What A Scorcher

On what was billed to be a scorcher of a weekend we enjoyed fantastic lovely warm weather over the bank holiday. 

With a gentle S.W breeze we were one of five vessels all from Goole Boathouse to pen out of Ocean Lock Goole, with four of us Hull bound and the other bound for the Trent. The Ouse was quite thick with floating debris between Goole and Swinefleet, but once past the tide gauge it had cleared substantially which enabled us to plane as it was slow progress at displacement speed against a strong flood tide. However we still had to be vigilant for rubbish in the river...as you don't want to hit anything at speed plus it was hard to see looking into the sun. 

Once we arrived at Hull we were allocated a mooring on BB pontoon as the visitor's berth was already very busy. At one stage the Marina was struggling to find berths for visiting vessels, however it was nice to see a lot of activity within the Marina. 

On Sunday morning Peter spotted his dad on Crambeck on his way back to Goole from Grimsby after his trip to Amble.

Incidentally, late on Sunday evening we were surprised to see the Trent bound vessel 'Pipe Dream' a Freeman 33 whom we had penned through Ocean Lock the previous day arrive at Hull Marina. The skipper told us he had got to Boston on the Saturday, and initially we thought he was joking, but after he had squeezed through the Lincoln bridges he had arrived at Boston at 23.00 hours. He then penned out of Boston Sunday morning and had a pleasant run up the Lincolnshire Coast taking advantage of the settled sea conditions, anchored at Spurn until the next flood tide then made his way up to Hull for the first pen in. Quite an epic round trip for a three day weekend for a semi displacement boat. 

After a thoroughly enjoyable weekend it was time to depart on the Monday morning. We enjoyed quick service through Hull Marina lock and planed to Goole once the engines had warmed up. With a bit of wind over tide in places we had an excellent run, however had to wait for nearly 30 minutes as the Dock Master at Ocean Lock was having control problems with the lower gates. 

With this run being the best so far this year weather wise on the Humber, this has certainly made a pleasant change.