Wednesday 3rd August

Left Retford at 830, the sun was shining but not for long. It came and went and it became quite windy.

Met one of the cruisers from Shireoaks below Forest lower mid lock, he had engine trouble but was going the other way.

Stopped for lunch in Worksop outside the Canal Tavern. Decided to check out this pub. It has recently been refurbished and has a new landlord but had not started doing food yet. So, as it was gone 2pm, it was back to Wetherspoons again.

When we got to Shireoaks I drove Kate back to her car at West Stockwith. I then carried on home from there via the route that we had used on Sunday down the east side of the river.

Tuesday 2nd August

Left West Stockwith at 9.

Stopped for lunch at the White Swan, Drakeholes. The beer was good and we were even allowed to eat something other than the carvery.

Carried on to Retford and moored in my usual place on the west side.

Called in on the Rum Runner but they weren't doing food so we went the the Market Hotel. They had 3 interesting beers on, including 2 from the new Bradfield brewery in Sheffield.

Monday 1st August

Went shopping in Waitrose at 8.30 then left Newark at 9.00, and sailed straight in to Nether Lock.

On arrival at Cromwell lock there were two other narrowboats waiting who were both going to West Stockwith. They both went faster than us but we decided that we were going fast enough.

Had lunch on the way. By the time we got to Gainsborough we had an hour to kill so we stopped on the 'secure' pontoon. As soon as we did, two kids, who were already inside the secure gate, descended upon us. We decided to stay with the boat rather than risk leaving it while we went off for a pint.

Another boat turned up to kill time, but when the kids visited them they changed their minds and carried on.

We left at 15.30 and went slowly, as the current was quite strong, to cover the last 4 miles in an hour.

The tide started to come in at about 16.30 just before West Stockwith. This caused a flurry of activity anongst the other 3 boats as they all had to turn round again. All 3 boats managed to sqeeze in the lock together, and we moored against the wall to wait for the second locking, for which we were on our own.

After locking up we filled up with diesel, only 40l, and moored in the basin. Then Ian drove me back to Newark. I then drove to Shireoaks to meet Kate who was early.

Having left my car at Shireoaks we went for a meal in Wetherspoons in Worksop, then drove to West Stockwith.

As the Waterfront Inn was closed we went for a pint in the White Hart.

Sunday 31st July

A cruiser turned up at the lock before 9am and they seemed rather incompetent so I gave Dave a key to go and get the lock ready. The lock keeper turned up while we were going through but let us finish the operation by ourselves.

Moored outside the marina at Farndon and I drove Ian and Dave to Sawley where we had lunch in the Harrington Arms. Daves Moules were overcooked and had to be rejected.

After lunch we went went to Sawley marina where Dave left us. Ian and I shuffled cars to Farndon and Newark.

Moved Jacob from Farndon into Newark in time to get a reasonable moring. Then we did the the major car shuffle to get a car to West Stockwith, over 30 miles away. On the way back we stopped for a pint in Gainsborough.

Saturday 30th July

Left my car at Gunthorpe and Dave drove me back to Sawley, where Ian was waiting for us.

Left Sawley later than planned so had to stop at Beeston for lunch. Found the Jolly Anglers first but they weren't doing food, so we went to the Boat and Horses and had a quick lunch there.

After that we were stuck behind a dutch barge which was going rather slowly until Meadow Lane lock. When we got back onto the Trent we went at full speed to try to get to Gunthorpe, where I had booked a table at Tom Browns for 6.30.

Moored above Gunthorpe lock and got to the restautant just after 7pm. A good meal marred only by Daves dissapointing 'local' cheese board. Afterwards we went to both the other pubs.