Stoke Lock

Here I am Rune

Distance 9.6 miles

Total 1443 Locks 72 Tunnels

Running total mileage 2061.8 miles 

We made it to our intended destination of Stoke Lock today by about 4.30pm after a pleasant trip down a picturesque section of the River Trent. The weather forecast hadn’t been too good but after a bit of early rain it cleared up OK. Starting at Hazleford Lock I was able to call up the Lock Keeper on Marine Band radio so that he had the lock prepared for us to enter with much the same happening at the next Lock, Gunthorpe. I certainly makes passage through the locks a lot easier since I know what is happening with the lock before I get there.

A serene piece of the River Trent

We took lunch at Gunthorpe, and took the opportunity to empty two Elsan Cassettes although at that particular moment it decided to pour with rain. Also gave some assistance to a couple of blokes above the lock on a small cruiser who clearly didn’t have much of a clue what they were doing. In different circumstances I would have wondered if it was actually their boat they were in such was their level of ineptitude (as in perhaps they had nicked it!) but their actions were in full sight of the two lock-keepers on duty at the lock and they went to check with the lock-keeper as to whether they were allowed to leave their boat there for a while. I would have to say though, if someone is learning how to use a boat, as these two clearly were, the topside of a weir really isn’t the place to be doing it! 

Tomorrow we should hopefully be into Nottingham.