Saturday 11th July: Having decided to move on today (not least because we are almost out of milk) we made ready first thing and set off for Triggs Lock. Just as we pushed off another boat came into view heading downstream so we were able to go into the lock and wait for company. It was a hire boat from Farncombe who were travelling very slowly! However it helped to share the lock and we were soon on our way to Worsfold flood lock. Not far beyond we stopped at Cartbridge outside the pub gardens so that I could go down to the village for a mini shop at McColls (mental note avoid McColls unless it is the only choice) I had a short shopping list and managed to come back without about a third of the items on my list! Back at the boat I followed the example of the chap moored behind us and set to to wipe down the port side of the boat and clean the windows as we were well covered in dust that had been rained on. That completed and coffee drunk we moved on to the water point the other side of the bridge at Cartbridge wharf (Note resisting the call of the New Inn). Here we filled with water and I repeated the exercise of cleaning down the boat sides and windows on the starboard side of PO while we waited. Once full we moved on through Broadmead cut and down to Papercourt Lock where we had to wait for a boat to descend
and two to come up before we could pass through. We had hoped to moor in the meadow beyond the lock which David and Bridie had walked through on our journey south. However there were several boats already moored and the remaining spots were either occupied by people picnicking or fishing or too shallow or too overgrown to contemplate. Also we were aware of the herd of cows making their way up the towpath! So we made our way under the road bridge, past the site of an old mill and Newark Abbey
to Newark Lock where we found nb Clara waiting to enter and another boat about to exit. The skipper of Clara asked us to exit first (thank you) and we rounded a bend and found a shady mooring
before Walsham Flood Lock.
nb Clara having a large number of solar panels on the roof would not have wanted to moor under the tree anyway!
Sunday 12th July: It rained overnight and was quite warm and humid which might help explain our lack of sleep as neither of us could get to sleep and resorted to a cup of tea and a biscuit in the small hours. It was quite a grey day all round no sign of any blue sky or sun all day with odd spots of rain and light showers and a warm breeze. I took dogs a walk up the meadow past Newark Lock as far as the road bridge taking a photo of the old priory which is on private land.
The afternoon was still grey and dismal with no sign of sky or sun all day. Late afternoon as we prepared to go off with the dogs we received a call to tell us our son and daughter in law had been involved in a motor accident on the A66 and taken to Darlington Hospital but were about to be discharged. Now being so far south and on a boat doesn't seem such a good idea! Our younger son rang to say he was heading north from Reading to look after their dogs and them when they got out of hospital.
Monday 13th July: Another grey and miserable day to match our mood. Phone calls from both sons this morning updating us on progress.
This afternoon we took the dogs for a walk down to the flood lock and then out to the church at Pyrford built c1140
via a rather narrow and busy lane.
We had a look inside and talked to chap learning to play the organ and then managed to find a footpath back across the fields eventually arriving at the towpath via Pigeon House bridge and thus back up to the flood lock again. This meant passing this property opposite the towpath related to John Donne see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Donne
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