Easter 2011 - Part 4

Day Eight – Cromwell to Muskham Ferry

Despite Liam’s best efforts to delay NC’s proceedings we managed to meet up with the rest of the group at Muskham Ferry to watch That Wedding. The landlady of the pub had opened early so that we could enjoy the wedding over a couple of beers which was nice but there was only us there!! That day we gate crashed the local village fete, drank copious amounts of beer in the pub and enjoyed a lovely pub meal in the Ferry before retiring to bed ready for the upcoming tidal stretch the following day.

Day Nine – Muskham Ferry to Dunham Bridge

We all awake to a freshening wind. The water lapping up the hulls and the flags straining in the breeze. Not ideal weather for navigating the tideway but needs must. So by 11am we are all roped up and descending the huge Cromwell Lock.

The trip starts well enough with all four boats performing well. Then over the radio comes the news that one of the group has grounded at Fledborough. So we approach with caution and hang around whilst they unpick themselves from the mud. Whether we were just not paying attention or not we don’t know but by this time with wind has pushed us onto a very nice sandy beach with little chance of escape, the wind pushing us further inland with each minute.

So Dev comes to the rescue to throw us a line, which wraps around both the props stalling both engines. Now we are both on the beach. So BV to the rescue with one overheating engine. BV eventually tows us off the beach then we tow Dev off with the intention of towing them to Dunham where the rope can be extracted from the props.

A few minutes later NC overheats so Dev drops anchor and we drift alongside where we both sit stern to the rocks taking in the Trent scenery. Whilst Dev cuts off the rope, Liam changes our impellor to reveal a mud pie or two in the water intake. Within a half hour we were back underway all under our own steam. Finally we make it to Dunham Bridge where we moor up for another BBQ and a well earned beer. This is the first time we had stopped at Dunham and found it to be a really pleasant spot.

Day Ten – Dunham to Burton Waters

Fresh in the knowledge that today has to be better than the last we set off with high spirits and full of vigour. The boats despite their incidents the day before appear to perform well. NC is even feeling a tad sprightlier than the previous trip and jumped up onto the plane much more quickly than expected despite a strong headwind.

It doesn’t take long to reach Torksey where we stop off for a bite to eat before heading back to windy waters to pick up ASBO and head back to the pub. The wind was howling down the marina but luckily there were a couple of people on hand to catch ropes and moor us safely alongside our berth. Then we head to the pub by dinghy for lunch. We eventually head all the way into Lincoln and settle on eating in the water side Prezzo before heading back to discover the boat covered in sand from the fields. That soon sobered us up as we had little choice but to erect canopies and clean up the entire boat inside and out. It looked like someone had thrown a bag of sand around the boat. Still a few more beers softened the blow a little.

Day eleven – Burton Waters

A day of repairs, cleaning and surveying the damage done. Luckily not too much with only a couple of minor scuffs to show for the break. Liam somehow fixes the rattling belt tensioner before cleaning out the engine bay then removed in the region of 100 litres of water from the bilges. It’s a busy day at Burton Waters with people coming and going but eventually the pontoons settle down and become much quieter and more relaxing. Finally we sit back with a few games of cards, a few beers and contemplate another successful holiday aboard NC.

We are now very much looking forward to the next trip to Wells. We have just a few jobs to complete between now and then mainly the snap davits and a full engine service then we are ready to rock again. This shakedown cruise has proven quite successful in many ways.