Up The Tidal Trent To Stone

September 1999

All photographs on this page are Clickable

This is an account of our last but one long trip.

Date Depart Arrive Miles Locks
15/9/99 Thorne (Thorne Lock) Keadby (Lock) 10.5 1
16/9/99 Keadby Newark (Castle) 48.7 2
17/9/99 Newark Cranfleet Cut 32.5 7
18/9/99 Cranfleet Cut Barton Turns 24 12
19/9/99 Barton Turns Salt 23 16
20/09/99 Salt Stone (Limekiln Lock) 6 4
Totals     145 42

 

This wasn't really a cruise. We had to move our boat to new moorings. We had a crew of two, both experienced on the canals, and experienced with the boat.

 

LAST BRIDGE LEAVING THORNE, SOUTH YORKSHIRE Wykewell Lift Bridge

We left Thorne knowing we were booked in for KeadBy Lock the next day at 9.30am to catch a Spring Tide.. This meant a short easy day and a chance to stow our gear for our trip on the tidal River Trent. At Keadby we ensured we had ample fuel, the oil levels were correct and our (handbrake) the anchor was at hand and actually shackled to the boat !

HAND BRIDGE SOMETIMES THESE NEED A BW KEY BUT NORMALLY THEY JUST REQUIRE BRUTE FORCE Godnow Swing Bridge

We left Keadby lock at high speed knowing we would be pushed sideways by the spring tide.While the tide was certainly pushing us up the Trent we had the wind on our nose so it was wet and choppy, but not too uncomfortable.We timed ourselves at 10mph (exactly) all the way to Torksey. Just before Torksey we were overtaken by a commercial boat going to Rampton Gravel Wharf (LAFARGE). Just on the bends after Torksey we met about four more heavily laden gravel barges who had all just started back down the Trent on their eleven hour journey on the ebb tide. They 'stood on' in the middle of the river. We just passed them on whatever side we could find the room.

DUNHAM BRIDGES RIVER TRENT. JUST ABOUT WHERE TIDE IS EFFECTIVE ON NEAPSDunham Pipe and Toll BridgeBRIDGE AT MARNHAM POWER STATION ON RIVER TRENTMarnham Power Station/Fledborough Viaduct

Our high speed dash now became more of the normal crawl as we pushed the tide for a short distance on the way to Cromwell Lock. As we had planned to run till dark we just made Newark that evening, Where we moored just across from the castle.

ELEGANT BRIDGE AT NEWARK ON CANAL SECTION THE BRIDGE AT THE REAR IS NEWARK BY-PASS An Elegant Bridge at Newark

Next morning we were away at the crack of dawn. This was a good part of the trip. Every lock was ready for us and as soon as we entered the lock the lockeeper closed the gates immediately behind us. A short stop for groceries at Sainsbury's in Nottingham and then onto Cranfleet Cut where we moored for the night just as it was getting dark.

A DEEP RIVER TRENT ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LOCK A River Trent Lock

Next day as luck would have it every lock from Alrewas to Rugeley was ready for us, prepared by boaters going in the opposite direction.Once again we moored without going to the pub, not our normal cruising experience!

Our last day was the short distance from Salt to Stone. Mooring above Limekiln Lock we went straight into the Rising Sun Pub. This was a compulsory move as by this time we were rapidly losing credibility as genuine boaters.

Verdict on trip. Very hard work. We proved beyond doubt to ourselves that a boat persons life was not easy.


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