Back up the river, and a family cruise

23rd & 24th June

We've spent the day with the offspring on board, so I suspect this is going to be a short one, on account of wanting to go and lie down quietly for a bit.

Yesterday we set off after I'd been to the 24 hour Asda for a paper and bread, and had a brilliant run on a scorching hot day. On the way, the river passes close to RAF Coningsby, which hosts both the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and two squadrons of Typhoons, the Eurofighter. Some of the latter were being taken round for circuits and bumps, at one point crossing over us at around 100 feet. They are pretty noisy, and look really quite large from underneath.

Arriving at Kirkstead Bridge, we sat about in the heat, reading and trying to find the energy to do much else. Some entertainment was provided by a pair of Great Crested Grebe, who went through a perfunctory courtship display, then built a rather sad version of a floating nest. Then they climbed up on it and consummated their relationship with a lot of squeaking.

How touching we thought. Sadly, this morning the nest was in the possession of an extremely stroppy coot, who was pulling it to pieces. It looks as if the Grebe had failed to apply for planning permission...

For the rest, it just got hotter and hotter. I had an extremely cool shower, and a couple of other boats arrived to share the pontoon, in addition to a short visit at lunch time by Ina Maude, last seen on the Trent, and a cruising companion of theirs. They only stopped long enough for a quick pub lunch and were off again.

This morning we had a chat to one of the cruisers who'd stayed the night, a local moorer from Bardney. He told us that many people are lured into buying into the mobile homes at Tattershall on the weekends, when Coningsby isn't flying, on the basis of how quiet and rural it is.

Then at 0800 hours on the first Monday they are there, here come the Typhoons...

Today we were joined by Graeme, Cathy and the grandkids at ten, and set off for a cruise up to Bardney Bridge. This went very well on another brilliant day. On arrival, we ate lunch, including an excellent quiche made by Cathy (what a daughter in law!). The afternoon ambled by, although a fair amount of exercise was to be had keeping Daniel company on his explorations. It's just amazing how much energy a two year old has.

He's a bright kid, too. Last time he was with us, he was standing on the pontoon next to Sanity when a big river cruiser went by.

"Boat" he said, pointing at it. Then he turned and pointed at Sanity: "Proper boat".

That's my boy.

We've got another ten days or so to potter about here, which will be no hardship. Already we've seen a pair of Pochard on the river between Anton's Gowt and Langrick Bridge, by the trig point on the western bank, and Sheila spotted a Barn Owl hunting the same bank near the 45 K marker.

More puzzling was a family of duck near the 38 K mark. Brown in colour, shading from dark brown below to almost black on the back, and with a white base to the beak. On seeing the boat, the ducklings all dived to hide, whilst mum swam off and left them, presumably as a distraction.

We shall have to try for a photo next time we're down there.

Tomorrow we go on to Fiskerton Fen, before winding and heading in easy stages back to Boston.