Although a relatively short trip it was to be our first venture into tidal waters in a narrowboat. We felt that there were certain conditions that had to be met before we ventured into the River Trent, apart from the normal navigation lights, anchor etc. We needed to complete the trip in daylight and preferably with neap tides. The trip was to be leisurely so three days was thought to be enough. We set off early in the morning and ran uneventfully as far as Nottingham. Mooring outside Sainsburys we took on stores and set off to go as far as we could that night. The weather turned dull but dry but the flow on the river meant we made fairly good time to Gunthorpe. We had intended to use this as one of our stopping places but the pontoons were full so we pressed on down river. We moored at a pontoon outside a pub which was under repair and lacking central heating was quite cold. Next morning we set off for Cromwell lock where we intended to moor overnight as to go through the lock would have meant pushing the tide which we thought might be a little dodgy. We lunched in Newark, had a wander round and set off just after lunch. Arriving at Cromwell Lock about three o clock we were preparing to moor for the night when the lock keeper said that we might as well go on to Torksey. Because it was a neap tide there wasn't much water. This was exactly the case and as the water was low we just followed the middle of the river except were the chart advised otherwise. Because we weren't used to a tidal river this was quite a pleasant part of the journey. A couple of hours later we were safely installed in the pub for a pre-dinner drink. (Mandatory ?) There are good moorings at Torksey just below the lock which are floating pontoons. We calculated that we should set off just about half an hour after the start of the ebb and with a slow trip this would get us to Gunness around low tide and hopefully provide us with a simple entry to Gunness lock. Because it was a neap tide the water was low the banks were high and the view almost non existent. It was a grey day and all in all it was very boring. Just before Keadby Lock you run under Gunness Bridge and the flow round the piers gives some indication of how fast the tide is running. We nearly missed Keadby as it was tucked away between two coasters. We decided to go about, hover just level with the lock entrance and dart in on full bore. We didn't touch the sides of the lock which I am sure was due to good luck more than good management. We locked through and noted all the pubs were closed. We would like to say the journey was exciting to Thorne but flat terrain does not make for good scenery and the wildlife is restricted due to the piling on the canal. Our first journey in tidal waters was a bit of an anticlimax.

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Alan and Maggie.