Beeston cut mystery and sand martins

Today started almost identically to yesterday with bright sunshine and a chilly breeze. The difference today was that the sun lasted virtually all day and the breeze didn't. The Trent continued in it's boring way with the only highlights being colonies of Sand Martins at two locations between Gunthorpe lock and Stoke Bardolph lock,nesting in the riverbanks.

We almost missed our turn off onto the Beeston cut in Nottingham,but found the manual locks tough after being Molly-coddled by the excellent lock keepers on the Trent . However, one lock proved more difficult to get through as it was partially blocked by an apparently abandoned unnamed,but licensed narrowboat, guarded by an equally abandoned fox terrier. Enquiries in the adjacent pub failed to identify the owner, but the Canal and River Trust confirmed they knew his identity and would attempt to  contact him tomorrow, which was of no great help to us today. A young man passing by saw our plight and confirmed he knew the boat/dog owner, unfortunately an alcoholic. He has taken the dog home and helped us move the boat away from the lock, in addition to helping us through it. 

We eventually moored in the same spot we originally used on the way  to Lincoln, later than planned, as was dinner.