Sunday 22nd May 2022

This is a trip of 21 miles, 6 furlongs and 2 locks from Cromwell Lock Weir Entrance to Saxilby Bridge, and this will take 6 hours and 19 minutes.

There’s an old saying “Fortune favours the prepared mind”, a mixture of excitement and apprehension filled our minds as we awoke this morning. Anchor & lifejackets at the ready, engine checks completed and lockkeeper’s numbers at hand, we had prepared for this cruise for some time, which is unusual for us 😏.

We had even joined a Facebook group called “Trentlink”, who provide access to useful information for people looking to cruise the tidal River Trent.

We had booked a 9:30am departure slot on the advice of the Cromwell lockkeeper, which would best suit the tides and river conditions based on our destination. Not sure they are fully aware of Steph’s morning routine of fruit juice, herbal tea and coffee in bed before rising at 10:00am 😊.

So with no breakfast inside us😪, we untied and headed for the lock with the anticipation of bacon cobs and a hot mug of tea, once through the lock. (a little early for alcohol).

We were actually a few minutes early but the eagle-eyed lockkeeper was waiting, with gates open, we gently cruised in and secured the boat with ropes on poles that allow the boat to rise/fall as the water level changes but endeavours to keep you close to the lock walls. Once penned out onto the tideway the lockkeeper informs their colleagues at locks on your route when to look out for you.

It wasn’t long before the fragrant smell of breakfast overwhelmed the senses and in even less time the delights were hitting our tummies like an arrow hitting its target. Fed & watered we set about enjoying this experience.

The first thing that you become aware of is the speed you travel and the huge expanse of water you’re on. Cruising the canals we seldom hit 4mph but here the water is moving quicker than that.

We were advised, however tempting, never try to cut the corners when navigating bends in the river as it’s very easy to get beached .

There are “Sissions Charts” an essential guide to the tideway, which can be obtained from the tidal locks.

Below Keadby bridge you may meet big ships, but the main traffic is barges up to 200 ft long and 20 ft wide, carrying up to 600 tonnes. They mostly use the tidal section but smaller barges can theoretically reach Nottingham.

We were one of three boats cruising this passage this morning, which is always reassuring as the river meanders along its northward course. It was a delight to experience the river in all its splendour on this warm, sunny, peaceful morning with hardly a breeze. The land is largely grazed, yet as we navigated each bend and twist of the river, there was an abundance of ash, willow, wild roses and hawthorn, puncturing the inside of these large sweeping bends, evidence of an ancient landscape.

The Trent valley is often referred to as the “Powerhouse of England” with reference to the number of electricity generating stations within eyesight of the river. High Marnham Power Station was one of these, construction started in 1954, producing its first power in 1959 before becoming fully operational 3 years later.

There is very little to see now as the 5 cooling towers were demolished in 2012 after being closed in 2003. Apparently The Brownlow Arms is another notable place in High Marnham where you would be assured of a very warm welcome, but sadly we needed to keep going due to tidal constraints 😥😪.

It wasn’t long before we reached Torksey Lock where we needed to wait for around 30 minutes until the water levels were high enough for us to enter the lock. Time to stretch our legs and chat to the lockkeepers, a very friendly pair, tucking into their lunch, being very polite but with the look of “I’m Just Hungry” 😊.

Torksey Lock connects the Fossdyke navigation to the tidal section of the Trent, and the huge floodgates help to protect the area from flooding.  The Fossdyke Navigation is probably Britain’s oldest manmade waterway, going back 2000 years, when the Romans were here building it for transporting goods to Lincoln.

Once through the lock, which we call the TEAPOT Lock, we passed through the marina and along the Fossdyke for 5 miles to Saxilby.

Our Stay in Saxilby – Great moorings, great chippy, Couple of good pubs - went to Caroline and Pete’s for a great evening.

But more of our stay in Saxilby in the next blog, but for now we moor up in what can only be described as excellent, rather like finding an oasis, mostly maintained by local volunteers.

Have you cruised the Tidal River Trent - did you enjoy it? Let us know in the comments below xx