Friday May 17 2024 a short cruise to Retford
First, we sang Happy Birthday to our middle daughter Jo. Congratulations!!,
Hoorah! The hospital silencer is fitted and engine serviced, and we are cruising the few miles to WhitSundaypie lock, just before Retford.
The sun is shining brightly, the sky is blue, ducklings are about too.
We paused a mile up the cut, to sort out the electrics: For some reason, the 24 volt hob switch was off, so Liana couldn’t get a spark. Also, she thought the gas was off, but a quick check showed it was on, so we soon had a cup of tea! The mains was also off, so the fridge came on once that was sorted. Somehow, we had left it on and it was iced up, so that was another job! John managed to lower our new pramtop, as it was so sunny.
The overflow weirs showed the water level was fine, but the “bottom is too near the top” , and the canal really needs dredging, CRT. Don’t expect to travel at above 2 knots/mph.
We enjoyed the countryside as we passed up the Idle valley. Reaching Whitsundaypie lock, a couple leaving it reopened the gates for us with Liana and a little push they requested from Annie.
Two boats were already moored just beyond the lock, ready for our RWBC event tomorrow. Once moored, we followed Dave & Shirl a few hundreds yards to The Hop Pole restaurant, where we had a rather pricey but tasty and well cooked meal, so it was worth it.
Saturday 18 May WhitSunday Pie Lock celebration
Today our boat club is celebrating the historic opening of this lock, when the local farmer’s wife is said to have made pies for all the navvies. Ellie Wadge and her team have cooked pies at the club and rushed them here for lunch, while about nine Narrowboats moored. Other members arrived by car with chairs and tables etc.
The sun came out, too, and the wind dropped, so we had a fine time. The pie was tasty, John won rum and Liana won beer in the raffle. We all had a lovely time in the sun, sitting out until it got dark and too cool.
Sunday May 19 Retford
Liana had felt unwell, so we passed by the Hop Pole and buttercup meadows on our way into Retford.
Once up the narrow lock, we stopped by Asda on the embankment at Retford, our usual mooring, rather than continue towards Ranby. We had a walk around town, bought a few bits, then chilled on board. John watched the last Match of the Day this season, before bed. Klopp and Liverpool FC fans had an emotional goodbye.
Monday May 20
We decided to head home, as Liana was better but still a little under the weather.
First, we had to continue through West Lock, wind just beyond and return through the lock. Liana was rather athletic/daring!
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