So I moored up in Newark behind the Barge despite being told specifically by the Lockkeeper at Nether Lock to moor with other people. Unfortunately the pontoon moorings at the Kiln were full up and I didn't realise there were better moorings through the bridge and on the parkside until it was too late. Chatting to a passerby he said there had been a boat moored where I was for two weeks and it had been fine as far as he was aware!
I sussed out the bus situation and as the bus station is being revamped my bus actually went from right next to where I was so I decided I would stay put. Travelled into Mansfield on the 'school' bus which was entertaining. Did a bit of work but had to leave early with the boss as there was only one key for the gate since the main company had gone bust and we were the only chickens in the yard! Looking forward to when we move premises now.
By the time I got back the park moorings had all filled up so had to stay where I was. At 4.30am some toerag thought it would be fun to jump on the roof of the boat and jump up and down. Weird because I had been awake anyway and there had been no 'discussion' before and just as quietly as he arrived he left. Definately a he from the size of the boot prints on the roof next day.
Arranged to meet Rob at Fiskerton as it had looked nice from the bus. As I was about to leave a boat came past and upon asking if they were going through the lock and could I join them (I thought it was unmanned at the time due to it showing an amber light) it turned out they were the people who run the farm where my horse Macuba still lives. Serendipity strikes again. Had a good chat in the lock and as I had to get to Fiskerton by 12pm in order for us to go fetch Rob's car from Nuneaton before they shut at 2pm I overtook and left them standing!!! Fiskerton it turns out is not the best for mooring. The visitor mooring only takes one narrowboat or two cruisers and as it had cruisers on I wasn't able to moor alongside. I spotted a little extra pontoon just beyond the long term moorings and attached myself to it. It was very decrepit and scary I was convinced it was either going to sink under me or the boards would collapse under my weight. Having gingerly moored up I then realised that I couldnt get out the top as the little gate was locked and there was barbed wire strung everywhere. I carefully moved the boat back so that the rear deck was on the private moorings with the help of a man leaning over the wall telling me how far I could go before squashing the little cruiser/dinghy type thing. I asked a man off the boats if I could leave it there for a couple of hours or so would I be in anyones way etc to which he said it would be fine. Rob had arrived so off we went to do the long distance car shuffle.
nb Comfortably Numb went past as I was mooring up breasted up to another boat.
Picked his car up in Nuneaton, left my car somewhere along the Trent and Mersey canal for me to pick up when I get the boat to it and back to Fiskerton. Still no room on the visitor moorings so we went to the pub seemed mean not to as we were leaving the car in their carpark!
Leaving the pub there was a man who looked cross. So I asked him if he was the landlord of the private moorings. He wasn't but then we realised he was the owner of the decrepit pontoon! He thought the landlord had said it was okay which made him cross. But after realising that I had asked one of the boaters he came round and said we could stay the night and didn't need to move back onto the visitor moorings which had now become free. He even invited us round to his house the next morning for a coffee.
Next morning I took a bottle of wine around while Rob made a start on the oil change which was not to be as they had sent the wrong oil filters!!! We motored up to Hazelford Lock and canoed back down gently with the flow. Having a small picnic on the way. Dried the canoe and had a drink at the pub before packing it away in the car again and Rob gave me a lift back to the boat then he rushed off to watch the England match. Which he wishes he hadn't bothered now!
I moved through the lock with two boats from the Trent stage intending to go to Gunthorpe after filling with water but the heat was making me feel unwell. Whilst watering up the other spout kept leaking water which was a godsend as I kept wiping my face and then filling my cap and wearing it. Bliss.
Collared a random passerby to catch my ropes as I moved off the water wall round the corner to a wall with smaller bollards slightly closer together. Glad I had as the wind kept moving the boat away but he gamely hung onto the centre line until I was able to join him and together we pulled the boat back in. Not easy mooring to these walls when you are a solo boater as they are so far above you. Still in a couple of days I should be back on the canals.
I am sooo hot and bothered. What can I eat now?
