Running the tide

 From Leeds we start the south eastern trek, with yesterday a massive 10 hour day, 28 miles, locks and bridges to be operated. For a while in the afternoon we teamed up with a couple from Perth, he battling brain cancer, helping with locks and bridges. Today a short 4 miles to perch above the muddy Trent, left for the North Sea, right to run the tide towards an overnight mooring on the Fossdyke, initially dug by the Roman's to aid transport inland from the sea

Now we wait for the tide to turn, a small flotilla of craft, and also for the heavy road bridge to be cooled. In the heat it jams, so water is pumped over to cool it. Maybe better maintenance would help?

On the run here this morning, we passed through miles of hay fields, bales stacked high enough for a mansion. In the stillness the forests of wind turbines were motionless, testament to a changing world.


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