Is this the Trent?

 We set off about 0930 just as another boat on the lower wall was ready too. It was another lovely day and great to be on the river.

After Hazelford Lock the river runs alongside a steep cliff called the Trent Hills. I was reminded of the Thames several times today, but without all the traffic, or the charges. The 14th Century church of St. Helen's at Kneeton is not quite Cliveden but you can see the similarities. We were able to watch several gliders take off and soar from RAF Syerston out of sight on top of the escarpment. It was built before WWII and later became a Lancaster bomber base. It is now a gliding school for the RAF.

I am always amazed about the number of fishermen along the Trent and this length is no different, on a Tuesday morning too. But what a great way to spend a period, in the peace and quiet of the countryside, with the river burbling and the wildlife around, and the sun on your face. I could be tempted!?

Fishermen were not the only ones with there feet in the Trent. There were lots of cattle that were having a paddle. And it wasn't just to have a drink as they really appeared to be enjoying just standing there up to their middles.

Gunthorpe is always a busy place and as the car park is close there were many anglers enjoying the sun too.

We had to wait for 'Carpe Diam' who we shared Hazelford Lock with. They are wending their way back to Fradley where they moor. We left them here as they moored up at Gunthorpe.

Just up from the lock is Gunthorpe Bridge. The only road bridge between Newark and Nottingham. until 1875 there was only a ferry and ford and then a toll bridge was started in 1873, made of iron, but could only take 6 tons. By 1925 this was insufficient and the Council bought it and built a new bridge that was 400mts up stream of the old one, and open in 1927. It is a concrete arch bridge with the adornment of the of the lookout and the coat of arms of the Nottingham County Council that became obsolete in 1974 with the local government shakeup.

The reach close to Stoke Lock reminded me of the French Canals with the avenue of poplars along the bank. There were lots of walkers along the way too.

After Stoke Lock there is the Rectory Junction Viaduct, or more commonoly the Radcliffe Viaduct. It was erected in 1850. It was built for the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway! Fair trips off the tongue doesn't it. It was erected in 1850. The Trent Navigation Co demanded the available height must be 100 feet. The railway also spanned the river valley on 32 arches that were built from wood. They were replaced with brick between 1925 and 1927. Just behind the truck you can see an extra viaduct that took another line to the south on a concrete structure. This was added in the early 1960's.

I had been talking to a voluntary lock keeper at Newark Town Lock who used to run oil cargoes from Hedon Haven, where our boat is 'registered', and where we live, all the way to Colwick. In the early 1960's a very large oil terminal was built here. There were depots for Esso, Texaco and Total. There were seven jetties. only two or three of them are still pretty visible. This is the best preserved and so probably the depot that was last used, Total. The last floating delivered were in the 1990's. It then came via a pipeline. They have just started demolishing the last of the three terminals. You can see the emergency telephone and the little hose derrick to heave up the hoses to the manifold.

We passed up Holme Lock and moored on the wall next to the canoe slalom course. I was surprised to see it in full flow, but there were plenty of folk practising. We decided to take a stroll around the Holme Pierrepont rowing course. 

It is about 3 miles around as it is a 2km length and all flat. It was very pleasant in the sun, and whilst there were plenty of folk jogging and cycling around there was plenty of room for all. My first job when we got back was to aquire a TV picture on the pain of death. Pleased to say I will live another day. I then took off the fertan from the stove and flue and then stove blacked it and cleaned the glass, already for the cooler weather. Oh yes I filled the stern gland greaser too.

Lest see what tomorrow brings, but  weather wise it wont be like today, that is for sure.