Out on the river and we quickly found ourselves carried along on the fast-flowing stream at an impressive 11-12 kilometres an hour (kilometre posts helped to estimate speed over the ground) even though speed through the water did not seem to be much faster than when on a canal.
Alas, rain started to fall and persisted as very heavy rain until lunch time. The locks from Holme Lock onwards are manned and operated by power. In view of the huge size and serious wood and metal work in the gates, this is no doubt welcome to the lock keepers. Alongside Holme Lock is the National Water Sports Centre and the canoe slalom was much in evidence. Our experience of the brief chats to the lock keepers was universally friendly and they are keen to offer advice, information and to let you know that they are informing the next lock of your progress. Even so, our exceptionally fast speed caught one or two of them unawares as we arrived ten minutes ahead of (their) schedule!
At Cromwell we picked up final information about mooring at Torksey (a previous keeper had already checked for us that there was space available on the pontoons) but here the keeper was more cautious about the ntime to reach Keadby and suggested a 6.30 start tomorrow morning. Keadby lock can only be accessed for a certain time around high tide so journey planning is important to avoid a lengthy wait, tied up alongside the river mooring waiting for the lock to re-open.
The river scenery was very attractive - wide expanse of water and most of the time edged by trees or shrubs. If only the weather had been kinder we might have taken the chance to stop off but our concern that more rain might lift the river levels once again and bring navigation to halt, meant that we pressed on.
The River Trent has been the source of water for many power stations and we passed or saw several - although the one at High Marnham seemed not to be operatinbg - at least no steam was emerging from any of its five cooling towers.
The afternoon was dry and, just occasionally, the sun peeped through enough to encouyrage the third member of the crew to take on steering for an hour or so!
We made good time and by early evening we were tied up on the pontoons below Torksey Lock. A chat with the lock keeper here confirmed the advisory start tomorrow of 6.30. We presume this is intended to ensure that we arrive at Keadby at high tide and do not have to cope with a flow either up or down as we turn into the lock.
There was time for a short stroll to the village of Torksey but nothing of note was found!
