Keadby Lock to Cromwell Lock, River Trent

The alarm went off before the dawn had even started to show us her colour. A cuppa made and consumed whilst we rolled back the covers and did our final checks. Woofers were being walked, life jackets added as the sun came up in stunning oranges.

The light at the road swing bridge ahead of us turned to green, time for the first six boats to push off and get ready to go through. One boat seemed very quiet, NB Aladin, I pointed this out to one of the Strawberry Island crew, a loud knock on their roof brought Alan to the stern, they were up, but a message late last night had made them think we wouldn’t be pushing off for another half hour, however the Lock Keeper thought differently.

It would take a little while for the crew of NB Aladin to be fully ready, so we ended up taking their place, joining with the second locking boats, NB That’s It and NB September Sapphire.

First three boats went into the lock, second three came through the road bridge behind them, the bridge closed to let the morning traffic through. Then the second three nudged back so the top lock gates could be closed. I lost count of how many Lock Keepers there were silhouetted on the bottom gates.

We all waited, the tide was still to turn. We all waited some more. We’d pushed off at 06:28 and by the time the tide was coming in, the first flood gone past and the level deemed suitable for the first locking to exit the lock onto the river it was 07:35. NB Rum A Gin exited first keeping to the right, followed by NB Tonka, the third boat NB Purple Emperor. They in turn, turned with the tide and kept their engines to just about tick over, just enough to keep steerage so that the rest of us would be able to catch them up.

The bottom lock gates were closed, the lock refilled, then we entered the lock and were soon descending to the river.

First out NB That’s It, then NB September Sapphire, then us, the sand bar below the lock far less of a worry now. We needed to catch up with the first locking boats and hope that the last two ( NB Aladin and Cruiser Amourouse ) had enough umph to catch up with us all before reaching West Stockwith where more boats were set to join us.

The sunrise had promised us a wonderful bright day, the Forecast had promised us not much wind, yet the weather was making it’s mind up. The river was misty as we turned out onto it. Once under Keadby Bridge the sky was turning black. Extra extra layers of clothing were required as we plunged into a bank of fog, nav lights a definite requirement.

Oh Blimey would this fog be with us all the way to West Stockwith and through Gainsborough?! We hoped not as photographers and TV crew were going to watch us as we passed under Gainsborough Bridge. Thankfully it passed after about twenty or so minutes everyone nithered to the bone!

By 08:33 we’d caught up with the first locking of boats. A glance over our shoulders every now and then to check if anyone else was insight. We’d heard on the radio that NB Aladin and Cruiser Amourouse had left the lock. Mick on Amourouse had slowed for sometime and not answered his radio. Was there a problem? It turned out that Mick had cleaned his filters yesterday and forgotten to turn the water back on to cool his engine, therefore he was overheating as soon as he put power on to leave the lock. A problem soon fixed when he realised.

Then from behind we could see them both catching us up. As they got closer we could do-ci-do to get into the correct order. Except the boats joining us from West Stockwith had been told that the cruiser was Tail End Charlie, so we had to swap with Mick again.

The line of boats was in order all at a good distance from each other as we were approached by two boats from West Stockwith pushing the tide to reach our stern.

Crowds stood on the bank as we passed the lock, 4 drones were spotted above, one having just filmed our bow as we passed. Oleanna’s horns were tried out fully for the first time!

Once we’d passed the lock another two boats joined on behind, then possibly another two. Were we twelve, thirteen or sixteen boats now?

Getting a little close at times in line, I was reminded of the best tip given out at a Tideway Cruise briefing by St Pancras, keep checking behind you. On the Thames there are so many boats all moving at different speeds and directions you really need to have eyes in the back of your head.

Rounding the final bend towards Gainsborough Bridge we all got into line as best we could. Plenty of people up on the banks to wave and the boats cruised by with the tide beeping their horns. NB Rum A Gin led the way, camera crews on the bank, more drones, Nick Roberts who’d joined from the Chesterfield Canal was tail end charlie with a camera crew on board.

No time to stop, the tide rushing us all towards the bridge. A lapse in concentration, too busy waving, one boat narrowly missed a bridge peir, the following one gave it a bump, Mick quickly adjusted our position as the currents tried to push us sideways towards the peir too, we got through without touching.

Now the crowds disappeared, but the tide still had it’s power. The hope of stretching the gaps between boats before the next tight bend didn’t happen, you had to keep your wits about you. But then as the excitement of the crowds at Gainsborough waned the flotilla managed to jostle itself some space between boats. Time for breakfast.

I ducked below to rustle up some bacon for butties and a warming cuppa each, maybe today would have been a good day to wear our padded winter trousers and a few extra layers!

The boat with Nick and the camera crew sped up as we approached Torksey passing several of us and then turned in towards the lock, leaving the majority of us to continue at around midday.

Blue skies, vapour trails, the grassy banks of the river. We followed our red line on our charts. Past the Landmark Trust house. Pylons stretching across the sky.

At Dunham boats pulled in for a woofer comfort break, Tilly just tucked herself behind our pillows. Does Tom really have to move the outside SO fastly!?!

Lining up with pylons and white markers on the banks, the river gradually got more meanderous. NB Purple Emperor came past, ‘I’ve got a head of stem up, might as well keep going. The Lockie knows we’re coming’. Our speed was more than those in front of us, so we passed when a suitable time came. Only one downstream boat was passed, it’s existence radioed back for others to be aware of.

With a couple of kilometres to go Mick radioed Cromwell Lock, the lock was ready and waiting for us, nice to have the conformation. Round the final bend, the weir in front of us, a green light, round to the right and into the long lock.

The Lockie decided to pen up the first five of us, then drop the lock for the remaining three. Four abreast in the lock, ropes holding us all together. The Lockie asked me to tie my rope off as we were next to the wall. This of course now meant that NB Tonka’s rope was below ours and when the time came to untie it took a bit of undoing as everything had tightened ascending the lock. At times like this somewhere else to tie off to would be good, two new T studs will be added to the bow before Oleanna’s repaint. It would have saved me walking onto the bow to release ropes as others were starting to move they’re boats forward!

A quick chat, if the pontoon was free it would be best for those with dogs to moor there, we’d be happy with a low section of wall. Others tucked themselves in around the pontoon which was empty before we arrived. It was a while before the second penning of boats arrived, a bit of sorting out to do for ease of getting off boats, then we could all relax.

Hazel arrived at a picnic table just above Oleanna’s mooring with a box of bottles. Time for survivors drinks. Gosh what a selection! Whisky, Rum, Gin and thankfully wine.

Everyone was wind blown, tired and now getting a little bit sozzled through lack of food all day and it was only 4:30! After a glass of wine I decided that today would be the first day when I wouldn’t achieve my 40 minutes brisk walking, I also wouldn’t get anywhere near to 10,000 steps breaking a streek of 72 days. Well it had to happen sooner or later and today was a suitable day to let it slip.

We retired, the stove lit to try to warm us up and some left over bolognaise heated up with a good serving of pasta, with another glass of wine. Then we were early to bed to rest up before another day of beeping our horns tomorrow.

2 locks, 44.6 miles, 1 right, 1 straight on, 8 boats into 14, 2 horns getting a good blasting, 1 bump, 2 near misses, 1 fog patch, 2 cats, 5 woofers, 15 crew all survived, 7 drones, 2 bacon butties, 2 nithered boaters, 1 glass and sozzled, 0.49 miles walked, 0 brisk minutes, 9 hours on the go, 1 long fulfilling day.

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