Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Mud, lots of mud…

And rocks, and a bit of sandy stuff. But mainly mud. That’s what you see most of when you cruise the Trent at low tide.IMG_2387

But maybe my opinion is a bit jaundiced after a pretty dismal day’s cruise. I always reckon that the boating life consists only of good days; it’s just that some are better than others. Today definitely counts as a less good one.

It was raining when we got up, raining when I took Meg for a walk, and raining when we untied from the pontoon at Keadby and set off upstream. And it rained for most of the trip, sometimes heavy, sometimes just drizzly, and the wind picked up around mid-day which really put the tin lid on it. It was a shorter day than yesterday, but it felt like forever.

We’d set off with the tide still ebbing, if we’d waited till it turned it would have been late before we arrived at Cromwell Lock and the end of the tidal section of the river. And being as it’s a neap tide, it had very little effect when it finally turned. We only averaged 4¼ mph.

With the water levels low and getting lower I had to take notice of the warning signs.IMG_2388

If we’d run aground we’d have had to wait a while for the flood tide.IMG_2392

After an hour we pulled onto the mooring pontoon just upstream of Dunham Toll Bridge for Meg to have a wee, then pressed on.

Dunham Toll Bridge
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Fledborough Railway Viaduct is the next crossing upstream
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The impressive structure was opened in 1897 to carry the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway. Either side of the cast iron river span 59 blue brick arches support the track bed above the wide, shallow valley. The line has been dismantled but the National Cycling Route 647 now crosses the viaduct.

Near the 57 Km marker post (there are markers every kilometre from Trent Bridge in Nottingham to Gainsborough Bridge) there are three derelict barges on the bank.
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I’d not spotted them before, but I guess they’d be underwater as we’ve headed downstream.
I don’t think they’re here accidently, it looks like they’ve been left here to rot.

Dodging the mudbanks in the gloom
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I spotted this kestrel hovering over the fields, then he obligingly landed on a fence post. But the shot was too long for the conditions.
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A little further on I saw an egret paddling about in a shallow tributary…IMG_2418

Oh look, is that the sun?
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Why do anglers wear camouflage gear? Can the fish actually see them?IMG_2422
It obviously doesn’t work on the swans…

Just around the corner from these invisible gentlemen we came up to Cromwell Lock, with it’s large weir alongside.IMG_2423
It was a welcome sight.

Rather than get Mags out in the weather I held the boat on a centre line while the lockie obligingly took it slowly filling the lock. Then we were out, off the tideway, and the sun tried to make an appearance.

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Discouraged by what it saw, it slunk back behind the clouds again.

Rather than toddle onwards to Newark we called it a day on the mooring pontoon a couple of hundred yards above the lock.
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I’d had enough and so had Meg, who, lifejacketed like me, had stayed out on the counter all trip. The first thing she did on being released from her staight-jacket was to have a good roll in the wet leaves up on the bank. Me? No, I had a cup of tea and a bacon butty.

Looking at the forecast we might have been better off staying at Torksey for the day. Tomorrow looks to be chilly but dry and a bit sunny. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But we’ll toddle down to Newark.

Locks 1, miles 18 

4 comments:

KevinTOO said...

I leave this comment just to prove that I am paying attention,
you said 'and raining when we untied from the pontoon at Keadby...'
and I thought that you had moored up at Torksey last night, LOL

Did Mags give a big cheer when you got off the tidal river, I bet
she's happy to be heading back towards the cut for a while :)

Unknown said...

You really need to change your dogs name ...... or the OH! I couldnt understand why you had to stop to let your wife have a wee. Mores to the point I couldnt understand why you were telling us! After reading it a second time I finally got there! Meg's the dog, Mags the OH. :D

Chas and Ann said...

We have been tracking your bleak trip and are pleased that you have got off the tidal bit. Perhaps you, Margaret and Meg are also. It's not just the weather, it is where you are. Which way are you heading, Leicester or Burton? Love Chas n Ann

Geoff and Mags said...

Well spotted KevinToo. Yesterday's deliberate mistake... I was a bit tired!
Hiya Chas, Ann. Hope you're well. We'll be heading up the good old T&M when we get to Notts.
John, glad that little confusion got sorted. You'd have been even more baffled when the next vet visit is due! On the Trent Falls thing, I know it's do-able. I think you just have to work on the tides. Probably have to wait on the mud for the flood to take you up the Ouse past Goole. And you're right, 37 tons is a lot of boat to haul about!