Newark to Gunthorpe

Mon 26^th August  Newark to Hazelford Lock

As we left Newark, we left behind the cruisers that had been moored there when we had first arrived on Friday. The “2 days” limit is evidently a bit flexible. We shared Newark Town Lock with a brightly painted narrowboat called Forever Changes.

Newark Pontoon

Cruisers on the pontoon

Newark Town Lock

Leaving Newark

After leaving Newark, the river widens, and at Averham Weir, near Staythorpe Power Station, much of the flow goes away to the north of Newark, rejoining the navigable waterway downstream of Newark at Crankley Point.

Newark Marina and the mouth of the River Devon

Maltings

Averham Weir

Staythorpe Power Station

The river upstream from here is even wider, with high flood defenses protecting riverside properties from the mighty River Trent. Farndon Marina is home to a number of expensive fibreglass cruisers. At Fiskerton, we slowed down to pass some moored boats as we normally do, and a large cruiser decided to put on power and surge past, taking too much of the river in the face of an oncoming narrowboat, and causing the moored boats to bounce around on their pontoons.

Farndon Marina

Riverside properties at Fiskerton

Fiskerton

Cruiser rushing past

River hog

We arrived at Hazelford Lock where we had decided to moor on the lock island. It was a very hot day, and we found some shade at top of the steps up away from the moorings.

Moored at Hazelford

Sitting in the shade

Evening light.

1 lock, 8 miles. Dep 1040, arr 1325.


Tue 27^th August  Hazelford Lock to Gunthorpe Lock

Early morning at Hazelford Lock

We had no signal at Hazelford Lock, so we were unable to contact the lockkeeper to let him know we wanted to go through the lock. James climbed the steps to go and see him, and then realized that there was a boat already coming down in the lock, so the gates were soon to be opened. He returned quickly down to the boat in order to get out into the channel to be seen.

We were away from the mooring very promptly, and out from behind the wall that otherwise hid us, and the lock gates opened.  The downstream boat emerged and went past us, as we lined ourselves up for the lock. The lock gates started to close, and we sounded several long blasts on the horn, but to no avail. The gates were shut in our faces, so we started to to go around to moor up again. The lock keeper appeared, looking over the wall, and said “Are you wanting to go through the lock?” We said yes, and he opened the gates again for us, and then proceeded to give us a lecture about attempting to go against a red light. Nothing like “Sorry, I didn’t see you”, which would have been helpful. He had no reason to close the gates straight away, and should have looked before doing so.

Hazelford Lock

Highland Cow

Trent Hills

Gunthorpe Lock was fine, with a vigilant lock keeper, who opened the gates for us. As it was very hot, we decided to moor on the lock island, where there were some trees for shade. We also trundled two cassettes across the lock to the sanitary station. The disadvantage here was the height of the walls, which meant climbing a ladder if we wanted to leave the boat.

Gunthorpe Lock

The lock island

Unusual ducks

We arranged to meet Elaine at the café there later, and it was good to catch up with her. We made a plan to meet again on Sunday in Nottingham. Later we had some torrential rain.

Gunthorpe sunset

Heavy rain

2 locks, 5 miles. Dep 0955, arr 1135.


Wed 28^th August  Gunthorpe Lock to Gunthorpe pontoon

We did very little boating today, just moving upstream to the visitors mooring pontoon, where it was easier to get on and off the boat.

Leaving the lock island

The mooring Pontoon

We found a kiddie’s funfair in action in the meadow adjacent to the moorings, with gentle rides, ice cream and candy floss. There were also two lifelike dinosaurs walking around, which terrified some of the smaller children, who were screaming with fear.

Dinosaur

Later we went for a very pleasant meal at the Bridge and Bayleaf Indian restaurant.

0 locks, 0 miles. Dep 0825, arr 0835


Next: Gunthorpe to Nottingham for shopping, sightseeing, Cornerstone Church on Sunday, and seeing Elaine again. Then to Shardlow to meet up with Maggie and Clive.