Whatever happened to May?

Cold and blustery out on the water today after a decidedly chilly night. I even lit the stove again this morning!

No, not icebergs, froth coming down off the weir

Meg and I took a walk around the island bounded on one side by the lock cut and the other by the southern backwater.

The birds were singing their little hearts out!

The area around Hazelford Lock is well kept

The crew of What a Lark set off early, needing to make a stop at Farndon Marina on the way through.
We untied and set off downstream at around half past ten, with the cold wind in our faces.

Past Fiskerton. There are a couple of visitor moorings on the far end of the pontoon. Handy for The Bromley up on the bank.

Staythorpe Power Station uses Trent water for the turbines of this gas-powered facility.
When the station was converted from coal-fired to natural gas the four large generator sets were part-transported by barge along the river.

Just beyond the power station the large Averham Weir takes the main river channel out to the north of Newark, while the Newark Dyke carries the navigation into the town.

Averham Weir.

The cormorants find good fishing here.

Another large Humber barge at the maintenance depot in Newark

We had to pause above Town Lock for the trip boat Newark Crusader to come up, then dropped down and managed to secure moorings below the main road bridge. Seyella and Yarwood are on the pontoons where it’s better for the dogs, Clarence and What a Lark are opposite on the wall.

Waiting for Newark Town Lock, the castle in the background

Trent Navigation Co. warehouse.

We’re booked to drop down Cromwell Lock and out onto the tideway on Sunday morning, so we’ve a couple of days to explore this historic market town.

Thanks Adam, we’re looking forward to it, too!

Locks 1, miles 8½