Up ( the Trent) and Away!

 

Wed 22 July A Gentle Start to Drakeholes

We don't need to rush! It's hard to take this in, but we'll try. After sorting home out, we took Jessica, our cat, with us ...... Not a good traveller :(   After backing Annie to the car and loading up, it was so sunny that John backed her through the bridge hole, winded her (360degrees turn) and off we went to Drakeholes, squinting into the setting sun!




Thursday 23 July Drakeholes to Cromwell Lock

A sunny start, so John set off through the tunnel and four locks to West Stockwith, where we could pass straight down onto the Trent and catch the last of the flood tide up to Torksey, enjoying the scenery as we zoomed along. Torksey Lock told us we would have to wait until tomorrow 1300 to leave to go upstream, so we just carried on four more hours and moored on the pontoon above Cromwell Lock at 1830. A good job we did, as we found narrow boat Sagramor well aground on the inside of a bend just after High Tide. Liana threw our bow rope and we pulled her off backwards, using that 55hp engine to good effect! The relieved couple were very grateful.

Heron on the prowl



A Grebe was diving for fish

Lots of wildfowl approaching Newark

The Tidal Trent is pretty, in my opinion, and it is even better above Newark. What a beautiful, interesting long day, a great start to the holiday.

Friday. 24 July Our Anniversary, a gentle amble to Newark Castle

Can you see the chick taking a ride?

Approaching Newark Nether Lock

We took it easy on our 34th wedding anniversary, passing through Newark Nether Lock to moor opposite the castle.



Newark Nether Lock



Ocean Princess at Newark

Ocean Princees, the special narrow boat which went to the Scilly Islands, moored nearby, complete with six foot mast, masthead light, vhf aerial and radar reflector - impressive! Liana fitted the new harness and lead to Jessica and took her for a walk ..... 5 yards later, she was free, but we soon had her walking unhappily, again. We hope she will get used to it, so she can get some fresh air in future. After a walk around the shops and market, a home made Steak and Stilton Pie at the cafe opposite the castle was excellent. The Masterchef final was surprisingly entertaining that night.

Annie approaching the moorings opposite Newark Castle (through the arch)

Sat 25 July Newark to Holme Lock

0930 saw us in the Town Lock with Ocean Princess. The young man told me his dad, the owner of the Wyvern Hire Boat firm, had taken the boat to Scotland and visited the Isle of Man, too! His dad told Liana that he intended to visit Ireland soon! I learned that the boat has various additions, including stabilisers, that mast, a cover for the front well deck, a 75hp engine and bow thrusters. I still think they are M A D, but A1 for ambition! Anyway, they zoomed off, aiming for Nottingham,



only to reappear an hour later breasted up to another narrow boat which we think they had rescued and we're taking back to Newark!

 



Ocean Princess breasted up returning to Newark.

A busy waterway at Staythorpe Weir (on the right)

Liana took her turn at the tiller

 The breeze moderated, sun appeared and we had a gorgeous day on the Loire - like non-tidal Trent, through the large Hazlewood, Gunthorpe, Stoke and Holme Locks.


Approaching Holme Lock. The end of the Slalom Course is ahead on the left

Holme Lock was deep and took a while to fill

Red wine in the evening sun and watching the kayaks on the Holme Pierrepoint National Watersports Centre seemed a good idea, too. A short visit to see our beautiful great-niece Annabel and her slaves finished the day.

The Slalom Course twenty metres from Annie's mooring

Annie moored above Holme Lock