Up the Tidal Trent.

Wednesday 4th September 2019 in Newark.
R had checked the tide times with the lock-keeper at Torksey lock and had been told that the best time to leave there would be 11:30. So, we left Saxilby at 9:00am and arrived in good time at Torksey.
To our surprise, we spotted a lovely (and well frequented) tea room beside the lock. When we had come through Torksey four weeks ago, there were no available moorings, so we had continued to Saxilby and missed this little gem.

A party of very cheery and good natured cyclists had just arrived, halfway through their 40 mile outing. One very jolly and chatty fellow insisted on posing for the photograph. The queue for the tearoom was because the local gardening club had also just arrived!

MM, in the background, waited patiently for our time to leave.

The lock keeper called us in about midday. Three large cruisers had gone through on the first locking, which gave us time to finish our coffee and cake in comfort!

A very large and handsome barge followed us into the lock.

Finally the bottom flood gates opened to let us out on to the Trent.

The Trent is a BIG river! The tide was flowing strongly upstream and the wind was blowing equally strongly in the opposite direction.

It is important to follow the charts to stay in the channel although, with the amount of water in the river, a rising tide and our (relatively) shallow draft, the chance of running aground was minimal. Still, it paid to concentrate.
Half way down, we were surprised to see Joan on nb "Early Byrd" pass us going in the opposite direction. Such a pity as we were hoping to see her at Newark. One day too soon!
It was quite a relief, three hours later, to arrive at Cromwell Lock. With the tide behind us, we had averaged 5 miles an hour - very good going for MM.

Cromwell lock marks the end of the Tidal Trent; above the lock, the Trent is not subject to the tides. We could have stayed at Cromwell overnight but decided to continue on to Newark, knowing that this would give us a relaxed day off tomorrow for R's birthday.
We moored up opposite the castle; this has to be one of the most picturesque moorings along the waterways!

 

Interesting to see that the river through Newark was running slower and more than a foot lower than when we were here a month ago.
Today: 27 miles, 3 locks and 6.7 hours.
Trip: 359 miles, 139 locks and 177.4 hours.