Left at 08:40
arrived at 14:20.
Up to a cool and
overcast day, it rained on and off all night.
Derek gave dogs a long walk as it will be another long day. Its proper locks today, that is unmanned and
down to me and a windlass, so may be fun and games, hopefully not. There was a goose family opposite us on the
mooring, mum dad and tiny babies and a Coot family, there has been one here
every time we have been, they usually make a nest in one of the tyre
fenders. Then a flock of Tufted Ducks
arrived, 5 males and 1 poor female, they were all fighting for her
attention. Took some photos, Derek
deposited the rubbish and we were off for 8 39.
Out on the windy river, canoeists were everywhere, well it is
Saturday. A lady crew came passed, its
quite scary when there are one man canoes who seem not to be looking our way,
we will try not to create any casualties agh agh !!!!! Saw our first group of yellow flag Irises. The 1st lock 9 04 went in by
ourselves and didn’t have to close the gates as 2 were coming down, its
starting to get busy. As we went through
Nottingham we didn’t have to remove anything off the top of the boat, it has
very low bridges, so all was well. On
the way in to the centre there were yellow Water Lillies, they aren’t open because its cool, when they do open they look
like giant buttercups. Nearing the
Hotel, it always looks as if we are going to go in for breakfast, there is a sharp bend right in front of the
window , with a little winding hole to enable you to turn, we met another NB coming the other was and passed without
incident. A young man laying the
breakfast tables took our photo as we passed.
There is a lot of building works going on, riverside properties and
offices. At the next lock there was a
little cruiser in coming down, I went to give him a hand, he said it was first
time he had done the locks as his wife usually
did them, nothing new there then! We went through, its only a few feet
so didn’t take long, there was a Coot family at the other side, they had 4 very tiny babies. Coots and Moorhens are really good Mums and
me and the kids take great delight in watching them feed them. Stopped at Sainsburys for paper and potatoes.
The next lock is Beeston and it goes back on to the river, its an odd
one, you have to leave 2 paddles up when you leave the lock and it has fixed
windlasses. Went to open it for Derek,
there was someone coming up the river and as it was set for them I decided to
let them through, Derek was grumpy as the wind was catching him. An old guy from a cruiser at the other side
of the lock came and gave me a hand and we let the NB and a hire NB through
without incident, he left the paddles open for me. I made lunch and the sun came out for a
while and then John Denver came on the radio singing Grandmas Feather Bed, yee
ha!! Missing the grandkids cheered me up anyway. Cranfleet Lock next, someone was in coming
down, so I went to give them a hand through.
They opened both gates so twice as much walking from one side of lock to
the other, the heavens opened as Derek was safely inside, I got soaked through
to the skin so had to make a quick change, hanging all the wet clothes over the
bath to drip. Saw some new ducks, looked in my bird book and they were Red
Crested Pochard, that’s a 1st!!
Got to Sawley Cut (not far from East Midlands Airport), there are two locks
to choose from and they are automated. Someone was in the left hand side lock
going up so we went for the other. I had to study the instructions on the
control panel (there are lots of left and rights) and I sometime have to think
about that. Sorted it out and put Derek
and another NB through, the heavens opened again but we were through and moored
up for 2.20 Settled for the day, thought
I might have cuppa and when recovered go for a walk to Marina shops. Re planted
one of my pots with the purchases from Newark market, had a cuppa and went to
the Marina. Got some dolls house bits
and pieces, there is a dolls house shop there and a few other bits from main
shop, looked at boats and even caravans. Derek walked dogs and did some bits
and pieces he had been meaning to do, we put clothes in engine room to dry
properly and got tea ready. We had tele
so all was set.
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