Sometimes on mooring up at the end of a boating day, we talk about the master plan for the next one; today, the weather made the decision for us. It was blowing quite hard in the relative shelter of the river in Newark, so we were going only as far as Cromwell lock moorings. Passing under the A1 Newark
by-pass, the wind was against the current and waves about 12inches high were splashing against the hull and throwing small droplets of spray at me on the back. I thought, yes, we will be stopping at Cromwell, boating is supposed to be fun, waves this high are on the limit of my definition for safe handling of a narrowboat on wide, exposed rivers.
After a journey time of one hour, we were approaching Cromwell moorings above the lock on a floating pontoon. The tidal Trent begins after you have passed through the lock. We spoke to the lockie and plan ‘A’ will be to leave Cromwell about 10am tomorrow heading for Torksey pontoon, stay overnight. On Sunday leave about the same time for the run down to West Stockwith to gain entry to the Chesterfield Canal. That is the current plan of action, although as I write this, the wind is very strong and rocking Martlet hard against the fenders, there are white caps on the waves as the wind is against the current and making the most of it. If the wind is at this strength tomorrow, then another rest day will be taken. We had seen no boats on the move until we went to speak to the lockie when we saw a widebeam boat ‘Tamesis’ locking up on their way to Muskham pontoon. Weather as already mentioned, not good for boating. The score so far this year: Locks 61, Miles 98.75
