Day on the Trent

Mikefule · 04 June 2020, 13:54

A quiet chug up the Trent from Hazelford Ferry free slipway to Gunthorpe weir and back. Took it steady on the way up with the tiller locked and standing and steering by shifting my weight. Saw several little egrets and one kingfisher.

On the way back, I was starting to chill off, so I carved a nice white line down the centre of the river. At planing speeds, no wash reaches the bank. the river was deserted apart from one narrow boat and one open canoe (for which of course I slowed down as a courtesy).

Mikefule · 04 June 2020, 13:57

Some photos.

Read1993 · 10 June 2020, 11:27

Hi Mike, sounds great where exactly is Hazelford free slipway? I have struggled to find it recently? Thanks Matt

Wavecrester · 10 June 2020, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikefule

A quiet chug up the Trent from Hazelford Ferry free slipway to Gunthorpe weir and back. Took it steady on the way up with the tiller locked and standing and steering by shifting my weight. Saw several little egrets and one kingfisher.

On the way back, I was starting to chill off, so I carved a nice white line down the centre of the river. At planing speeds, no wash reaches the bank. the river was deserted apart from one narrow boat and one open canoe (for which of course I slowed down as a courtesy).

Sound idyllic. [emoji1303]

Limecc · 10 June 2020, 16:57

We love the Hazleford slip and have even stayed with boat and caravan on the local campsite at the top of the lane.

Unfortunately the area around the slip has been over-developed and pre-Covid there was often parked cars all around the turning circle. Nothing of this is seen using Google Earth because it's out of date. On one occasion I was peed off because I had to reverse the trailer a couple hundred yards from where I was able to turn. Also halfway up the slip (upstream side), the local boaters take their cars past to park somewhere. They are not too happy if they time it wrong and you make them wait.

Obsidian · 10 June 2020, 20:32

Nice! Lovely part of the world and was there only a year ago.

In the before times there were a few decent pubs as well on that stretch!

Dydigital · 11 June 2020, 12:03

Great photos. Has given me a idea

Limecc · 11 June 2020, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikefule

A quiet chug up the Trent from Hazelford Ferry free slipway to Gunthorpe weir and back.

These big locks like at Gunthorpe are a little intimidating at first but we soon had the hang of it even when the lock keeper has gone home. I stay in the boat while Mrs Limecc operates the lock controls.

Mikefule · 11 June 2020, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limecc

These big locks like at Gunthorpe are a little intimidating at first but we soon had the hang of it even when the lock keeper has gone home. I stay in the boat while Mrs Limecc operates the lock controls.

I've been through conventional manually operated locks many times in inflatables. I've only ever "piggy backed" through with a bigger boat on the electrically operated ones.