Newark to Nottingham

We always enjoy stopping at Newark and this year was no exception.  The town is a good shopping centre and it's interesting to look round the different markets held in the square. And of course Kev and Geoff had to call in Just Beer.

This year our 4 yearly Boat Safety Scheme inspection is due so we arranged for Rick Tropman to come across on Saturday to do the check.  On Tuesday we left Newark heading upstream. 

Leaving Newark Town Lock

Our next stop was Hazelford Island where we had another stay of 6 days.  The island was full of birdsong, including raucous woodpeckers, and the heron standing on the weir became a familiar sight. 

The heron standing on the weir 

The rabbit population was thriving again which kept Bess and Brinny entertained.  On Friday Geoff and Chris turned back to Newark because Geoff needed to return home to Newcastle. We've enjoyed travelling together since leaving Tattenhall and were sorry to see them sail away.  

The next day we had a visit from Sarah who came over to the island on the long footbridge.   The weather had turned cool but it was cosy on the boat and ideal for chatting.

Looking along the footbridge to the lock and old lock house

On Monday the volunteer lock-keepers started back after their winter break so we had a helping hand at the locks and stopped on the pontoons at Gunthorpe.  I enjoyed a long walk in the sunshine with Bess and Brinny.

Brinny playing with a stick on the walk

It wasn't so sunny the next morning as we set off towards Gunthorpe Bridge 

Holme Pierrepont was our next stop, in the last few years we haven't been able to moor here because of the hydro-electric installation works.  This time we moored up against the high wall, it wasn't ideal because Brent III's roof was almost level with the top of the wall but it enabled us to stay.

The view from Brent III's roof, the entrance to Holme Lock is on the right

I was pleased to see the black swan was still in residence, we gave it some ryvita because we are a bread-free boat (most of the time!)

The black swan came back for more ryvita

We were moored alongside the National Water Sports Centre and Kev was keen to try our bike on the sports track.  I don't know what the serious cyclists thought when he sailed passed them using some electric boost.  Bess and Brinny had some exercise chasing after Kev on the bike and I walked round boosting my Fitbit step count.

After 3 days of exercise we were ready for a rest so moved onto Nottingham where we stopped in our usual spot outside Sainsburys.

Our journey from Newark to Nottingham