Homeward Bound and on we go.

Tuesday 25^th April to Thursday 27^th April 2017

Our train was not due to leave Brussels until 12:52, so even with a late(ish) breakfast and coupled with a late checkout of 11am, it allowed us to have a bit more of a wander around.

 

Sad to say but there is graffiti in nearly every place we have visited

So we exited the hotel and headed in a mainly northerly direction and found ourselves back at the canal – some type of gravitational field operating in that regard; but this time there was actually a barge using the lock and so we hovered around watching it all – it was just like any single lock that we would have done a thousand times – except about 100 times bigger and it was all operated by a lock-keeper in the control room.

She's a bit larger than Ferndale, but the same process is followed

Lock full, gates open and then they come out

The ropes were just a little bit bigger than we would have had onboard at any time.

Slowly the water rose and then when ready, the gates slowly opened; there was no rush of water from the prop, but just enough to move the barge forward – certainly sticking to the 5 kmh speed limit.

About 400 metres up from the lock was a lift bridge – no windlass required – we had spotted one of the lock-keepers head off earlier on his bike to get the bridge ready for the barge to carry on beneath it.

Lift bridge - you can see the road level on the left - the operator is in that little
room on top of the bridge

There is always someone wanting to "photo-bomb" the photo

That was some excitement for us – to see how the bigger boys do it all – might have been nice with a Dutch barge doing all of that (even in Belgium).

After that we carried on back to the hotel; a last check in the room and then we were checked out and off around the corner to the station.

Through the Border Controls for both France and the UK and it was a relatively short wait and we were in our seats and pulling out of Brussels – we had had a lovely time.

 

We came when it was a bit dull and cloudy, but on leaving
Brussels the sun was out again

...and we looked out on Belgium for one last time on this trip

The scheduled stop at Lille was delayed as we waited for a connecting late train, after which we were off again, through the tunnel and in a brief time we were coming into St.Pancras – just 20 minutes behind schedule.

 

Back in Endgland and here we are crossing the Medway

We already had the train tickets to take us back to Lincoln – funny thing is that we took 2 hrs and 20 minutes to get from Brussels to London, but it was over 2 hours and 30 minutes to get from London to Lincoln (our connecting train at Peterborough was waiting and we caught it with just a minute to spare).

Not exactly sure where we are here, but there are certainly narrowboats down there

We were back on board Ferndale by 6pm; the fire was lit and the unpacking began; the solar panels had done their job, but we put the engine on to take care of the washing and by 8pm we were all sorted but a bit knackered as well.

The following day we took the boat back into Lincoln – it was actually easier and cheaper to do that than catch the bus, taxi or even a hire car.

The tickets that we had previously bought for Lincoln Cathedral and the Castle allowed us a return visit so we decided to use those as well as pick up Diane’s medications that we had left to be prepared before we left.

 

This is for Diane's sister Vivienne

It was to be one last trudge up the hill and later on, one more down – we took Marilyn’s advice and had our walking poles with us and they made it easier.

For the castle it was another walk of the walls and we took some time to have a look inside the County Court House – it was a trial regarding an injury matter to someone in the Lincoln Hospital but held interest for both of us – so much so that we stayed a fair while longer than we first though we would – plus it was a great deal warmer inside than out.

 

Just cannot get over how over-powering the cathedral is in comparison to the castle

The second Motte and Observatory 

The County Court House

At the lunch recess we headed out and across the way to the Cathedral where we had a bite to eat and then headed upstairs to see the Library/Reading Room – the design and construction of this was handled by Christopher Wren (of St.Paul’s fame) – the inside was just fantastic as were the volumes on display; the staff were extremely helpful and whilst Diane was engaged with a young man who was enthusiastically telling her all about the library and the books, I was discussing travel in Russia with the woman who was also there to answer any questions – I think that it was predominantly about the library, but we drifted to Russia (as you do).

 

And the Australian Coat of Arms in Lincoln Cathedral
and part of the WWII memorial

After that we were off again, and down the hill, and back to the boat where we were thankful that the fire was left lit and it was cosy and snugly warm inside.

We spotted this and the one below earlier in our stay in Lincoln but I hadn't
included them into previous blogs....

....talk about making sure that you can see behind

Diane thinks that there may have been a bit of train lag (not jet lag mind you) from our return travels – I just think that we were tired after walking more than the equivalent of a marathon whilst we were away.

We did sleep rather well on Wednesday night.

Thursday was moving day – we had seen enough of Lincoln and we were ready to continue our cruising travels and our rough itinerary that we had – this, of course, meant that we had a bit of a cruise to Torksey.

It was only 10 miles and whilst we didn’t open the after-burners we still managed it in just over the 3 hours.

The lockie was right where we first moored up, getting some grass cutting done and advised us to move down close to the lock ready for the next day, and we ended up mooring on one of the water points – we were later on joined by three other boats – so it was all the normal thing to do.

On good advice from Jennie we headed to the café and had cake and coffee which was lovely.

Looking from our mooring at Torksey - ready for tomorrow

We were now ready for the next adventure of the river tomorrow.

13 Miles

YTD:  280 miles (451 km), 154 Locks, 13 Tunnels, 3 Lift Bridges, 3 Swing Bridges

Total: 4912 Miles (7905 km), 3305 Locks, 137 Tunnels, 69 Lift Bridges, 175 Swing Bridges

Walking distance so far: 41.9 km (previous) + 5.3 km (Tuesday) =  47.2 km (Total)

Lincoln, London and Brussels

Thursday 20^th April to Friday 21^st April 2017

By the time that anyone reads this we will have gone and been and then come back again.

About a month ago there was a sale on seats for Eurostar so we went on-line and booked some return seats to head off to Brussels for a few days; we had not been there before, so why not?

We then had access to some better deals on accommodation and that was sorted and we then thought we should spend the night before in London as the train was leaving at 8am – so that was duly booked – all done in very short time.

So on Thursday we trained it down to Kings Cross and checked into our hotel; wandered around the area; got some Euros at the station to be prepared and then decided upon some dinner – we chose a place on Pentonville Road called Pizza Union – couple of pizzas and beer to go with it and some olives, all very lovely and less than £18.

 

This was the view at Peterborough station as we waited for our
London connection - fortunately we escaped the downpour

Following morning we had set the alarm, up and readied, down for breakfast and then off to St.Pancras – easily through Border Control and then onto the train – a bit over 2 hours later and we were exiting the station in Brussels – all too easy.

It was a bit coolish when we were out on the street – now to find the hotel – we were almost useless at reading the map, but the little blue spot on the screen helped us to move the right way. There must have been something wrong with our reading of where we should have been going to, because we rounded a corner to head further north when lo and behold there was our hotel – lucky or what?

We couldn’t get into our room but we checked in and left the luggage and then we headed off to explore the city.

Diane has previously downloaded maps of various areas in Europe and the US using the NavMii App and she now had added the Benelux countries, so we had access to Belgium and in particular Brussels – and part of that was a guided walking tour of the capital, so what did we get up to – exactly that.

 

The buildings in the Grand Square were magnificent with gold embellishments

This is not a church but actually the Town Hall

A panorama shot of the square.

When in Belgium...it's always time for frites and mayonnaise

It related entirely to the 1830 revolution in Brussels which eventually led to the establishment of the separate and independent country we now know as Belgium.

 

The Square of the Martyrs - beneath this monument are buried the more than 100
people killed in the 1830 revolution - along with slabs of marble and their names.
I would imagine that this area holds special significance to most Belgians

The Belgian Parliament building

As we wandered around we saw a large presence of both Police and the Army – remember that this was just the day after the gunman attack in Paris where a policeman was killed and two others seriously injured – and there had been a Belgium connection.

For us it was not in any way of any concern to us – people say that with all of these attacks it is unsafe to travel and “you shouldn’t go here and you shouldn’t there” – let me just say in response to that thinking –

If we decide that we should not do the things that we would normally have done for fear of what could happen then the bloody terrorists have won and we are defeated – to win, you have to start by not living in fear.

It is more likely that you will get hit by a bus.

We managed to find an Irish pub in Brussels but did not have a drink there

Diane really liked the pair of angels, seemingly holding
up the bay window above them

Just some shots of random buildings that we particularly liked

Walking distance so far: 5.8 km (Thursday) + 9.9 km (Friday) = 15.7 km (Total)

As I am posting this page on 27th April 2017 it is necessary to also announce that our wonderful son, Mitchell, is celebrating his 28th birthday today in Los Angeles and after talking to him today we are looking forward to seeing both Mitch and Sara later on in the year.
A wonderful day has been planned for him and we wish him the very best and hopefully we can be there next year to celebrate it with him, in person.

Lazing around until the serious stuff sends it downhill

Sunday 16^th April to Wednesday 19^th April 2017

Sunday was a lovely sunny day and we had a pyjama day – didn’t do anything, just stayed inside reading books and catching up with the iPlayer and other things that we needed to do – mainly resting.

Monday was our nominated cruising day and the relatively short distance (9 miles) was easily achieved; the 2 locks were no bother; a cruise back through the Glory Hole in Lincoln was nice with so many people around and we moored up just in time for Diane to lead me back up the main pedestrian shopping area for another visit to Slug and Lettuce (still 50% off Monday).

The first junction on the way back - we went under the bridge on the right

We saw these sculptures on the way down but couldn't get a good shot - got to
say they are quite good

The Cathedral of Lincoln imposes itself on the surrounding area even today
- imagine what it would have been like in the medieval times when the
church managed to "control" all life

still looming larger the closer you get...

...and even closer - it is omnipresent

Back under the road bridge and into...

...Brayford Pool - practically home

Coffee on the way back to the boat and we continued our relaxation theme for this long weekend.

I am a bit concerned about the Anglican Church (or is it The Church of England) – what with the ongoing debate about female clergy (which I would support if I was part of this organisation, which thank God I am not!) – they are arguing about chocolate companies keeping the wording “Easter Egg” on the packaging instead of just “Egg”, but surely the bigger problem for them is that everyone seems to be referring to this weekend as a bank holiday – just simply a bank holiday – the population has started to forget what it is designated for – not that I am concerned about it at all – I am not at all religious.

We had another couple of days in Lincoln and after getting most of my work done on Tuesday morning we decided that we would take the walk up the hill again, this time to see Lincoln Castle.

Along the way Diane managed to make an appointment with a hairdressing establishment for later in the day – obviously she had it in her mind that she wouldn’t be too exhausted to pop in for a trim.

Luckily for a lot of people there are conveniently placed seats along the hill for weary climbers to rest for a while and take off the mountain climbing gear for a break.

Our previously purchased tickets for combined visits to the Cathedral and Castle meant that we were virtually ready to go and we quickly joined the next tour about to leave as we arrived.

 

She likes a big 'un - cannon that is

I am sure that the 19th century prison didn't look this good -
same layout but no interior designer

Three to a room? - if you were lucky

Mood lighting - I don't think so; conditions were a lot harsher than this

The top windows were the Chief Warders Quarters and from
here he could look out onto prisoners in the exercise yard

Prison Chapel - the cubicles meant that prisoners could not see each other

The grounds of the castle - less crowded today than when 1000 people would have
lived within the walls along with livestock

The cathedral still towers over everything -  even the castle

The volunteers in this country are really amazing and full credit to them all for devoting their time to helping others learn about places such as the castle and the cathedral and similar places in other towns and cities.

We learnt a great deal about the castle and the grounds and the uses over the last 950 years – it has been a castle (well still is really), a prison, still has Lincoln Courthouse and many other functions.

The walls are in truly good condition and as you look around the site you can see that it will stand for a great many more years (might be due to the £22 million that has been spent on it in recent times).

It was the trip down the hill that now caused us concern – the stress on the knee easing oneself down was more that the exertion to lift oneself up the hill in the morning – trouble was that it was Diane that was wilting – and she being so much younger than I am, I now have a problem – who will be the nominated carer for whom?

Taking is easy we both got to the bottom and I left her for her hair date whilst I trudged back to the boat to finish up with the balance of work for the day.

Eventually she made it back and she was summoned to sit still, be quiet and rest up – three things not in Diane’s vocabulary, but by sheer threat she did all three (mark that in the diary).

In the morning she was a lot better but now she has a knee brace on and we cruised up to the services point and then to get the diesel tanks filled but still in the Lincoln area for a few more days.

Just imagine being within the castle and this is over you - still wielding its power

From the castle walls

11 Miles, 2 Locks

YTD:  267 miles (430 km), 154 Locks, 13 Tunnels, 3 Lift Bridges, 3 Swing Bridges

Total: 4899 Miles (7884 km), 3305 Locks, 137 Tunnels, 69 Lift Bridges, 175 Swing Bridges