Voyages of Gabriel: Torksey to Newark

Thu 22^nd August Torksey to Cromwell

Moored on Torksey visitor moorings

We had been told that the best time to leave Torksey would be 1210, so we had plenty of time this morning. We took ten minutes to cruise slowly down to the lock, and were there by 1100, in pole position on the lock bollards. The lock keeper appeared an hour later and started to fill the lock, and at 1215 we were into the lock, with three other narrowboats.

Filling the lock

Waiting for the green light

In Torksey lock

We cruised out from the Fossdyke and joined the Trent, very close to where Cottam Power Station was making clouds from its cooling towers. This is the last one to use coal and is due to close down at the end of September after 50 years of service. It was designed for thirty years, so it has done quite well.

Cottam Power Station

The river Trent twists and turns, so the power station appeared first on one side and then the other. There were few landmarks on the way to Cromwell, but the route is marked by kilometer markers, so we didn’t lose track of where we were. We kept our lead, with two of the narrowboats keeping up with us about five minutes behind. The smaller narrowboat that came through the lock was soon left behind.

Oncoming traffic

Fledborough Viaduct

Carlton Mill

We arrived at Cromwell, with the long weir to the left, and the lock cut to the right. We tied up on the waiting pontoon, and were told by the lock keeper that a boat was coming down. A beautiful red admiral butterfly decided to land on the boat, and it came through into the lock with us.

Cromwell Weir and Lock Cut

Waiting for Cromwell Lock

A Red Admiral passenger

In Cromwell Lock with Gyptian

We suggested the other two boats went first, as they were going to Newark. We had decided to stop on the mooring pontoon here at Cromwell. We found it was full, so we had to tie onto the wall, along with some large cruisers. We have never seen it so busy. People had their deck chairs out, and were having a BBQ.

2 locks, 16 miles. Dep 1215, arr 1645

Fri 23^rd August Cromwell Lock to Newark

The view from our mooring at Cromwell

Crowded moorings at Cromwell

We left our busy mooring area at Cromwell and set off early on our cruise to Newark. The river was wide, and there was a strong flow against us. It had been much easier on the tide. The Trent divides into two above Newark, with one part flowing through the town past the castle, and the other part taking a rural detour for five miles to the north of the town, emerging at a place called Crankley Point. Soon after this junction comes Newark Nether Lock.

Crankley Point

Newark Nether Lock

The lock was on self-operation when we arrived, and just as James was about to empty the lock, another narrowboat appeared above the lock. James went forward to open the gates for them, but the electronic mechanism was not lighting up the correct light bulbs, and we couldn’t get it to work. Thankfully a volunteer lock keeper arrived and operated the lock for us.

We spotted a water tap, but it was not well positioned, being set well back from the lock wall, with the need for the boat to be in the lock. When we hooked up both our hoses, we only had a trickle. The lock keeper said the next tap was at Hazelford Lock, way past Newark, so we persisted with filling the tank, until boats started to arrive in the lock.

The water tap

Boats arrive before we depart

Just upstream of the lock, the busy A46 crosses the river on a flyover, and there are some old buildings which used to have a purpose once, now all boarded up. When we arrived in Newark, there was a space for us on the pontoon, vacated by the boat we had tried to help through the lock. We also found a water tap, right by the bows of the boat!!!

A46 flyover by Victorian canal buildings

The pontoon at Newark

The Pride of Lincoln going by – the only non-leisure traffic we saw

We nipped off to Aldi and Waitrose, both very close by, for some items we needed. Later we met Hazel’s cousin Rod and his wife Mary, and they took us in their car to a pleasant unspoilt pub called the Lord Nelson at Winthorpe.

1 lock, 5 miles. Dep 0750, arr 1010.

Sat 24^th August Newark

Flowers and riverside buildings in Newark

We had a wander around the town, looking at the sights, frequenting Wetherspoons for a cold drink at one point. Sadly, no still ciders. Eventually we had a lovely meal in Gannets.

Newark Market Place

Chimney for the old church heating system

Ceiling in St Mary Magdalen Church

Newark Castle

The Old Bridge in Newark

There were four cruisers at the upstream end of the pontoon when we first arrived early yesterday. They had chairs out, and barbecues set up, and we had to run the gauntlet of two large dogs every time we left the pontoon. The moorings here are for two days maximum. That can be interpreted several ways. We thought: arrive on Friday, have Saturday and Sunday as our two days, and leave on Monday. That might be stretching it a bit. However, these four cruisers would still be there when we left on Monday.

No boating today

Sun 25^th August Newark

We took a taxi to Boundary Road, to visit Christ Church, a not-so-traditional Anglican church. We found that the church building was closed as it was being rewired, so the service was in the church hall. We had some modern worship songs from a sound system, and a very good talk about choosing friends wisely.

Paul Franklin, vicar at Christ Church

The church building out of action.

We went off to a nearby park and consumed a picnic near the River Devon, followed by a drink in a local pub, where Hazel was the only lady when we arrived. Then an ice cream in the café, before walking to Shirley and Caroline’s house, where it was great to catch up with friends. Caroline lived in our house for eight years in Cobham.