Thursday 9 May 2019 Clayworth to visitor moorings before Misterton (7.5 miles, 2 locks)
Yesterday was horrid, so we delayed until today. Packed, shopped at Gainsborough Morrisons on the way, and John decided to set off after unpacking, despite a bit of drizzle. He backed Annie along the moorings and through the narrow road bridge on a corner without hitting anything, and winded Annie, a good job as Retford & Worksop Boat Club (RWBC) members were watching!! Incidentally, well done the NB Python Chesterfield Canal Trust (CCT) team (including plenty of RWBC members) for clearing all the vegetation on the offside near the winding hole. Johnsteered in the gentle rain while Liana lit the fire! Liana kindly did the Grindley and Shaw Locks, before we moored on the mown and (just about) deep enough bollarded visitor moorings a mile before Misterton. This left us a short trip before our booked locking down tomorrow about 10am at West Stockwith. Bacon, Sausage and beans went down well!
Friday 10 May Misterton to West Stockwith and up the River Trent to below Torksey Lock (17 miles, 3 locks)
A dry day at last, but cool. WE descended Misterton Locks in the sun. We passed one boat. The derelict area around the tall brick chimney is being redeveloped, including a pond (?) with piling strong enough for a marina. Arriving in West Stockwith, we motored straight into the lock, as advised on VHF by lock keeper Jim.
He said CRT are threatening to use volunteers on these tidal river locks. I admire volunteers, but tidal locks require people who understand tide tables, flood and ebb tides on the Trent, and how to get on and off the river with a fast current flowing, so I hope CRT realises that the training must be much nore than for volunteers manning ordinary non-tidal river and canal locks.
We shared the lock with a Portuguese boater, who told us to go ahead, as his boat was slow. Rain poured down as John steered in his yellow wet weather gear. Liana got him tea and a new dry hat and gloves after an hour! We passed through Gainsborough and reached Torksey a wet 2 ½ hours later. Liana tied a bow rope on the Torksey Cut pontoon, and John turned Annie, ready to go upstream tomorrow. The sun came out, we had bacon & egg butties for lunch, then walked to the lock, chatted with the lock keeper and took our usual walk up and down the moorings. Sadly, the tea shop is closed Mondays and Fridays, so no cake or sausage rolls :(
Chinese chicken, boiled new potatoes and sweetcorn cooked on board were tasty, before we chilled and watched tv.
Saturday 11 May Torksey to Newark (20 miles, 2 locks)
We slept well and saved ourselves for elevenses at the tea shop by the lock. The characterful lady bakes some great cakes! We had beetroot & raspberry and carrot cake, plus sausage rolls with our coffee. We chatted to folks heading down to the Chesterfield Canal, and John advised them about entering West Stockwith. Liana didn't think the portuguese guy going our way agreed with him! We set out just before the flood in the sunshine, but didn't notice any flood catch us up (it is neap tide and there was a fair amount of fresh water coming downstream), so the trip took longer than usual – not that we minded, as the weather was good and scenery pleasant. The cheery staff at Cromwell lock answered our VHF call and saw us through. By the time we reached Nether Lock, the lock keeper had gone, so Liana operated the controls. The CRT Office moorings were full, so we moored below Newark Bridge on the castle side, for a change, as the quay was low enough for narrowboats.
Sunday 12 May Newark to Gunthorpe (14 miles, 3 locks)
We didn't sleep well, so John got up very early and made us tea, after which we slept until 9am!
John collected and cut wood for the fire, plus got a bag of coal from the garage, while Liana shopped at Aldi nearby. After tasty pains aux chocolats, John contracted Town Lock on VHF and we soon ascended, having a nice chat with lock keepers and passers by. The beautiful cruise in the sun was lovely, as usual, with plenty of wildfowl and a gentle breeze. After Hazelford Lock, Liana drove while John listened to the last soccer matches of the season. Manchester City beat Brighton to win the League Cup, so there was nothing Liverpool could do (they beat Wolves 2-0).
John took over as we approached Gunthorpe, and we moored behind the CRT visitors pontoon after a kindly cruiser crew moved her up to make room.
Had a beer and Prosecco at the pub. Rachel arrived after work to leave her dog Honeypie, a large but sweet Golden Doodle, with us. We have a bond with her, as we looked after her as a tiny puppy – aaaah! We all had a walk to the lock and a sandwich before she headed home.
Monday 13 May Gunthorpe to near Castle Marina, Nottingham (11 miles, 4 locks)
An incredibly beautiful, springlike morning on the Trent. Liana took HP for a walk while John cooked breakfast, then we set out in the sun. We love the scenery and wildlife, and passed happily through Stoke Bardolph and Holme Locks, with their friendly lock keepers. You can use mobile phones if you don't have VHF, if you plan ahead. Pearsons and Nicholsons Guides have the telephone numbers.
At Holme Pierrepoint, we had coffee and sandwich at the cafe, then walked HP around the National Watersports Centre and adjoining woodland, returning along the riverside path. John heard a cyclist's life story while Liana went back to await mum Flo, who is to join us for the day.
Later we travelled up to Trent Bridge in the sun, noting all the new fancy flats filling the North bank, then under it and the Victorian suspension bridge walkway to the Beckett School, close to the head of navigation here, enjoying a novel view of the town.
Returning below Trent Bridge, we turned and John dropped off Liana at the Meadow Lane Lock mooring. Boaters we had met at Gunthorpe were moored on the river moorings close by, and helped Liana operate the lock – thank you. Soon Annie passed beside London Road and turned left past new blocks of flats to the Law Courts and Fellows, Clayton & Morton Canal Warehouse, now a trendy cafe area for office workers nearby. Liana walked HP all the way along the canal, chatting to Flo, who was seated under the cratch, enjoying sun and view.
Passing through Castle Lock, we moored by Sainsbury's, just before Castle Marina and the Waters Edge chain pub, where we all had a decent meal outside in the sun. The beer and Prosecco went down well, too! Flo caught a taxi home, while we watched tv.
Tuesday 14 May Nottingham to Trent Lock visitor pontoon on the river (8.5 miles, 2 locks)
John took HP for an early walk, buying garlic from Sainsbury's. After breakfast, Liana decided to walk HP all the way to Beeston Lock, just over three miles, as it was such a sunny day. On the way she met an ex-army guy working as a tracker (bounty hunter), seeking people wanted by the police. He was after a paedophile. We didn't realise folk had jobs like this. We moored at Beeston and had nice coffee and cake at the tearoom which overlooks the weir. We were helped through the lock by widebeam boaters going the other way, then passed upriver past Beeston Marina, riverside chalets and Attenborough nature reserve to Trent Lock and Cranfleet Cut. We moored in front of The Trent Lock pub, on the CRT visitor pontoon.
The Steamboat barman tried to make Liana a pink fizzy drink out of Schweppes lemonade and rose wine, but she found it disgusting. The landlord eventually gave her the money back, although with bad grace. I think we'll give that drink a miss for a while! Liana walked HP back to the lock at Cranfleet Cut and back in the evening sun.
Wednesday 15 May Trent Lock to Zouch (6 miles, 3 locks)
A lovely, sunny morning saw John take Annie past the yacht club and weir and up the River Soar. Passing through the open flood lock, we passed folk busy at Red Hill Marina and admired the moored boats. Liana and HP went ashore at Ratcliffe Lock, which we shared, after which they walked all the way to Zouch Lock, a pretty stretch of the River Soar, operating Kegworth Deep Lock on the way. After sharing Zouch Lock, our companions continued, while we moored on the lock cut and visited the Rose & Crown pub, as usual!
Thursday 16 May Zouch to Loughborough (3 miles, 2 locks)
John woke early to another gorgeous day and took HP for a walk through the damp rape fields and beside the river, after a wet night. Honeypie is not a fan of the boat, so Liana walked her across the water meadows beside the River Soar, all the way to Loughborough. Liana kept to the path, but HP investigated the water margins, having a sneaky swim twice. Liana operated Bishop Meadow and Loughborough Locks on the way. We turned left at the junction and moored near other boats, using one ring and double pins on middle and bow ropes, to avoid having pins pulled out while we were away. We have a wedding blessing for God Daughter Claire and husband Dave, plus the usual jobs to do.
We walked along the canal the mile to the railway station, with HP and John pulling the trolley, just in time to catch the train to Sheffield. We had a wait for the Retford train, so had a coffee at Pumpkin. It was too awful for Liana, but John drank it. Liana found a Costa as we went to the correct platform. We chatted to a couple from near Gainsborough on the train, so time passed quickly. It is a long but not unpleasant walk to the bus station at Retford (too mean to get taxi), and we had a long wait (spent looking around the decent shops nearby), but the bus driver kindly dropped us outside the Boat Club at Clayworth, to collect our car and drive home. Sarah spent her weekend with us, which was fun.
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