The Bardney Bears - Friday 25th May 2018

Washingborough to Bardney
7.25 miles, 1 lock

Another night of falling asleep to the sound of heavy rain pounding on the roof .  Sadly we woke to the same noise, so we opted for a slow start hoping it would stop - it did, but the wind was keen and everywhere was so wet, we needed four layers, waterproof trousers, hats and gloves on the back deck today.

We waved farewell to nb Cleddau and crew - we are going ahead and will meet them again in Boston.

So here we are back to this - long straight river with high sides that is even less appealing on a really grey day.

So was there anything interesting to look at?  Well the occasional glimpse of a church peering through the gloom.

Some sculptures on the Water Rail Trail - I don't think they were there four years ago and if they were we missed them!

A few real cows

and a few swans, but not a lot else

We were hoping to get to the moorings at Bardney village about half a mile below the lock. We stopped above the lock to fill the water tank (the elsan disposal point was out of action, but there was a van there with guys working on the problem which was good to see).  Chris got talking with a couple who moor below the lock - he said he thought the moorings at the village were full, she thought there was room for us.  So who was right?  Monty and I headed off for a walk to find out.  On our way we found another sculpture on the Water Rail Way that was not visible from the river.

 When I got to the moorings I discovered that she was right.  Room from just one more.

I alerted Chris that we were good to go and by the time we got back to the lock he had filled it and was almost in

That is where the fun started.  The lock's top gates here have a mind of their own and they won't stay shut.  I had to half open a paddle on the bottom gates, then walk to the top gate to shove it shut.  Even then Chris had to get out and shove his gate shut as well.  The lock behaves well, but I had failed to thoroughly check out the pick up point - it is on the left, but a long way down.  We should have put Monty on board before Chris entered the lock!  It was no bigger jump than he had in Newark, but then the boat was stationary with the engine off.  He sussed out what was required before I got his lead on and decided he was having none of it.  Bottom in the air and he flounced off!  Once I got a lead on him, he hopped down with ease.  Then it was my turn.  Down the ladder was the only way to go, but the top step was so close to the lock wall there was no grip particularly when everything was wet.  So it was straight onto step 2 which is not easy when one knee is just not working properly, but I managed it and off we went hoping no one came from the other way to take the last mooring.

They didn't

After a late lunch we headed into the village.  All along the Water Rail Way there is a lot of information and near Bardney Lock there was even a defibrillator.  The lock keeper for 34 years was a woman - one Mrs Wright.  When she arrived in 1936 the job was unpaid, but the cottage was rent free.  When they (she had a husband and two daughters) moved in there was no electricity and water was drawn from a well.  See below for more information.

The next information related to Bardney Abbey - see below again

There will be more about the Abbey later.

As we left the boat there was even more information about the village of  Bardney along with maps to help orientate oneself

So apart from finding a newspaper and the butcher there was a church and 9 Squadron memorial to find (Chris served on 9 squadron in the 1970's).

There is also another of the 100 voices posts

This time devoted to RAF Bardney

First to St Lawrence Church which was, to my delight, open.

It is quite sizable and on first glance there was nothing that remarkable

but look a little closer.  First I spotted this little chap sitting in a quiet corner - the first of the Bardney bears.

then this large corner dedicated, thanks to Lottery Heritage money, to the remains of Bardney Abbey

With a husband and dog waiting outside and closing time for the shops fast approaching I could not stop and read every word, but I did manage a few photos

There is a lot more - all beautifully and sympathetically displayed.  

Then finally a small piece of wall dedicated to 9 Squadron, but to our disappointment, no where is there any mention of the Vulcan bomber - a large part of 9 Squadron's history.

The memorial to 9 Squadron and the Lancaster propeller are just past the church on the village green

Complete with a Lincolnshire flag, which I fear has seen better days.

Just past the Post Office we came across a wonderfully illustrated map - a small part of which is reproduced below

So why did I choose this part of the map? The word Pinfold jumped out at us - we first came across  this word when we lived in Haxey, Humberside in the 1980's.  It was a pen used to shut in escaped livestock - they could be retrieved for a small sum of money.  There is a lot of information HERE if you want to know more.

It appears that the 'pinfold' is now a pub car park!

Next came the butcher - a triple silver medal winner in 2003.  We bought a pork pie and scotch eggs (plus sausages and steak for the freezer) to have on Sunday when we have another visitor, so I hope they have kept their standards up.

Then on the way back to the boat we spotted this fellow -the second Bardney bear - I was beginning to wonder if Bardney had any links to bears, but I failed to find a link on google.  This topiary certainly made us smile!