Torksey

Before setting off, Mike walked to the nearby Morrisons for a paper and baguette (to make garlic bread for the evening meal with moussaka). Although there was fresh bread, newspapers were not a strong point, hidden away with the greetings cards and only three or four tabloids!

As a result he walked a little further into the town centre to WH Smiths, but at least he had a chance to see more of the old narrow streets. There cannot be many places with courses in violin making!

Many of the old buildings are still being used as shops, rather than museums!

Approaching Nether Lock

After setting off - we were the first away from the moorings this morning - it was only a short distance to Newark Nether Lock. as we approached we could see that the lights indicated boater operation. As we manoeuvred to allow Christine to land in order to open the gates, the lock keeper arrived (he was a little early for his 9:30 start) and worked the lock for us.

Leaving Nether Lock

We had not managed to fill up with water since Shardlow so we wanted to do so as soon as possible in case there were difficulties further on. the lock keeper said it would be OK as no-one else was around - the water point is alongside the lock - and Mike set up the hosepipe. He turned on the tap - no water! A lady came out from the adjacent lock cottage and explained that it had been broken for some time and a repair was still awaited!

After putting the hose reel back on board we were let down and out onto the next stretch of the river. Mike was able to check by VHF where the water point was at Cromwell Lock.

The river was now much wider and the day was sunny and bright although a strong breeze stayed with us all day.

Above Cromwell Lock

After filling with water above Cromwell we moved into the lock - our boat, which seems big enough when we are on a canal, seemed diminutive in this huge lock. It actually operates in two halves - not sure whether the full length is ever needed today, it may well have been built to allow more barges to pass through a a single fill or empty rather than longer vessels as the gates impose the principal restriction.

Below Cromwell Lock

The route from Cromwell to Torksey is due north but the river meanders so much that sometimes we were heading almost due south. The tide turned and we gradually speeded up a little although at first on the tidal section we were noticeably slower than on the earlier river sections.

New Besthorpe Wharf

At New Besthorpe Wharf a Humber barge was filling up with gravel from the nearby workings.

A former windmill in the village of Carlton has made a splendid conversion into a house with grand views along the river.

A little later, around a sharp bend we suddenly encountered a moving Humber barge, on its way up to replace the one we saw earlier.

High Marnham Cooling Towers

High Marnham was one of the many power stations built along the Trent to take advantage of its enormous water supply capacity to provide cooling for the coal fired steam turbines. This station was decommissioned in 2003 after 45 years service and now only the huge, iconic, cooling towers remain.

Later we also passed close to the Cottam Power Station which is still in operation with a smaller gad powered unit alongside.

A cormorant kept us close company for some distance, taking off and landing just in front of us.

Eventually we arrived at the turning for Torksey Lock - the river flow was sufficient to make the manoeuvre interesting but, as it is on a sharp bend, not difficult and we did not have to approach from downstream, unlike some river entrances.

Torksey Junction

Torksey Lock was expecting us and we went straight in. It has an interesting array of gates - allowing it to operate when the river is either above or below the level of Fossdyke. Christine spent some time, as the lock was slowly filling, extracting as much local information from the lock keeper as possible - after all, he has been here for over 35 years (or so he says!)

Inside Torksey Lock

Just above the lock we stopped at the Diesel Stop (part of the large and well maintained family run retirement park) to fill our fuel tank, not being sure what else we might be able to get. Also, one of the boats we met earlier moors down this way and recommended that we fill up here rather than at a marina further down.

Fossdyke

Off again and we soon found ourselves facing the typical scenery for this canal: a straight cut for as long as we could see!

It was a surprise to see signs warning of underwater obstructions for deer ramps.It was not clear to us whether these are actually used and how.

Saxilby

We moored for the night in Saxilby - there are good 72 hour moorings here and quite  popular.There was enough room tonight but in a busy period it could be full early in the afternoon. The water pipe was originally installed in 1911 as part of a project to eliminate water-borne diseases - although local villagers spurned it until 1945!

After preparing the moussaka on the way down the Trent, there was time before dinner to walk into the village - one or two shops including a Co-Op supermarket and a newsagent (for the morning paper!)

26.6 miles - 3 locks