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Index

Tour 2001

Index

Fenland Tour Summer 2001

3 - Newark to Lincoln - River Trent, Tidal Trent and Fossdyke Navigation.

Saturday 30th June 2001

We went to the excellent new Waitrose coffee shop for a full breaky and eventually left Newark Kings Marina at 08.15. Earnest first, then Frogmoore II, soon followed by two Scot's guys in KOIIISKa (Russian for Koshka - little cat) - JC speaks fluent Russian! John Chapman had already had a two hour walkabout looking at the Newark crossover railway junction. At Nether Newark Lock (08.15 to 08.30) all three boats locked down together, but Earnest and Frogmoore II are delayed due to yet another railway photographic expedition. 
Eventually we arrived at Cromwell Lock at 09.40 and after a fair chat about warped lock gates and the normal plague of House Martins, leave rather late in the tidal cycle at 10.00. Rather uneventful pootle down the Tidal Trent to Torksey. It was Neaps, so no dramatic ebb. Finally Neil and John both had working VHF's and much useless chat is soon polluting the airwaves! We occasionally changed channels to include the Torksey Locky. He thought that it would be a close run thing for Earnest to get over the lower sill! 
Eventually we arrived at Torksey with 2ft 4ins showing on his over the sill gauge. Earnest crept in OK over the sill of the new outer flood defence gates, but shuddered to a halt about three quarters of the way over the inner gates sill. Richard Albery, the relief locky was not worried and said that first he would try to raise level a few inches by dropping the upper paddles. Frogmoore II just crept over the sill and tied up. Earnest's bow rope was held on to bollard, then as water was dropped in, some power was used to try to get over sill, but to no avail. The locky then was reduced to plan “B” - use the electric outer flood gates!!! (Neil has since measured Earnest draught thus - 2ft to bottom of baseplate, just before slipper stern. Add another inch to end of pod swim depth and an inch for dropped skeg = 2ft 2ins - bloody gauge wrong!!! 
JC and crew on Frogmoore II was soon on it's way, but Earnest was held up as Richard the locky finds out that he knew Peter Brown, from past historical communications. We got a guided tour of the Great Northern Railway (past owners) features of Torksey Lock. Eventually Neil got on his way (13.30) at rather indecent speed! 
We passed through Saxilby (nice VM's) at 14.45 and caught up Frogmoore II soon after. We passed the new flood lock protected Barton Fields Marina / housing development, just before Lincoln (first view of Cathedral) and the “Pyewipe Inn” (15.50) soon after. 
JC expressed a desire to moor on BW moorings (actually end up on unoccupied permanent mooring) outside the Lincoln University halls of residence. This we both manage at 16.10. Pete Sykes had arranged to get to us by train at 23.00ish, so we decided on Neil's recommendation - the “Wig and Mitre” Restaurant / pub high up on Steep Hill. Neil managed to get a booking at 18.30 and we were soon up there enjoying an excellent meal (No “arrive in truck” style cooking here!) but not cheap. 
We then had a walk round the magnificent Cathedral. We wandered back to the boat down the south side of Brayford Pool, to check out the route from the station for Pete Sykes. Where the River Witham enters in this corner, signs of a disused lift bridge can be seen in the low bridge structure. The old Lincoln steam engine shed still exists, but in an amazingly derelict state. Pete Sykes eventually arrived a bit early, at 22.50.

Entrance back on to the River Devon, from Castle Marina. Newark. River Trent Navigation.

Peter Brown has the com of Earnest.

Entering Nether Newark Lock. A46 viaduct behind. Newark. River Trent Navigation.

The new ECML Railway Bridge, just below Nether Newark Lock. Newark. River Trent Navigation.

The Muskham Ferry pub at Muskham Ferry. River Trent.

Arriving at Cromwell Lock. River Trent.

Arriving at Cromwell Lock. River Trent.

Pat, Lesley and John, aboard NB Frogmoore II, Cromwell Lock. River Trent.

Cromwell Lock cabin. River Trent.

Leaving Cromwell Lock and weir. Tidal River Trent.

Carlton On Trent. Tidal River Trent.

Girton Gravel Wharf. Tidal River Trent.

High Marnham power station. Tidal River Trent.

Looking back at NB Frogmoore II. High Marnham. Tidal River Trent.

Pipe bridge and Fledborough Railway Bridge. Tidal River Trent.

Dunham Toll Bridge and VM pontoon. Tidal River Trent.

Approach to Torksey. Tidal River Trent.

Approach to Torksey Lock and tidal waiting pontoon. Tidal River Trent.

NB Frogmoore II enters Torksey Lock cut. Tidal River Trent.

Frogmoore II and Earnest in Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Peter Brown photographs all the Great Northern features of Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Paddle gear Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Looking on from Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Peter Brown and Richard Albery - Relief Locky - Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Leaving Torksey Lock. Fossdyke Navigation.

Fossdyke Navigation.

Approaching Saxilby. Fossdyke Navigation.

Saxilby. Fossdyke Navigation.

VM at Saxilby. Fossdyke Navigation.

The Sun Inn pub, Saxilby. Fossdyke Navigation.

Saxilby. Fossdyke Navigation.

Leaving Saxilby. A57 Bridge. Fossdyke Navigation.

Fossdyke Navigation.

Entrance to new Barton Waters Marina / housing development. Fossdyke Navigation.

Entrance to new Barton Waters Marina / housing development. Fossdyke Navigation.

Pyewipe Inn pub.  Fossdyke Navigation.

A46 Bridge and Pyewipe Inn pub.  Fossdyke Navigation.

Approaching Lincoln. Fossdyke Navigation.

Catchwater Drain. Approach to Lincoln. Fossdyke Navigation.

BW Yard and permanent / Visitor Moorings. Lincoln. Fossdyke Navigation.

Permanent / Visitor Moorings. New University halls of residence. Lincoln. Fossdyke Navigation.

New bridge replaces old lift bridge. Lincoln. Entrance to Brayford Pool.

Lincoln. Brayford Pool.

Steep Hill, Lincoln.

Lincoln. River Witham.

Looking back at the Glory Hole. Lincoln. River Witham.

River Witham exit from Brayford Pool. Lincoln.

River Witham exit from Brayford Pool. Lincoln.

Brayford Pool in evening. Lincoln.

The old Lincoln steam engine shed.

Brayford Pool, from the south. Lincoln.

The Tour continues

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