Moored alongside the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham.

Travelled 14 miles worked 3 locks in a time of 4 hours 35 minutes.

I can honestly say I had the most wonderful weekend. Even though it was a task to get Paddy off the boat for his walks, the mooring above Hazelford Lock was lovely, it was like having our very own private island with all the joys of the wildlife and peace. For the wildlife photographs you can check out my Canal Flora and Fauna Blog.

We left Hazelford Ferry Island at 8.45 am with very low cloud shrouding the river.

It made it feel quite eerie with the cloud rolling up the river.

We met the C&RT crane boat heading towards the lock.

Near the Ferry Farm Park I spotted a pack of hounds taking their morning stroll. This stretch of the river is lovely with rolling hills and countryside which looks like it has come from a painting. The woods along this stretch have names, Shipmans Wood, Ewans Wood, Watsons Piece all on the Trent Hills. It is just a shame that there are no moorings along this stretch, it would have been nice to have stopped at Hoveringham, but there are no moorings.

The first lock for the day was Gunthorpe Lock. Keith had called the lock up to let them know we were on our way and so the lock was ready for us when we arrived.

We left Gunthorpe Lock at 10.05 am.

The Gunthorpe moorings were busy as expected.

Gunthorpe Road Bridge.

At Stoke Badolph there is The Ferry Boat Inn, but the moorings are well below par which is again a shame, because I am sure if proper pontoon moorings were available boaters would stop.

We were over taken by a lovely little cruiser who we then shared Stoke Lock with.

When we left Stoke Lock we left the cruiser to head off first, as there would be no holding them back.

Last lock of the day was Holme Lock.

Due to a couple of dutch barges coming down we moored up on the pontoon below the lock and waited our turn at 12.20 pm.

One of the boats to leave the lock. Grace is a stunning boat and I told the owner so. 12.50 pm it was our turn to use Holme Lock, which is a slow filler.

Having come up through Holme Lock we found a mooring and moored up at 1.30 pm. Lunch was the first thing to be done, because we were both famished.

After lunch we locked the boat up and walked over the bank to check out the National Water Sports Centre ad Country Park.

There were plenty of youngsters using the canal slalom. Now I have seen it may times on the television, but to see it up close and personal was exciting.

Rather them than me though.

It really is very impressive.

Happy to pose for a photograph LOL.

The rowing lake is much longer than I expected. It is an amazing place and well worth the visit if you can find a mooring.