The Tidal River Trent

 Thursday 5 October Cromwell Lock to Torksey Lock cut (15 miles, 1 lock)

The strong winds had reduced, thankfully, but the heavy rain was still around. John wore his wet weather gear. He rang Cromwell Lock at 0830, and lockie Neil answered, confirming that we could enter the lock once a boat had come up. We took off the several ropes used last night in reverse order. John changed the stern rope to a pontoon cleat a yard in front of the boat stud, so the boat would swing out in the current when all the other ropes were released. Liana hopped on board, the bow swung out, John took off the rope while pushing the throttle forward, and we were off. Turning 180 degrees, we headed for the lock.

Neil is often at either Cromwell or Torksey lock, so we see him every trip. We had a brief chat before we left on the fifteen mile trip to Torksey.

The Besthorpe gravel wharf equipment looks ready to go, but lorries are used at the moment.

A different view of Dunham Road Bridge
The first seven miles are pretty straightforward for steerers, just stay in the middle, maybe closer to the outside on curves and corners to avoid the shallows on the inside of bends. The weather improved , rain stopped, more or less. The sun made an occasional appearance.

Nick steered for the last eight miles, while John used the old Boating Association Tidal Trent chart to advise him about shallows, sunken islands, which arch to go under bridges and the like.

John took over as we passed the brick pumping station and entered Torksey cut. It is just wide enough to turn, if you are careful, so John turned Annie to face the main river and we moored on the excellent long floating pontoon. 

We all enjoyed a final lunch together, eating the rest of the pulled pork with pasta-tasty!

Friday 6 October Torksey Lock cut to West Stockwith basin (15 miles, 1 lock)

After a wet night and morning, John dressed again in wet weather gear. Thankfully, the rain stopped after a while and we could enjoy our trip. 

The sun broke through event, as we passed under railway viaducts, past Torksey Castle, Cotham and West Burton power stations and several shallow sections, including the Roman ford at Littleborough.

Leaving Torksey cut. NB Dawn Mist turned upstream back to Cromwell and Newark. We turned right, downstream.

Cotham power station 

Torksey Viaduct 

Big boats move along the line between two white poles at Marton Mill, to avoid shoals.

You aim at the white pole at Marton Mill

Hunting Lodge

Knaith Hall

Wildfowl 

West Burton power station 

We were the only boat heading downstream, but there were lots of gulls, ducks, cormorants, herons and a few swans around. 

Nearing low tide 

Gainsborough Railway Viaduct 

Kerry flour mill used to be Spillers

Gainsborough Bridge

Morton apartments. Friends Al & Annie live here.

John rang West Stockwith lock as we reached Gainsborough. Lockie Jim said we were spot on to arrive at 1100, about slack water. In fact, we arrived at Stocky, John turned Annie to face upstream and rang Jim again. We needed to wait ten minutes for there to be enough water above the lock sill for Annie to enter, as it was low tide, just before the flood tide whizzes upriver for over two hours. John entered the lock very easily at slack water, with no current flowing at all, probably the easiest entry ever!

 

We moored in the basin, end on next to the hire boats Robin Hood and Maid Marian, then had lunch at the newly reopened Waterside Inn. Liana got a lift from Nick to Lincoln and returned with our car later, from Nottingham. John rested and did a few jobs on Annie.