Rain in Newark

In complete contrast to yesterday it is a wet day here in Newark today. Plenty of showers some of which have been pretty heavy and in response the river has come up a couple of inches. 

Sunshine in Newark

As the title says we are being treated to some glorious sunshine this evening in Newark

A Busy Weekend Ahead

We seem to have had a busy few weekends of late and the upcoming one is set to continue the trend. 

We have an extra day off on Friday as we are heading to Newark for the annual Newark Festival weekend and want to get a decent mooring for the duration.

We plan to head to the boat on Thursday evening picking up another 60 litres of fuel on the way. Once refuelled and the bedding has been changed we will take a gentle evening cruise to Torksey. 

Our tide for Friday to get us up the Trent to Newark isn’t while 1pm so we can have a steady morning of pottering around, refilling the water tank and having a leisurely breakfast all in our town time. There should even be plenty of time to fit in a short stroll to the village post office to stock up on their amazing duck eggs.

Assuming we can get a mooring as intended we will be moored in Riverside Park, Newark by 4pm and plan to spend the rest of the weekend here enjoying the atmosphere and hopefully soaking up some sun, although the weather forecast looks to have let us down. But as we all know this can soon change.

Saturday should be spent sitting on the boat listening to the many bands playing with Madness headlining the evening line up. Then on Sunday it will be a steady run back to Burton Waters. Another afternoon tide so there will be no rushing about on Sunday morning.

Accidents Do Happen

Our weekend was slightly marred by the sad news that our neighbours from the marina had been involved in a major boating accident on the Humber on Sunday morning.

They had been participating in an organised cruise in company with the intention of gaining some experience with their boat. This was their first proper cruise and they had been looking forward to it.

From the information we have found out it would appear that their lack of experience was the root cause of this accident. They somehow became confused about which side to pass the lightships and appear to have changed their mind at the last moment broadsiding the lightship in the process. The resulting damage to the boat quickly causing it to sink.

The two crew were quickly rescued onto a larger vessel in the group and from there were transferred to hospital. They are understood to have suffered broken bones and be badly shaken but not to have any life threatening injuries. As of last night the male crew member had been discharged from hospital whilst his partner was kept in for further treatment.

The boat is a total write off and was towed to Hessle sands where it was recovered yesterday by a specialist team.

Thankfully the pair are not badly injured and are expected to make a full recovery. Whether they ever feel that they can make a return to boating remains to be seen.

The striken Sea Eagle being towed to Hessle

 Sea Eagle beached at Hessle

Humber Rescue in action

Humber lightships

Wells next the Sea - Part 5

Wells next the Sea – Part 5

The Round Up

Total 180 miles, 6 locks

So the trip to Wells next the Sea was a resounding success with Naughty-Cal proving herself to be in fine fettle, running smoothly and unstressed for the whole journey. Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable time and have all vowed to head back again sometime soon.

We had a couple of minor issues during the week. The outboard motor for the dinghy suffered an impellor failure in the early part of the week and unfortunately we couldn’t get a replacement at the time. We have ordered a full service kit for it which should arrive this week so by next weekend it should all being well be back up and running again and freshly serviced.

The other minor hitch, which is still unexplainable, was a failure of the batteries on the day we came home from Wells. Admittedly it was a lumpy ride home but the following morning the batteries were really struggling and reading 12V which is the lowest we have ever seen them. Somehow after we managed to get a hook up for the night and leave them on charge for 24 hours they seem to have made a recovery and are back to normal. We still don’t have an explanation for this but all now seems to be well again.

All in all a great first coastal trip of the year. Now we can look forward to our next coastal cruise next month when we head to the Norfolk Broads for a couple of weeks. Before we head out on the next cruise we will change the engine oil and filter and generally check everything is operating at its optimum.

Wells next the Sea - Part 4

Wells next the Sea - Part 4

Wells next the Sea to Burton Waters

90 Miles 3 Locks
Total 180 Miles 6 Locks

 After a wet and lumpy ride home the crews settle in at Langrick Bridge waiting for a massive steak at the Witham and Blues American Diner.

 Next day and its a short hop to Dog Dyke. A short walk down the road and we arrive at RAF Coningsby just in time to see the Dakota preparing for takeoff.

 And the Dakota has take off.

 Kev is happy to be back safe and sound after yesterdays trip.

 The peace shattered by the Euro Fighters flying over head.

 A steady jaunt back up river. Here we are approaching Tattershall Bridge.

 With the sun out the miles are soon eaten up as we cruise unhurriedly through the Lincolnshire countryside.

 BBQ Time at Bardney Village.

 With a fly by from the Vulcan.

 Back on the Fossdyke and almost home.

With a busy scene Waterside, Lincoln

Wells next the Sea - Part 3

Wells next the Sea - Part 3

Wells next the Sea

0 Miles 0 Locks
Total 90 Miles 3 Locks

 Naughty-Cal and Nitty Gritty on the town quay pontoons.

 Busy moorings for the bank holiday weekend.

 Fishing vessel on the fish quay.

 Pretty cottages in the village.

 The remains of old boats in the creeks.

 The Wells salt marshes.

 High and dry with the tide out.

Heading for home on a dull and damp day.