On the Chesterfield Canal around Retford: A weekend in the sun

3-5 July 2015

This last month has been very busy for us both. Liana still teaches, part time. We both sail every Tuesday with Lincolnshire schools at Lincoln, sailing or manning safety boat. The annual Lincs District Sailing Association, of which Liana is President, held their sailing regatta, which has been great fun. Market Rasen Garden Festival was organised partly by our Lions Club, of which John is the new President, and the Lions also collected for DiabetesUK and the British Heart Foundation.  John's church commitments continue, including bell ringing, administering the chalice, serving tea/coffee after and performing duties as Verger at funerals ("You can be Verger now you're retired ....").

We fitted in a work day at Retford and Worksop Boat Club on 13 June, although heavy rain meant most of the work was indoors this time. We did manage to trim some of the long grass on our mooring, later.

Finally, we chilled out and motored up to Retford, taking our time and peering over the side at the myriads of fish in the clear water. While there was a lot of blanket weed, everywhere there was a clear gravel bottom we could see the fish in the bright sunlight, including bream, perch, pike and some big chub. Wonderful!

We moored on the embankment at Retford, near Asda, walked, wandered, ate a nice pizza nearby and watched Wimbledon. Saturday, we meandered up to the Forest Locks and back, chatting to the fishermen and fish gazing again. The moorings and services at the third forest lock were lovely.

moorings below Forest Lock 3

 

Saturday night moored between the Town Lock and the Hop Pole was peaceful. Sunday morning we dawdled back to the RWBC at Clayworth, followed by a slim, beautiful Tern, who dived for fish around us. We did some tidying and puzzled where to stow the new 20kg anchor (hmm..), which is too big for the gas locker :/  With river work on Trent and Thames coming up, I decided an upgrade was wise. Liana still needs to be convinced ...

Sunday tea at Market Rasen listening to the amazing Wurlitzer Blackpool type organ, two fairground organs and barrel organs, plus old time singing in our friend's barn, raising money for new church lighting. How I love retirement!!

above Forest Lock 3