Fast(ish) Waters and Sawley Cut

Had intended to spend a couple of days at Kegworth but after 4 hours of rain and a violent thunderstorm that wouldn't go away it was necessary to stay longer. Ebony was terrified of the noise and flashes and spent the time sitting and sliding off my lap or curled round my feet. Now every drop of rain and she fears the worst.

This resulted in the water level in Kegworth lock cut rising quite a bit although the flood lock was never shut - woke in the early hours to see water gushing past - guess they were letting a lot down over night.

It was nice to have company - Chris and Sue on Innisfree also stayed to sit out the weather - and we did a lot of socialising as well as exploring the area. I was lucky to be let in the museum, despite being shut, and although it didn't have anything about the river there was plenty about the village and the local sock industry! They even supplied royalty!

On Wednesday we all set off, saying goodbye at Ratcliffe lock. We were passed by a flotilla of lovely small steam launches. Redhill flood lock was open and traffic light green so I continued towards Thrumpton weir - it is really weird that you can't SEE the weir but can feel the pull of the water. By now I realised that the Trent was flowing pretty fast and soon I could see the water gushing over Trent Lock gates. Shall I moor here? Will I have difficulty mooring in the flast flow? Decided to go uphill to Sawley as planned. That was the loneliest mile I have done - no I don't think I will use the facilities to the right of the lock! Soon tied on the high lock moorings and then in the lock. Phew!

A first time hirer came up behind me as I left the lock - Newark had told them no problems on the Trent (they had been held up for 2? days at Pillings Flood Lock) and were now pretty disgusted to see the flow of the Trent and that the boards showed yellow at Sawley.

Now I have to wait until Monday when Chris and Mary join me to go to Lincoln and Boston. On Friday I took the bus into Nottingham. After a good look round, lunch in a nice cafe and a trip to the Castle - no dogs allowed but I was allowed to use their loos - there were none mentioned on the tourist signs in town. Then walked down the waterfront - couldn't resist seeing who was moored up as you never know who you might miss - and there was Sue (from Innisfree) about to work Castle Lock. Went back to have a cup of tea with them before I caught the bus back to Sawley.

Also saw the steam launches again - they confirmed that the had been on the Great Ouse last summer (which is where I had seen them before) and also on the Thames that year too.

Well I am now looking forward to our visit to the Fossdyke. Have been to Keadby twice before but this is a first for us all.

Travelling with Friends

After a week in Devon - including Lauren's 4th birthday party, a walk in hot sun, then in shade by the river at Castle Drogo, a reminiscent trip to childhood holidays' farm in Lyme Regis - I drove to Suffolk to spend 5 days with Chris and Mary. Their village was holding its first open gardens weekend and I was roped in to help with teas. A lovely time was had, weather perfect, gardens superb and £3000 was raised. Stayed on to celebrate my birthday - started with home-grown boiled eggs with home-made bread in the garden, then a fix of gardening before lunch in the shade. A lovely day culminating with a walk along the River Deben and fish meal watching boats - perfect!

Returned to boat to find plants watered and thriving so I made a donation to the club - lovely mooring too. Next morning I went the short distance to Zouch Cut to moor for a couple of days. There I met Chris and Sue on Innisfree (first met in Devizes 2007, then again at Crick Show this year). After Friday's morning of rain, levels hadn't risen much, so on Saturday morning we travelled together to Kegworth Shallow Lock to moor for the weekend. Having passed plenty of moorings at Devil's Elbow we all wished we had stopped there too for a country chill out. Oh well next time!