Hull March 2010

With the weather starting to deteriorate and the chance of adventurous trips getting slimmer it has got to the time of year where we look back at what we have achieved over the last year and look forward to what great adventures we will have in the coming year.

2010 started with the big freeze. During January and February there was little chance of getting out of our home berth never mind attempting anything of a serious trip. The end of February saw the marina thaw out, boat movements begin to increase and Naughty-Cal pulled out of the water for her annual spruce up. So the end of March was our first opportunity to take some time off work and start the year’s adventures.

And what an adventure it was. March saw us complete our first trip down the mighty River Humber. We set off in the early spring sunshine, wrapped up warm against the still cool air with an air of trepidation. We had already conquered the much feared Trent Falls the year before so the Humber was the next progression. We broke the trip with an overnight stop at Keadby and drinks in one of our favourite watering holes, The Old South Yorkshire.

The following day we set off early to catch the morning tide. We had a slow jaunt, pushing the tide down to Trent Falls to arrive there at about an hour before high water. Finally we could see the Humber. As we rounded Trent Falls the river widened as we seached out the first of the navigation markers along the route. Finally we picked them up and made our way at speed to the Humber bridge where we managed to find time for a little play to see what the boats could really do. After 45 minutes of mesing around we had little choice but to head for Hull to meet our tidal window to enter the lock at the marina entrance. Finally we lock up off the tideway and into the safety of the marina.

We had a couple of days shore break in Hull and were very suprised by the city. There was plenty to see and do along the way. We had intended to head for Spurn Head on the second day, however the weather picked up and one look at the Humber told us we were not going. The next day the weather was much better for our return trip and we made it back to Torksey Lock in 4 hours from Hull Marina. Not a bad time by anybodies books and we stuck to the speed limits the whole way.

So here are a few pics from our trip:

Overnight stop at Keadby

Commercial shipping on the Lower Trent

The Humber Bridge

Boundarys Vice on the Humber

Hull Marina visitor berths with the Spurn Lightship in the background