Spring Bank holiday weekend started off as a lazy one, and after a bit of deliberation we decided to head to Hull first as the Trent would be very busy especially since we were not prepared to get up at the crack of dawn for the early tide and we would be arriving in the evening.
We received prompt service from Goole Docks penning out, and had a quick run down river in breezy conditions but nice and smooth as it was wind with tide. After arriving in Hull Marina, Moonshine was given a berth on B Pontoon as the visitors berth was full.
We received prompt service from Goole Docks penning out, and had a quick run down river in breezy conditions but nice and smooth as it was wind with tide. After arriving in Hull Marina, Moonshine was given a berth on B Pontoon as the visitors berth was full.
After an enjoyable few days in Hull, we departed on the pm tide on Monday, and had yet again a calm fast run to Keadby where we dropped off the plane, and ran steady so as not to outrun the tide to Torksey where we stayed the evening on the pontoon low side.
On Tuesday morning we made the two and a half hour run to Newark town, where we were fortunate enough to acquire a mooring on The Kiln pontoon.
On approaching the pontoon two narrowboats appeared to be heading downstream, however it wasn't until we were on the mooring that one of them decided to moor up behind us without turning into the current, which he did with no major problems. His companion on the second narrowboat was another matter. He was on his own and new to boating, and the first narrowboat whom we were later advised had 30 years boating experience under his belt was instructing him to breast up to his vessel without turning into the flow. After about 20 minutes of him getting nowhere with a lot of engine revving and shouting and being advised by us that he would be safer turning into the current, he eventually gave up and turned and breasted up easily. Neither of them appeared very happy with our added interference, and we were told they wouldn't have had a problem if we hadn't have moored there first, at which point we retorted that we were assertive in our handling and it was obvious what our intention was and that theirs was not, additionally you never know if they would have moored ecconomically allowing us on. Surfice to say they had a very big chip on their shoulders throughout our stay.
On Thursday after a couple of pleasant nights in Newark, we headed back downstream to Cromwell where five Derby Motor Boat Club boats joined us for the journey down river to Torksey.
We were promptly penned into Torksey and after filling up with water, we ventured up to Saxilby for a fish and chip tea.
After tea we were not sure whether to head on up to The Woodcock's moorings or head straight for Lincoln. We opted for the latter in hope there was a mooring, and we were pleasantly surprised to get one on the CRT visitors.
Last time we visited Lincoln, there was more university building work in operation, and now this has been completed the moorings for Lincoln Marina have improved providing a decent length with shore power and water.
After an early start in the supermarket on Friday morning and a visit to the town before the heat of the day started to rise, we topped up with water yet again and trundled down to the deserted Woodcock's mooring at Burton Waters for lunch. These moorings are more pleasant to exercise our dogs around rather than in Lincoln city centre.
Once again since our last visit a few years ago it has all changed with more housing and a hotel being built and a landscaped path around the perimeter of the marina. We remember visiting back in the year 2000 on our Seamster 813 'Chelmer', when what is now E Pontoon existed as the marinas main length of moorings along with the sales pontoon and office block.
After discussing potential saloon seating fabrics with Chris Potts with a view to having this retrimmed in November and a BBQ to finish the day, we battened down the hatches as rain was forecast for the following day.
We awoke Saturday morning to a very wet and once again muggy day. With waterproofs on, we cast off to head back down to Torksey to lay on the empty low side pontoon for tomorrow's early start back to Goole. After the rain had stopped we enjoyed a nice dog walk up to the viaduct.
After a 6am start, we departed Torksey moorings on the ebb meeting the flood at Butterwick. We planed from Keadby, but hit a piece of debris which must have got caught on the front of her outdrives slowing Moonshine down instantly. After making sure there was no damage we quickly got her back up onto the plane, until the Apex Light where we slowed down once again as we had heard Goole Docks on the VHF was very busy. We had an hour's wait until finally penning in just after high water.
The next few weekends will consist of work commitments and maybe the odd trip up the canal for a BBQ. We can also look forward to our summer holiday heading south, and since this year we are not restricted to the school timetable, we are having our summer holiday a bit earlier at the start of July...let's just hope for good weather this year!
