen. When we arrived the vegetation was not as bad as it has been, but still needed some tidying up.

Team 2 also experienced the rain. But the work must go on.

Not just maintenance of the vegetation, but also of the metalwork. Those finials won't paint themselves!

The work continued, and so did the rain.

But eventually we were done and the tomb and surrounding ironwork were in a better state than when we'd arrived.

A job well done.

Time to pack up and join the church's gardening team for some very welcome refreshments.

Here's an example of the sort of thing we were after. And we were able to find loads.

As usual, an early start from Heybridge.

And time to collect a few strands of Pennywort, here tangled up in other vegetation as so much is.

Three volunteers joined at Beeleigh and it was then on up through Ricketts Lock to Hoe Mill, looking on the way up for what we needed to collect on the way back!

Why were we heading so far upstream? Good question! Because there had been a report of a raft of Pennywort in the Hoe Mill weir pool. And the raft was potentially inaccessible from the bank. It certainly was a lovely day to be out on the Navigation!

Taking our workboat Buster into the Hoe Mill weir pool was going to be a challenge! We'd been there in a Raider before, but this was a first for Buster! And, with care and plenty of testing of the depth we got under the bridge, under a low-hanging branch, and into the weir pool.

Which was worthwhile as the raft that we'd come to deal with was hiding in some overhanging trees, would have continued to grow and could potentially have broken away and infected the pound below Hoe Mill which, as we had seen on the way up, was currently mostly Pennywort-free.

We were also able to deal with a further small raft that we found on the way out.

An interesting view of the weirs in the weir pool.

We'd got in, so surely we should be able to get out?! We did, but only just!

Next, back down towards Ricketts Lock, thankfully confirming our observations on the way up that the upper nine-tenths of this pound is free of visible Pennywort. We were so pleased, and felt that we had done so much good work, that we stopped for our mid-morning break!

The cattle in the field on the other side of the Navigation didn't seem best-pleased!

But that didn't affect us!

Break over we embarked on the serious task of small outbreaks of Pennywort along the north bank of the Ricketts Lock Cut.

That task complete it was then down through Ricketts Lock

Plenty of Pennywort to collect just below the lock, then more work further down, by now needing to prioritise any outbreaks that would cause most problems in the future. Including of course, above the Langford Water intake.

One more lock to go down through, Beeleigh.

And then we were back to the meeting point where we said farewell and thank you to three of our amazing volunteers while those on the work boat continued down to Heybridge Basin to store the tools and shut the boat down.

Another valuable work party!

A long journey requiring an early start from Heybridge.

Arriving at Beeleigh Lock further preparations were being made!

With all of our volunteers ready to go we set off up towards Ricketts Lock.

A wise move to clear the debris, including some Pennywort, from Ricketts Lock before draining it.

And never ones to miss an opportunity the divers were hard at work before we even got the workboat through the lock!

And they valiantly continued up either side of the lock cut.

Looking for small strands and start-up rafts.

Coracleman Steve was deployed further up the cut while the crew on Buster headed further up the river to deal with some burgeoning rafts that had helpfully been reported to us. There was plenty to do!

A great sight when returning to the lock - everyone still hard at it.

What gets brought on board eventually has to be offloaded!

Lots of very effective work having been done, as much Pennywort cleared as we could, the sunny day having changed, for a while, to a chilly one, it was time to drop down below Ricketts Lock and have some much-needed refreshments. We were just warming up at this stage.

Thankfully we warmed up and got more cheerful!!

After our break we headed back down to Beeleigh.

There was more work to do on the way,

Lucky we have the resources to deal with all locations!

Teamwork is always appreciated!

Another section cleared - although there will inevitably be some regrowth when we return.

So, time to head back to Beeleigh.

Time to say goodbye to most of our volunteers. And for the final pair to slog back to Heybridge.

Thankfully we could call on our loyal volunteers to pitch up and work hard at yet another Chelmer Canal Trust work party.

The early team were at Heybridge Basin bright and, well, early, ready to head off on the first work boat to get to the second.

Not unusually we had to fuel-up the second boat before getting going.

A portable pump makes removing the water from inside the boat much easier!

All of our volunteers were ready and waiting at Beeleigh and it didn't take much time to sort out the plans for today's session. Most would head down the Long Pond to deal with the considerable amount of juvenile pennywort.

The Langford Cut has been one of our most-hated locations for many years. Difficult to access through prickly and tangled vegetation, smelly and muddy, and with ill-defined edges. And a breeding ground for pennywort that can then find it's way into the Long Pond. We've had recent success as a result of some very effective work with herbicide application (which we try to avoid). We wanted to see how much pennywort, if any, had survived the winter and the herbicide.

Compared with previous years it wasn't bad! There was definitely some new growth, but we've seen it much worse.

Of course, if we can get at it we're not going to leave it!

There was some pennywort that frustratingly just couldn't be reached from the bank. Time to call in coracleman Steve who can reach the parts that others can't.

Meanwhile, the main group was making steady progress down the Long Pond.

The work done by the divers is invaluable - getting in to the nooks and crannies that can't be seen from higher above the waterline.

The team on Buster were making their valuable contribution too.

As usual, and understandably after such hard graft, there were no complaints when it was suggested that we take a break for refreshments.

The Banana Bread went down well!

And it was a happy group who posed for the traditional Group Pic.

But that was just a break. Back to work after a bit of re-shuffling of personnel!

More of the same, but further down the Long Pond.

Finally we reached the limits planned for our work today. Time to finish up and return most of the volunteers to their starting point.

And for the rest to head back to base to unload the equipment, clean up and head for home.

Yet another successful Chelmer Canal Trust work party. Renewed thanks to our brilliant volunteers.

However, we were aware of some rafts of pennywort along the Long Pond which were unlikely to move and which could usefully be dealt with before they started growing more vigorously as the growing season approaches.

So four volunteers came together to do the work. As it turned out, exactly the right number.

Preparations over and Buster, our jointly-owned work boat, loaded it was time to head off up the Long Pond. A familiar first pic of a work party but definitely not the usual skipper!

The Long Pond was clear as far as Heybridge Creek and it was only after the next road bridge that we started spotting small strands of pennywort. Some only a small leaf and stalk. But all four volunteers are experienced and know that any one of these almost insignificant samples have the potential to grow into a huge raft later in the year. So, tedious as it might have seemed, our tenacious volunteers lifted them out. Enthusiastically!

Our technique changed when we got to places where pennywort was growing in and through mats of grass and cress. Pragmatically, tough as it was, an effective technique was wholesale removal of all of everything.

Using that technique meant that it wasn't long before the work boat needed to be offloaded.

And not just offloaded once. Our volunteers worked as a team so successfully that many rafts of mixed vegetation were removed. So there were several off-loadings.

Tough work deserves rewards and, although only a token expression of our gratitude, it was good to get some refreshments during a relatively short break.

Then back on task. More vegetation. More off-loading.

Finally our work at this location was over and we headed back downstream. On the way we thought we'd spotted in the water the type of portable fishing platforms anglers use. There could be a fishy tale about how it got there, but what we removed from the water, preventing it damaging passing boats, was definitely not angling kit.

Please let us know if you can give a reasonable explanation about how a glass dining table got to be in that location. It's not as though we have 'Gin Palace' type boats that far up the Long Pond!

On down the Long Pond. But not directly to base. There were two narrow boats moored along the Heybridge Basin south bank moorings where pennywort was growing between the boat and the bank. That couldn't be allowed to remain!

Finally, back to Buster's mooring. Stowage of equipment and off home. Great work by our volunteers which will have a significant impact later in the year.

Despite the fact that we knew two of our regulars couldn't take part the initial indication for this work party was that we'd still have sufficient participants to crew two work boats. But then illnesses struck and personal transport failed. Nevertheless, despite the cold weather, three volunteers made it to Heybridge, meaning that we could operate one work boat.

Equipment was put on board and the journey out into Heybridge Basin and up the Long Pond began.

It was clear from the start that this was going to involve some tough conditions.

Our work boat Buster became an icebreaker.

The hope was that conditions would get better. But they didn't.

So with great reluctance, and totally understandably, the decision was made to abandon this work party and turn back.

A valiant attempt to get some work done. A frustrating decision to have to turn back. But the best one to make.

Thanks to our three brave volunteers.