Voyages of Gabriel: Cromwell Lock to Nottingham

Thu 8th September Cromwell Lock to Hazelford Lock

Dawn at Cromwell Lock

It was sunny and very windy this morning. We found evidence of a larger than usual catch by Hugo – maybe a small rabbit or rat. Hugo was missing but soon returned after we called.

Moored at Cromwell Lock

We made an early start when he came back, and made good use of the VHF radio to Nether Lock which was then opened for us.

Radcliffe Rail Bridge

Nether Lock

Old canal buildings dwarfed by the A46 Road Bridge

The pontoon moorings in Newark were full, so we moored opposite and had to negotiate a roof-level wall before walking through to Morrison’s for provisions. This was the first time we have moored on this side, and it is much quicker to get into town.

The Kiln pontoon full of boats

We returned to the boat with our goodies before setting out on foot once again to meet Hazel’s cousin Rod and Mary at “Feeling Peckish”. This is a very good place for lunch or breakfast, and Mary is a frequent visitor, and is well known by the staff.

Rod and Mary

We set off soon after lunch as we still had a way to go, past the castle, through Newark Lock, which was keeper operated, and upstream a few miles.

The facade of the old brewery, now made into homes

Newark Castle

Leaving Newark Lock

We paused at Farndon Marina for fuel. Hazel went to the office some distance away while James prepared to take on some diesel. Filler cap open, and some Jetset additive introduced. Then he went to the office and found they were trying to speak to him through a loudspeaker system. He went back and started filling the tank. The fuel pump was directly in line with the sun, so it was difficult to see how much was going in. He managed to settle on 70 litres, getting it exact. When he arrived at the office to pay, he discovered that he had been reading the pounds not the litres, so it was a very unround figure in litres, especially as the pounds amount was based on 40/60 split and we declare 70/30, so even the round amount in pounds was not round anymore. Well, at least we had fuel for the remaining upriver journey on the mighty Trent.

Gaggle of geese

Farndon Marina

The beautiful Trent

We had a few more miles to go with some lovely wooded banks before we arrived at Hazelford Lock. Thankfully there was still a space for us on the lower wall, where we could get off easily. Hugo showed us he was still agile by running up the steep steps to explore

Hazelford Lock moorings

2 locks, 13 miles

Fri 9th September Hazelford Lock to Nottingham

Hazelford Weir

Due to rain forecast on Saturday, we decided to go all the way into Nottingham today instead of breaking the journey at Stoke Lock. That is the advantage of planning short days – you can easily do two in one go.

We were up before the lock keeper, so we went through the lock by operating it ourselves. This meant we didn’t have to put our ropes through these vertical bollards.

Hazelford Lock

Self operation

We powered on upstream past Gunthorpe where originally we had hoped to have lunch with Elaine, and then through Gunthorpe Lock. The VHF radio is very useful for getting the lock ready in advance.

Gunthorpe Lock

When we reached Stoke Lock, there was dredger operating just downstream, but there were no tugs or barges near it. We called up the lock keeper as the light was red, and he opened the gates for us, revealing a tug that presumably had just gone in. Above the lock there was a big barge and the tug turned round to collect it.

The dredger

With the tug in Stoke Lock

We continued our journey through Holme Lock, by the canoe slalom course, and had it to ourselves. Soon after this we spotted an Australian Black Swan at the water’s edge. We have seen several of these over the years, most notably in Reading on the Thames where a pair has produced cygnets for several years.

Leaving Holme Lock

Black swan

Lady Bay Bridge

Brian Clough Stand at the City ground of Nottingham Forest.

Then we were off the Trent and into the Beeston Canal where we used the facilities just after Meadow Lane Lock. We proceeded up the canal through Castle Lock, ending up outside Sainsbury’s for the day.

Although the locks are numbered sequentially from Sawley Flood Lock No 1 to Cromwell Lock 15, the bridges here start at no 1 and increasing in the direction of Cranfleet Cut, presumably the old Beeston Canal numbers.

Bridge 1: Meadow Lane Bridge

FMC warehouse

Nottingham Castle

Castle Lock (No 7)

There are plenty of rings along the towpath near Sainsbury’s, so we were able to choose one with bushes where Hugo could explore. The next boat Eye of Horus had two cats, but there didn’t seem to any fracas.

A young man gave us a leaflet about Trent Vineyard Church, where we were planning to go anyway on Sunday.

6 locks, 16 miles

Sat 10th September Nottingham

Today was a rainy day as forecast. We visited Sainsbury’s as you do, and James went for a walk to see who was there. He found two boats he knew of. The first was Mrs Noah, a cruiser usually seen moored on the Thames at Oxford, once a BCF boat. The second was Which Wey, a familiar boar from our days on the River Wey. They once won the boat pageant at the Guildford Boat Gathering for having four guys stripping off on the roof to the music from the Full Monty.

Which Wey

Sun 11th September Nottingham

We walked half a mile to Trent Vineyard, a large church that meets in a warehouse. We met up with Elaine, who had been looking out for us.

Trent Vineyard before the service

The worship band

There were several songs that were new to us, so we took note for possible use in the future. There was coffee and doughnuts afterwards. Elaine treated us to lunch at a carvery, where the portions were huge.

We returned to the boat to take some photos that we needed.