Nottingham to Hawkesbury

After leaving Nottingham we wanted to cover some distance so our first stop was at Sawley and from there we moved on to the Rageley Boat Stop pub.  Here we made good use of the electric on the moorings and, as always, enjoyed an excellent meal in the pub.  

On Monday we called in at Midland Chandlers, Willington, to replace the rope that was stolen in Nottingham and we bought some extra to make smaller mooring ropes.  After following a boat crawling along on tick-over we eventually arrived at Burton-upon-Trent where our new steel chimney was dangerously close to a low bridge.  It slipped under the first girder but hit the second with a loud clatter and came off the top of the flue.  Luckily it was only bent and Kev was able to straighten it out, needless to say our Nicholson's guide has been duly annotated.  

We stopped a little further along at Shobnall Fields where a swathe of daffodils lined the moorings.  It seemed the locals liked the daffodils, we saw several come along to pick themselves a large bunch.  

Daffodils in bloom at Burton-upon-Trent

The next morning we made an early start to avoid the dawdlers.  On the way we passed the farm that advertises llama trekking. 

Llama's at the trekking centre.

Our early start paid off and we moored up at Fradley Junction having seen only one other boat on the move.  That evening we noticed a swan paddling up and down in the bottom of the narrow lock unable to get out; it's partner had more sense, she was waiting at the top.  Kev walked back with the windlass to flood the lock and reunite the couple.  

On Wednesday we arose to the lively dawn chorus from Fradley Nature reserve and, after Tuesday's success, had another early start.  Unfortunately this stretch of the Coventry Canal is shallow and contained a lot of debris which kept snagging round our prop.  It was a cold day, not the best for Kev to plunge his arms into the water to clear off the rubbish.  At Whittington the poly-tunnels for asparagus where up, covering a long stretch of fields next to the canal.

A small section of the poly-tunnels

Good Friday was a glorious spring day and we saw some other early starters as we climbed the 11 locks of the Atherstone Flight.  A quiet stretch of canal north of Nuneaton provided a good place to stop.  

 

Enjoying the sun near Nuneaton

From my viewpoint on the bridge I could also see the impressive Caldecote Hall which was built in 1880 and is now converted into apartments.  

Caldecote Hall

The next morning the wind was getting up and heavy rain was forecast.  On the outskirts of Nuneaton the canal became a floating rubbish dump and after seeing 4 tyres and a door floating along we expected more problems with prop fouling; luckily we were wrong.   We turned onto the Oxford Canal at Hawkesbury Junction and went a little way before stopping, it wasn't a pretty mooring but the weather was turning.  The canal was fairly busy during the rest of the day but boating in strong wind and driving rain is not for us.   

Our journey from Nottingham to Hawkesbury Junction

Newark to Nottingham

We sailed from Newark on Sunday morning and had an interested audience as we went through Town Lock.  The river was still high and we pushed against a strong current to Hazelford where we were surprised to see our usual moorings underwater.  So for the first time we moored against the high wall which was now not so high.  

The mooring bollards showing through the water at Hazelford

That evening a glowing sunset lit up the sky and reflected off the river. 

Sunset at Hazelford

On Tuesday morning we decided to move on and Geoff who is a joiner, gave us a small shelf with a carved out depression to stop cups sliding off.  It will be very useful next to our bookcase.  Chris operated the lock for us and Geoff took some photos. 

Geoff's photo of Brent III in Hazelford Lock

The pontoons at Gunthorpe were empty when we arrived but while we were there other boats came and went.  The fine weather was ideal for walking with the girls and we enjoyed an excellent meal in The Unicorn which is conveniently just opposite the moorings.  On Friday morning we were preparing to set off when a black swan came over.  

Kev's photo of the black swan

As we approached Holme Lock I rang CRT to check when Meadow Lane Lock would be re-opened after the repairs.  The office staff said Saturday morning so we moored up for the day. During the afternoon CRT staff checking the jetties told us Meadow Lane was now open and offered to take us through Holme Lock.  So onto Nottingham we went and stocked up at Sainsburys, pleased to be ready to set off south the next day.  It was only as we came through a lock on Saturday that we realised someone had taken a rope off our roof at Nottingham, then we weren't so pleased.  


Our journey from Newark to Nottingham

  

Newark

We stopped on the pontoons at Cromwell for another day making good use of the electric points.  When Chris and Geoff tried to retrieve their card, with its unused credits, the machine kept the card; a common occurrence at Cromwell.  The lock-keeper came down and arranged for the card to be returned.   

We sailed upstream to Newark Nether Lock which we operated ourselves because the locks aren't manned during CRT's winter hours.  From there it was a short distance to the floating pontoons which had plenty of space and an electric point. 

Newark pontoons

  
Our stay at Newark was going to be extended due to a stoppage for a sluice repair at the entrance to Nottingham canal.  I made good use of the fine weather by polishing Brent III's paintwork to give it some protection; Brinny made the most of the good weather by becoming best friends with Ziggy. 

Playing in the sunshine

Kev and I enjoyed browsing around the various markets in the town centre and were pleased to spot an Onedin Line DVD  on the bric-a-brac stalls.  As always Kev  enjoyed visiting Just Beer to catch up with the locals and sample the excellent beer.  

Just Beer

We had intended to move on Wednesday but heavy rain kept us on the moorings.  During the night the floating pontoons rose with the increasing water level and CRT closed Newark flood gates stopping all boat movement.  

Rising water levels swamped the little footbridge we use to cross under the main road. 

The delay enabled Sarah to come over to see us at the weekend bringing my post with her.  We enjoyed strolling along the passage through the old wharf buildings with their cobbled yards before heading into town.  Curiosity tempted us when we spotted Newark Antique Centre housed in an old church.  The large interior had been divided into 'rooms' which were filled with an enormous range of objects, mainly bric-a-brac but very interesting to browse through.  

The cobbled passage through the old wharf buildings at Duke of Wellingtons Yard

On Sunday morning Sarah headed for home and we took Brent III onto the opposite bank which was more convenient for shopping.  The river levels were down and the floodgates were open so we'd decided to end our stay in Newark. 

Our short journey from Cromwell to Newark

Goole to Doncaster and Cromwell

Back in October we returned to Viking Marina where Sue and John provided us with a winter mooring.  It's always good to return to our boating home but there was plenty of work to do over winter.  First on the list of maintenance work was a lift out at Goole Boathouse to check our bow-thruster which had lost its propulsion.  A piece of plastic wrapping caught around the propeller was the culprit and easily removed.  We've owned Brent III for 10 years but only recently noticed she had no rubbing strakes (boat bumpers) around her back deck so Kev donned his welding gear and rectified the omission.  

The welder had to come out again to modify our fire flue for a stainless steel chimney and Gaz came up to cut the boards for a replacement floor in the wheelhouse.   Kev worked his way through a list of maintenance tasks and smaller modifications but it wasn't all work.   Sarah and I went to the excellent Knitting & Stitching show in Harrogate and I've enjoyed working on a decorative wall hanging called the Icy Realm. 

The Icy Realm depicts a slice of the arctic with fish, whales, arctic foxes and a polar bear.

Kev joined Park Lodge Shooting School and disappeared with his new air rifle for target practice and the opportunity to put the world to rights with the Thursday morning geriatric club.  

Kev will miss the Thursday morning banter

All in position

This year we have purchased, at great expense, a gold boat license which allows us to navigate on Environment Agency waters as well as the Canal & River Trust network.  Keen to make the most of this license we made an earlier start than usual and waved goodbye to Viking Marina on 24 February.  For the start of our trip we are going to be accompanied by Chris, Geoff and their long haired white alsatian on their narrowboat Geordie Spirit.

We travelled west on the Aire and Calder and as we turned onto the New Junction canal we had a good view of the Park Lodge Shooting School.  

Park Lodge Shooting School from the canal

 Our first stop was Doncaster and the next morning I was interested to hear the Flying Scotsman would be running up the East Coast Mainline.  A quick check on the internet gave me the time it was due to pass through Doncaster station so off I went with my camera to join a crowd of enthusiastic train spotters.  We lined up on opposite platforms and peered down the track until a plume of smoke heralded the engine's arrival.  The Flying Scotsman hurtled towards us at full speed and roared through the station billowing smoke and blowing its whistle.  In less than a minute it was all over.  Luckily I had my camera on sports setting but judging by the conversations around me, some weren't so fortunate.  

The Flying Scotsman roaring through Doncaster station

While we were at Doncaster Shaun and Paul kindly came over to sort out the connectivity from Kev's smartphone to the television so we can download and watch films.  All this clever technology is beginning to leave us behind.  From Doncaster we sailed to Thorne for a night.

Geordie Spirit pulling off the moorings at Doncaster

The next stop was Keadby which is now home to Pickle, a schooner complete with masts and rigging.  Unfortunately it also has a very noisy generator.  

Working on Pickle's rigging, think I'll stick to Brent III

Mark the Lock-keeper had an early start to let us out of Keadby Lock onto the Trent at 8am on Sunday.

Geordie Spirit pulling out of Keadby Lock

Shortly after leaving Keadby I spotted the dark sleek head of a seal breaking the surface of the water; it stopped briefly before gracefully diving out of sight.  

We had a good run to Torksey and the next day completed our journey on the tidal Trent as we sailed into Cromwell Lock.

Our journey from Goole to Doncaster and then Cromwell.