Jobs done there was time for a cup of tea and just relax while we waited for the lock keeper to invite us into the lock ready for our journey. However he came to see us and suggested that the tide would be later due to the strong wind holding it back, so it was 16.00 before we got into the chamber waiting for the tide to rise. It was so late arriving that we sat in the chamber for a full hour and a half waiting to get out, we did have a couple of tries but sat firmly on the bottom, when the gates were closed again waiting for the water to arrive. At 17.30 the gate was once again opened and this time we were just floating, so we tentatively made our way through the gate with a little help from the lock keeper, who flushed some water through the lock to surf us out. Out we went and we were on our way to Cromwell.
By this time we figured that our arrival at Cromwell Lock may be in the dark, well at least bad light, but hey, we were off. It was a low tide so the journey was not a fast one as care had to be taken to avoid the shallow areas and prevent going aground. Mixed in with the low tide we had very strong winds mostly on the bow and I nearly lost my hat a few times, (all good fun). Sally and I were both wrapped up well for the trip so were warm and dry, as the rain kept away.
We passed under Dunholm Bridge and were making good way, then on passed High Marnham power station making sure we kept to the outside of the bends where the water is the deepest. I soon became apparent that we would not make it before it was dark as the sun was setting fast, we both looked at each other and smiled (onwards, onwards) as there was no stopping now, with no suitable moorings until the lock. Sally kept a good watch on our progress on the map so that we knew where we were at all times (which is a great help, thanks Sally).
With about six miles to go we were being wrapped in darkness and it was time for the navigation lights to be turned on. We did have our car sat nav turned on which also kept our position on the Trent which was a great help after dark, showing which way the next bend was turning and Sally kept both the map and sat nav in tune so we knew where we were. With two miles to go I called Cromwell on the VHF to advise them of our position and estimated time of arrival at the lock, for which he prepared the lock for our arrival and told us to straight in when we arrived. Now very dark we passed a moored 600 tonne ship, loading gravel and many fishermen who had to wind in the lines so we did not drag them away with us. At last we saw the lights of the lock and slowed down making our way gingerly in, Sally and I picked up the drop lines and secured our boat for the lock to be filled. A few words with the lock keeper brought the comment "I didn't expect to see you tonight, I was sure you wouldn't make it", well we did and here we are, the lock filling and all we had to do now was hope for a mooring just the other side of the lock.
Our thanks called out we moved slowly out of the lock and made for the pontoon, there were four working narrow boats breasted up on the wall and they called to us letting us know that there was a space at the end of the pontoon, so we made for that. We slowly approached the pontoon, and there was a space, inching in Sally jumped off and secured the front while I brought the back in and got off to tie up. The boat secured we just looked at each other and laughed, then hugged congratulating each other on the way were worked as a close knitted team. A CUP OF TEA, what an adventure we had, great, fantastic, smashing exhilarating and a relief to be moored.
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