Spring Summer Cruise 2014 ❷❹

Cromwell Lock VM to Newark 'The Kiln' VM

Overnight weather was quite mild bright sunshine from early morning.

Morning: Started preparing the boat for the next leg of the cruise. Off to the rubbish disposal with the accumulated waste. Engine checks made for water and oil levels. Then an early breakfast. Underway just before 9am. Steady push up river against a reduced flowwhen compared to the last few days. We also had the pram cover down so that we could enjoy the warm sunshine. We were soon at Nether Lock which was manned and set for us on our arrival.

One of the last working boats (Inland Navigator) passed us going up the River Trent to Staythorpe Power Station to pick up a generator and then return it back down river. At Newark Town Bridge they had to drop the wheelhouse to get under! Reminds me of the Humber Princess oil tanker, one of the last commercials on the River Don! 


 

Afternoon: Keith the lock keeper who was on duty at Nether Lock, looked a bit like the character 'Lofty' as played by Don Estelle in 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'. Looking all resplendent in his pith helmet. 

The lockie said that he thought the visitor mooring were full. However, as it turned out we were lucky to find a place on the floating pontoon at Newark. As we were looking for a space, a moored boater said that they were about to leave. Two boats left and we and another boat  slid into their place. Throughout the afternoon people came and went from the moorings. It seems to be totally a by chance event if there is a space as you pass. It proved to be no difficulty in finding a place. Over night there were three empty boat spaces on the pontoon.

I had noticed the previous night that we had a small leak on the calorifier .So it was time to investigate the cause. Stripping out the stairs soon had the calorifier exposed for examination. Looks like we need a repair.
 
Evening: A torrent of rain fell for half an hour. I estimate that 2" or 50mm came down in that time. The streets were flooded and we were pulling cardboard off the top of street drains to relieve the flood water. then the early evening sun came back and the ground started to steam.

Wildlife:
Birds: House Sparrow, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie, Starling, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Grey Lag Goose, Canadian Goose, Coot, Waterhen, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Lapwing, Skylark, Arctic Tern, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Oyster Catcher and Robin.

Butterflies: Meadow Brown.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle,

 

Today's Total.

Miles: 4.7
Locks: 1
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1.5
Solar Panels: 69 Ah

 

Accumulated Total.

Miles: 1832.8
Locks: 1132
Swing / Lift Bridges: 295
Tunnels: 26
Pump Outs: 20
Engine Hours: 2832.8
Solar Panels: 14881 Ah