Back to Gunthorpe then on to Nottingham

Come Monday morning, we'd outstayed our 48-hour welcome. San Fairy Ann even more so. So we set off back up the Newark Cut. Dave couldn't do the bow-spring turn we'd anticipated him doing, because the river was too narrow at this point, so he turned in the nearby marina entrance and off we went, picking up NB Wandering Star on our way, and going with her in the locks as far as Gunthorpe, where we moored again, squeezing our way into spaces on the bank side of the pontoon, next to a large cruiser.

The moorings were filled within the hour. Other poor folk had to carry on for hours before the next available place to stop.

The day was rounded off with an evening of cards with Sandy and Dave. Much fun.

Tuesday was a day of very strong winds and occasional, very short outbreaks of rain. But this was the River Trent, and she is beautiful, and well worth getting wet for. After Stoke and Holme Locks, we were back on the Beeston Cut, where both boats moored by Sainsbury's again.

After shopping there, and before supper, we all walked into the old town, to Nottingham Castle, an amazing building with a long history, built on top of a rocky outbreak with once-inhabited caves. While the original castle is long gone, there remains an ancient pub "Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem", built into the rock in 1189. We didn't stop for a drink (though I would have loved one at the time), but wandered quickly through it to see the rooms carved out of the rock. Fascinating.

In the evening we watched a DVD of Flashdance, that 1983 classic which seems just a little dated now!

On up the Trent

The next day, on through Castle Lock with NB Me•And•Er, then stopping at Meadow Lane Lock for services before descending and turning back onto the mighty Trent.

Wide, sweeping, with almost no boats but thousands of birds. The weather was excellent. It was a glorious experience.

We met up with NB Treacle while were waiting to go into the huge Holme Lock. 

While we were waiting, Grace and I went to investigate the nearby canoe slalom, which looked like great fun. I'd love to have a go at that!

We went down Holme and Stoke Locks, two very small narrowboats in huge chambers. These locks were built for sea-going and river craft much bigger than Kantara, and they're manned, and electrically operated. Did I mention they're big?

We moored at the floating pontoons above Gunthorpe Lock, where we met Dave and Mary from Lady Catherine again, though they set off shortly afterwards. We didn't take offence.

Gunthorpe is a lovely spot, and the mooring was a delight. It's just a simple, floating platform with a locked gate which gives entrance to a village green and a nice-looking pub. The village is nothing special except to those who live there, but it's given status just by being by the lock and weir, and a good place to stop on your river journey.

NB San Fairy Ann (English distortion of the French "ça ne fait rien" - "it doesn't matter") pulled in behind us, and the next morning, we set off together.

As the water level in these big locks falls, there's minimal disturbance of the boats, but it's standard practice nonetheless to have a rope from the boat threaded around a bar which runs vertically down the wall, just to prevent the boat from drifting around. At the next lock, however, Hazleford, the water was far more turbulent - a gate paddle had failed to close apparently - and Sandy from San Fairy Ann had the rope pulled from her grasp. The bow of the boat swung instantly out across the chamber towards Kantara. Dave at the helm released his rope, too, so that when the boat struck Kantara, it was with her entire length and not just the point of the bow. No harm was done at all, but the two of them were very apologetic, and quite shaken.

We sped on (8 mph!) to Newark Town Lock, which we both descended without incident. To my surprise, the Nicholson map at this point has the castle remains and the three sets of moorings on the wrong side of the river.

We both moored against a high wall right opposite the castle, although San Fairy Ann moved on shortly afterwards to a floating pontoon mooring just a few hundred yards away. They needed easier access for a visitor they'd be having on Sunday.

Grace and I explored the town a bit after lunch. We didn't find it to be quite as special as Nicholson reports, but the castle and castle gardens are beautifully done, and we were most impressed by the complete lack of graffiti and litter.

The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene

The Trent is fabulous. I'm so glad we did this trip, and not the one to Peak Forest which we'd originally intended. We're going to skip the diversion up the Erewash. We weren't that impressed with the little bit of it we did two years ago, and to try again might be to risk casting a shadow over the whole journey and damping the enthusiasm we have at the moment.