New Territory: Although starting on the familiar territory of the Oxford Canal with its lift bridges, we soon moved onto the, new to us, Leicester Arm. The Foxton Staircase of 10 locks, with new pubs and service places led us down to Leicester.

No Place to Stop: We timed it just wrong for Leicester where the River Festival was on when we arrived on 1 June. Heading on down, we found a quiet mooring for a couple of days in Loughborough before joining the Trent at Ratcliffe. The Trent was quieter, Nottingham came and went - with a brief shopping trip - and then Newark Castle hove into view.

Back to Rivers: We had been back on rivers since Leicester, the Soar, and now the Trent but these felt more like canals as were much canalised. After Nottingham the river and locks became larger until we reached Cromwell lock and weir and the short tidal passage to Torksey Lock.

Roman Engineering: After Torksey tidal lock we were on one of a number of canals that were dug by the Romans in the first efforts to drain the Fens. The Fossdyke Canal took us to Lincoln and the poetically named Glory Hole bridge and moorings.

Flood Warnings: It was while we were in Lincoln that the rains started. Flood warnings were issued for the R.Nene, the Witham flow and level started to fluctuate and the landing stages were difficult to use. One diversion was passing RAF Coningsby, the base of the RAF Historic Flight.