A boat came past as we were finishing breakfast, no point in rushing to get ready to join them as it would take at least quarter of an hour to get ourselves sorted. So about half an hour later we pushed off, light weight rainy clothes required as the air was full of drizzle.
The bridges in Berko have had a make over, paint and statistics to brighten a grey gloomy day. As we came towards Ravens Lane Lock we were admiring the hanging baskets on the interesting house with coloured bottles in it’s windows, I’d love to see inside one day, a lady walked out onto her balcony.
I now want to know even more bout the lady who lives here
We made a comment about her hanging baskets, not in bloom yet but so many they will be spectacular when they are. The lady then asked if our boat was named after the play. Well, Oleanna is and the lady was correct, the first person ever to make the connection. There was just time to chat a little, we both agreed that Oleanna (by David Mamet) is an extreamly good play, my favourite and that it was about time it was put on in the West End. I vote for Malcolm Hebden to direct it as the production I saw in Scarborough in 1995 is most certainly the best I’ve seen.
We descended four more locks on our own, at Sewer Lock we just about caught up with the narrowboat in front of us, they had been slowed by a widebeam that was weaving across the navigation. We did catch up with them at the next lock and then shared the rest of the days locks.
The Hemel Crew
Stood at Winkwell Swing Bridge was my old college friend Jen who lives in Hemel Hempstead. Two years ago she joined us for a few hours of boating, last night she’d noticed on Social Media that we were near and had volunteered to come and join us again.
Jen winding a windlass again
Using the key of power I got the bridge moving quickly, only holding up a few cars, one of which disappeared whilst I was chatting away to Jen. Both boats came through, there was just enough time to pop Jen’s bike on Oleanna before it was our turn to work down Winkwell Bottom Lock. The widebeam thankfully had reached it’s destination at the marina below so the way ahead was clear.
Nearly there
We worked down the next five locks with NB Candi or is it NB CandI? Jen soon remembered what to do at the locks and we chatted away the hours until we reached the 24hr mooring by Sainsburys. Here we moored up, enough space for both boats, then had a very late lunch.
It was so lovely to see Jen and have a catch up. She’d decided to take a sabbatical from working at the National Theatre in January last year to do some scenic art tutoring amongst other things. This of course didn’t go too well and meant that when all the staff were furloughed from the theatre she missed out. So when October came along and there were shows that needed painting again Jen went back to working three days a week on the South Bank. Lockdown had been hard for her and her family, her son very much missing out on the social interaction with his friends at school.
We all had a lovely afternoon and if only she’d work for free and come and help me paint panto that would be wonderful. The thought of a weeks painting in Cornwall in a workshop with fresh Cornish Pasties being made next door nearly swung it.
By the time we said our goodbyes it was too late to do a big shop at Sainsburys. So instead we did ourselves a Click and Collect for the morning, which would only delay our departure by a little bit.
Last lock of the day
Because our mooring is right by an access road into the retail units for wagons we don’t allow Tilly out here, much to her distain. How ridiculous! Then She gets all annoyed with me for something that She hadn’t done. In fact dear readers I got shouted at! I’d been trying to tell her that my pooh box needed refreshing, but She’d been distracted all day long. So she didn’t take too kindly to my making use of the fresh litter whilst it was still in it’s bag!
Please let this be finished
14 locks, 8 shared, 5.1 miles, 1 swing bridge, 4 held up, 1st person to make the connection, 1 extra crew member, 4 hours of constant chattering, 1 hunt for eco glitter, 1 click and collect sorted, 1 protest wee, 1 hour cleaning the bathroom! 50 panto model photos, 1 email sent, 0 regrets, 1 fish, 1 obligatory photo.
With the possibility of more rain today we popped on our waterproofs, trousers at hand should the need arise. The going was slow back along the arm and just when we’d given up hope of company from our fishing friend it reappeared.
Tern
Another 50 odd photos trying to get one really good one, but terns swoop and dip and dive so quickly it was really hard to keep up with it. One failed dive brought a loud skwark! Bit a few moments later the dip into the water was far more fruitful as it came back out with it’s mouth full of silver fish. This morning we’d seen a much bigger fish swimming past the moored boats, getting on for 18inches long, too much of a mouthful for a tern.
This is the towpath side
Newish signs warn of a submerged ledge. The one on the way out doesn’t give any indication of where the shelf might be, at least the one on the way back does mention the offside!
I walked up to the bow to act as look out at Bulbourne Junction, nobody coming so we could swing out and return to our route southwards a couple of groups of trainee canoeists slowing our progress.
The development at Bulbourne Wharf has come on in the last couple of years. A new house stands elevated at the end of the plot followed by the old warehouse and workshop buildings all now with new upvc windows that mimic the original metal frames. A block of new builds stands at the back of the plot, still some way to go before they are inhabitable.
The road and towpath are closed by Bulbourne Bridge 133, a new footbridge is being built alongside the road bridge. The bank is being reinforced and so is the edge of the road, a diversion whilst the work is ongoing is through the pub garden.
Trees!
As we made our way along the tree filled cutting to Cowroast we joined the weekly Geraghty Zoom. Birthday cakes, armless tennis players and flamingos were todays topics, hope Penelope’s 2nd Birthday party went well.
Life raft
At Cowroast we took advantage of the towpath being on the portside and emptied the yellow water for disposal at the elsan. Another boat had just finished filling with water so we could share the lock. The chap was a single hander who’s knees had known better days so he preferred to pull his boat out of the locks rather than climb back down.
Cowroast
We shared Cowroast and the two Dudswell Locks with him, he was gradually making his way to Berko in time to see the two Mikron shows in a few weeks time at the Rising Sun. So he would pull up somewhere in the pound to Northchurch Lock. He must have found space as we took our time setting the lock and he didn’t show.
All locks so far down from the summit are to be left empty, whether this is to stop water leaking through the walls into nearby properties, or the top gates seal better than the bottom ones who knows, but it does mean that the locks are set against you, all requiring to be filled.
Look how clear that water is
A pump pumped out clean clean water just above the lock, here the greenery on the canal bottom could be seen clearly. As we set the lock Mum and Dad brought their teenage offspring over to say hello, eight cygnets all now with necks long enough to feed from well below the waters surface.
They then stopped pulling at the weed and sat waiting patiently for the gates to open. Oh blimey, they were here for a free ride down the lock! Mick tried throwing fake bread which distracted them towards the stern of Oleanna. I opened the gate, hoping we’d managed to get them far enough away, but no such luck they easily beat Oleanna into the lock. Thankfully the locks are long enough to accommodate ten swans and a narrowboat!
The gate was closed behind everyone and I slowly opened the bottom gate paddles, taking our time keeping everyone safe. Our passengers became impatient as the last foot of water dropped. As soon as the gate opened they were straight out, a quick head count, ten, all were accounted for before I let the gate go into the recess. Swan noises came from below, were they ‘Thank you‘ s or ‘About Bloomin time!’ ?
Guard Dragon
The house with the garden gate made of branches has a friendly dragon keeping an eye on the towpath and a bunny sits high up for safety.
With all the locks being left empty it means paddles are left up at the bottom end which need closing before you can start to fill a lock. At the two Gas Locks they were both empty, I could see people at the second one so I pushed the bottom gate open at our lock and let Mick know a boat was coming up. I then walked down to see if I could lend a hand.
Bow hauling into the lock
A cruiser was being pulled into the lock, the chamber was then filled as the lightweight boat bobbed about. The chap then started to pull the boat out from the lock. ‘You’ve got a quiet engine there’, a comment we quite often receive, but this chaps engine was so quiet, it was absent and currently in Rickmansworth being mended. So he was bow hauling his boat up the two locks to the next mooring, to get away from the park and most probably make his 14 day move. He said he’d be back for his other boat a 70fter he’d just bought, also without an engine!
In the top lock, cruiser being pulled along the side of a widebeam
At the second lock there was extra crew, a young lad eager to help open gates. We all let him push the gate on his own, the other being opened by two, blimey he was strong and beat the others to have his gate fully open.
Our turn now, Mick moved Oleanna out of the way for the chap to pull the cruiser out of the lock. As we started our descent the chap could be seen walking along peoples gunnels pulling his boat to get to the next available space.
A narrowed bridge hole
Footbridge 140A is covered in scaffolding. The towpath has been built out over the canal using temporary pontoon sections. The astro turf on the surface squelched as I walked on it after yesterdays rain. There was plenty of space on the 4hr shopping mooring, so we made use of it for lunch and a top up shop from Waitrose. We managed to time our visit well to coincide with the next round of reductions of the ‘Sad Git’ items. When we were in Newark one winter we got to know the best time to shop at Waitrose and ended up having bargain shops along with free newspapers quite frequently.
This must be the chaps
There was a space towards the next lock, so we pushed off and claimed our space. This end of the moorings has less footfall and is sheltered somewhat from the trains whizzing through Berko station.
new 70fter!
Tilly headed out to explore the narrow strip of friendly cover, although the local birdies weren’t too impressed with her presence! She spent most of her time sitting on the stern watching the world go by. That was until we heard a lot of SHOUTING from a lady who obviously had a dog. The dog had spotted Tilly and thought she looked tasty! Tilly started to puff herself up to be threatening back. But that SHOUTING She kept SHOUTING and SCREAMING at her woofer, so noisy! I decided to protect my precious hearing and retire inside at speed. One needs to keep one’s hearing in good order for hearing friends in the friendly cover.
Propy bits for the model
7 locks, 7.01 miles, 1 tern turning, 1 empty wee tank, 1 Mikron fan, 11 in a lock, 2 engineless boats, 1 handy pole, 4hr shopping spot, 2 wrens, 1 big ginger disobedient woofer, 1 very loud She, 2 hours model making the last bits, I hope.
Seabrook Lock 35 to Little Tring Winding Hole, Wendover Arm
Back to the alarm being set at the new normal time this morning. As we had breakfast we could hear water cascading over the lock gates this meant a boat was heading down the lock above, brilliant the next two locks would be set for us.
Seabrook Lock 35
Well that’s what we thought the last time we moored here, two years ago when we were waiting to accompany NB Tyseley up to the summit pound! Several boats beat us to the lock that day, but today no one came past. Brilliant.
I walked up to open the gates, hang on! It’s full, very full!?! Nobody had come past us, so how had that happened? Oh well, I emptied the lock and then we brought Oleanna up. Lock 36 was also full. This puzzled us as the lock had remained empty overnight, the only explanation I could think of was that the towpath grass cutters were out, two strimmers and a lawn mower. The grass had been cut on the off side of the second lock, maybe for safety the chaps fill the lock before trimming the grass. It’s not as far to fall when full.
Does all that grass need to be cut?
The large expanse of grass alongside lock 36 was getting a very good trim. I thought the chap would stop once he’d gone behind the bench, then carry on down the towpath to lock 35. New cutting regimes have been put into practice along certain stretches of the canal. Some places now only the towpath, lock and bridge landings and moorings get cut, leaving stretches of wild flowers to grow to their hearts content.
Wading through long damp grass isn’t that pleasant, but surely on such a large expanse by this lock they could have cut by the lock and bench, then a wide strip for the path, leaving the rest to nature. Sadly no, it all had to be cut.
Is that the tip of the cat’s tail or just bird poo?
In the past there have been a couple of boats along here, but today just about every spot was taken. Is this down to more boats on the waterways? More boats having moved out from London over the last 18 months? Who knows but there is a marked increase.
Seabrook Swing Bridge
The swing bridge swung without too much bother, then we dipped under the railway past Pitstone Wharf. Mick had collected together our rubbish on the back deck so I got ready to hop off at the next bridge to dispose of it. We quite often see photos of bins overflowing with rubbish on social media and people complaining about them.
Moutainous
Today we were confronted with not just a mountain of rubbish but a whole mountain range! There was more rubbish on the floor surrounding the bins than they could hold twice over! Don’t people realise that Biffa are very unlikely to empty these bins in this state. Usually this means that a C&RT employee, who could be out working on navigational things, will have to come and remove the excess rubbish. Yes these bins are situated where none boaters can add to the mountain, they most probably do, but there is no need for more to be added to the pile. A tweet with photo was sent to C&RT saying we hoped we’d find emptier bins ahead of us. Later in the day I got a reply saying the local team would deal with it, they also gave me a link to a map showing all their facilities across the network, useful if you don’t have Waterway Routes.
Hello!
We waved to the people who now own the Margees house on the bend and carried on to the two Marsworth Lower Locks. We came up the first one to see a boat entering the lock above, so we opened the gates and waited for them to descend, I walked up to lend a hand as one of the top gates just wants to stay open.
Waiting for the next lock to empty
The chap up the top lifted a paddle and their boat started to descend, their engine wasn’t on and someone was reaching down into the weedhatch. The paddle was closed and we waited for the prop to have been cleared before emptying the lock.
The pretty cottage
By Bridge 130 the bins were in a much better state, so we hovered and disposed of our small mountain of rubbish before stopping at the wharf to top up the water tank and dispose of the yellow water at the elsan.
Left at the junction and we were soon at the bottom of the Marsworth flight. Volunteers were apparently on duty up the locks today, so we’d have help.
Lock 39 the bottom of the flight
No sign of anyone until we were rising in the second lock, I could see blue t-shirts and red life jackets ahead, great they’d set the next lock for us. They waited quite sometime to do this, but eventually the gates opened.
NO blue skies today, just heavy skies
The two chaps were chatty, worked the locks their way one offering to give me a break. I suspect he needed a break more than I did, I wonder how many locks they get to work on their average day?
Lock 42
With walkie talkies you would have thought they would be quite organised, but the conversations just seemed to confuse matters. Should we wait for a boat two locks behind us? One was coming down, would we meet in the next pound, at the next lock? No the lockie above would make the down hill boat wait and empty the full lock in front of him for us. There must have been a reason for this, but none we could think of.
Passing by
A chap above was just starting to fill lock 44, saw us and closed the paddles, we could fill the lock for him. It turns out it was a boat we’d shared some of the Leicester Section locks with a few years ago NB Old Tom North. The volunteers left us to do the top lock on our own and shifted their assistance to the chap heading down the flight.
Lock 45 the top and summit
We’d thought of heading to Cowroast today, still ahead of schedule. But would there be any moorings free. Instead we both had the same idea, we’d turn right and go down the Wendover Arm for the night.
Blimey considering we’d come from the huge expense of the Ouse at Goole we were now finding our way along the narrow shallow channel.
Breath in!
A Sandwich Tern took advantage of us churning the water up.
It’s following us
It followed us closely, hovering by our stern. The when a glint of a possible fish appeared it swooped down to the waters surface.
Has it spied something?
I tried to film it, but it moved far too quickly and my camera had no idea what it should focus on.
DIVE!
Fortunately I did manage to get several photos of it just about in focus.
Back for more
Boats were moored before the bridge and then at the winding hole, but the short straight length of bank was still free. Spikes were hammered into the dried out towpath and Tilly was set free to explore, although she wasn’t too enamoured.Well it was boring the last time you tied this outside up!
An afternoon of making model dressing bits. Working out how to make a wheelbarrow took some doing, a trestle table was much easier although I had to convince it to stay in one piece before I could chat to the Scarborough Chums on zoom.
Better look as though I’m enjoying myself!
In other news, there is now the first part of Heather’s trip to Hull on the Scholar Gypsy blog here’s a LINK
The weather forecast for high temperatures looked more accurate for today. The lead we’d made on our schedule had been slightly eroded so we wanted to move, also the amount of shade wasn’t that good where we had moored.
Dew on the cabin sides, also a few more ants!
The alarm was set for 05:15, yawn o’clock! Cuppas were made, covers rolled back, nappy pins removed from the armco as quietly as we could. The engine turned on at the last minute, we pushed off a little before 06:00, I had a mooring in mind which hopefully would give us some shade.
Oleanna crept slowly past the moored boats. The boatyard on the bend seems to have increased the number of boats out on the hard, whilst others sit in the water having had surveys or waiting for some tlc. One had a very rusty cabin, almost looked like it had suffered a fire yet below the gunnel the blacking was pristine and new anodes sat just above the water.
Cruising on mornings like this is wonderful. It feels like you share the world with nature, enjoying the coolness of the morning, doing our best not to break the quiet too much for those still asleep.
Fullers! We’re about to enter the south
We rounded the bend towards Grove Lock, where the pub is the first sign that we have reached the south. The next sign was that the bottom gates were open. Ah, but hang on was that a boat going into the lock? It was! Well who’d have thought we’d find a locking partner at 6 in the morning!
Grove Lock
Two young chaps were on a Chiltern Hire Boat, they’d left Winkwell on Monday and were due back on Friday. With the weather forecast not so good tomorrow they’d decided to start early this morning. They were both nice chaps, plenty to chat about, except one of them said he was a touch deaf, so couldn’t hear a word I was saying. They both made up for his deafness by shouting to each other, jumping around which always makes you a touch nervous at big locks, one wrong footing!
Look at that sky!
It sounded like they had moored above the lock last night, then come down to wind. They had both christened themselves by falling in, one of them twice! Mick and I kept an extra eye out for paddles not closed properly, our ascent went well.
The pound between Grove and Church Lock looked quite down, an obvious wet line suggesting this had happened fairly recently. A wide beam sat very jauntily on the bottom and as we approached Church Lock Oleanna skidded over the bottom whilst we were still quite central, thankfully the depth increased so I could step off at the stern.
Maybe not the best place to be as the lock empties
Up at lock level I could see it was full so lifted a paddle. Below at canal level Mick thought it was empty, so had brought Oleanna in towards the gates. Ah those pesky none leaky gates! So deceiving! Oleanna buffeted around below.
Hire boat sorting out their sounds
I was glad of assistance in closing the gates, from memory they want to swing back open. Apologies now to the residents around Church Lock as our partners on leaving turned their music up to a level that suited their sound system!
That’s more like it
We lead the way, managing to return some idyllicness (yes I know it’s not really a word, but you hopefully get what I mean) to our morning. Slapton Lock sat empty, so was easy to set for both boats. Sounds were turned down as the hire boat came into the lock alongside Oleanna, one chap jumping off, thankfully making land, the other bobbing inside to finish making their tea.
That awning needs some attention
I waited for him to return, through the side hatch and along the gunnels, their preferred route. Then the paddles could be wound up, only for him to walk back down between the boats to get the tea which had now brewed. Mick kept an eye on things in the lock, whilst I watched from above. Two mugs of tea came out, one in each hand and he walked down between the boats once again, not batting an eyelid!
Another boat on the move
Up ahead a boat was pulling out. Should we swap partners and go ahead, or should we let the lads overtake us as they were on a mission. The lady tied up below Horton Lock, walked up to where the lock was just being emptied then came back to ask if we’d like to share. She was a single hander, so we decided to partner up with her and leave the lads behind. This was conveyed back to them, they were quite happy with the thought of maybe a twenty minute wait, time for breakfast. The deaf chap started cutting up a big mushroom with an even bigger knife whilst balancing in the side hatch.
Our world became peaceful once more, as we worked our way up with the lady on NB Angelwood, sadly we never got her name. She has been living on board for about three weeks and has had a steep learning curve. Her boat was bought in Gloucester and she’d employed a boat mover to get it to Warwick. She joined for the last day of the move and helped work her boat through Lapworth and Hatton, so a full on first ever day on a narrowboat.
The lock cottages shone out in the morning sunshine, bright blue skies behind them, all boasting their dates above the front doors. Off in the distance we looked for the white lion but as so often heading south we couldn’t see it, it was of course really quite hazy this morning. I bet when we come back it will be so obvious!
Shame about the pylon
We worked our way up the next three locks with NB Angelwood then hoped we’d find a shady spot. But sure enough there was no shade so we climbed up Seabrook Bottom Lock too. Now we just had to hope that the mooring we had in mind would be free. Round the bend boats were moored, one with a rather good improvised canopy at the stern. They had pegged a sheet over the top of their whirligig, making a big parasol.
Time to lend a hand
Fingers crossed our space would be free. There it was empty apart from shadows. We pulled in to stake our claim. Mick finished mooring Oleanna up as I went up to help at the lock. Our paths may cross again with NB Angelwood as we are generally heading in the same direction.
Time for breakfast, it was only 10am. Cereal wasn’t quite going to make up for such an early start so I requested some toast and peanut butter for second course.
Peanut butter
Today the temperature did do as promised. Our shady mooring did it’s job all day apart from a couple of hours when the sun managed to align itself directly over the cut.
The afternoon was filled with work for me. Adding extra greenery to my panto model, then removing some of it. Painting a new backcloth. I’d opted for just a plain one this year, but it was leaving things a touch flat, so some colour washes to match the front cloth were applied to some water colour paper. That did the job , but then needed blending in to the floor. I just hope we can afford to have it printed along with the front cloth. I could paint it, but it would never quite match, plus it would be another thing for me to paint!
Mum and teenagers adamant to be in the lock
Mick pottered and Tilly kept herself busy outside for most of the afternoon, returning for the occasional drink. I suggested she should try out the pet cooling mat I’d bought for her a few months ago. Sadly she wasn’t taken with it, Mick thinks it’s the fabric that she’s not keen on, a bit like lying in a bed with a plastic sheet over the mattress.
Beautiful roses
7 locks, 5.1 miles, 6am start, 2 locking partners, 1 noisy boat, 1 quiet, 3 of them things, 1 lovely morning, 10am breakfast, 1 work day, 1 hot day, 2 dates in the diary, 7pm showers, 9 hours! 2 Mrs Tilly stamps.
Just over three and a half miles before our next lock this morning. This stretch is familiar as on our first trip to London and back we cruised it both ways as we had visitors who parked at Stoke Bruerne and had come to help man the locks. Andrew Jac and Josh helped us down before Christmas and Mike and Chris helped us back up after, each time we had a meal at The Barley Mow before returning to Stoke Bruerne.
Obligatory photo
Today we are still amused by the Elderly Ducks sign at Kingfisher Marina.
A wooden boat was enveloped with plastic sheets whilst having work done on it. A farmer and his sheep dog trained in a field, those poor sheep, back and forth.
At Thrupp Wharf the hedges have grown somewhat but we still managed to spy a familiar boat as we passed the entrance.
Solomon’s Bridge
After about three miles it was time to join the Geraghty’s for our weekly catch up. People are so small on a phone screen, but at least we’ve now worked out how to get more than one person showing at a time.
Hello everyone!
We made our excuses as we pulled up at the service block where we dealt with yellow and fresh water. As the tank filled we signed back in to family until it was time to pull away as a wide beam was waiting behind us.
Just beaten to the lock by another widebeam we now waited patiently for our turn. We dropped down to be level with Milton Keynes and then crossed the Ouse Aqueduct which always surprises me being so high up.
Crossing the Ouse
We made our way in to Wolverton mooring up away from the swans, the cob here having his own facebook page as he tends to argue with his own reflection, today he had a problem with an inquisitive cat in one of the flats.
Tilly was left with instructions not to wind the swans up as we headed off to Tescos. Tescos was busy, we were there on a Saturday so what did we expect! It really wasn’t pleasant and having to queue to pay rather than use scan and shop made it even worse. Asda across the road was less busy, a visit required as Tilly was running out of her current preferred food, fortunately they had a box of pink poultry in jelly. Trying to explain to a cat that you just can’t buy what they want and that there is plenty of what they liked a couple of months ago tends to fall on deaf ears.
We decided to carry on rather than have lunch before continuing. Would our luck be in to get a mooring at Great Linford? Would it be shady enough for the next couple of days as the temperatures are set to soar?
Round extensions
At Bridge 72, Bradwell Road Bridge building work is still on going on the off side. Extensions to a house seem to have been in build for sometime and they always catch our eye as we go past.
Wonder what he’ll have to say to us on Monday?
At the start of Great Linford Manor Park we could see several workmen all engrossed with their phones sitting around diggers, fencing surrounding them. Works going on in the park.
The off side moorings came into view. Until you are quite close you can’t make out if the two visitor moorings are free as they follow a line of permanent moorings. The first section was half empty, behind them was more fencing and a digger was very busy moving earth about.
Both spaces were free, right next to a very big hole where the digger was being busy. What’s going on? This was a very big hole! We pulled into a little bit of shade, the digger would stop at some point, but was it suitable and safe for an inquisitive cat?
There are big things happening at Great Linford at the moment following on from an award of £3.1million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Many of the historic features of the park are showing signs of age. Here by the moorings the Water Gardens are having their walls rebuilt using local limestone. A bridge and cascade is being built between the two ponds restoring the flow of water. Lots more information on the works around the Park can be found HERE.
We decided to carry on a little bit further and pull in under the trees along the towpath. More accessible pathways have been created in the Wilderness which is great, but sadly it most probably means that the daffodil bulbs we planted in memory of Houdini our first second mate will have been dug up.
New paths
We remained in shade for some of the afternoon, the starboard side catching the rays later in the day. Tilly coped with the busy towpath as we coped with the music and general hubbub of being back amongst the human race in an urban area. The fire pit in the park beside us is still going as we head to bed, thankfully those enjoying it are quite quiet.
1 lock, 8.61 miles, 1 Briar Rose, 1 very busy shopping trip, 12 more days of feline supplies, 2 boxes of wine, 1 stroppy swan, 1 big building site, 1 park mooring still empty.
Yet another lovely day with blue skies as far as they could reach, a red hot air balloon gently rose over the trees opposite our mooring, what a wonderful day for a flight, although I’m not sure you’d find me up there in a basket!
The old route shown by the dashed grey lines
A couple of boats had already gone past us this morning, heading towards Hawkesbury Junction so there was hope that we might get a mooring at Rugby. We pushed off and made our way along the straighter route of the Oxford Canal, numerous twists and turns, huge loops were bypassed in the 1820’s speeding up the travel time along the route. Some parts of the old loops remain and have been converted into Marinas, big arched bridges crossing the entrances.
Newbold Tunnel
Through Newbold Tunnel, plenty of boats coming towards us. Our tunnel light, not having been used this year (in fact not since going through Foulridge Tunnel), needed adjusting to favour the starboard side.
Coming into Rugby
Across the Aqueducts that signal Rugby is below. Coming through Masters Bridge 58 we were pleasantly surprised to find that end of the moorings empty. We bagged the end mooring closest to the bridge collected together our shopping bags and walked down to Tescos.
Look at all that space!
Not one delivery van in the loading bay when we arrived. The number of pickers picking shopping for others, there was almost one in every isle! We did a reasonably big shop to keep us going and thought about getting a click and collect sorted for when we get to Leighton Buzzard. As we left the store every space in the loading bay was full with a van, all being restocked for the next set of deliveries.
A big push and we were over at the water point, this tap having much better pressure than the one at Hillmorton. Onwards to find a shady spot for lunch before we got to the locks.
It really is busy down here. So many moving boats, yet it seems that everyone is doing what we are and that is moving. As yet we’ve not really had a problem getting a mooring, now watch as I’ve most probably jinxed us!
Clifton Cruisers was easily passable most of their hire fleet out and about. Their café seemed to be popular with a good sized outside area. Houlton Bridge, is a new bridge linking the new town being built on this side of Rugby. It’s not an architectural masterpiece but I do like that they have cast it’s name into the concrete.
Pretty windows
Along the moorings below Hillmorton Locks there were two interesting boats. Instead of standard windows the steel work had shapes cut out with glass behind. I quite liked the look of them, but Mick pointed out that the glass inside would be a bugger to clean. I have a feeling they were workshop boats, possibly a blacksmith.
Willow taking root
Someone has created a willow niche dedicated to the NHS, it is starting to sprout so obviously the withies have taken root. Rather a nice living tribute.
A boat was just coming out of one of the bottom paired locks, the other already empty it just needed opening up. We rose as a boat came into the lock next to us, the lady having a bit of difficulty raising the paddles. On to the next pair.
Three going down
We swapped with a boat that had just come down and started our ascent whilst another boat entered the other lock and started to empty it. Below the boat following us pulled up right in front of the gates waiting for it to be emptied, quite presumptuous, no wonder the down hill boat blasted it’s horn at them!
Waterways poetry
At the top lock we were assisted by a fellow from a boat moored just past the lock landing. He was spending his day helping boats up and down a chair sitting between the two locks so that he could sun himself as he waited.
Little boxes all squashed in
Up ahead the new town of Houlton is taking shape. Houses a little away from the canal are already up, enough space between them to roll a wheelie bin. More foundations close to the canal were waiting for the next phase of construction.
Barby Straight
The moorings along Barby Straight are something that makes me a touch jealous, a lovely garden to sit out in. The Tinman looks after one and someone has created a modesty screen with painted pallets. It is always slow going along here, passing the moored boats and when others are coming towards you too, it’s even slower.
4pm was fast approaching, we’d not far to go to reach our chosen mooring spot by Dunchurch Pools Marina but I had a zoom meeting, I just hoped that us moving wouldn’t cause problems with internet signal. Amy and I managed to connect and a few minutes later Mick pulled us in to a space for the night. I had to excuse myself from the meeting to let Tilly out, otherwise she’d have taken over totally!
Tin man with a heart
Discussions on costume designs, what would be needed for the photo shoot in a few weeks time and we touched on the set design too. I could just sort the costumes for the photo shoot now, but as I’m in charge of the budget I also want to have an idea on everything else that is needed. Time to do some research into music festivals and neon hairdos. Quite different to panto!
3 locks, 10.4 miles, 1 tunnel, 0 mysterons, 2 boxes wine, 1 new pair trousers, 1 full water tank, 1 yellow water container emptied, 1 hot day, 2 pink arms, 4pm meeting, 9 but 7 actors, 2 days prep, 1 hotel to book.
Today we managed to get going earlier. A limit has been imposed on the length of time we take to have a cuppa in bed and instead of having our second drink after breakfast we have it with it. We don’t want to be rushing things in the morning not unless we really have to, but so far we’ve saved a full hour.
Babies
Branston Lock was surrounded by Canadian geese this morning. Four adults looking after their creche, so I talked to them nicely and requested that they allow me to walk round the lock to open paddles and gates. By the time Oleanna had risen in the lock another boat had arrived to come down, the lady came to work the lock, but the geese were not quite so amenable to her. So we left so that they could enter the lock before having to get anywhere near the geese again.
Houses houses everywhere
In the last five years plenty of building work has been going on. A new estate to the west of the canal and quite a few houses appearing close to The Bridge Inn. This was where we’d planned to moor last night, but maybe despite the noise from the road our mooring had been better last night as we didn’t get disturbed by early building works.
Chocolate box
Next up Tatenhill Lock. What a pretty lock it is with it’s cottage alongside Link.
Then we had to breath in to pass through bridge 36, hoping the spread we’ve seen to our waistlines lately hasn’t expanded Oleanna’s gunnels. She fitted no problem.
Just looking at the scene you’d never guess that on one side lorries carrying aggregate and concrete were hammering past to and from the works, on the other side the busy A38. If only someone could change the soundtrack this would be a wonderful stretch of canal. It’s places like this that we wonder what it was like in March last year when the country closed down.
Plants for sale
The noise slightly dulled at Barton Lock with buildings between the canal and the road. Here a group of what I’m assuming were Duke of Edinburgh canoeists were pulling their boats out above the lock, which meant the towpath was quite congested just as I wanted to look at some plants that had been left with an honesty box. As Oleanna finished rising I spotted that there were some wild strawberry plants for sale, I requested some coinage from Mick and we left with a tray of flowering plants. I just need to find containers to plant them in.
A38 just behind the trees on the left
The canal now sits alongside the A38, so busy with traffic. We played our game of waving at the lorry drivers to see who would respond. We had quite a few beep beeps but got more waves back. Glad we brought smiles to some faces today.
Approaching Wychnor Lock
Ahead at Wychnor Lock a boat had come out from Barton Turns marina and was ascending. I went up to chat and help. The paintwork on the boat had seen better days but I soon spotted that it was a Narrowcraft boat, NB Lillyanne (Lillian) was a Narrowcraft. I mentioned that we’d had a bright yellow boat from the same builders. The chap wearing a suitably coloured polo shirt said he’d most probably driven Lillian. When they had been having their boat built he had been asked if he could move a bright yellow boat to be sign written, he’d been warned that the colour would attract attention.
The weir boom
Now the canal meets up with the River Trent for a while, the next pound having numerous bridges to keep the towpath dry. A warning to keep away from the weir means giving the engine some extra umph.
Coming off the river section
Alrewas Lock needing setting but that was soon done and Oleanna had reached her destination for the day, just slightly ahead of schedule. Well we’d rather stay here than back alongside the A38. There was also a butchers to visit.
Can you spot the cat?
A full on six hours for me today! Well that was until I was told off for breaking the first boat cat rule! She wasn’t too pleased with me bringing a friend home, popping it on our bed got a different reaction.
After a small top up shop at the Co-op and Coates the butchers I got on with adding some colour to my illustration. Then it was time for the Scarborough Chums zoom with a special guest this week, the lovely Susie Blake.
The evening was spent sat out doors chatting to our boat neighbours. We had another barbecue, well the butchers had some nice looking lamb steaks and asparagus which we couldn’t see go to waste.
5 locks, 5.54 miles, 1 hour quicker, 1 sunk boat removed from lock, 4 strawberry plants, 0 pots, 6 beeps, 8 waves, 1 wolf whistle, 1 yellow helmsman, 6 hours, 2 lamb steaks, 2 pork steaks, 1 pork pie, 1 bunch asparagus, 2 pints milk, 1 perfect mooring for a barbecue, 1 fender discussion, 1 friend, 1 illustration coming along, 1 Susie, 1st episode, 2nd series Line of Duty, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.
Sainsburys to Shardlow Visitor Moorings, Trent and Mersey Canal
Having missed out on a cooked breakfast this weekend, so far, we paused this morning for one. Not quite the full works, but suitable for a Bank Holiday Monday.
Next job writing a shopping list and then ticking the items off in Sainsburys. We decided that both of us would go as we knew neither of us would remember everything that would be needed despite having done a list. This was the first time the two of us have done a big shop together for over a year. Hopefully we got everything we were wanting.
Next job, fill up with diesel. We pootled into Castle Marina following another narrowboat, luckily they pulled up at their mooring so we could wind and reverse onto the service pontoon.
97 litres of diesel to fill the tank at 84p. A bag of Excell just in case and some fire lighters to help light the barbecue we planned to have. We also made use of the elsan to empty your wee tank. The water tank could wait a little while longer for a top up.
Then we were back on our way, turning left out of the marina. There are quite a lot of familiar boats around Nottingham, Blip being one of them sat at the end of the permanent moorings. More boats were moored up along the three miles than we’ve seen before and at Beeston there was little room to be had under the willow trees.
I hopped off with the recycling, disposed of it, then closed the bottom gates after Oleanna at the lock. This lock is meant to be left with a paddle up at both ends to help keep the level right through Nottingham, yesterday we’d noticed that the level was down a touch, paddles at both ends of the lock closed.
One too many I think!
Back onto the river passing the drunken pirate in his look out and numerous people licking chilled medication. Oh for an ice cream!
This river section has houses on stilts and some lovely looking boats. A new property was being created with two shipping containers high up away from any flooding possibilities. Still a long way to go for those river side views.
As we neared Cranfleet Lock we could see a wide beam waiting to go up. Would there be any volunteers on duty? Guaranteed to be. Well we were surprised at there being four chaps all ready to help. The wide beam went up, a small cruiser came down then it was our turn.
We waited for an oncoming narrowboat to join us and up we went. It’s only the second time I’ve been up in this lock, the first just after I’d lost my little finger. The boat we shared with was heading home after a weekend out in Newark. They had delayed their return journey this morning due to the stranded boat at Stoke Lock, arriving there to drop crew off to work the lock wouldn’t be a wise thing at the moment. The boat was now floating again.
At the end of Cranfleet Cut we had three ways we could go. The River Soar to Foxton and the Leicester Section, the Erewash Canal or continue on the Trent to Sawley. We already knew which way we’d be going so turned right, but not right right, we headed up the Trent.
Ratcliffe Power Station
Our journey southwards would be a touch shorter if we went by the Soar, by about 15 minutes a day, but we’ve been that way quite frequently in the last few years and not touched this end of the Trent and Mersey Canal possibly for five years.
Trent Lock was busy, no space to be had on the pontoon, another favourite of ours. We pushed on upstream our partner boat following to Sawley Lock. Here another set of volunteers took ropes and pressed buttons at one of the locks, the other currently out of action.
Sawley Flood Lock
Through the flood lock and on towards the junction of the River Derwent, The River Trent and where the Trent and Mersey Canal starts, Derwent Mouth.
Derwent Mouth Lock
Myself and the chap from our accompanying boat lifted the paddles. With every click water flooding into the lock. With every click Oleanna was lifting up off the river. With the top gates open we’d made it. We’d escaped Goole! 138 miles, 19 locks behind us.
Escaped!
This evening we’d planned to have a celebratory barbecue and thought we’d stop just above Derwent Mouth Lock. Well that just wasn’t going to be as the towpath past the lock landing was filled with boats. Should we tuck on the end overlapping the generous lock landing? Mick thought we should, I thought not. We carried on a touch disgruntled that our wished for mooring was taken.
Coming into Shardlow we passed the house with the model railway, my camera at the ready should it be running today. Two boats were moored in the little arm and another two out front on the canal. One of these was very familiar, Tyseley the Mikron Theatre Company boat. She has recently had a repaint and new windows at Northwich dry dock on the Weaver where she was built. She looked very fine indeed just ready for the start of the Mikron tour. Sadly we don’t think we’ll be coinciding with there waterways tour this summer and just turning up on speck won’t be possible as you have to have booked a ticket due to covid restrictions and limited numbers.
The first mooring in Shardlow after the pubs was free, so we pulled in, our barbecue could wait for tomorrow. Tilly was given an hour and set free to see what/who she could find.
Anchor pinned back in
Our covers were being put up as a couple cycled past chatting away. The chap following suddenly hit a mooring ring, his bike flipping up into the air. He managed to cling onto his bike which went into the canal, but had quite bad scrapes to his hand, elbow and leg. His girlfriend wisely suggested they shouldn’t just carry on and wait a few minutes whilst we hunted round our first aid kits for antiseptic wipes. Hope he is alright and not too bruised.
Instead of our barbecue we managed to rustle up a tuna and pasta salad, a roast chicken our other option would have been a touch too much. Tomorrow we’ll start to slow down, just under four hours a day needed to reach our destination.
Two happy boaters
4 locks, 2 flood locks, 11.08 miles, 97.21 litres diesel, 1 bag coal, 1 box firelighters, 1 chicken, 2 salmon steaks, 0 room, 1 hour not fully taken, 1 roast chicken a touch too hot, 1 escape complete, 1 Dannie, 1 Willie, 1 Sedgwick the 3 who escaped, may many more escape Goole.
You may think our escape to be complete now that we are off tidal waters. Well for us it won’t be until we are back on the main canal network. Yes the weather looks good, in fact factor 30 good, but to be off the River Trent would be good, just in case!
What a beautiful blue day
We had our breakfast and were on our way again. The grey start to the day was soon burnt off by the sun.
Newark Marina has had an extension built, a new pond extends out towards the city, one side already with boats moored up. Averham Weir needed a touch more power to keep us away from it and only one cormorant dried it’s wings on a post, there’s normally one sat on every post.
Farndon Marina
The sun was fully out by the time we reached Farndon Marina, the camp site by the visitor moorings looked pretty full. Oh, hang on! Moorings, campsite, a cafe/club/bar place.
Mooring and campsite!
Could this be a possible venue/location for a 55.5 birthday do next year? On our travels I’ve been noting anywhere possible to have a weekend with friends and family to mark my half century, decade, year. There must be moorings, a campsite and preferably B&B and a bar all in close proximity. If anyone has any ideas on venues please let me know, you never know you may even get an invite!
The estate of Stoke Hall always looks so green rolling down to the river, the hall nestled a bit of a distance away. At Fiskerton there was just about enough space where we could have pulled in to have a pub lunch, but we’d only just got going so pressed on, still wanting to get some miles crossed off today.
Hazelford Lock
Yesterday we’d thought about carrying on to Hazelford Lock where we’d have been happy letting Tilly out, but on seeing Heathers mooring we’d stopped, thank goodness as there almost certainly wouldn’t have been any room for us. Even the smaller cruisers were breasted up, one narrowboat totally surrounded by white.
I spy a little cruiser
We shared the lock with a strange looking little brown cruiser which only had it’s number for a name. We all clung onto the blue risers as the level rose.
Above the lock a half submerged old work boat was tied to the moorings, this was most probably the boat that got away from the moorings below the lock a while ago when the level was high. It headed off down river doing some damage to the pontoon at Farndon.
The long pontoons further upstream are now full of boats. Barge Tortus catching our eye along with another boat that has had a very large top box added!
Oh the Trent is lovely on a blue skied day. Well until the next lock! Gunthorpe Lock.
With Lock Keepers at every lock there was no need to drop me off with the key of power, instead I’d be passing a rope around a blue riser very very carefully. We ended up on THE riser. I couldn’t look it in the eye as only one paddle was lifted at the top end of the lock. Why did this lock of all the locks in the Trent have to take SOOOOooooo long to fill! LINK
Tilly waiting to wave at the BJ ladies who rescued her
The Lock Keeper had a chat with Mick asking if we were carrying on to Stoke Lock. We were. We were told of a sand bar below the lock which had caught itself a boat today. On approaching the lock we should continue straight on towards the weir until it was almost too late to turn in to the lock. This was all noted.
No space on the pontoon above, good job we’d had lunch on the move.
Stoke Lock ahead
At a km away from Stoke Lock we radioed ahead. The keeper said we needed to be well left of the grounded narrowboat, the lock was ready, he was holding it for us.
Sure enough there where you’d normally expect to just turn in towards the lock a narrowboat sat. A lady walked along the gunnel and climbed onto the roof to sit in her canoe. They’d lost the paddle a week ago so it couldn’t be used to get them to dry land. They’d been stuck there for an hour.
Not really where you want to spend your bank holiday
Mick brought Oleanna round them as far to the left as he could. Even so we could hear Oleanna’s base plate scraping over the sandbar. We made it into the lock where the Lock Keeper asked us to stay back so as not to be level with another narrowboat who hadn’t got a rope looped round the risers at the bow, as yet.
Woof
All sorted we rose up the lock. The Lockie had managed to get an oar, the couple on the narrowboat on the sandbar would be able to now reach dry land and go home to Nottingham for the night. RCR would be on their way tomorrow to get the boat floated again. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, always try to reverse off, don’t put the power on full, as this just tends to make matters worse.
There was a space above the lock, lovely as Stoke Lock is we wanted to be further on.
At Holme Lock we had the huge chamber to ourselves. Thankfully more paddles were working than the last time we came uphill here so our ascent seemed really quick. Mick chatted to a volunteer about the hydro-electric power station that seemed to take forever to build. It is now in operation. When it started up the vibrations in the lock cottage were too much for the owners to cope with, the foundations shared between them and the station. To rectify this would cost way too much, so the power company bought the house, the manager now lives on site.
Above the lock there were few sailing boats about. The mooring at Southfork ranch looks like it needs a good weeding, at least it looked like someone was home today. The new building work that was going up when we last came past doesn’t seem to have moved on anymore, the protective netting having seen better days!
Trent Bridge
A few canoeists could be spotted between the glints from the river as we approached Trent Bridge. The moorings on the steps looked to be full, so there was only one thing for it, go up Meadow Lane Lock. Now where did we put those windlasses?
What are these strange looking things?!
The last manual lock we did was the 3rd September and it was Bank Dole up from the River Aire onto the Aire and Calder. We knew at the time it would be a while before the windlasses were needed, but we really hadn’t thought it would be nearly nine months!
I hopped off the stern, windlass in hand as the gates of the lock opened. A boat was coming down, both crew onboard, they could continue on their way without stopping. There was however just enough time for the lady to tell me which paddles were not working, one at each end.
With several gongoozlers we managed to remember how to work a lock ourselves and gradually the level came up. Back onto a canal, a narrow canal. Well the Nottingham Canal is a broad canal but after the big rivers and the Aire and Calder it felt narrow to us. We almost had to hold our breath in as we went under the bridges.
The new rail bridge we’d seen going in a couple of years ago is now up and working. Just before the right hand bend a large scaffolding set of stairs leads up to street level replacing those that used to be used on the other side, these are now in a building site which is slightly encroaching the canal. Plenty of space to turn though.
Tram!
A chap lay in his sleeping bag in the shade under the first bridge. New street furniture and planting lined the towpath.
Nottingham
As we reached the bars the noise level grew. Every single outdoor seat taken at the three bars, music and just a pure cacophony of humans enjoying the sunshine, company and booze! I’d been wondering about going out for a good steak and chips, but on seeing the masses here we decided to stay in tonight and have broccoli bacon pasta instead. Too many people make us, and I’m sure many others, nervous.
Busy busy busy
Castle Lock was open with both paddles left up. With a seated audience alongside I was glad we’d had a practice go at Meadow Lane before having to really do this locking thing in public.
New blocks of student accommodation stand on the banks of the canal. They sort of feel like they were there before, but we’re sure they weren’t. Hopfully they are not the reason for C&RT to have put up no mooring signs along part of the stretch which has numerous mooring rings, today quite a lot of local boats were moored there!
Castle Lock
We pulled up near to Sainsburys for a big shop tomorrow. Music and smoke from barbecues filled the air, maybe we’d have been better off on the no-mooring mooring rings. Thankfully the world around us calmed down during the evening, only for the geese and coots to take over!
As we were making ready to push off Torksey Lock emptied and out came a narrow boat followed by a couple of cruisers, was this the start of the cruising club descending?
Torksey Low
Other cruisers that had pulled up last night had already headed off, one bound for Hull a much easier trip for them round Trent Falls with the tides due to their engine capacity, suspect they would be there at a different time too when the depth would be greater. All the same they’d have to keep to the narrow channel at the end of the Trent to avoid the Sand Island.
Last of the cooling towers
We pushed out a little before the flood and turned into the still out going tide to continue our journey southwards. It being Saturday morning we wanted to be settled before the weekly Geraghty Zoom which we did as we cruised along. There had been Christine’s birthday during the week when there was a family get together. Today was Duncan’s birthday so we sang to him. Anne was visiting Ruth, James and Penelope, so lovely to see family being able to get together again.
Windmills of various sorts, one more lot of cooling towers. This stretch of the river is really quite familiar and with there being a spring tide still we were given a push for quite a while against the fresh.
Compared to the River Ouse the Trent is that bit more open. There are flood banks, but mostly they tend to be set back and with fewer trees lining the banks there is plenty to look at. Sheep sat in the shade under trees and cows cooled their feet in the river whilst the geese showed off their new youngsters all in a line.
Clapper gate
Nobody seemed to be following us, maybe the Lockies yesterday had over estimated the number of boats coming out for the weekend. But it just turned out that they weren’t so keen to be on their way.
After being in the north for so long with no body able to move we are not accustomed to moving boats. Today this was going to be different, very different. On coming cruisers speeding along had to suddenly slow when they saw us, they were almost certainly breaking the speed limit, their wash most definitely breaking on the banks. This was most probably the reason for the mud to be damp two foot higher than the level of the river.
Then boats from the cruising club caught us up. In batches of three of four they appeared behind then overtook us. Some not too bothered about the numerous sunken islands as there are along this stretch. Blimey it was busy!
We followed our navigation notes, lining up with pylons and the white dome of a distant windmill and used the bridge arch where the ENGLAND graffiti really should be refreshed.
Catching up
All the time we were gradually catching up the narrowboat that had come past this morning. At around the 49km mark there is an old gravel jetty time to call Cromwell Lock and let them know we were just about there.
Passing us by
Three cruisers passed us shortly before the final bend, we and the narrowboat in front just trundled on knowing that the lock would be waiting for our arrival. The weir came into view, we turned right towards the big concrete structure that is Cromwell Lock. A couple of cruisers sat on the visitor moorings below the lock having their lunch.
Cromwell Lock
We pulled into the lock behind NB The Earl, found suitable blue risers for our ropes and waited for the gates to close behind before the paddles were lifted to fill it up.
The Lockie a familiar face came down for a chat, take our name and number and to see if we’d be requiring the next lock.
Off tidal waters
When the top gates opened we had now left tidal waters. Oleanna beamed a smile back at us. The cruisers were heading onwards, so was The Earl, but we planned to stop for water and lunch if there was any space.
Well we timed that extreamly well. There were a couple of gaps we’d fit into, one just by the water point where the wall changes from low to high. I got the low end, Mick the high, a friendly chap came and helped us to moor up. The hose was set up to fill the tank, side hatch opened and we could enjoy lunch knowing we were at last off tidal waters which have been limiting our cruising times.
Chocka Block at CRomwell
Cromwell is one of our favourite mooring spots, more so in less popular times. Cruisers came up the lock, passed by, circled round to moor on the high wall back towards the lock. With our tank and bellies full we pulled away, much to the delight of a lady from a cruiser who dashed to move her boat, now she could have a drink without having to clamber down a long ladder.
On the four mile trip to Nether Lock we were passed by a jetski and over taken by a cruiser, the later arriving at the lock seemingly unannounced to the lock keeper. We’d been asked to wait as the lock was full of boats descending, so we hung back under the East Coast Main Line bridge, trains rumbling overhead.
When the gates of the lock opened it released a swarm of ribs which all zoomed out in a hurry, each creating their own big wash which left us bobbing for some time.
That’s new an Archimedes screw above Nether Lock
We shared the lock up with the cruisier, it seemed they were out of practice with locks and spent a bit of time enquiring how to operate them when no lock keeper was on duty.
Newark
They took forever to untie, so we led the way out of the lock and into Newark. Our last visit to Newark was two years ago in February. The fishing pods on the first bend have gone. Kings Marina where we spent the winter of 2015/16 due to medical factors has now changed hands, a quick glance round showed some familiar boats.
The scrap yard by Aldi has vanished. Kiln pontoon was almost full, just a few git gaps suitable for a cruiser, but not us. The high and low wall opposite were filled with cruisers, as was the wall opposite the castle.
Town Lock and Castle
We’d radioed ahead to Town Lock where a boat was awaiting our arrival. A helpful gongoozler helped us flick our ropes over the bollards and then we gradually rose. Our exit was delayed as someone was hogging the Lockie asking how to operate the locks when not manned, they didn’t seem to know about the key of power (C&RT key).
A rather nice mooring, so long as no one walks on your roof.
Heather had suggested to us her favourite mooring in Newark, we’d spotted Bleasdale here back in October 2015. As with most of Newark moorings there is a high wall a similar height to the roof of a boat. We pulled in, got the tyre fenders out. Not a suitable mooring during floods as it is right by the weir, but today it was fine. A touch of shade from the trees.
Mick headed off for a Saturday newspaper and some milk from Asda, then we settled down for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Another good days boating.
3 locks, 22.07 miles, 17 boats towards us, 14 overtakers, 1 jetski, 1 sunny day, 2 birthdays, 1 full water tank, 1 boat off tidal waters, 1 newspaper (sadly not free), 3 giggling ladies enjoying the evening sunshine, 1 final Look North.
