Tramping the Trent.

 We were given the time of 0800 to at the lock. The road bridge needs to be swung before you can enter the lock and Mark the Lock Keeper swung it off for us right on time. However we had to be held in the lock as the tide was late and was still ebbing. It wasn't until 0835 he started lowering us down slowly. The gates opened and we could see the bows of the ship discharging the steel pipes, 'Geervliet'. And then we were off.

Keadby lock opens to reveal the bow of the ship. There were two more moored at Top Gunness and as the tide had just started flooding we could also see the bank of sand on the downstream corner of the lock.

 The weather was overcast with a slight mist. We were soon under the King George V rail/road bridge, and the M180 bridge and passing the disused mill at West Butterwick.

After a couple of hours we were passing West Stockwith Lock and the entrance to the Chesterfield.

The next major obstacle was at Morton where the river goes round a bend of about 320 deg. On the outside of the bend is a stone wall. Not so much of a problem on a narrow boat but on a ship carrying timber to Gainsborough it was quite 'interesting'.

The stone bridge at Gainsborough.

The first high ground close to the river is at Burton Chateau and there is also a folly over the river.

Just after Trent Port the river was nearly at high water and the cattle were able to get to the water. It looked a little wild west but emphasized the rural aspect of the river on this stretch.

It took us four hours before we were turning in to the cut that leads to Torksey Lock. The boat on the right was just about to leave to head off and we swung round and moored up on the moorings to the left.

After lunch we went for a walk to the village and had a look round the little church of St Peters. We couldn't see a path to 'Torksey Castle' so we missed it. Actually it isn't a castle but part of an old abbey. At one time there were three churches, a priory and an abbey! We stopped for a pint at the Hume Arms and then were back to the boat to await a visit from a friend, Stephanie. We also had a chat with the boat that arrived from Cromwell about 1600. We are not due to leave until lunch time so hopefully the sun will be out for our trip to Cromwell.