Hazelford Lock to Kings Marina
Sorry Tilly no shore leave today, time to move on. No frost on the big steps this morning, so we hoped we’d not be thwarted by ice on the lock cut. Mick rang to check on diesel prices. Farndon £1.48, Newark £1.45 the signal dropped out before he could ask if they sold coal.
Grey. Nothing like yesterday. At least it wasn’t raining, yet! We pootled downstream, plenty of room at Fiskerton if we’d wanted to stop, but we needed to go further today.
Plenty of fishermen were sat out by the big weir, not as many cormorants there as normal. Round the bends and there came the view of the Parish Church. Heathers mooring just by the small weir was free, if we couldn’t get any further because of ice we’d be reversing to moor there.
Where to drop me off to work the lock. A ladder climb was called for and one with not much toe space as you climb.
Time for the key of power again. As soon as the panel lid is opened, that lady starts her repetitive warning, slightly delayed between sides of the lock gates, so she sounds as if she has an echo.
The lock was empty, so I pressed the buttons filling the lock as quickly as allowed, much quicker than the locks with modern panels. A small patch of cat ice just below the surface needed to be broken through to enter the lock, no problem. It now started to rain. Oh well, not much further to go.
With gates and sluices closed the lady shut up as I closed the panel. She only started again at the other end where a chap glibly ignored her warnings walking over the gates and stopping to have a look as I lifted the paddles. Thankfully at this end the lady does give up after a while, she just gets triggered as you walk down to see how the level is or by your boat exiting the lock.
Mick picked me up at another ladder and we cruised past Newark Castle which is currently covered in scaffolding. Through Trent Bridge.
Kiln Pontoon had one boat moored right at the far end. There had been a C&RT notice sometime ago saying that one of the electric posts was out of order after it had been abused. Now an orange box covers the place where it once was. Wonder how long the other electric post will last? Will they be replaced with ones similar to the Eco moorings in London were you can use them if you have an account?
Downstream we started to slow now, the river doing it’s best to keep us moving. However we wanted to turn into Kings Marina a 90 degree turn. Mick turned us early, the current lining us up to the entrance and then we scooted in and headed for the service mooring. Ice crackled around the edges as we turned and reversed in.
Up in the office Phil greeted us, he’d been expecting us but was just about to go for his lunch. Time to use up the sausages and pastry from the freezer with a batch of sausage rolls for our lunch. They were going to be cruising sausage rolls, but I’d wanted to be outside despite it being a grey day.
An hour and four sausage rolls each later we had a tap on the roof. Time to top up with diesel, buy a couple of bags of coal to keep us going. We were given our allotted pontoon number and directions. As we’d come into the marina we’d guessed we’d be moored next to NB Rebellion a purple boat we came across on the Calder Hebble a few years ago, it’s the negative to NB Lillyanne, purple with yellow coach lines.
Mick set to sorting out electricity and water as I compiled a shopping list for work. Spray paints and glues needed, knowing Newark pretty well I could head straight to suitable shops.
A route via the Parish Church gardens and the Palace Theatre to Boyes. Here spray paints and more navy sewing cotton were purchased. A walk through the market square, the last stalls packing up. I checked for glue in Yorkshire Trading and decided that I wouldn’t be stocking up on Tilly food there as it was Sooo expensive!
At the other end of Northgate Homebase came up trumps with more stinky glue for the giant mug. I then popped into Pets at Home where I was far too late to buy bargain priced pink food for Tilly. Looks like she may have to starve, I know she’d rather go self catering but that won’t be possible for a while! She’ll just have to cope with chicken flavour.
The old maltings by the retail park is in the middle of getting a make over, new windows and a car park happening. Next door there is a new M&S Foodhall and a new root onto the river bank walk. Very handy.
Back at Oleanna the washing machine was busy.
1 lock, 8.8 miles, 1 left, 2 patches cat ice, 85 litres diesel, 2 bags excell, 1 familiar marina, 1 fob, 8 sausage rolls for lunch, 8 more for tomorrow, 1 bag packed, 1 bored cat.
Nice looking yum yum sausage rolls! I could demolish a few of those right now!