Relaxing on the Trent

[CX54WEK]

Day 1

Burton Waters to Torksey

As with so many of our holidays this one started on the very familiar waters of the Fossdyke. After four years on this little ditch we know this stretch of water quite well but it is always a nice way to start a holiday and gives us the chance to make sure everything is operating as it should.

This time we were in the company of friends on Wish You Were Here and Silent P who would accompany us for the first few days of the holiday. With the late afternoon sun shining down on us we made the eight mile trip in good time and we were soon settled in The White Swan for a few pints and a steak pie.

8 Miles 0 Locks

Day 2

Torksey to Newark Castle

A late start to the day today. Our tide isn’t while 2.30pm so we can spend the morning lounging around, filling water tanks and browsing the shelves of Torksey Caravans before cracking open the first beers of the day.

Eventually we were given the green light and entered the lock in the company of another couple of cruisers who were Newark bound. For the majority of the tidal section of river we were treated to decent weather but as we approached the Cromwell Lock the skies darkened and the inevitable rain fell just as we entered the lock. Typical.

Slightly soggy and a little miffed we all set sail for Newark, only a short hop away but still another lock to go. Thankfully the weather soon brightened up again and we traversed Newark Nether Lock in bright sunshine with just a few more minutes of cruising to go to get to Newark town centre.
Newark was buzzing. We had picked the weekend of Newark Festival for this visit and luckily for us the moorings we had chosen were right in the heart of the action, directly behind the main stage. Unluckily for us the weather turned decidedly wet shortly after we arrived but we still enjoyed the music from the warmth of the boat, the main band for the evening being Scouting For Girls, not our usual choice of music but we couldn’t complain.

21 Miles 2 Locks

Total: 29 Miles 3 Locks

 

[CX54WEK]

Day 3

Newark Castle

Our original plan had been to move on today but as the festival still had another day to go and everyone else was staying another night we followed suit and had a great day chilling out and relaxing before heading out for a great meal at one of the many pubs in the town centre.

After dinner we hit the fairground, most of us wondering why we had waited until after dinner to do this and ending up a little green around the gills by the time we left. Later in the evening we were treated to a fantastic fireworks display for which we had front row seats yet again.

0 Mile 0 Locks

Total: 29 Miles 3 Locks


Day 4

Newark Castle to Nottingham Canal, Castle Meadow Moorings

After a reasonably late start by our standards, 10am, we eventually said our goodbyes to Wish You Were Here and Silent P who were heading back to the marina. We pointed Naughty-Cal’s bow upstream and set sail still unsure of our destination. All we were sure of was we needed some water.

The previous days heavy showers had certainly made a difference to the river levels and the flow was certainly more noticeable than a couple of days before hand. Punching the flow we made steady progress upstream but really felt for the narrowboaters who were in effect treading water and making painfully slow progress.

By mid day we had reached Hazelford Lock where we pulled in to take on water and have a hot shower before refilling the tank and heading yet further upstream to find a mooring for the night. The riverside pub at Gunthorpe looked good enough to make us stop and try out the beer. After a couple we decided that although the pub was lovely the moorings were very exposed to the strengthening winds so we set off yet again heading through Stoke Lock and Holme Lock.

It was at Holme Lock that we had the only real incident of the week. We were out of lock keeper hours so had to operate the lock ourselves. Not a problem this is something we are used to. As usual I went ahead and worked the lock whilst Liam looked after the boat. Whilst at the pedestal operating the gates with my back to the boat, a lady asked me if Liam needed any help. Rather glibly I replied “No, he knows what he is doing”. At this moment I turned around to find Liam playing tug of war with Naughty-Cal and her bow rope. There is a weir next to the pontoon which had taken her stern and left Liam clinging on to the bow line, Naughty-Cal insistent on heading back downstream alone!! He did manage to retrieve her with a little brute force and clambered over the bow rails before neatly slotting her into the lock, a little bemused to say the least. Panic over we decided that as we had come this far we may as well carry on to Nottingham.

This plan felt like a great idea until we pulled onto the river landing stage for the lock up onto the canal and the heavens opened, again. Not such a problem if your boat is short enough to get through the bridges but guess what? Naughty-Cal isn’t with the hoods up. So reluctantly we disassembled the canopies and got thoroughly soaked to the skin as we tackled the last couple of locks for the day and the last slow miles to the excellent moorings.

25 Miles 7 Locks

Total: 54 Miles 10 Locks

 

[CX54WEK]

Day 5

Nottingham Canal – Castle Meadow to Beeston

A sunny day at last. No rain in the forecast so the canopies are coming off at long last. After a lazy breakfast in the sunshine we nip across to the conveniently located supermarket to stock up on supplies before taking a stroll along the towpath to the local marina and its excellent pub.

Whilst enjoying a pint in the scorching sunshine it did occur to us that Cal was very much out of place in this neck of the woods, we were deep in narrowboat country. After a pint or two we strolled back to find we had new neighbours, a chap who had lived on his boat for 16 years in total. Now we are both sociable creatures but this chap just refused to leave us alone so reluctantly we made our excuses and upped sticks, heading further up the canal to Beeston. Never mind the sun was shining and we had a very pleasant if not short cruise to Beeston.

3 Miles 0 Locks
Total 57 Miles 10 Locks

Day 6

Beeston to Stoke Lock

We both woke to the hammering of rain on the canopies this morning. Great, whichever way we go we need to take the hoods off to get under the bridges. Reluctantly we peeled ourselves out of bed and assessed our options.

An hour or so later we plucked up the courage to dismantle the hoods, fold down the arch and head back downstream. We were going to get wet, so what? Whilst it was a little on the damp side it wasn’t cold so we braved the elements, once again stopping at the supermarket for supplies on the way back to the river.

Eventually hope and warmth was in sight as we approached the last lock onto the river. Whilst I set the lock, Liam filled the water tank and rebuilt the canopies, setting the heating going to dry out the boat and warm us through. After a quick mopping up session and a hot drink on the river mooring we were once again fit for action, descending Holme Lock, a lock we usually have some issue or another with, with ease, Naughty-Cal enjoying the deeper water and eating up the miles much more happily than the last couple of days.

At Stoke lock we decided enough was enough and we settled down for the evening in this very pretty setting, enjoying some fine home, well boat, cooked food and a few drinks.

11 Miles 3 Locks
Total 68 Miles 13 Locks

 

[CX54WEK]

Day 7

Stoke Lock to Newark

A breezy start to today. The wind was really rattling through the trees and the river was once again flowing quickly, not such a problem today though as we are travelling with the flow. After a quick breakfast we head through the lock in the company of a narrowboat and a pair of large Brooms destined for Newark Marina.

With the wind really blowing and the river taking a twisting course it made for hard work keeping the boat heading where we wanted. By the time we had reached Gunthorpe Lock the next on the river the Brooms had given up and moored up and the narrowboat was nowhere to be seen. Undeterred we carried on regardless passing through Hazelford lock and heading back to Newark. It was hard work but worth the effort as we were rewarded with the rare chance to moor on the serviced floating pontoons on the river, normally these are full of narrowboats at this time of year.

18 Miles 4 Locks
Total 86 miles 17 Locks

Day 8

Newark to Cromwell to Muskham Ferry

Another sunny start to the day. It was a reasonably early start as we were awoken by a large commercial vessel passing the moorings and unsettling the moored boats. With no rush today and not a lot of miles to go we refilled the water tank, did a spot of shopping and set sail for Cromwell Lock. The plan to have showers before heading back upstream to Muskham Ferry pub just a couple of miles upstream. As this was a short hop we did the extra miles to get some hot water and recharge the batteries a little more.

Both showered and refreshed we moored at the pub and spent the afternoon in the beer garden in the sun.

6 Miles 1 Lock
Total 92 Miles 18 Locks

 

[CX54WEK]

Day 9

Muskham Ferry to Torksey

An early start today to catch our tide. We left Muskham at 8am and were in the lock descending onto the tidal Trent by 9am after a quick bite to eat and coffee. The miles were quickly eaten up as there was still a lot of fresh water in the river combined with a decent spring tide. It was only an hour and a half before we had Torksey in sight.

Once locked up onto the ditch we moored up for showers, refilled the water tank yet again, and set off in search of our friends on their narrowboat. Tonight we were to party in the White Swan where there was a charity event on raising funds for Help For Hero’s. A great night was had by all with live bands, a great BBQ, raffle, auction and of course beer.

18 Miles 2 Locks
Total 110 Miles 20 Locks

Day 10

Torksey to Burton Waters

It was safe to say we were a little hung over today. So after a lie in and some coffee we set off in search of breakfast and something for dinner later in the day. We knew that the supermarket in Saxilby would be open so head for there.

Breakfast over with we head for home where we would have a couple of hours cleaning the boat before enjoying a fine dinner of sirloin steak, sautéed potatoes, garlic mushrooms, fired eggs and grilled tomatoes. A great way to end a great week.

8 Miles 0 Locks
Total 118 Miles 20 Locks
Approx 100 litres diesel

 

[JKay]

Brilliant Trip report as usual Are you in the club on Friday ?

 

[No Regrets]

CEXys next trip...

 

[CX54WEK]

Brilliant Trip report as usual Are you in the club on Friday ?

Of course.

 

[CX54WEK]

CEXys next trip...

Cheeky sod

 

[Sulley]

Great report and pictures as always, thanks for posting!

 

[No Regrets]

Indeed, cracking stuff CEXy

 

[ianc1200]

Great posts by CX54WEK really enjoy these photo descriptions of other waterways.