Parkgate footbridge

Having set off from Sheffield, we met Nigel from the CRT at the first lock of the Tinsley Flight and worked our way back down the next 14 locks in the baking heat. The dogs get distressed if they are shut inside the boat while we move but the steel of the stern was like a kettle so Vicky had them working the locks with her as at least there was a little shade from nearby trees. Unfortunately this came to a dramatic end when Leo fell into lock number 7. He'd been leaning over to try and get a drink and leant a little too far. Vicky plucked him out snuffling, snorting and sopping wet. He didn't know whether to growl at whoever caused this outrageous indignity or allow himself to be cuddled better. Luckily he dried and recovered quickly.

Saying goodbye and thank you to Nigel at Holmes Lock we encountered a couple who were booked to do the flight the next day. The guy rudely mansplained to Vicky how to handle Rainboat in the lock. When she exited she found their boat moored on the lock landing; the place meant for Vicky to pick Will up. The wind caught Rainboat while she was trying to back up to a point Will could jump on and blew her into overhanging trees, which scraped the chimney cap off into the water. Vicky could have got the magnet out to fish for it but didn't want to get more entangled, especially as there were shopping trolleys and other submerged hazards. We now have an upturned icecream tub stopping the rain coming in!

The area was still very built up and noisy; so we went on and did a further two locks before mooring almost 6 hours after setting off, close to Eastwood lock. This time we tied up on the towpath side, close to the bridge to the retail park. The dogs and Abby could get out and we didn't have the factory noise we'd had at Eastwood moorings.

Will got chatting to a fisher who had set up a tent on the opposite bank. He was waiting for others to join him for his friend's stag do - a two day fish and camp. He said that if they made too much noise just let them know but they were very sedate. Unfortunately for them a thunderstorm broke at 4am on the second morning.

The much needed rain came and went in torrential downpours throughout the day, finally breaking the long stretch of extreme heat. What a relief!Read more