Hopefully a Quiet One

After the excesses of last weekend we are hoping and planning that this weekend will be a much quieter affair and also a much cheaper one. We still can't fathom out hows we managed to spend quite so much money in four days last week!

Tonight we are planning a much needed quiet night in with a film, a few G&T's onboard and a nice chilli which I rustled up in the week which will be served with some homemade garlic bread.

Tomorrow it is time, and a little over due in fact, for Naughty-Cal's annual major engine service. The car is loaded up with all of the relevant oils and fluids and extraction methods for both. Liam has had plenty of practice by now at servicing the green lump so it shouldn't take him more then a couple of hours to change the oil and filter, two fuel filters, supercharger oil, impellor and belts. While he is busy in the engine bay I will busy myself in the cabin sorting out all of the cupboards and giving everything a good spring clean. It is that time of year again.

With the boat sorted and the river levels now on the decline we will head out find ourselves a quiet spot for the weekend. We both quite fancy heading down onto the Witham, maybe to Fiskerton Fen or to Bardney Lock. We have not been down to either for a while for either will make a nice change of scenery.

Hoping for a Break

It is fingers crossed for a break in the weather for the rest of this week. We are rather hoping that we might be able to make a break for it from the marina this weekend.

Anywhere will do just so long as it isn't on our berth.

A quick look at the current water levels on the Fossdyke on the EA website suggests that they are now dropping nicely and the flood gates on the marina should by now be open again. But a lot will depend on the weekend's weather. With the ground so sodden it really won't take much rain for the river levels to be up again and the flood gates back on.

Water Water Everywhere

It has come as no great surprise that the river levels have risen during the recent wet weather, of course they will react. But what has come as a surprise is just how quickly they have risen, in particular the Fossdyke and Witham which are usually very benign even during the wetter winter months.

On Sunday the Fossdyke rose some 6 inches in a matter of hours, we can't think of a time we have seen it rise quite so quickly. 

This time it won't be quite so quick to fall however as there is nowhere to push the water out. The Witham, as you will see from the next set of pictures is almost level with the Fossdyke from Stamp End to Bardney and the flood gates are on at Torksey so nothing will be going out that end either.

Better pray for some drier weather. Although looking out of the window here in Sheffield it doesn't look like that will be today!

Brayford Pool and the Lincoln Marina Visitor Moorings

The River Witham almost level with the Fossdyke. There is usually between and 8 and 9ft drop at the lock!

The mooring on the left of the picture here on the wall is where we usually moor to wait for the lock. The top of the wall should be about level with the top of our hoods. Not yesterday!

Amsterdam 2018

So we survived our first trip of mainland UK together and had a lovely time in sunny Amsterdam. Here are a few pictures of the trip.

Sunny Hull

The view from our cabin high up on Deck 10

The weather turned a bit chilly for sitting out on deck.

Our first view of Amsterdam.

The sunshine comes out as we wait for the trip boat.

Gliding through the canals

Amsterdams smallest house behind the lamp post!

9 Euro a pint and I wasn't even keen on it. We only had the one in this bar!

Typical canal scene

Liam guiding the ship home as we make out final approach at Hull.

Back to a flooded Fossdyke. No chance of a cruise on Naughty-Cal this time.

A wet and miserable bank holiday Monday.

Wet and Grey

Well what a rubbish end to the holiday it has been with rain all day so far. The water level is steadily rising and no doubt the flood gates will be shut shortly.

But we are tucked up dry and warm and as a special treat for later we have bought some nice rib eye steaks and some wild mushrooms for dinner later.

Home Again

We have made it back to UK soil again. Now for a couple of days on Naughty-Cal.

Sunny Amsterdam

We are being really lucky with the weather today. Blue skies all round in Amsterdam.