Cromwell Lock to Hazelford Lock
More of a lie in this morning, although I was awake to see the the colourful sunrise across the river, so glad we’d not ended up breasted up yesterday without the view.
09:30 was push off time for all boats. NB Rum a Gin led the way, Hazel had an appointment with a film crew at Nether Lock at 10:30, she’d already been on a local radio station. Radio checks done, the boats gradually moved off upstream.
News came through that the camera crew had gone to Town Lock so they were having to relocate. The lock was sat ready and waiting for us, photographers at the ready and several Lock Keepers. Would we all fit in the lock together? The Lockie preferred to pen up four of us at a time, he was still in training so wanted to avoid any safety issues that eight boats in a lock might incur.
Up we rose slowly, the camera crew had now arrived. Tug Ruffian sat close to the top of the lock waiting to escort the flotilla into Newark, but we’d have to wait for the other boats to be penned up. A cruiser was waiting around the corner held back by a red light, the Lockies knew they were there. So they got to descended between the flotillas lockings.
Hazel was interviewed on the bank whilst we waited for the other boats to arrive and then the TV presenter climbed on board to travel in to Newark with them. We followed behind Tug Ruffian. People stood on the bridge over the entrance to King’s Marina where we’d over wintered ten years ago. Blasts of horns announced our arrival long before anyone could see us.
At Kiln Pontoon a familiar looking narrowboat ( recently bought in Goole) got ready to tag along with us to muster outside the castle. The plan last night had been to breast up to attempt to block the river. However today we were not as organised as we’d been yesterday.
No-one had mentioned this to Ruffian, so they pulled in and asked for a rope from us. NB Purple Emperor having pulled up in front against the wall. We were all in the wrong order to be able to breast up in length order as had been the plan. So we ended up with two lots of boats, 10 in all a few short of blocking the navigation.
It took a while for those unused to the current on a river to get tied up. Once bows were under control and the camera crew were on the bank, Hazel called the flotilla to Sound our horns! A wall of sound stormed around the foot of the castle as people watch on from the banks and bridge. Blimey it was noisy!
More interviews were done on the bank with people from the IWA and CRT explaining about the need for continued funding for Britains Waterways.
Now the flotilla split, some headed back to kiln pontoon, shopping required. Others headed to Town Lock, we managed to join them and rose up. Some pulled in on the wall of Newark Basin, NB That’s It carried on behind Tug Ruffian, Brian then cruised round into Newark Marina, I think they’d over shot where they’d planned to moor up for a quick dash up to York.
We followed Ruffian to their mooring, just behind Leicester Trader. Les helped us moor up along side, time for lunch. Our radio chirped back into life a bit after 2pm, boats were heading our way and wanting to breast up. This also took some doing, but eventually all were secure and ready to clamber off to have a look around the last Trent Barge still in her original form.
Les Reid and Friends have endeavoured to restore the boat back to her original state. As there is no museum to put her in they’ve put the museum inside. Numerous photographs cover the walls, ropes with knots, a sea toilet, a cabin all sorts can be found in the hold. The museum is an archive dedicated to the River Trent. We watched a couple of films and had a good look around. Many many thanks to Les for opening her up for us today.
Time to move on. Farndon Marina had offered the flotilla moorings for the night. NB Kallisto, the new boat from Goole, pulled up on the CRT moorings and others breasted up on the marina pontoons. This is where we waved them goodbye, well for today and carried on upstream to Hazelford Lock for some shore leave for Tilly away from the crowds.
A short while on, our radio chirped up, it was Alan from NB Aladin asking if he could breast up to us as we were a similar length. This obviously wasn’t to be as we were already at least a mile upstream.
The sun shone, the birds tweeted as we rounded the bend with what feels like park land, the sheep grazing down to the waters edge, we spotted the first swan sat on a nest. It had been great fun being with everyone, but it was rather nice to be back on our own again.
By the time we reached Hazelford Lock and pulled in it was getting on for being too late for Tilly to have shore leave. So instead I made use of the time before dark and went for a walk.
First across a field joining a track leading back to a road. The blackthorn blossom was heavy on bushes. The road didn’t have a footpath, what to do? Was it a busy road? Should I alter my planned route? I decided the road wasn’t too busy and looked reasonably straight so continued as planned, swapping sides of the road to keep in view and stopping when traffic came towards me.
Then down a road towards Hazelford Residential Home where long term moorings stretch along the river bank towards the lock. Here I followed the Trent Pathway, ogling at Tortus, the boat I’d love to have when I grow up!
Through a couple of Trent clapper gates. These are designed to automatically close behind you, the way they are hinged and their shape encourages gravity to aid them to close. If you go through and let one side hit the post the other side will open up and close again, clapping shut behind you.
On the weir a heron stood on a bottom step. Still in amongst all the frothing water. No fish in sight, but one might come sooner or later. Back at Oleanna I rustled up a chicken curry old style, with bananas, sultanas, cashews and some yoghurt to help use up some of the roast chicken and dived into the shower.
Two busy days on the campaign cruise, now time to be quiet and on our own … until tomorrow morning.
2 locks,13.5 miles, 8 boats now 10 boats, 1 film crew, 2nd BBC local news, 1 loud arrival, 1 storm of sound, 1 Trent boat, 1 informative Les, 1 boat out on our own, 2 late for shore leave, 3.25 miles walked, 50 brisk minutes, 1 quiet evening.
