On Good Friday we had an early start with prompt service penning out of Goole Docks. We soon got Moonshine up onto the plane to test there were no mechanical problems after the harsh winter period we have just endured. We dropped her down to displacement speed at Bank House as three tugs were assisting ‘Sky Vita’ to free herself after being grounded for two tides.
We were soon again on our way, enjoying a calm and uneventful trip with good help from a strong ebb tide.
During the Easter weekend it became increasingly obvious that the trip up the River Trent was off the cards, as a months worth of rain had fallen within two days in the catchment area. Easter Monday was especially wet and windy in Hull, so even a sea trip was out of the question. We therefore decided to just enjoy all that Hull has to offer for the week, and since visitors to the marina get a fifth night free with the loyalty card, it really didn’t make it an expensive week away.
After spending most of the week on B pontoon, on Thursday the weather had improved to go for a run out on the river. Despite it still being breezy, we transited Hull Marina Lock at high water and with wind with tide this made for a very pleasant run. We also noticed that due to the high spring tides the tidal barrier was down. We travelled at displacement speed just off Skitter Haven where we turned and returned back to the marina.
Fortunately there was now room on the visitor pontoon for us to lay on, near ‘Odin’ another Seawings 355 visiting from Farndon whom had been out the previous week and couldn’t return to his home mooring due to the flood gates being closed at Newark.
Having had a full week in Hull, we decided to return back to Goole on Saturday on the am tide. River conditions were flat calm and made for a very smooth and fast run back, until Blacktoft where we had caught up with another Goole Boathouse vessel which was bound for Goole which was traveling at displacement speed following the M.V. Danica Hav which was also bound for Goole. Since we had already passed another two ships on the river which were inbound for Goole we knew we could potentially be in for a long wait to pen in, and was surprised to hear that the Dock Master had arranged for us to pen through Victoria Lock. We had a short wait whilst awaiting for M.V. Danica Hav to swing and once we were safely passed her, we entered Victoria Lock. Moonshine’s second passage through Victoria Lock was very smooth and Lowther Bridge was swung as soon as the top gates opened.... its a pity Goole Docks don’t use Victoria Lock more often when it is busy with shipping.
Despite the drab wet weather at the beginning of the week, and Moonshine’s heater being on continuously we haven’t had a bad weeks holiday, well where else could a family of four stay for £167 in a city centre. Moonshine has run very well on what little has been expected of her, and hopefully next holiday the rivers won’t be in flood if we can’t get to sea.
We have spent a small fortune in the shops and also enjoyed the Vue Cinema watching the latest Tomb Raider movie in the Princes Quay shopping centre (however we have since discovered the Odeon and Reel cinema are cheaper, apart from Monday’s), along with a few meals out and plenty of dog walks.
Meal times on the boat have been interesting as Laura is now a vegetarian, and since I will tolerate vegetarian meals Peter and Natalie WILL NOT! Thank goodness for my airfryer to speed cooking times up (along with the ever faithful shore power), but not the added confusion of extra utensils to avoid food contamination.... not so easy when you have had a few pre dinner drinks....I am not the greatest cook in the world and after attempting to kid Peter and Natalie up that Falafels were meatballs, which didn’t go down well at all, well, I have had to give up!
