From tiger to pussycat

22/6/2019

Today the roaring weir,  flooding foaming, an angry Trent, was a picturesque stream, tumbling quietly down the staircased weir. From tiger for the past week, to a pussycat today.

Water tank topped up, into the Beeston Lock, and out sailed Santiago, westward the 5 miles past the Attenborough Reserve. After half a mile or so, a small narrowboat chugged slowly towards us. Sole boater, a woman indicating her distress...the engine was playing up, how far to the nearest lock, and where's the weir? As we passed, JJ and I agreed we had to turn back and shadow her. Our experience 4 years ago, breaking down above a Thames weir, still writ large in our memory. Her faulty engine coughing,  an irregular heartbeat, barely making way against the drag of the weir. She made it to the pontoon below the lock, and safety.  Much relief from her skipper, and from Santiago's crew, as getting a towrope to a craft above a weir would probably have been up to the Cap'n,  meaning I'd have been responsible for starting the tow! My boating competence would be challenged.

Nothing more dramatic today. We left the Trent where the Soar joins it, at Trent Bridge (cricket anyone?), and headed south.

The longest day, with still a glow from the fading sun painting the horizon, at 10.30.

Tomorrow, there may be a steam train delight at Loughborough.

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