2012

 but some great sadness

Happy New Year to you all.

I have had a really lucky year and spent time with all my loved ones.  These two are the best tonic that anyone could ever want.  Sadly I never see enough of them and apart from actually moving in it is never to be :-) 

Bit of luck for Karyn :-)

Donna Nook

Took two of Lees grandchildren down to see the seals at Donna Nook.  The first thing that is seen is a scattering of seals along the foreshore.  Not sure what will the seen when the tides in.  Maybe they all move further up towards the dunes.

There are big ones ..........

and little ones.......

They come in little groups and the mothers do get a bit touchy if another seal (large or small) goes near her pup. I wouldn't like to think of the results if you tried. and touch one.

There is a small stream running along the edge of the sand dunes and a number of the seals seem to take great joy in bathing in it.

Looking up the stream towards the north.

Now and again the young are right next to the fence.

They do get stroppy when they get near to each other.

This mother was happy feeding her young just yards away.

But when another mother got near to her cub she got right nasty.

They both enjoyed it really :-)

The view along the fence.


The next series of photos can speak for themselves

Spotted this large female that had left a pool of water behind her.

Mother and cub seemed to be doing fine.

After that it was difficult to find anything of interest so its back up the dunes to the carpark where there is a couple of snack vans including ......................

Boston and Bardney

The mooring at Boston was well covered in weed.

The weed soon vanished on the way back up stream

On the towpath there are a load of rail signals. One I noticed is used as a signpost. Not sure what the others are for.

Lee was walking up to the next pick-up point and found a load of blackberries to go with the apples we scrumped on the towpath earlier.

The Boston Stump stands proud.  It is the highest thing for many miles and can be seen almost from Lincoln :-)

Up at Antons Gowt the BW workboat is still at it.  Not sure what it is. Few bits of weed appearing as they cross the river.

Mooring here and a pub within staggering distance.

The wind is blowing the weed from one side to another at this point.

BW workboat and barge.  Lots of bits from the moorings at Boston on board.

After meeting up with Lee and making a cup of tea head off to the next mooring at Langrick Bridge.

After a quiet chug the mooring comes into sight.

The view from the bows.

Pop across to the boatyard for some derv.  I sat waiting on the mooring for a cruiser to leave.  I had forgotten it was Saturday and by the time I got there it was shut.  The new owners are extremely obliging and open up especially for me.

Another lovely day and plod on up river.

Some weed appears again.

and then it gets a bit more serious.

Any relative of Llamados do you think?

More and more weed.  It seems to be congregating in larger lumps.

Occasionally small gaps so that I can give the prop a reverse to clear some of the rubbish.

Coming up to the mooring at Tattershall I spot these two geese on the bank.

Can't find it in the book. Any ideas?

Tonight's mooring.

Still plenty of weed. Where does it all come from?

Miles of the damn stuff.

and more

and more

Getting closer to Bardney and there is more weed.

An empty bit of water at Southery.

At last the drain in front with the old railway bridge on the left.

The old route of the Witham and the lock on the left.

Come on Lee get them gates open.  I haven't had a cup of tea for an hour :-)

and at last the mooring for the winter. The butty that can be seen carries coal so we are ok for fuel for the winter.