Yesterday was a tough day all round.
Started off with long trek to Willington luckily for me I did the first three large locks with an American Family.
They didn't believe that I could possibly do them on my own. So I at least started one without them but was very glad I didn't have to climb ladders.
They stopped for lunch so I headed for Stenson alone.
I was getting a little concerned that I might have to do this one alone and got some gloves out ready for the climb up the wet slimy ladders. However by the time the lock had emptied and the boat in it was ready to leave another boat arrived. I had met these people before but was extremely glad to meet them again!
I stopped just before the footbridge to Willington Marina but didn't make use of it in the end as I had a letter to post. Cycled out down into Willington village, over bridge and back to the car.
Quick look at map and worked out how to get to Barton Turns. The bike sticks out a bit on one side so the minor road that took us to Barton Turns itself has a very very narrow bridge. Made it through by closing my eyes!
Nice man let me park inside the marina gates and told me how to get back onto the towpath.
I thought it was 6 miles back to Willington.
I was wrong it is 10 miles exactly to where I had moored the boat.
Why oh why didn't I think to bring a bottle of water?
Still I am proud of myself I did it in one hour ten minutes.
Just got back into boat when a drunk started talking to me through my open porthole! I did point out that it wasn't polite to do so.
I slept well that night.
Little boat.
Fabulous artwork under the bridge in Burton. I could not stay long as I was being worked through by my 'staff' I appear to have them waiting for me at every lock.
This solo boating lark is a doddle didn't have to lift a finger today.
Meeting a hireboat whilst passing a load of moored boats I got grounded. Mentioned it to them as they were passing and quick as a flash they said throw us your rope and they pulled me back off it as they passed.
All in all a good day. Picked car up and parked it elsewhere so I don't have to worry about the gates being locked when I need to use it.
I also bought some stuff at Jannels.
Sea searcher magnet, nappy pin, lid for the chimney base (steel one now at the bottom of Torksey Lock) and a proper pole.
Reminds me must go and oil it.
4 comments:
Have just found you blog and find it fascinating.
We passed you a few times on the Fossdyke and lower Trent over the past two or three weeks and really liked your sign writing. Our boat was the small cruiser called Naughty-Cal.
Well done for braving the Trent single handed and have a fantastic trip.
Hi, I never spotted you despite the fact that I was actually on the look out for you.
You are of course famous (or is that infamous?) on the forum!
Never mind. There will be another time im sure. Had we known you where on the look out for us we would have pulled over for a cuppa.
Hi Paul
Phone and check they have one in stock first. The one I got was a reject from another boater. Only problem with it is the cover for the key slot won't go flat. In my case it is under another locking flap so not a problem.
The locking caps I have for the Mikuni diesel and the water are a different make and a real pain in the arse. They are the ones with a funny shaped item to fit in slots for undoing etc. I lost one of these as they are quite stiff. And it pinged off into the Marina just after I thought it might happen. Ho hum. Luckily having a locking water one as well means I have a spare which is now attached to a long piece of string!
Be careful which ones you choose.
Post a Comment