We had a very early start today!  Up at 5:00am to walk the dogs and be ready to leave Torksey lock at 6:00am.  A good trip but the last part was a bit hairy due us arriving approx 3/4 hour later than the optimum tide conditions.  This resulted in having to turn into the lock on a flood tide rather than an ebb tide (bit technical for me, but think I have this right).  Made turning into the lock fairly exciting, especially watching the boat in front attempt it in fairly spectacular style.  At one point he was sideways on to the lock and being swept upstream by the flow of the tide.  Wish I had some photographs but as I was clinging onto the top of the boat in a panic that didn't happen.  This whole situation was created by all three boats that were leaving being given somewhat duff information from the lock keeper at Torksey about what time we needed to leave, apparently we should have left about 5:30am.

We had a bit of a bow wave!!

We are now moored up at Keadby lock on the South Yorkshire Navigations, arrived here at about 10:30 this morning and have chilled out for the rest of the day.

Keadby Lock

Jeanie Deans moored at Keadby Lock

Spider T.  A Humber Sloop moored opposite us at Keadby Locks 

We have had a busy few days leaving Nottingham on Sunday morning, down two locks and back out onto the Trent.  This is a nice easy trips as although the locks are very large they are all automated and manned by the lovely Trent lock keepers.  After leaving Hazelford Lock on Monday morning we completed a fairly short trip to Newark on Trent where we moored up on the floating pontoons and plugged into the electric hookup.  The washing machine was busy that day.  Spent an enjoyable afternoon wandering round Newark and chatting to the other moorers on the pontoon.  Phoned the lock keeper at Cromwell lock to find out what time we could go through the lock and on to the tidal Trent.

The Barge pub at Newark on Trent

Newark Castle and the town bridge

View from the mooring pontoon at Newark

A late start on Tuesday as Cromwell is only 1-11/2 hours trip and we are not going through until 1pm.  On arrival at Cromwell spoke to Tommy, the lock keeper who told us that we would be better going at 2pm so we had lunch and sat out in the sun.

On the mooring at Cromwell lock

The mighty Cromwell lock, gateway to the tidal Trent

Looking back at Cromwell lock

Passed through Cromwell lock and headed off to Torksey Lock.  Moored up below the lock as not going through just waiting overnight until the tide is right to head off to Keadby.  On arrival spotted Mike and Karen from Annoula, who we moored with over winter.  Lovely to catch up with them and find out where they have been so far this summer.  Also great to catch up with Simon, who we met two years ago on the Soar.  He and his partner came over from Lincoln and we had a lovely evening with them.

We are now on the South Yorkshire Navigations and heading for Leeds although we may divert to Sheffield as well.