BIKES AND BOMBERS

FRIDAY 8^TH TO SUNDAY 10^TH JUNE 2012             

The weather on Friday was every bit as bad as forecasted, but the Fossdyke has steep sides so we were sheltered from the wind if not the rain and the little village of Saxilby provided all that we needed. The sun did its best to break through on Saturday, but didn’t really succeed, but we did move on. We pulled into the smart Barton Marina for fuel and then caught up with Angonoka who had tied up at the BW  moorings by the Pyewipe Inn about a mile and a half from Lincoln.

It was an easy walk into Lincoln, none of us had visited the City before and we were not disappointed. The Fossdyke opens out into a big basin called Brayford Pool, before exiting under a miniature Old London Bridge with a black and white building perched upon it, this little tunnel is called the Glory Hole and used to be called the Murder Hole, I can only assume why. The way up to the Cathedral Quarter is through the ancient Guildhall Gate and up Steep Hill, which is reminiscent of the old TV Hovis bread advert, at the top of the hill the immense mass of the magnificent  Cathedral dwarfs everything around it. 

A bizarrely pimped Mini parked close to where we decided to have lunch, the Magna Carter, we sat outside with the dogs but when the rain came the staff could only provide us with an umbrella and would let us and the dogs inside to eat in the dry. We cancelled our food order, but help came via the Information Office who recommended a couple of dog friendly pubs and the Victoria in Westgate welcomed us warmly and provided us with good grub. Our East Bridgeford chums. Brian and Ann, by pure coincidence, were visiting family in Lincoln that day and they managed to track us down at the pub, lovely to see them. Two dogs and four humans arrived back at the boats, a bit footsore, but having enjoyed the lovely City.

Sunday was true to its name, The sun shone!. Don and Judy were happy to stay with the boats, Don wanted to rub out the battle scars on his port gunnel and this was the ideal time and place; whilst we walked back to the City. It was bike day and Brayford Pool had been transformed into a showcase for motorbikes of all makes and sizes and ages. A live band played and biker’s jived, tattoos and grey pony tails were much in evidence, it was great, even Jacquie appreciated the beauty of the Harleys. Just to complete our day, on the way back a Lancaster Bomber did a couple of low passes, reminding us that Lincoln’s airfields were home for the wartime big bombers and the Dam Busters were based nearby.