Sunday in Barnby Dun

Night view from our mooring

Morning view from our mooring

It may give the impression of being in an industrial area but in fact it is a very pleasant mooring.  This particular power station is not in operation so no white smoke billowing out.

Pretty church in the village which we visited for 10.15 Communion.  As we walked in the door we were amazed to hear quite a hubub and a good sized congregation.

Strangely, although we were made to feel welcome by one or two people who came up after the service as we were looking around the church, a lady who came and sat right next to us did not say a word apart from when we shared the peace.   I find that so strange.    I had the feeling that apart from the one or two they were a very active and closely knit congregation who did not need outsiders....maybe that was just me being sensitive.   The two who did chat were certainly very pleasant.

For the majority of the time the mooring was quiet, interspersed with a great rush of traffic....it was Sunday.

We also had an interesting object sail past........

We had been expecting a visit from sister-in-law Edith, but sadly she was unwell so couldn't make the trip.   As it was so hot we left our eating until the evening and visited The Olive Tree(previously the Gateway according to Nicholsons, I shall send them an amendment)  and we had an excellent meal.

Good TV reception here from the Terrestial aerial.  However we cannot understand why on our main TV we are only picking up analogue, but on my computer I had all digital channels with a good picture.    The only explanation is that it is closer to the aerial and the main TV has a longer cable run, but why that should make any difference we do not know.

Barnby Dun

So what of last nights recommended meal?  Well the food was good honest pub grub at a very reasonable price...........BUT and its a big but, by the time it came we thought we would be having it for breakfast.........admittedly the place was heaving but having booked for 7.45pm we eventually received our food about 9.15pm.    I should have taken a picture of Geoff's Mixed Grill before he got started  but this was the size of the plate!

Awoke to a beautifully clear sky this morning and Barney and I walked the mile and a half to the first swing bridge.  Luckily it is a completely electric one so I managed it with no problem.   Watered etc just beyond and then continued on our very slow way towards our destination of Barnby Dun.  It read well in the guidebook, promising a church for Sunday and several pubs for Sunday lunch.  I'd had a look on google earth and there seemed to be moorings just short of the swing bridge there.  Nicholsons is the only guide we have for ths area and it is not very forthcoming about good mooring places.

We passed the junction  with the New Junction Canal where we will eventually head north for York, but for now we have decided to head South to Sheffield.

Rural view beind us showing New Junction Canal to left

View ahead...not so rural!!

Mooring found with no problem, nice wide path for Barnaby as he does like sitting out and observing.  However it is very warm so this is the only place of shade he could find.

Under the washing!

We may be moored very adjacent to the gigantic cooling towers but it is still a delightful spot....just to hot to go out exploring yet.......

Stainforth

This was our evening view last night.  There were no problems staying at the very end of the lock moorings.  It was pleasantly quiet with just dog walkers passing by and we were then entertained by the sea cadets out training in a couple of boats.

A gentle start today, we turned and went back to the facilities and whilst Geoff watered etc I went into the town for a few provisions. 

We then went through the only lock of the day which has a swing bridge immediately after it so this has to be opened before you can exit the lock.

Stopped at Stanisland Marina and purchased a plastic folding boarding ladder.......shutting the stable door etc springs to mind.........however it is ready for the next one of us that falls in.

The destination was the New Inn at Stainforth which had been recommended by two people so decided to give it a try.   We tried to moor just short of the pub on a lovely grassy bank but it was too shallow and we took a while to extricate ourselves.......Geoff wielding the long pole........we had to give in and use the pub moorings, not something we generally like doing as it is a bit too public.   However that is the advantage of having venetian blinds!

The shadow is Petroc!

Hope the food is worth it!

Stainforth & Keadby Canal

A gentle start today.  There are numerous swing or lifting bridges on this stretch so decided to wait for the other 3 boats to make life easier.  Left about 0915 and Geoff walked ahead with Barnaby to lift the first swing bridge after we had been let through the Railway bridge by the keeper.

This seem to be a very busy railway line so all four of us had to be ready to go through before he would open it for us.

Once through we hedge (or bridge) hopped the others with 3 of the four boats taking a turn to operate the bridge.  The fourth boat miraculously always had to stop to let his 5 dogs off at each bridge so he was never first in line at the next bridge so that he could get off and do the honours!

Weather good again, in fact I was in shorts.  We have to make the most of this week the weathermen tell us as the rain will be back next week.......but for now the temperature is very agreeable.

We planned to stop in Thorne but the linear moorings were full and it did not look all that prepossessing.   Tried to come in on the other bank but it was too shallow so though we would have to carry on through the lock.  However we stopped at the lock at the very back end of the lock moorings whilst I nipped into town for the paper and a few essential provisions.   On my return we decided to stay put for the night.  There are so few boats around and we have still left plenty of room for at least two boats to moor up.  

One of the lifting bridges

Keadby

We set off from Torksey about 12.30 for the long flog to Keadby.  It felt like a long slog too........very uninteresting river, against the tide for the first past until it turned in our favour.  This is definitely the land of the power stations

Tidal Gauge part way along our trip.

I must confess that dull though it was there was also an element of uncertainty about the trip.   All the way I was thinking of what we would do if the engine played up.   We have never used our anchor in anger and have no idea how effective it might be.  

Keadby Bridge

 Eventually after about 5 hours we are close to Keadby Lock which will take us back onto the canals.  At this stage we were the lead boat of 4 but we slowed down to let 2 go ahead as one of them had done this trip many times so we thought we would copy him for what was an interesting approach to the lock.   First of all we had to do a 180 to turn back into the tide and then approach at right angles to the entrance and turn at the last minute.........  Picture below show the boat ahead of us. The entrance is just to his right under the crane.

The lock is big enough for 3 so we squeezed in the middle

Once through the swing bridge we moored for the night....had enough for the day....far too long a day, and due to our later start Geoff missed his siesta.......

The moorings here are not too salubrious so we shall not be lingering

Far too exciting for me

Today had far too much excitement for my liking....however I will start with Sunday.

Newark Parish Church is huge, apparently larger than Sheffield Cathedral.  A reasonable sized congregation for the 9.30 Parish Eucharist and a large choir but room for 10+ times as many.  A warm welcome but we didn't stay for coffee as we usually do.  The plot was to come back to town for a Sunday Roast in a pub at the back of the church where Roast Lamb was the roast of the day and serving until 4pm.  We duly presented ourselves at 1.30 to fine that the lamb was off!!!!  A longish walk round the town eventually found us a carvery which was adequate and cheap but not quite like home cooking......

The evening brought Les the Cromwell Lock-keeper knocking on our door and a few glasses of red wine were downed.

I had thought that I would have to visit the dentist yet again and I planned to be on the doorstep on Monday morning of the one I had found who was on Denplan which I needed if I did not want to pay the whole of what was bound to be an astronomical bill. 

I must confess they look lovely but need to be given a wide berth especially when they have cygnets

Monday morning was shopping morning but my tooth had settled down so I decided to fore go the delights of the dentist's chair.  Checking the BW office I found our special delivery from Roadpro had arrived so we had our spare part for the satellite dish.......Geoff is very pleased.    So after coffee we made the short trip down to the moorings at Cromwell lock to be ready for our venture onto the tidal part of the Trent.  We were met there by Les the Lock Keeper(1 of 3) who keeps his boat there.   The weather is getting warmer so we ended up all sitting on the pontoon into the early evening together with Chris & wife from Wee Bluett who had arrived during the afternoon

We went our separate ways at supper time and all invited to Les's boat later.   Well Geoff & I made it but Chris fell asleep after his supper and didn't wake up until 11pm.   It was probably a good thing as he had a bottle of some very lethal looking stuff he was promising us for later on.   As it was I left Les and Geoff to it at about 10 and I think he came aboard about midnight.....well past our normal bedtime on the boat of 9pm!!

Our departure was planned for 0815 on Tuesday but we awoke to a very thick mist which threatened to delay our departure.   The next tidal slot was to leave at 12 noon but in the event at about 0810 the mist suddenly started to clear and we were away. 

 We have a good guide book which tells us which bit of the river to be on at each bend which Geoff was faithfully following.  We were also following Wee Bluett who had done the trip before.  It was a glorious morning one of the warmest we have had.  About 3 miles from our destination of Torksey it all went wrong.   Wee Bluett came to a grinding halt ahead of us so Geoff throttled back and managed to stop us going aground also.   We then made several attempt to tow them off which was not without difficulty and all in vain as he was well and truly stuck.  To crown it all after the first attempt Geoff fell in whilst trying to secure their rope...............he disappeared under the water but reappeared very quickly saying he could stand up!  Luckily Wee Bluett has a plastic boarding ladder which Geoff waded over to fetch and climbed aboard (We shall be buying a similar article at the next chandlers we find!).  Eventually we had to leave them or there would have been two narrow boats aground.   Their plan was to wait for the tide to come in again which would either be in four hours or not until midnight depending on which lock-keeper we believed.

Meanwhile I had a load of wet clothes to contend with....... I was also glad that we were all wearing our lifejackets.....not that Geoff would have drowned in the shallow water but one never knows.   We are now one all as I fell in last year!

Shortly after leaving them we met our first big ship.  He looked as though he was creating a huge wash but surprisingly caused little discomfort.

We tied up to the pontoon moorings at Torksey and I went up to tell the lock keeper what had happened as we knew they were expected as they planned to go through the lock. 

By the time I reached the lock and was explaining,  Wee Bluett appeared.........about 15 minutes after we left them just as Chris was getting ready to wade ashore with their 3 small dogs the boat suddenly floated.......... it was very fortunate for them as the Torksey lock-keeper though they would have to wait until midnight.......

Relief all round.

I trust tomorrow will not be quite so exciting.   It is a longer trip tomorrow so Barney will have to cross his legs!

When planning this trip we thought we might have to contend with too much water in the Trent if there had been a lot of rain, we had not anticipated there being too little!

Just received these two pictures the first as we left Cromwell moorings for the lock with the last of the mist and of our departure from Cromwell Lock.  My thanks to Chris & Denise

Weekending in Newark

Quite a pleasant town.  Whilst Geoff caught the bus back to Nottingham to return the new satellite kit, I had a meander around the town.  However I first took Barnaby for a walk and managed to lose the boat keys!!
They must have fallen out of my pocket whilst walking or ball throwing.   I then spent nearly an hour trying to find them and could not understand why they were not visible as they are on a big cork key fob.   Eventually when I was just about at my wits end (I knew Geoff had not taken the spare set!) a lady came up to me and asked if I was looking for some keys.........Oh Salvation........ she had found them whilst walking her dog and recognised them as boat keys and was going to hand them into the marina just ahead of our mooring.  The feeling of relief was indescribable.....I am not sure what was worrying me the most, the fact of not being able to get onto the boat or Geoff's wrath!!
The picture below shows the view from just a little way along from our mooring.  We have not seen a lot of boat traffic but here are are 3 gin palaces obviously out for their weekend jaunt.

The day started much warmer than of late....does it herald summer I wonder. 

Newark

We met Les one of the Cromwell lock-keepers last night and he informed us that the BW office at Newark was only open from 10-12 so as we were expecting mail to collect there all thoughts of a leisurely start had to be abandoned.

Instead of the 9am start I envisaged we were  off by 0630....I must admit it looked a lovely morning.....only ruined by the temperature again.
The picture below is taken looking back at Gunthorpe Lock which we had just left.  The foam on the water looked just like ice floes and I am surprised it wasn't!

It was a four hour run down the river to Newark and we only saw one other boat in transit.   Shortly before Newark we passed Staythorpe Power station

We then passed Newark Marina which seemed full of gas guzzlers.  Most of them must sit there a lot of the time as we have seen very few in transit.

And so to Newark.  The remains of Newark Castle sit towering just beyond the lock.  We waited for two boats coming up and then had a very friendly welcome from the lock keeper.  When we said it was our first visit to Newark he was a mine of information about places to go and also told us the best place to moor.

Only one wall of the castle remains

We managed to find a space on the floating pontoons we had been directed to.  Although there is no tide here the stream is very strong and we made an exciting arrival to the pontoon.   To the onlooker it probably looked very slick but in my opinion it was more by luck than judgement (Geoff was on the helm!).   He is better at these situations than I am, when lots of wellie is required.  Later in the afternoon we went to take the lines of another boat who was having the same problem with the stream.    It is always good to watch someone else going wrong!!

We had two suggestions (many thanks) to our problem of fixing the new aerial on the roof but sadly neither was destined to work so tomorrow Geoff is going on the bus back to Nottingham to return said article.  meanwhile I contacted Roadpro to see if we could get a spare arm and ball for the present one and they were most helpful and it has been sent to the Bw office here special delivery so fingers crossed it will arrive on Monday.  It means a delay of a day but the office is very conveniently placed just where we are moored and the staff have been very helpful.

So we are set for the weekend in Newark

Gunthorpe on the River Trent

Somewhat delayed departure today due to the mishap with the Satellite receiver.  Geoff paid a visit to Maplins in the town and came back with a complete new installation (he never was very happy with the mechanics of rotating our Kerstan set up.) 
A final shop in the very convenient Sainsburys and then we were off through two locks and back down onto the River Trent.  We even had company in the first lock but they stopped to shop in the centre of Nottingham and we went our solitary way again.

The next two locks were of the much larger variety and automatically operated by the lock-keeper. (When he is on duty.......I think if you want an early start in the morning you have to operate them yourself.)

Made our target of Gunthorpe just before 2.  Most of the way was a solitary cruise down the river apart from passing 3 narrowboats who had obviously just been let out of Holme Lock.

Pontoon moorings provided very conveniently just before Gunthorpe Lock.  They are adjacent to a nice looking pub with seats overlooking the river......which would be very nice for a pre supper drink..IF the temperature were better...we shall see!

Sadly Geoff has had no success with the new satellite installation.  This one has a sucker arrangement to hold the aerial on the roof but it won't stick to our roof because it not only has a non-slip coating but is slightly curved.   We are now trying to find a way around the problem!!!  Anyone who has any bright ideas don't hold back.

Still in Nottingham

Layover day today.  Domestic duties for me....much quicker than at home......whilst Geoff went on his sightseeing in Nottingham.  This was after he had taken Barnaby for a long walk......and this is what Barnaby does after such exercise

Spoilt...or what...

Geoff's wanderings took him to the Castle and art gallery and included a swift half in one of the pubs claiming to be the oldest in England.   I googled this info to check on it and discovered that there are 3 in Nottingham who all make this claim as well as pubs in other places.........however it is a nice pub!

Tomorrow is supposed to be moving on day but we may have hit a small snag.  Whilst Geoff was trying to align our satellite dish a bit broke off where it fits into it's holder.   Consequently he plans a visit to Maplins in the town to see whether we can get a new dish......and all because I wanted to watch Midsomer Murders.

We are having no success at all with our other aerial for normal digital.  Geoff rues the the day we decided to have a TV on the boat at all..............................

Nottingham

Set off just after 8.30 in what looked like PERFIK conditions, the sun was shining green fields with cows and sheep with their lambs, this is what it is all about.   The one fly in the ointment is the temperature......I still need hat scarf and gloves because of the unfriendly wind direction.   Still it was not raining so we must be thankful for small mercies.  A pleasant 3 hour run up to Nottingham where we have moored quite centrally with sufficient green around for Barney and very close to a huge Sainsburys.

Centre of Nottingham

No progress on the computer front however.  I tried running the GPS program without the internet on in case there was a clash but computer still crashed 5 times during the trip.

Urban Mooring

Trent Junction

Kegworth proved to be an excellent mooring despite the walk into the village.  We were moored opposite the side of the weir which we could hear all the time.  Emma departed early as she had morning patients to see.  We had yet another frost!

Two views from our galley window...our own infinity pool

It was a very chilly start to the journey and the early glimpse of the sun rapidly disappeared.  With the junction not far ahead we phoned Redhill Marina to check on the fuel situation but discovered there was none!  Since we needed to fill up before the Trent we had no option but to turn left at the junction instead of the intended right turn for Nottingham and travel up to Sawley Marina.   Once again I called ahead and it sounded promising as I had an affirmative response to my query on declaring our own split. 

Through one lock which was not only mechanised but a lock keeper to do it...sheer bliss for Geoff as some of the paddles this morning have been stinkers.

We had to wait a while whilst a wide beam fuelled but eventually all was filled up together with some of our diesel bug medicine.........

When I went in to pay I was told that I could not declare my own split as the company policy was 60/40.

A small but pleasant discussion ensued and eventually the manager came.  he was in fact very accommodating and I was able to declare my own split.   Perseverance is sometimes needed....  no good sending Geoff on these occasions!!!

We turned ourselves around and proceeded to resume our journey to the intended destination of Nottingham however the weather had not improved and the rain was getting heavier so we decided to moor at the junction for the night and hope for better things tomorrow.

Despite all my heartache over my computer and all the reinstalling I have done I am no further ahead.   As soon as I start the navvygator program to run the computer keeps doing blue screen crashes.  C'est la vie!

Kegworth

Back online again after major disasters with computer....it was suggested to me by one of my friends that I should not be so dependent on my computer but I was bereft!! Due to various problems I had to go back to the factory settings of my computer thereby losing all my programs....and it takes anage to load and update everything again.......I'm still going.

Meanwhile life on the boat goes on   On Election Day we went from Leicester to Barrow-on-Soar on a rather overcast and dull day.  9 locks 12 miles and over 5 hours...big trip!

The forecast for Sat was not good so on Friday we went to Kegworth which was our intended weekend stop.  We stopped to do rubbish and loo at Bishop Mewadow Lock just after Loughborough and as you can see I (with Barneys help) act in a supervisory role on these occasions (not always) 

En route we turned into the small basin at Loughborough which is very handy for shopping...either Tesco or Sainsburys.  Another 5+hr day but only 10 miles and 5 locks this time.

The river Soar has been hopping in and out on these journeys but we are on the Soar navigation now.  Between Loughborough and Kegworth we passed these emergency flood moorings which we didn't fancy the look of

A bit further on we passed Normanton-on-Soar with a very pretty church and if you look closely you can see the ladder going all the way up the steeple....there is one on the other side as well.

Just before reaching Kegworth Deep Lock we saw a houseboat that looked as though Anglian Windows had been called in.......

 

We moored in a secluded spot just above the lock and settled in for the weekend.    Geoff did his normal recce to the village and found out that church was 10.30 and the pub did not look up to much so we decided to eat aboard on Sunday.   I think if we had looked further there was  a recommended pub down one of the side streets but we decided to give it a miss.   In the event we had a phone called from Emma enquiring about our position.  She had patients to see in Milton Keynes Sun and Mon morning and it was as close to drive to us as to drive back to London so we have company....again....

Leicester

Much warmer start to the day and another early start.  Our day for horses

Bit of supervision for Geoff

The River Soar has joined the canal now

Good job Geoff has a good balance!

12 locks is a bit much for a fellow!

As we approached Leicester the rural scene disappeared and tonight we are in a truly urban setting.   We are moored at Castle Park moorings which are very safe (I hope) as one needs a BW key to get off the pontoon.  Once off we are in a small but pretty park, so at least it is somewhere for Barney

Pontoon moorings on the right

We were last here 5/6 years ago on Tickey and we don't remember the pedestrian bridge just ahead of us so assume it is new.

Geoff did his town sightseeing after lunch.  He has this inexplicable(to me) liking for walking all over towns...I am happy to stay on the boat.

Kilby

One of our early starts this morning as we had been lazy over the weekend.  We were off at 0715 and there was still frost on the top of Petroc.....and its May!!
After Barney and I had had our morning perambulation through lovely countryside and Geoff had negotiated Saddington tunnel we came to our first lock of the day.   As luck would have it another boat was just getting ready to depart in the same direction as ourselves so we waited for them, life is so much easier in wide locks with two boats.......
12 locks later we said goodbye just short of Kilby.  We had been on the go for 4 3/4 hours, quite enough for one day.  It had been a pleasant run with fields full of cows and sheep with their lambs....very British......
The other boat carried on, there were on a 10 day hire doing the Leicester ring....we thought how fortunate we were not to have any rush.
We have not a seen a single boat travelling in either direction, it makes one wonder where all the boats, that are built by the very many boatbuilders who advertise in the canal magazines, go.  However we are not complaining. we have a quiet delightful countryside mooring for the night before we tackle the trip through Leicester tomorrow.

Down the Locks

Big trip today, almost an hour!!
First we decided to try the all day breakfast advertised in the cafe at the top of the locks before Boe departed.  We had seen people devouring them over the past few days but have to say they were somewhat disappointing and served in polystyrene trays....shan't bother again.

Not very busy at the locks so after watering we went straight down.  Despite the extreme cold and wind it was quite pleasant for the first 7 locks and then the hail came............
Luckily we hadn't planned to go far, just position ourselves for an early start tomorrow, weather permitting.......Geoff is getting itchy feet to press on northwards now.

Sunday at Foxton

No plans to move.  Eventually discovered time of Sunday service and also booked for lunch at the Black Horse.

The weather has turned incredibly cold.  Yesterday I was sitting outside in shorts, today it is like the Arctic and winter woolies are the order of the day.

Yesterday Boe duly arrived having borrowed our little car from brother Giles, so I ventured to Sainsburys in Market Harborough.  She then departed to visit friends in Leicester for the night and we met friends Fran & Keith for a meal in the Foxton Locks pub.  Whilst Geoff walked back to Petroc they gave me a lift to the bridge at the top and I left behind the first of this years umbrellas in their car.....we normally lose several a season!

Church was family service and we had a warm welcome.  We were also greeted by a lady who asked if we were from Cornwall and when she introduced herself she turned out to be Paddy, the sister of one of Geoff's Probus mates, Tony Hackett.  Small world.

Boe made it back in time for the late lunch we had booked at the Black Horse which was excellent.

Still at Foxton

Yes still here and plan to stay until Monday.  Presently awaiting the arrival of younger daughter Boe.  Her time of arrival depends on whether she gets lost or not!  If she arrives in time, plan to use the car (it is ours anyway!!) to pop into Market Harborough to do a shop.
Saw another living milepost yesterday and now know where they originate, thanks to Brian & Diana on NB Harnser.  They all have a tree planted with them and were put there by the Canal Society......the things you learn.
Whilst Geoff was out walking with Barney this morning I polished one side of the boat, before collapsing with coffee & paper into my chair in the sun on the towpath.