Fiskerton Fen Visitor Moorings to Bardney Lock
3:30 am Poppy decided that she needed to go out. The sky was almost clear with only distant clouds on the horizon to be seen. Venus was very bright. There was a blue glow to the northern sky and the moon was casting an eerie dappled line of moonlight on the canal surface in front of the boat. Our neighbour's who we met on arrival were in full song, well full croak to be exact. Just as Pops made her way back to the boat, a fox called off in the distance. It must have been instinctive for a fox terrier as she froze to the spot with her head on one side listening. Then she did a low growl before moving back on the boat with her head down. It is almost primeval the remainder of the wolf instinct that still haunts our four legged companions.
7:30 am I was awake once more. I needed a drink and a cup of Chai would just fit the bill. Our amphibious neighbours of last night were being quiet once more. It was just the normal sounds of everyday life along the River Witham. Noisy quarrelsome Geese falling out with each other and the tip-tap of Swans demanding breakfast.
The strength wind has dropped off a bit overnight but it is still blustery. The blue in the sky and the sunshine are most welcome. However, the wind is now from a much colder direction so cruising today will require a few extra layers. One change with the wind is the heady scent of oilseed rape flowers being wafted over from a huge sea of bright yellow in a nearby field.
Later we went on the short cruise down to Bardney Lock. The moorings here are a bit more sheltered from the wind. There are also BW power bollards available. So we will take on water tomorrow and the Memsahib will be ever so pleased to be able to do a couple of loads of washing. The sanitary station here is quite well maintained.
Wildlife: This morning I have been watching a Pied Wagtail hawking insects off the pontoon. Yesterday we noticed a few more butterflies along the river bank. In particular the Orange Tips, with as their name suggests an ochre stain on the tip of each wing. They were accompanied by a few Meadow Browns.
The strength wind has dropped off a bit overnight but it is still blustery. The blue in the sky and the sunshine are most welcome. However, the wind is now from a much colder direction so cruising today will require a few extra layers. One change with the wind is the heady scent of oilseed rape flowers being wafted over from a huge sea of bright yellow in a nearby field.
Then we changed our minds and had a morning maintaining the boat. Polishing the paintwork and brasses. Doing a bit of paintwork touch up here and there.
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| Male Orange Tip |
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| Female Orange Tip |
Wildlife: This morning I have been watching a Pied Wagtail hawking insects off the pontoon. Yesterday we noticed a few more butterflies along the river bank. In particular the Orange Tips, with as their name suggests an ochre stain on the tip of each wing. They were accompanied by a few Meadow Browns.
14:00 We had a walk down to the lock just in time to help two Tupperware through the lock. The wind was so bad the GRP's were struggling to get off the river and into the lock. Getting out of the lock was no better.
17:00 We moved down to the water point from the visitor moorings. It was a battle to turn Rosie round and retrace our steps. If you are coming this way, the visitor moorings have power pillars that can be used with a BW prepayment card.
Formula One Weekend. Whooo hooo!
Daily Total
Miles: 1.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1.3
Miles: 1.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1.3
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 699.7
Miles: 699.7
Locks: 652
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2114.6
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