TNC On Tour 2002 Page 4

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2002

4 - Keadby to Beverley, Tidal River Trent to Trent Falls, Humber Estuary to Hull, Tidal River Hull to Grove Hill Lock.

Saturday 29th June 2002

That morning was the usual irritable fiddlings as we waited for yet another, rather longer tidal passage. Neil put the periscope exhausts on Earnest and Frogmoore and tightened down both crafts stern glands. The Captain of the Russian freighter was also on the prowl. Eventually after looking Earnest up and down he come over to Neil and said "Do you mind if I look aboard your vessel?" Neil said "Yes" and he had a wander through, with little exclamations like "Ah Miele vashing machine!" and "Nice bathroom!" Neil though he would have a little game with John, who was overalled and upturned in Frogmoore's engine compartment, removing the rather excess of water. The Russian captain spoke good enough English for Neil to convey to him that John would like to meet him and that John spoke excellent Russian. The Russian captain wandered off in the direction of Frogmoore. Neil scurried off to video the proceedings from a distance. The Russian captain greeted the still upturned John with a good blast of Russian. John answered back with out even looking up!!! next followed a rather fast talking Russian conversation. When the captain was leaving he said to Neil "Your friend - in military?" Neil replied "No, he is a KGB Sleeper!" Russian captain then wandered off ho hoing to himself. If we had not been about to leave, I am sure we could have got a guided tour of the old rust bucket Russian freighter. John had learnt that the freighter "Ladoga" was named after a large lake, between St Petersburg and the Finnish border. (Martin Wilson informs me that this must be the DOS file name as it is Ladozhskoye Ozero in his atlas). It was registered in St Petersburg, but worked out of Tallin, transporting timber. This was to a lot of ports WE had also been, like The Medway, Kings Lynn, Boston, Sutton Bridge and Fossdyke. The only cargo they took back was china clay from Par.
Weather reports had declared it would be under Force 3, but NW, which meant it might be slightly bumpy coming down on the ebb on the Tidal Trent, but on the Humber it would be wind with tide. We went into Keadby Lock at 12.20, a bit after high water and left at 12.35. It was only slightly bumpy on a few reaches down to Trent Falls. We passed Apex Light at 14.40. On our last passage passed here this was a nice friendly little light house, now it is a lamp on a stick!!! Beyond here we had a marvellous trip, The Red Arrows preformed directly over us (it was Brough British Aerospace open day). Next we spotted Kon Tiki! actually the Humber Keel - Comrade.
The ABP Hull up to date charts were a boon as we could tick off the light floats as we passed them. The channel skirts Whitton Sand, then swings right in close to the North Bank, by Brough. From here the channel makes a bee line for Read's Island on the South. The channel is trying to remove Read's Island by a metre or so a day, but will probably next flip to the south of Read's Island, close to the south bank by South Ferriby. As we were coming across to Read's Island we spotted the diving platform which was erected to try to salvage the RAF Tornado that crashed here a month before. Apparently we heard that about 70 % had been retrieved, but the rest will probably be lost to the sands. Yet more displays were noted from Brough, an aerobatic Harrier, followed by a Fairey Swordfish.
After Read's Island the channel wanders back to the centre, for the passage under the Humber Suspension Bridge. From here on you follow the Hull shore, passed the docks. When we arrived at The Admirals steps, on the corner to the River Hull, the ebb going it and there was a bit of confused water as you meet the ebb coming out of the River Hull.
But where was the River Hull!!! eventually Neil spots a rather narrow water course, that seemed to be rather moving out. With a bit of full power we dragged ourselves into the Old Harbour and plonked our self on first outermost barge. The stern was left hanging over, as we still had out periscope exhaust sticking out on the side of the barge. Frogmoore had a bit more of a struggle than Earnest and by the time they arrived we were well tied on and ready to catch Frogmoore / fend it off. Frogmoore's periscope exhaust was also on the prone side, so she was also left hanging over. We were moored up at16.10, within 20 minutes Earnest was also aground. If we had arrived any later, we probably would not have got up the River Hull, but would have had to moor up against the Humber Sloop, Amy Howson on the Admirals Steps.
After a hour the rather prone Frogmoore was bombarded by bricks from up on the wharf. The kids were aiming at the mud and Frogmoore got covered in filthy mud splats. Earnest got off lightly. When a few stones scored direct hits on Frogmoore John went off up on the first barge, found a ladder, shuffled across this to the inner barge and shinned up the rickety ladder to chase the kids. By this time they had completely disappeared. At least we now had a way out, so we went and had a wander around - just to say we have visited Hull!
Departure time was 19.05, which was after the flood had run up for about an hour. Perfectly timed departure, we just trickled up on the flood, clearing all the lift bridges easily and still having a good 5ft of water. Eventually we arrived at Grove Hill Lock at 22.00. We cranked the lock ourselves in the half light. Frogmoore managed to find a mooring spot not far above the lock. Earnest breasted up, overhanging a rather delicate looking cruiser. We were settled by 10.30 and soon sat down to yet another, pre-prepared Beeky stew.

Earnest exiting Keadby Lock onto Tidal River Trent. Captain of Russian freighter looks at proceedings (he is standing near BW sign). Picture Martin Wilson.

Earnest pulling away from Keadby. Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.

Flixborough Stather. Tidal River Trent.

Earnest somewhat lagging. The Cliff - Coleby Wood, just beyond Burton Stather. Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.

Approaching Apex Light at Trent Falls.

The new somewhat utilitarian Apex Light.

Looking back at Trent Falls and Apex Light.

Whitton Channel, Humber Estuary. The factory on the far bank is BAe Brough, where the Red Arrows Hawk trainers are built. Display put on especially for TNC. Picture Martin Wilson.

Magnificent view of the end of the Trent, Trent Falls and the Humber from Julian's Bower, Alkborough. Taken on our Explo Day out.

View across the Upper Humber from Julian's Bower. Market Weighton Canal Humber tidal entrance lock is nearly centre stage, the other side of Whitton Sand - this is now an island and only gets covered on high Springs. Taken on our Explo Day out.

Coming round Whitton Ness towards Brough. Humber Estuary.

We run parallel with Frogmoore for part of the journey. South Ferriby in the far distance. Humber Estuary.

The tightest part of the channel near Brough. Humber Estuary.

Humber Estuary. Picture Martin Wilson.

It's "Beat you round the buoy" time. Humber Estuary. Picture Martin Wilson.

By light float 31 we were in the middle of the Humber, as the channel switches over to the south bank, very close to South Ferriby and Read's Island - in the distance. Humber Estuary.

Coming along the fast disappearing Read's Island. Humber Estuary.

End of Read's Island. South Ferriby sluice (River Ancholme) directly behind. Humber Estuary.

First good view of the Humber Bridge. Humber Estuary. Picture Martin Wilson.

Humber Keel - Comrade, anchored just off South Ferriby. Humber Estuary.

Humber Bridge, Hessle North bank. Humber Estuary.

Humber Bridge looking south at Barton-Upon-Humber. Humber Estuary. Picture Martin Wilson.

Humber Estuary.

Earnest is turning into the River Hull, Alexandra Docks beyond. Humber Estuary. Picture Martin Wilson.

Earnest turning into the River Hull. The strange building on Sammie's Point, above Earnest, is the new Hull Aquarium. Humber Estuary. Picture Martin Wilson.

Looking across the Humber at New Holland.

Earnest entering the River Hull - where's the water gone! EA flood barrier and A63 swing bridge in distance.

Humber Sloop, Amy Howson moored on the Admirals Steps. The ebb was fairly flowing passed. Earnest struggling against last of the River Hull ebb. Picture Martin Wilson.