Its now Friday,6th July and we are sitting out the rain at lovely Cromwell Lock.
We arrived here on wednesday from Torksey and it took 4 hours and 45 mins, about the same time as Canal Route Planner had said, and we were pushing against the tide for 2 hours.

We have quite a little community on the floating pontoons here, 2 x nb's and 3 cruisers.  All nice folks.  The blokes are all doing a bit of fishing tween the raindrops, and they all keep catching the same 9lb barbel.  Must be a bit dim to keep getting caught. !

I upset one of the blokes by asking if I should bring my roasting pan along to see if Fishy woild fit in the oven.   Well, he got thrown back  , to be caught 90 mins later. Doh !

We had hoped to move up to Newark On Trent, but yet again, on the flotaing pontoons with water and electric, we have the same problem as last year.   Unlicenced boats hogging it all, and right under BW offices.  When I complained last year, (Mick had been told to " Eff Off", when he asked if we could hook up to the leccy), they sent a spotty youth to try and talk to the very butch and beardy boaters.They just laughed at him.  Apparently, BW have admitted that they can't do a thing about it, It would take 6 months to bring a case against them. If you take their boats away from them, the council,then have to find them a home. !  I am not sure that BW as a charity are going to be able to sort this out

We have good TV, for the tennis etc. so we will stay until we feel its saf-ish to move.  Cranfleet Cut, is closed anyway, as Sawley Flood Lock is closed, so no-one is moving.