Back to Lincoln.

Thursday 29th August 2019 back in Lincoln.
M awoke to find mist on the water; quite magical with the swans there. It soon cleared to give another sunny day.

Before Beeching, there used to be a railway that ran alongside the river from Lincoln to Boston. Several reminders of the line remain, including at Kirkstead the old station complete with level crossing gates and platforms, now in the owner's garden. Lucky fellow!

And at Southrey, a little further up river, the old station name boards looking a bit forlorn.

Sugar beet processing is big around here - and smelly!

What is the collective noun for Cormorants? If Wikipedia and the "Book of Saint Albans" of 1485 with its list of terms of Venery (hunting) is to be believed, the answer is a "Gulp" - but we have our doubts. Answers on a postcard please!

Just before Bardney Lock, the course of the old River Witham branches off to the north west and it is navigable for a couple of miles. We were curious to see where it led, and so turned up this short stretch. It was very remote, twisty and narrow after the main channel of the Witham.

Where it branched into two and became a bit weedy and shallow, with memories of our troubles on the Erewash, we turned around and headed back to Bardney Lock.

Above Bardney, the Witham is "canalised" as it approaches Lincoln. They say that you can see the Cathedral from at least ten miles. This is "Five Mile Bridge" and the Cathedral was clearly visible from there.

We passed a charming looking Norman church close to the river. A scene that has probably not changed much in 900 years.

Back in Lincoln, we went through the guillotine lock again; M said she found it intimidating.

And then back in our mooring in Brayford Harbour with a spectacular view of the Cathedral. It felt like coming home again!

A fitting end to the day - we walked into the city for the usual "few bits" and found, of all things, a "Punch & Judy" show completing its last performance of the summer. We just caught the end, where Punch gets eaten by the crocodile - the kids were loving it and so did we.

Today: 15 miles, 2 locks and 6.8 hours (inc. 2 days power).
Trip: 327 miles, 136 locks and 169.2 hours.