Hard decision had had to be made about where we went from here. We had been going home for a few days, but we decided that we would have a month at home rather than go back and return to the boat for a few days, before having to come back north for the Heritage Open Days, in which I am involved locally. So we are leaving the boat at King's Marina for a month.
We set off about 0930 and went up towards Town Lock to wind as we had a couple of cruisers astern of us and the bridge was then quite close too. With the current and wind both pushing us towards it it was only prudent. Only the central arch of the seven is now used for navigation. This bridge, Trent Bridge, was built in 1775 to replace a wooden one originally erected in the 12th century. It carried the Great North Road over the Trent. and the span here is 170'.
Immediately through the bridge is the floating pub known as the Castle Barge. It has a name on the bow but I couldn't read it as we passed, but it was registered in Hull and worked for Spillers carrying plying between Gainsborough and Hull. It was converted to a pub in 1980 so has been a long time resident. However it disappeared earlier this year as it had it's hull replated in Hull. It was 30 years since the last time. It was delayed a bit during the heavy rain periods of January as the river was too high for it to fit under the bridge by Nether Lock. It was taken n its trip by two tugs.
On the opposite bank is Willaim Newzam Nicholson and Sons Iron Foundry. What a splendid set of buildings, unfortunately some of it hidden behind the scaffold. It was opened in 1825 and they were makers of agricultural equipment, exhibiting at all the big shows, locally and nationally. By 1913 they had branched out to building four stroke internal combustion engines of 5hp and trade named BULLDOG. It was closed in 1960 and has since become attractive housing.
Just a little further on, past the visitor mooring pontoon, which now obviously had space for us to moor, now didn't want to, is the Jubilee Bridge. So named as it was opened in 2002, the Queen's Golden Jubilee year. It is a single span cable stayed bridge that handily connects the marina to the shops and pubs on the other bank.
Just after the Jubilee Bridge is the turn into the marina under the Kings towpath bridge. I think the marina was opened in 2002 also and seems to be very busy with folk. We were soon given a berth and backed into our slot and all rigged up.
We were supposed to be hiring a car as we had planned to come back for a few days. It was all booked from Burton on Trent, where we thought we would be, but with the collapse of Meadow Lane Lock we had to rearrange. In the end I was waiting for a pickup and when nobody arrived I called them. Needless to say they had no knowledge of the booking!! When I pushed them they could see that for some reason at a little past midnight the booking had been changed back to Burton on Trent. The manager was not very 'user friendly' and in the end it wasn't worth arguing the toss there and then, as they didn't have a car at the depot anyway! I quickly got a train ticket and was at home by 16:30, and back aboard by 19:00 with the car. After getting packed up we we were sitting with a cup of cocoa at 22:00. Mind you they will not be let off without a 'fail to understand' email etc to the complaints department. On top of that it seems it takes them two weeks to refund my money!! We have always had such good service from Enterprise previously too.
So that is it for four weeks, but we will be back following that break.
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