Fitness training, River Nene style.

So on Thursday it rained a bit, we left Irthlingborough in the drizzle and spent the rest of the day in a downpour. At Ringstead we came across our first unelectrified bottom gate.

Nothing can quite prepare you for the experience, except, possibly, a couple of months pumping iron at the local gym.

As the rain poured down Jill turned and turned

and turned this large, wet and slippery stainless steel wheel and inch by inch the gate descended. When it finally reached the bottom we filled the lock, brought the boat in and then did the whole thing the other way way round.

That's not exactly what I meant.
When I picked her up at the lower lock landing I innocently asked how many turns of the wheel it took to lower and raise the gate. Well the language was deplorable, but basically she queried if I was stupid enough to think she was about to start counting turns when the rain was trickling down her neck and her arms were dropping off. Obviously I was.
Eventually we reached a compromise, I lowered the gate and she raised it and do you know what? I never counted the turns either.
We finally stopped a just below Thrapston on the E.A. moorings and it turned into a beautiful evening.

Red sky at night? Who do you believe as weather forecasters, folklore or the Met. Office? Because the Met. Office is definitely not forecasting shepherds delight for the next few days.
And apparently the name of the river is now pronounced Neen, not Nenn. Don't ask me, I haven't a clue.

Watch this space.........