Tuesday 5th June 2012
Gunthorpe Lock to Holme Pierrepoint
I woke up during the night as you do - so to speak - and on returning from my ablutions I was listening to several Tawny Owls calling to each other. I lay listening for a while to the calls - and then it was morning! Dropping off to the sound of Tawny Owls certainly improves on sheep counting.
We set off in weak sunshine to head towards Stoke Lock, the weather was a bit hit and miss. Cold with weak bursts of sunshine. We met up with three other boats at the lock. It was time for a physical needs break for the dogs and a cup of tea and a bun for me.
We set off about half an hour later. Half way to Holme Lock we passed one of the boats that was struggling to make headway against the flow and was trying to find the slack water wherever possible. We advised the Lockkeeper of their predicament. However just as Rosie was exiting Holme lock the slow boat arrived on the downstream pontoon. I later found out that the day previously, they had run out of diesel and had to refill the tank and bleed the fuel system whilst drifting backwards!
We moored Rosie outside the Holme Pierrepoint water sports centre for the night and we had a walk round to watch the white water run.
We set off in weak sunshine to head towards Stoke Lock, the weather was a bit hit and miss. Cold with weak bursts of sunshine. We met up with three other boats at the lock. It was time for a physical needs break for the dogs and a cup of tea and a bun for me.
We set off about half an hour later. Half way to Holme Lock we passed one of the boats that was struggling to make headway against the flow and was trying to find the slack water wherever possible. We advised the Lockkeeper of their predicament. However just as Rosie was exiting Holme lock the slow boat arrived on the downstream pontoon. I later found out that the day previously, they had run out of diesel and had to refill the tank and bleed the fuel system whilst drifting backwards!
We moored Rosie outside the Holme Pierrepoint water sports centre for the night and we had a walk round to watch the white water run.
As the evening arrived a booze cruise arrived with a good selection or inebriates on board the Princess of Nottingham which winded next to the boat.
Wildlife: A pair of Mute Swans with seven cygnets is the highest count so far. A few Greylag Geese have had as many at nine and Canada Geese with seven. Looks like being a good year for swans and geese. Because the banks along this section is very sandy in places the Sand Martins can be observed flying into the nesting holes as we pass by.
Daily Total
Miles: 7.9
Locks: 2
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Miles: 7.9
Locks: 2
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 3.2
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 728.3
Miles: 728.3
Locks: 658
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 10
Engine Hours: 2163.7
Later......
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