Introduction

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Please have a look at our website www.chamberlaincarryingco.co.uk
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You can also view examples of my hand painted canal art (Roses and Castles) on my Facebook page Canal Art by Ruth.
If you would like to contact us, please use the icons below each post or you can email us using chamberlaincarrying at yahoo.co.uk and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we are moored and have a signal on our dongle! Mobile: 07754 003834
We hope you enjoy reading about our lifestyle and thank you again Ruth and Richard

Torksey to The Witham


Along the Fosse Dyke towards Lincoln, first thing in the morning.  We didn't pass another boat all the way to Saxilby.  A bit different to the canals!

We opened up the shop at Saxilby, but spent the day doing a stock take of everything left, then packing and stowing it all in the bow locker for next season.  I now realised how much painting I would have to do over winter to get in front for next year!


A stormy looking sky as we entered Brayford Pool in Lincoln.  I had bused into Lincoln already to do some errands and met Richard just as he had moored up at the facilities before the Pool.


The new restaurant outside the Odeon.  There is a rumour of visitor moorings being put in nearby.  Lincoln has limited opportunities for mooring easily, so we are hoping that several of these will be installed within reach of the town for us boaters to use.  After all, we want to spend money in Lincoln, not pass straight through as is the frustrating norm!


The water pushed us, washing machine styley from the Pool and into the entrance to the Glory Hole ( low bridge over the water with the shops above).  Unfortunately, the butty sustained a deep scratch from the wall as Richard fought with the swirling effect of the current, but nothing a good dob of paint couldn't disguise.

On this occasion, we didn't use the opportunity to moor outside the Waterside Shopping Centre, as time was pushing on and the weather kept misbehaving!


View back up to Lincoln with the cathedral on the horizon.  The wind had really got up, but the next visitor moorings at Washinborough were full to bursting, so we had to carry on to Bardney.


Five Mile bridge signifies the distance travelled from Lincoln.  Not far further around the bend is Bardney, where we overwintered last year.


We awoke to this glorious sky!  We separated the boats, cross strapping them, but not tillering the butty as the river is quite wide.  I rushed down to the lock, where a chap was jet-washing the movable bridge going over the lock, and asked if we could come through.  What a miserable person he was, I even told him he needed to lighten up, else he'd have a heart attack!  Apparently, all these 'interruptions' could cause the jet washer to play up.
Richard told me, when I described to guy's reaction, that I should have said that we have paid a license to use the river and therefore there should be no problem about using the locks thereon!


Tattershall Bridge was also bombed out as we pulled up on the Saturday, so we had teetered on the end of the pontoon and breasted the butty up to the motor again.  From here we hired a car (they pick you up) and spent the afternoon in Lincoln with our youngest Ryan, helping him choose a 125 bike.
By Monday, the other boats had gone so we had separated the butty and awaited delivery of 120 bags of smokeless coal for the winter.


By the time had taken the car back to Boston and got my lift back, Richard and Martin (the coal man) had unloaded all of the bags.  Just needed to get it onboard now!


The power of photography.  The job is done, but it took us about 2 hours to get it all inside evenly.  There is still plenty of freeboard left as well!  No I think 3 tons is plenty for now.


Lots of dragon flies around the river.  This one hovered around us for ages.


Hark!  What is that heavenly sound?  Oh yes, we had forgotten the din which is the Eurofighters practising takeoffs and landings, from RAF Coninsby, right over our heads.  Another reason to overwinter at Bardney!


The new sign for the butty for the winter.  We will have smokeless, toilet fluid and firelighters available to other boaters over the winter months.


Ryan and his new bike.  Every chance he has had between work, he has gone on another expedition on it!

We have plodded back up to Bardney. Richard has been for his induction at work and I bought a new car, so all we need now is to sort out the winter mooring and get to work............

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