winter on the Trent (very picture heavy)

Had three smashing days out boating.

Helped take a little tug up to Lincoln to collect a hopper barge

The tug


SAM_1409 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

left Hull docks Sunday midday and out into the Humber .... very wet boat even the slightest chop and it chucks water over the wheelhouse


SAM_2079 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

lost the chop when we got further up and had a good run up the Trent passing the commercial quays and Keadby and West Stockwith  arriving at Torksey as it was getting dark.
The lockie kindly hung on for 20 minutes after the closing time to let us through to the basin instead of us having to leave the tug on the pontoons in the river.

Left Torksey around 10.30 for Lincoln (approx 10 miles no locks)

The Fossdyke is very silted, although the book gives the draft as 5 foot and the tug is less than 4 we were skimming the bottom and as well even at tickover we were still making a big wash


SAM_2085 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

spent a lot of time clicking in and out of gear everytime we passed some boats to try and keep the wash down but there were still pitching a bit as we passed

one or two oddities as we got close to Lincoln


SAM_2094 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

It was a slow trip about 3.5 hrs to Lincoln,

We coupled the lighter (about 60 foot) in front using steel wires to the twin winches on the tugs deck and set off back down the canal


SAM_2093 by mudlarker2, on Flickr


SAM_2092 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

It was a painfully slow journey back down the canal, all told we were aground 5 or 6 times and dragging the bottom most of the way and it was getting dark before we even got to Saxilby (the halfway mark)

we crept into the basin and moored on the lock landing (taking up most of it  )

Tuesday we arrived back at Torksey, clear sky, heavy frost and bright sunshine


SAM_2100 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2101 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

Through the lock and into the lock cut and out onto the river with the ebb

SAM_2103 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2106 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

shortly after the last picture the visibility clamped down and we lost sight of the banks and surprise surprise, grounded on one of the shallow patches
As the (very small tide) was dropping fast we uncoupled the barge and just leaving a long line on it wriggled the tug off into deeper water and used the line to yank the barge off.

Rather than risk running aground again while we were fannying about we put the barge behind us on cross straps (it also would make it easier if it happened again_
shortly after the fog cleared as the sun burned it off, and we started making good speed again.

SAM_2108 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2109 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

above and below Gainsborough are two very tight bends and in Gainsborough is an arched bridge with a very strong current flow.  The plan was to swing through the railway bridge powerslide round the bend, ease up by the flower mills above the bridge get lined up put the power on to hold the barge in line and dive through the arch.
Sounds easy enough but I am very glad I wasn't on the helm.
SAM_2114 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2117 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2120 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2121 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

Then into Morton bend below the town, again a power slide

SAM_2127 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2128 by mudlarker2, on FlickrSAM_2129 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

down a rapidly shallowing river passing West Stockwith and the start of the Chesterfield canal

SAM_2130 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

through Keadby and down passing the commercial quays at Flitwick where the ships had almost totally dried outSAM_2135 by mudlarker2, on Flickr

In spite of all the tricks of someone who had been on barges running the Trent for many years we ended up stopped within sight of Trent End where a sndbar has formed right across the river .... if there is a gap in it, we couldn't find it.

A shame, without the delay running aground we might have just made it out of the Trent and into the Humber before the end of the ebb and would have been able to get further down the Humber before having to punch the tide. (it is very strong at Trent end and we were only able to make about 2 knots as we inched out and into the top of the Humber)

We arrived at the Humber bridge as it got dark and dropped the barge off at the Old Harbout then tool the tug back to the dock

an exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable three days