After a wonderful evening .. . G&T, bottle of Rioja Reserva and a homemade chilli (yes, Steve’s little tree gets used at last), we had a good night’s rest and were ready to bimble on to Nottingham. We lived here, in Keyworth for three years (1990-3) and were keen to re-visit old haunts.
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We waited at Cranfleet lock for another boat – Twilight, to share the lock. Then out onto the Mighty Trent for a swift but serene trip:
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So strange to be out on a giant river – it flows! But with the sun out, it was sublime.
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Time to go to warp factor 9 – not too keen to over do things – it is SO different when the boat is actually yours and not a hire boat. Our stern gland is a water jacketed one, not a grease one, which is the usual case. It means we don’t have to faff about greasing our glands (no, not a euphemism) but the faster we go the greater the chance of spraying the engine room with water. Still we did get the old girl sprinting along.
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After nearly an hour of river cruising, Beeston hoves into view and it’s time to get back onto a canal.
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A different type of water user is found here. Her coach was shouting encouraging remarks from the towpath – on his bike.
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Our final resting point for the night – looks very tranquil does’t it? But it is probably the nearest mooring to Sainsbury’s, on a busy cycle/footpath, 500 yds from a big gastro pub and then there’s a major road t’other side – Castle Boulevard. But it’ll suit us tonight.
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Tomorrow’s lock – right in the centre of the city
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Best wishes to all our readers!
We’re changing our email – losing all the @vivatek.co.uk ones soon and sticking with the gmail one, narrowboatadagio@gmail.com
Toby sends his regards too …
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