Sun Jun 8th - 19 miles, 2 furlongs, 29 locks - Turnerwood to Clayworth Total cruising time 12 hours 15 minutes.
The swan was at it again this morning, attacking the boat from an early hour. One thought that did occur was that perhaps he could see his reflection, thought it was a threat and was trying to persuade it to go away. Either way we left our mooring at 6.50am straight into a prepared staircase lock. Swift run down the new locks to Shireoaks by 8.15am. Something very odd happened in Shireoaks Middle lock. When the lock had emptied I found that Arun was sitting on something some eight to ten inches out of the water. My immediate thoughts were that whatever was in there had to be fairly big, and that this was a job for BW. I let some water back into the lock to re-float Arun, but thought I'd then let some out again to the point were Arun was just grounded. She kept floating right to the point were I could open the gates and motor out. No sign of an obstruction at all - very peculiar. Through Worksop Town lock by 10.45am. Caught up with a day boat at the second of the Forest locks, and followed him all the way back into Retford. The crew on this boat were setting all the paddle locks when they left each lock even though they could see Chris walking down to fill the lock for Arun. Totally pointless and thoughtless in my opinion. If we'd been in front of them, not only would we have left the locks off for them, we'd even have pulled one of the top paddles to start it filling for them. Also, rather annoyingly, while reversing back along a lock landing to a suitable bollard to tie to, the rudder must have caught on something, and stopped the boat dead in it's tracks. It is now very stiff, so I must have bent it slightly. Will need to get that sorted out when I get on the Stainforth & Keadby. Cleared Retford lock by 4.50pm and arrived in Clayworth at 7.05pm - just as Chris' son arrived to take her back to Stourbridge (some of us have to go to work tomorrow). Met up with Arthur and Bev Naylor for a beer or three in the Brewers Arms, and Arthur asked if he could come and crew for me down to West Stockwith in the morning. Terry Streeter NB Arun - Clayworth
