Bartimaeus

We had made our appointments in advance with the lock keepers at both locks in the middle of the tidal Trent. Both were very courteous and clear. The West Stockwith one rang me back when I had got no answer, which I hadn’t expected. Despite a poor phone line he made an attempt at spelling Bartimaeus. He had specific instructions as to how to come in which I wrote down. There was a word I wasn’t catching that sounded like ‘bullnose” but it seemed to relate the where the lock keeper would stand to direct us so I concluded we would see the lock keeper waving his arms and that would work. It was a bright and breezy day and we quickly decided an extra layer was required. We didn’t have far to go just past a few boats and the water point. The water point is well kept by a keen gardener.

We were to be at the lock by 9.30 and as we approached saw an amber light. A lock keeper emerged and greeted us and went to open a gate, having checked we didn’t need both open to drive in. Last time we had two on duty and there did seem a lot of manual winding to open the gate so he was making it easy on himself. There are multiple gates, some for floods and some never used.This time I had a good view of the teapot collection, presumably on the never used gates.

No ropes were needed as the lock was not rough but normally they like to use them. No other boats were there to bump into. Shane was asked to come well forward so there was no chance of hitting the cill and he warned us about a branch that might be outside the gates. Sure enough as the gates opened the whole width seemed blocked by a long branch but as we went out it just pushed easily aside. I was ready to use the boat hook but it wasn’t needed.

We were out in the open water and the power station we had seen for a long way was right before us. There was going to be another one. In case we had forgotten the direction, even though we had a chart, there was a big sign. This time there was more than one way to go.

Shane had read over the chart and navigation notes and thought ahead to have two pegs to stop the pages flapping. I had used one last time, but it was much windier today. Wind can be a problem when steering but we found in this open and flowing water, the water speed was influencing the boat handling and the wind didn’t seem to be an issue. Unlike a canal this water was not suited to letting go of the tiller for a few seconds while you reach for something. The river would turn the rudder for you if you didn’t keep holding on to it. The charts are very useful even if some items on it are missing or a little hidden in the trees or hard to identify like the Roman ford, a shallow spot where you had to be well in the centre of the channel. The Georgian folly was very distinctive.

Without someone else travelling with us, we had no guide ahead….oh he took that line and it worked fine …and no-one behind to see if we got into trouble so it seemed all the more important to follow carefully what was coming up and concentrate on the driving together and what line to take to avoid the shallower spots marked.

The charts gave specific instructions on the best arch to use under a bridge. The viaduct was fairly obvious. Though it isn’t all obvious till you are round the bend. You can see these features from quite far back but not all the arches are visible and you are holding on before they come into full view round the bend as it doesn’t look like I expect. This disconcerted me but there was plenty time to manoeuvre to the right place even though the water was carrying us faster than usual.The bridge had coloured lights on them but I couldn’t see them so glad the chart told you to use the middle arch.

After the Gainsborough bridge I had been told to ring the lock keeper, as then he could know we were half an hour away and could prepare the lock. I handed back to Shane to drive and found that the lock keeper had already tried to contact me, knowing I should be almost there, so I rang him back. What a very attentive lock keeper. Perhaps he knows it is very difficult to approach without the lock being ready and him guiding you in. I was glad Shane was helming at this point when full power and determination to drive against the tide was required as it is impossible to get in without being smacked against the wall if you don’t do as he says. He was waving very enthusiastically and looking relaxed.

I think he must be the chirpiest lock keeper I have met. I am guessing bullnoses were the very large bollards outside the lock for bigger craft than us. I wondered if they had a ring on them.

Inside the lock there was another surprise that made things easier than usual going up in a deep lock. In stead of trying to get a rope up to the bollards or on a rail, he passed a rope to me that he had looped on to the bollard above and I hung on to that. It was quicker and easier and he kept up a chat throughout. He told me not to try too hard to hold in tight as might give me friction burns in my hands but to allow the boat to go gently to the other side and it comes back again. That was easier. Service with a smile and something to hang on to.