Birthday Weekend

Our next port of call is Newark, a market town with many interesting historic buildings and a formidable ruined castle overlooking the river.  It's also good for shopping and as there is a Morrisons in the town centre we took the opportunity to stock up on our supplies.  When it came to stowing them away I realised we'd perhaps overdone it but we won't starve. 

Kev has been looking forward to sampling real ales on our travels and a fellow boater recommended a pub, Just Beers.  This unique little pub only sells real ales.  Lagers, wines, spirits and even soft drinks were not available, it certainly lived up to it's name.  In the small interior we enjoyed a drink or two in the company of the locals who were surprisingly discussing their impressive success with grape vines.  

As we continued upstream the river banks were lower giving us a better view of the landscape.  Herds of cows watched us pass from the water's edge, some even wading into the shallows.  Looking ahead we could no longer see the bank on the right hand side and water was gushing over the edge.  This was Averham Weir.  For approximately 300 yards we sailed along with the water cascading over the weir to our right.   The view was amazing but we kept well away from the edge.  

Sailing past Averham Weir with water cascading down into a branch of the river.
 

Hazelford Island is renowned for it's blackberries and we were not disappointed.  Bramley apples were on board ready for this overnight mooring and we enjoyed a blackberry and apple pie.  

It was Kev's birthday over the weekend and we stopped at Holme Pierrepoint, the National Water Sports Centre.  We were moored up next to the white water course and watched canoeists performing tricks and somersaults into the rapids.  The bong of drums drew our attention to the dragon boat races being held on the long straight rowing lake.  These rowing boats are decorated with dragon's heads and tails and the crew rapidly paddle with short oars in time to the drum.  

An ornate dragon's head on one of the dragon boats

The highlight of the weekend was a visit from Nic, Gaz, Shaun, Laura and the grandkids.  The warm sun was a bonus, enabling us to sit out while the kids had a lot of fun.  The grappling iron and magnet were cast into the river in the hope of finding something valuable, there were walks and games with Bess and the boat horn was sounded on more than one occasion.  We really enjoyed seeing everyone for a lovely afternoon. 

Our route from Cromwell to Holme Peirrepoint.