River Trent
Saturday 23rd May
Booked with Mark the Lock Keeper at Keadby to head up the River Trent. The spring tide is due about 16.15 – quite a fast one so we predict rapid progress to the overnight stay at the floating pontoons at Torksey.
Went in the lock with ‘Matt I’ a cruiser, no hassles getting out of the lock onto the Trent, quite smooth. Reached West Stockwith at 18.30 and Gainsborough at 19.00. All the way it was smooth and the sun shone over us. Reached Torksey at 19.00. As all the pontoons were full, we had to moor alongside another narrowboat, ‘Abinitio’. = 5hours
Sunday 24 May Left Torksey at 08.30, absolutely scorching day, perfect cruising weather, not a breath of air and sun all the way. Arrived at Cromwell to be told we couldn’t stay there as all the moorings were full, would have to go straight onto Newark. Arrived in Newark 14.30, and moored just before the castle before the lock.
There was a beer festival going on in the park next to the main moorings and it was very loud, however quietened down later, group of young lads near us were very noisy, drinking and shouting however they didn’t stay too late
Total cruising time 6 hours
Monday 25 May Left Newark at 08:00am, nice warm sunny day again. Helen had a bit of trouble at the Town Lock as didn’t let the sluices up gently (totally different to the electric locks near home), Chris hadn’t roped up in the lock and Coventina got bashed about a bit, however nobody and the boat wasn’t damaged only Helen’s Pride!
Helen used the VHF radio for the first time, to call Hazelford Lock even if it was 30 minutes too early!!!, not my day….
Arrived at Gunthorpe at 13:00, but full as seems to be the case around here, however it is a Bank Holiday. Managed to get a mooring alongside ‘Dancers with Dragons’. Let Bisto have a good run in the park, settled down for an early night yet again..
Total cruising time – 5 hours
Tuesday 26 May Departed Gunthorpe at 8.15am, managed to reverse out without causing any fuss even though moored alongside a narrow boat and a cruiser behind. Fairly windy day but stayed dry in the day. Pam and Natalie came and met us for the afternoon. Moored near Sainsburys and Castle marina. Bought some more provisions and managed to all sit out on the grass next to the boat.
We all went to Pizza Hut for some tea, food was lovely, however Chris ordered a bottle too many, had a great night. Whilst inside the ‘Hut’, winds and rain gusted outside, we have been really lucky and have always been inside when it has rained. Total cruising hours 5.45
Wednesday 27 May Rained, rained and rained all morning. Pam and Natalie left, we had some lunch and then set off from Nottingham at 1.00pm, the rain had stopped by this time and luckily stayed away the rest of the day. Arrived at Beeston lock at 2.00pm, used sanitary station, emptied bins etc and then set the lock. This was unusual as it was on 3 ft deep and uphill back onto the Trent, you had to leave a top and bottom gate paddle open to allow the water to flow through all the time. Stayed there approximately half an hour. Reached Cranfleet Cut at 5.00pm. Lovely mooring, picturesque and nice and quiet. Plenty of mooring spaces available even though bank holiday week and something we have found difficult to find since being on the Trent. Had evening meal, short walk and early night – detoxed!
Total cruising time 3.30 hours