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.

Hazel and Elaine

James and Hazel posing

No boating today

Next: to Burton-on-Trent where we plan to sing in the folk club there on Friday.

Thorne to Cromwell Lock

Sun 4th September  Thorne to Crook o’ Moor

We had noticed some floating weed like duckweed but larger, like miniature water lilies. Some of it collected near our boat. Research revealed it be Greater Duckweed. It made some quite pretty patterns.

Greater Duckweed

After church and a Sunday roast (see previous blog entry), we wanted to go part of the way to Keadby, so we set off through the first obstacle: Princess Swing Bridge. This used to be the road bridge until they built the flyover bridge, and although now it just carries pedestrians and bikes, it is still fully automated, so Hazel operated it with a key.

Princess Swing Bridge

Similarly Wykewell Lift Bridge was hydraulic so Hazel pushed the buttons. Moores Swing Bridge, however, needed to be pushed, so it was James’ turn. The same applied to Maud’s Swing Bridge.

Wykewell Lift Bridge

 There were some big black clouds that were threatening to overtake us, but we successfully outran them and escaped. The weeds gradually got worse the further we went.

Escaping from the weather

 The weeds increase

Crook o’ Moor Swing Bridge was also push and shove so James did the necessary.

Crook o’ Moor Swing Bridge

We found a mooring soon after, where the ever present railway separates from the canal by a field width with a line of trees to shield the noise a little.

Before we had finished tying up the boat properly, Hugo had already gone ashore and caught a mouse.  He caught another just twenty minutes later.  He was out all night so who knows how many rodents went past their expiry dates?

Moored at Crook o’ Moor

0 locks, 5 miles, 4 swing bridges, 1 lift bridge, 2 mice minimum

Mon 5th September  Crook o‘ Moor to Keadby

Sunrise at Crook o’ Moor

After blearily taking the picture of the sunrise, we went back to bed. When we finally set out we very soon had Godnow Swing Bridge to push open.

Godnow Swing Bridge

We didn’t see any deer this time although we kept a good look out.  By the time we reached Vazon Swing Bridge (push and shove) the weed was right across the canal.  Just after this bridge comes the sliding railway bridge which was opened promptly for us. Two trains had just gone by.

Weed at Vazon Swing Bridge

When we finally pulled the boat into the side, the weed became compacted, and the bright green tops were intermingled with the reddish undersides.

Compacted weed

James went to explore and found that there was a large ship just outside the lock, unloading timber, probably from Scandinavia. There was also an historic Humber keel moored on the canal on the opposite side from the visitor moorings.

Ship unloading at the wharf by Keadby Lock

Humber Keel at Keadby

The power station at Keadby is apparently gas powered and has only recently been recommissioned after being mothballed for several years.

Gas powered power station

We had been told we would need to leave at 0820 to catch the tide.  We set an alarm so that we didn’t have to rush in the morning. 

0 locks, 5 miles, 2 swing bridges, 1 railway sliding bridge

Tue 6th September  Keadby to Torksey

Before dawn at Keadby

We were getting everything ready, including getting out the anchor for emergency deployment, putting on lifejackets, and taking vulnerable items off the roof.  Hazel went to dispose of rubbish at about 0730, and we thought we had plenty of time. There was a loud knocking on the side of the boat. It was the lockkeeper, saying we were late and should be in the lock. The other boat was apparently ready and waiting for us.  It turned out that the 0820 departure time we had been given was for the tide on Wednesday, not today.

Fortunately we were mostly ready. We just had to get the time-lapse camera started and placed securely on the roof, strapped to a heavy tin of paint to keep it in place. So we were in the lock at 0740, sharing with a white cruiser named Andante.

Early start 

Into the lock past the open swing bridge

As the lock slowly emptied, water and weed was rushing in behind us through some vertical slits in the top gates.  There must be a reason for this – perhaps to stop the canal overflowing the banks. Normally there would be a bypass weir for this.

Water and weed through the vertical slots

Gates opening

The ship Mia Sophie-B was till just outside the lock, but this did not present a problem as there was not much flow to start with.  If we had been coming from Torksey or Cromwell it would have been very difficult to see the entrance to the lock.

Andante leaving the lock past the ship bows

Looking back at the ship hiding the lock

There is an interesting website that tells you where vessels are and something about them. It includes cargo vessels and cruise ships. www.vesselfinder.com

Ships at Gunness Wharf opposite Keadby

Our plants out of the wind and the anchor ready

Andante paused in mid channel to remove weed from the propeller, and we soon left them behind, until they got themselves sorted out eventually, and creamed on past 45 minutes later.

Keadby Bridge, or George V Bridge is a bascule lift bridge powered by electricity. It was first opened in 1916. It carries a double track railway and the A18 road.  It was last lifted in 1956, and the headroom was increased in 1960, with the bridge being fixed in position.

Keadby Bridge

M180 viaduct

 The windmill at West Butterwick

Andante being a bit more allegro

There follows a series of photos of the main landmarks on the route south, mostly mills, bridges and power stations.

Riverside settlement at Owston Ferry

 Windmill south of Owston Ferry

River Idle joins the Trent through a sluice

The church at East Stockwith

East Stockwith Lock

Gainsborough Wharf

 The bridge at Gainsborough

West Burton Power Station

Cottam Power Station

Marton Mill

Looking back at Torksey Viaduct. Keep left if heading north.

When we arrived at Torksey, the pontoon was empty, so we moored near to the ramp so Hugo could go and explore.  More boats arrived later, including some large barges they were using for dredging work.

Moored on the pontoon at Torksey

The dredging barges arrive

A hire boat also arrived, and the lady on board had been reading this blog, trying to decide whether to go via the Huddersfield Canal or the Leeds and Liverpool. Another of the boaters kept their boat Serendipity at Lemonroyd Marina, and they used to be at Swiftcraft at Apperley Bridge. They knew Richard Fee who built our first boat, and they also knew Simon and Pat of Towpath Ministries.

We contacted Les and Christina Moore, who live locally. They joined us for a meal in the White Swan. It was good to see them. They have sold their boat, although they still want to remain part of BCF.  The food at the pub was very good, with huge portions.

Les and Christina Moore

You can see a timelapse video of the days boating here: https://www.facebook.com/james.bell.524596/videos/10154542563511757/ 

1 Lock, 1 swing bridge, 27 miles

Wed 7th September  Torksey to Cromwell Lock

The pontoon at Torksey

The dredging team started early, working at the entrance to Torksey Cut.  We needed to go with the tide at 1115, and it was a challenge to get past them, as the dredger operator could not see us past the huge barges which hid us.  A few short blasts on Gabriel’s horn soon made them aware.

The dredging team

Full pontoon as we left

An unexpected hazard

Dunham Toll Bridge

Fledborough Viaduct

 Pylons from power stations

Carlton Mill

New Besthorpe Wharf

We had the flow against us all the way, as the tides were not large, and the flow of the river downstream outweighed the effect of the tide upstream. We called up Cromwell Lock on the VHF radio and the lock was set for us when we arrived. 

Cromwell Weir and Lock

Green light at Cromwell Lock

On the long walk to the sanitary station, James came across a spindle sticking out of the ground. According to an information board, it was the mount for an anti aircraft gun during WWII.

Anti aircraft gun mount

We had intended to go on further, but by the time we filled our water tank (very slow tap) it was getting late and we thought the moorings in Newark might be full, so we decided to stay on the pontoon.  We met some pleasant people on Wild Thyme. They moor at Shireoaks on the Chesterfield Canal.

The pontoon at Cromwell Lock

1 lock, 14 miles

Next: we continue our journey with a quick pause in Newark for shopping and lunch with relatives, then on to Nottingham