It poured with rain all through the night and into the morning. Looking out of the tent the top of the Cottam Power Station chimney was in cloud. My planned start of 7am had to be postponed but by 8am I was on my way. I retraced my route through Laneham and back to the Swan Inn in Dunham-on-Trent.

gloomy view of Cottam Power Station

using the GPS to aid navigation
(notice the hi-tec elastic band and sponge mounting)

A short way ahead was the toll bridge which was quite substantial with several pay booths on the far side. Fortunately pedal cycles had no charge so I waited for the barrier to rise and rode on with impunity. It was very overcast and dull as I cycled towards Lincoln but just over a mile ahead I came to a transport café in a lay-bye. Although it was early I had to make use of it as I didn’t know when I‘d get another chance for a food stop.

Toll bridge across the River Trent

As it turned out I wouldn’t get anything else to eat until I got home. I soon left the A57 and headed SE along the B1190 to Doddington where I stopped briefly to have a look at the vegetable stall in the car park and across to the main hall first built in 1595.

Doddington Hall

Vegetables on sale at Doddington

As I continued I reached the outskirts of the town and stopped briefly by an information board by Birchwood which used to be a bomber base during the war. I continued in to Lincoln, over the main bridge and then up a steep climb towards the Cathedral. Before I got there a passed the Westgate Water Tower which is 36m high and was completed in 1911 after an earlier typhoid outbreak had killed 113 people.

Westgate Water Tower

an unfortunate address

Then I passed the unfortunately name Lillicrap Court to my final destination just a few metres ahead.

The wonderful Roman Newport Arch appeared before me to my left. It was better that anticipated and I couldn’t resist riding under it in both directions on the line of the original Ermine Street. It is the only Roman gate in Britain open to traffic.

the Roman Newport Arch - journey's end

Newport Arch in the 1890s

wide view of the Newport Arch and surroundings

Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral interior view

Lincoln Cathedral

changing trains in Sheffield
(this isn't the train I was on!)

I set off back to the river and Railway but on the way called at Lincoln Cathedral to have a look inside. Lincoln Castle was open but at a cost, £6 per adult. I gave it a miss and headed for the Railway Station. £24.75 got me a single ticket to Chorley. The 11:25 am to Sheffield left on time. Then I changed for the train to Manchester Piccadilly then changed for the Chorley train