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| Honk honk wake up |
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| Cows cooling down |
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| Sandy beaches |
Lottie Lurcher woke us up at 5.30 when the Canadian Geese
were making a racket. We filled with water and headed for the lock to join 2
full time live aboard boaters. She worked the lock while I watched. Instead of using
the bollards at the top of the lock we put the rope round a sliding pole that
ran vertically into the lock. At first the cruise was blessed with cool air but
the day grew hot. At Gunthorpe lock we had to wait for the lock keeper but
Lottie wanted to relieve herself. Unfortunately the lock moorings were against
a massive wall. We encouraged Lottie onto the gas locker and then onto the roof.
From there she had a 3ft jump onto the lock side but she missed her footing and
I had to shove her bottom up while Paul pulled her up. No mean feat with a 32
kilo dog. I managed the lock alone and let the other boats leave first as I had
to go against the currant to pick up Paul and Lottie from a low pontoon. I
couldn’t drive the boat over as the rush of water was so great so I winded the
boat and approached the pontoon towards the lock. I still couldn’t get over but
I threw a rope and 2 CART men helped pull it over. Lottie jumped straight in.
This part of the river has very high banks which tower over the boat making it
hard to get off. People use the ladders provided and carry small dogs. So it
was a problem.
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| Newark Castle |
We moored up after the next lock which had high banks but
there were steps up to a fantastic playground for Lottie. Paths had been made
through a wilderness inhabited by rabbits. She loved it but got too hot. We
couldn’t stay there as we had to seek the pump out again, so at 2.00 we set off
in search of a marina with services. The river was quiet and tranquil but it
was hemmed in by high banks blocking the views apart from the massive
Stanthorpe power station. The breeze cooled us down but when we stopped it was
baking. Paul had to do the pump himself in scorching temperatures.
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| The curtain wall |
Leaving the power station behind we entered the Newark Dyke.
Around the first bend there was a cruiser drifting through the reeds with a
lady waving frantically at us. Paul slowed down and drew alongside to find out
they had broken down and needed a tow. Fortunately they were only a mile from
their home mooring and we were headed that way. The Hubby passed the bow rope
over and I secured it to the bow and then he looped the stern rope round
Lucky’s hand rail. Paul cruised slowly on and we chatted to the couple who had
interesting tales of the river to share. At their home mooring I released the
front rope, the man pushed off the back, and they glided the cruiser neatly back
to their mooring.
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| Typical high walled moorings on left |
We arrived in Newark town lock on a green light but there
was no sign of life but the lock keeper
materialised from his paperwork and worked the lock for me. The mooring in Newark had high concrete walls towering above
the boats roof, no good for a hound even though Lottie is good at jumping. The
pontoon was full but there was a short space behind the live aboard boaters who
were heading for the Chesterfield canal. We had moored a few minutes when the
lady told us they were moving off as a small but rowdy group had started up a
barbeque on the tiny patch of grass. Already they were drunk and phoning
friends to join them. We followed them when they assured us there would be
mooring below the next lock. I worked Nether lock, what a joy it was in such
oppressive heat to insert a key and push buttons to fill it, and open the
mighty gates with one finger. The river level below was lower than expected so
the wall was very high again, but there was plenty of grass for Lottie. Paul
used our interior front step on the back deck and the extra 18 inches made it
possible for Lottie to enjoy the facilities.
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