Back on the Witham

So we all made it back onto the Witham safe and sound. It was a bumpy ride back and Wells Bar was a bit lively but other than a few heavy landings on the North  Norfolk coast it was an uneventful run back. 

Due to the fog we lost sight if all the other boats at one stage which was quite eery but we followed our course on the chart plotter and found our way home. 

So here we are now safely back on the Witham moored at Langrick Bridge. Last night we all enjoyed a huge steak in Witham and Blues American Diner. Excellent meals yet again. 

A break Away

Unfortunately it looks like our stay in Wells will be short lived this year. The fine weather we have been blessed with thus far is due to break in the next day or so. So we have little choice but to leave Wells and head back to Boston tomorrow morning. 

A shame really but I'm sure we will find something to do on the Witham for the rest of the week. 

We made it!

So here we are on the Wells next the Sea webcam. Easy enough to spot us! 

Stormy Weather

It was a very stormy day yesterday in Sheffield. This photo was taken as we drove home from the top of Back Edge in Foxhill right on the north of the city! 

Almost There

With just a couple of days left to go to prepare for next weeks holiday we are in the final stages now.  Tonight we will be busy washing the cabin and cockpit carpets to ensure they are clean and tidy for the start of the trip at the very least. No doubt the cockpit carpet will end up as a muddy mess well before we get to Boston never mind Wells next the Sea.

There was time last night to sit down and make a list of things we still need to buy, thankfully mainly food and drink, and also a list of items to be checked prior to our departure on Friday evening. We rang the lock keeper at Boston to confirm our passage through the lock on Sunday morning, 5am this time! Why is it alays so early? We also sent the harbour master at Wells next the Sea an email to warn him of our impending arrival, you can’t book a berth here but they like to be warned if big groups are expected.

Pretty much all that is left to do is a food and beer shop on Friday morning. Then hopefully as soon as we arrive at the marina and load up the boat we are ready to roll. Our aim is to reach Bardney on Friday evening, with the two locks out of the way this leaves us an easy run on Saturday along the Witham and into Boston.

Now all we need is some decent weather!

How Long?

Naughty-Cal is no sporting a fresh set of props, but how long will this set last? 

We sensibly didn't go out on Sunday after they were changed as Sod's law dictates that we would have dinged them. 

Our prediction is that they will be dinged before we get to Boston on Saturday! 

Ready?

So here she is ready to go. Yesterday we had a busy day of cleaning, tidying and generally getting Naughty-Cal ready for next weeks holiday. 

With fresh props, full fuel tank and a full water tank she is loaded up and ready to go. Now we just need some decent weather. Too much to ask? 

All for Nothing

As we rally on to get Naughty-Cal ready for our bank holiday cruise to Wells next the Sea we are starting to get the feeling it could be a lot of effort for nothing at this rate. The weather really isnt playing ball at all.

If it continues as forecast we will be locked into the marina by the flood gates before too long. We need to make a break for freedom next Friday evening and be able to get through the Glory Hole in Lincoln city centre, neither of which will be possible if it doesnt stop raining.

Never the less in the vain hope that the weather improves we are plodding on with the preparations. The fuel tank is almost full, just another 20 litres or so to go at the weekend. 

This weekend we have a list of jobs to do, namely sorting the dinghy out and hanging it on the davits, cleaning the upholstery, cleaning the cockpit rug and cabin carpets and a general clean and polish in the cockpit. Finally at the end of the weekend refilling the water tank and leaving Cal ready for the off the following week. 

We should be getting all excited about the trip by now but neither of us is that enthusiastic about the prospect of another wet and wild cruise across the Wash. Maybe we should leave the canopies up this time if it is wet.

Stormy

Well the weather looks set to spoil itself in the next few days. We have over an inch if rain forecast for today plus an extra inch and a half over the weekend. 

With those quantities we don't expect to be heading out on the boat over the weekend. With the ground so dry it will all run off into the river so we expect we will be locked into the marina. 

Hopefully not a sign if things to come this summer! 

Stolen Boat Found

I'm sure that most of you will have heard or seen that a narrow boat was stolen from the Loughborough area. Well I am pleased to say that we found her on Friday night on the Fossdyke Canal near Lincoln. 

Sadly she is in a bit of a state. 

Counting Down

We really are on the countdown to our first proper holiday of the year now. With just two weekends to go before the trip it is now all hands on deck to get Naughty-Cal ready to go.

In a bid to actually have the boat ready in plenty of time this year, which will make a change, we made a midweek visit to the marina on Wednesday night to take some diesel and give her a bit of a tidy up. The 50 litres of diesel we took has gone a long way towards filling her up. We plan to take another 40 litres tonight which will see the fuel tank almost full with a further 20 or 30 litres to be added at the end of next weekend to brim the tank.

We have a few minor bits to do to the dinghy to get it ready to go on holiday but the hard work of scrubbing the hull has already been done so it should just need a quick hose off when it is hung from the davits next weekend.

We don’t have any plans for this weekend as the weather doesn’t look great. We will put the fuel in tonight before heading off to Lincoln Boat Club for a few beers. We may well end up back in the marina tomorrow for the evening which will make a change but if the weather ends up better than expected we could equally end up spending the evening out and about locally. Who knows?

Bank Holiday Weekend - Bardney Village to Burton Waters

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Bank Holiday Weekend - Dunston Fen to Bardney Village

 Bardney Village Moorings

 Dinghy ride from Bardney Village to Short Ferry on the old river Witham

 Torksey Boat Club moored at Short Ferry.

 Old River Witham. After a quick depth check we are confident we can get our boats up here.

 Lincoln Boat Club at Bardney Village.

And Lincoln Boat Club moored in the sunshine at Bardney Village

Bank Holiday Weekend - Bardney to Dunston Fen

 Hay Bales adjacent the White Horse.

 Dinner Time. We all enjoyed a fine meal in the White Horse and thoroughly recommend it.

 Early morning at Dunston Fen.

 Lincoln Boat Club moored at Dunston Fen.

Tulle Maine with the pub in the background.

Bank Holiday Weekend - Burton Waters to Bardney Lock

 Sunset over the Fossdyke at the start of the trip.

 E Pontoon approach Bardney Lock.

 Boys go playing on their toys.

 Sole Mate leaving Bardney and heading towards Dunston Fen.

Cruising down the River Witham.

Bank holiday day 3

Wow. What a day yesterday was. Wall to wall sunshine and hot. If only all weekends were so good. 

So yesterday we left Bardney village and headed back to the marina. The river was very busy and for the first time we had to queue for the locks! 

Bank Holiday Day 2

After a gentle cruise yesterday we made it to The White Horse at Dunston Fen. We all enjoyed a fine meal in the evening with some live Irish music. We will certainly be going back again soon.

Bank Holiday Day 1

So we set off last night after eventually getting to the marina in busy traffic. We didn't end up where we had planned. The river is very busy this weekend. We are a little further on than anticipated at Bardney Lock.

Here is the view from the window this morning

Dam Flask, Bradfield, Sheffield

We have over the years become a little complacent about the wonderful countryside and surroundings we are blessed with near to our home in Sheffield. So last night we decided to take a quick walk around Dam Flask on our way home. Here are a collection of pictures for you.

 Looking across the reservoir from the dam wall.

 The dam wall.

 Looking across the reservoir to the sailing club.

 Driving home along Kirk Edge.

Almost home now.

River Trent Advice

News just in from Canal and Rivers Trust

River Trent

Wednesday 1 May 2013 until further notice

The flood events over the last 12 months have caused a build-up of silt at several locations along the River Trent.

Our major works team have allocated £500,000 to tackle this issue and will start dredging in May.

This work will be undertaken alongside works to clear the lock tails by the Crane Boat.

The worst affected areas currently include downstream of Cromwell Lock, downstream of Stoke Lock, downstream of Newark Town Lock, downstream of Hazleford Lock and Torksey Cut.

We apologise for any difficulties this may cause and ask you to take advice from the lock keepers as other areas not mentioned in this notice may be affected as well.

Please check our website for regular updates and further information on these works which will be taking place.

Once we have a more accurate idea of the dates we will be commencing the dredging works, this notice will be updated straight away.

Enquiries: Newark – 0303 040 4040

You can find all stoppages at the url below:
http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/boating/stoppages

Please do not reply to the email. It has been automatically generated.

Hmm I Wonder

As we were sat enjoying a lovely dinner of smoked mackerel last night it got us wondering if we were going to be lucky enough to catch our own this year. We have all of the correct fishing tackle to do the job but what we need now is a bit of luck.

I cant think of much finer than catching our own fish, quickly taking them back ashore and getting them on the BBQ as soon as possible after they are caught. We love mackerel so eating our own catch can only be even better.

If the weather decides to play fair this year we plan to do quite a lot of sea fishing. Last year after buying the tackle the weather was never really up to the job. So fingers crossed that this summer is the summer that we break our mackerel catching duck.