We made Hull in very good time on a very large spring tide, passing the yacht still aground at Whitton Island. Upon arrival at Hull Marina, we discovered our pressure water pump had packed in. So 'sods law' meant an expensive visit to the chandlery for a replacement pump. After a bit of fault finding, we realized it was the pressure switch which had gone faulty on the old pump, so this can be taken home, repaired and kept as a spare.
After yet another early start the following Monday morning, we departed Hull bound for Torksey with good help from the spring tide yet again. The stranded yacht at Whitton was freed the previous day, with the assistance of Humber Rescue and two other vessels. Once in the River Trent, we played 'dodgems' avoiding all the drift wood all the way up river.
We spent a few hours at Torksey once through the lock, then set off to Saxilby for a fish and chip tea whilst dodging overhanging trees on the narrow Fossdyke. Soon after we departed for The Woodcocks mooring for the night.
On Tuesday morning after a dog walk around Burton Waters, we set off yet again bound for the Brayford Trust visitor moorings in Brayford Pool for three nights. In our humble opinion the £15 per night fee is well worth it, with electric, water and facilities. We made sure to book ahead.
After a pleasant stay in Lincoln city centre, we departed on Friday for Torksey. We penned through the lock at high water with the intention of returning to Goole on Saturday. However, due to an incoming storm bringing with it a heavy band of rain, we decided to stay put an extra day, and return Sunday which was forecast to be a much better day.
Sunday arrived bringing with it much better weather. We departed Torksey on a neap ebb tide, meeting the flood at Keadby at displacement speed, then planed to Goole with a moderate wind against tide, but nothing that Moonshine can't handle.
After a week away, and knowing Moonshine has run faultlessly, we looked forward to returning back home. We will clean her inside and out next weekend, and look forward to our next excursion on her.
