Lincoln to Woodhall Spa

Its been that long since I did the last blog and put these pics onto the site I am struggling to remember what happened. Still here goes.

We left Lincoln and headed down stream for Washingborough.  As you can see the weather was superb. The actual mooring isdead ahead and only 4km from Lincoln so its hardly long enough to warm up the engine.

Just before arriving at Washingborough the church at Greetwell can be seen on ther opposite bank.  To my mind this must have looked just like thousands of others churchs before the massive rebuilding that took place throughout the country in the 19th century.

The evening view from the bows.  I turned the boat on mooring so facing upstream.  The cathederal stands out on top of the scarp.  Its hard to believe that it is surrounded by houses.

Heading down stream again and another lovely day. The trouble with the canal and river as far as Bardney is the lack of bends and interesting views. Keep an eye out for the sculptures.

Well there are a couple here.  My favourites.  The artist has really captured the look of a cow and its made out of scrap metal some of which you can identify if you get close.

Out of Bardney lock and it all seems quite clear of weed but there are horror stories going about concerning the amount of weed further down stream.

The Lockkeepers house has been sold but is going to be let for holidays if you want a quiet time by a canal.

Very windy.  The wind coming through the bridge almost csught me out.  The boat veered off to the left and and the bridge support got rather close.

Every so often bits of weed turn up.  In the distance is the mooring at Southerey and its from this point the weed gets thicker.

and thicker it gets.

Another piece of sculpture to ponder on.

Woodhall Spa mooring and the thats it for today. 

The weed is coming down stream with the wind. When the wind changes direction the weed piles upin different places.

Off for a wander about Kirkstead and walk into Woodhall Spa to the shop.  Station waiting for the late arrival of a train.

Nice sign on the entrance to the town.  Sadly the Gypsy caravan that was in a front garden the last time I was here has gone.

Walked up to the remains of the Priory nd in the field can be seen the old fish ponds.

Not much left now of the Priory. 

The church is still closed which is a pity. I would love to have a look inside.

There are extensive earthworks in the fields around the remains.  Timeteam would have a field day here.

The little lane leading up to the Priory is a delight and if I had any gin

I would pick a load of sloes that are along the hedge to make a winter warmer :-)

and its back to the canal with the pub on the left for those that have worked up a thirst on the walk.

Back to Bardney

Tim the sign-writer spent a lot of time lying down on the job. I wish I had the skill that he displayed. He works in the Bardney area so if you want your boat livery painted at an extremely good price just drop me a line.

The photo doesn't do the work justice with the light reflecting off the boat sides.

Stopping at Washingborough on the way back I found the owls on the mooring side making any number of crossings to catch meals for their young. Both male and female were out hunting tonight.

A number of successful sorties were made and the catch can be seen hanging in one talon.

That damn cat has been swimming again. The electric point at the mooring didn't accept my card and I was told that the one on the other end was OK. With Dash on board I moved up the pontoon. Later he went for a walk and as luck would have it another green boat moored in the previous mooring. The cat climbed in at the stern and wandered through and out of the front. Here he met the boat owner and he left the boat in a hurry and on the wrong side. Last seen swimming to shore. Found a bit later looking bedraggled and unhappy.

Further to the Lincoln booming sound. Caroline says "That is the source of the noise. When I was once a little girl, I'd ask my mamma, (sorry, broke into a bit of Dorris there) "what is that noise?" Twas my father who let me into the secret as he himself used to work at what was then called Smith, Clayton Forge, which is a little further down stamp end."

The buildings in the pic below show part of the Smith, Clayton Forge.

Just around the corner from there is Stamp End Lock and this is the view you will get as you go under a humped road bridge.

The next morning I was up very early and this was the view from the bow doors.

Eat up

I left Lincoln bright and early on a cloudy and cool morning. By the time I had got through Stamp End Lock the cloud was breaking up and cleared by Fiskerton Fen. The occasional Heron was on the look out for fish but must have had a problem spotting one with all the weed about.

Between Washingborough I spent a leisurely hour watching the Red Arrows practising their formations. They are quite stunning and a joy to watch.

One of their final formations was a heart in the sky so I took a photo of it for Abz. Not one of the best but the sentiment is there.

Come along kids eat up - Ifor wants a clean canal

The canal out from Lincoln is getting a bit green with weed. The cygnets seem to like it so I hope that they are all hungry and get on with the job of removing it.

Some of the cygnets however get very tired of all that swimming so hitch a lift with one of their parents.

Granchie. Can I have a Welsh cake please?

Granchie. Can I have a Welsh cake please?

Of course you can sunshine. But just the one or it will spoil your tea.

OK

Uh!! That is not quite what I meant!!

More cycling yesterday evening to wind down. Just the two miles into Lincoln and back. At the end of the ride there was a large car park and in the car park a tower that was just there to be climbed. On the return trip every single fly in creation came out and tried to land on us.

We moved the boat back to Lincoln in the morning and after a leisurely ten minutes went off to visit Ian and deliver a food parcel of Welsh cakes. Abz, as an expert on playgrounds, spotted the one at Monks Abbey so on the return trip we stopped with an ice cream to rest. It was decided that although the park was nice it was designed for those of a shorter stature. Great fun even then as we watched the children racing around the park with water guns spraying all their mates.

Boat life has now gone very quiet.

Picau ar y maen

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Well it brightened my day

I left Washingborough yesterday and headed up stream to Stamp End. I was over taken on the way by a cruiser that was travelling at about the same speed as me but I thought it would be easier if he opened the lock and I went in first then closed up after he left so I let him pass. It certainly takes a lot of effort out of travelling when this happens.

Just before the centre of Lincoln I moored up and went shopping and booked the bike in for an MOT. To get across to the market area one crosses the road via a foot bridge. From here you get one of the nicest views of the Lincoln Cathederal.

And from the same point the view down the canal shows the mooring which is not as busy as the centre of Lincoln. The centre was crowded with youngsters and they were all very well behaved and enjoying their meetings with friends and the sun. It was nice to see.

I stopped the night at the end of the Uni mooring and visited B&Q to pick up some bitumen paint. I have decided to have the sides to just below the gunnel painted black as it is easier to match up rather than the green it is now.

First thing started the move on towards Saxilby and the diesel at Tongs DIY shop. With the engine on tick over the journey was slow and I let the Brayford Belle through and passed her again after she had turned around at the Pyewipe Inn.

It was then I was hailed by the hitch hikers!! Not really they just wanted to know about narrowboats as they were thinking of a holiday and wonder if they would be able to cope.

I don’t normally pick people up or give them a ride onboard but after chatting for a while decided that I was safe. :-)

Having reached the Woodcocks pub at the other side of Burton Waters I stopped to let them off and after even more chat invited the two delightful ladies in for a cup of tea and by now they are not only thinking of a holiday but ‘Can I live on a narrowboat?’

It made a refreshing change from normality.