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Enter a key word to search for posts:Don’t trust the lock-keeper!
Posted on: Monday April 22, 2019 at: 5:31 pm
We have recently been travelling down the Fossdyke Canal and the River Witham, having once again fought our way up the Tidal River Trent. This canal was originally dug by the Romans, and amongst other things, it facilitated the Vikings when invading deeper into England.
There is a tributary to the river, called the River Slea (also known as the Kyme Eau), and when we were here last we decided not to try going up it as we were not sure of the navigation potential. However, as we are here again and Helen was very keen to see it, we asked a lock-keeper at Torksey Lock, where we leave the Trent and join the canal, whether it was possible to travel up it.
“You should be ok” he said, ” but you will have to go all the way to the end turning point at Cobbler’s Lock to turn and come back”.
So we decided to give it a go.
WRONG!
You shall go no further!
The supposed navigable length of the river is approximately 8 miles, travelling up through Taylor’s Lock, through a lovely little village called South Kyme, and on to Cobbler’s Lock. The going is easy until South Kyme, but after that there are some rather low bridges (which we were expecting and had prepared for) and awkward bends and shallows. In fact, the last couple of miles we were dragging on the bottom of the river and hitting a lot of sand banks, which we were gradually making our way over. Until, that is, about 100yds before the turning point, we hit a sand bar across the river that we just could not get over.
Kit contemplating the only alternative
That left us just one option, something we were very loath to attempt. We would have to reverse the almost 8 miles all the way back to Taylor’s Lock before we could turn around.
Now, narrowboats are not the easiest things to steer when going forwards. Despite the various theories about how it should happen, they are almost impossible in reverse as they will generally make up their own minds about which direction they are going to go, and that is complicated even more when you have a flow of water going the same direction you are. The general principle becomes “point boat the direction you want to go by going forwards and then reverse”. Then you will get a short distance before the boat thinks otherwise. When there is very little water under you, the propeller cannot get much purchase and the first part of that manoeuvre becomes even more difficult. Having a bow thruster (which moves the bow from side to side) helps a lot, but ours is electric and very quickly overheats then cuts out.
We made it back to South Kyme later that evening and moored up there for the night. I was, to put it mildly, rather exhausted and apprehensive about the rest of the journey the next day, but fortunately the water was a bit deeper on the last part, which made it a little easier. Interestingly, when the boat is being driven forwards, the stern is being pushed down, which is why we were dragging on the bottom. When going backwards, the propellor is pushing water under the boat, so at least we were not dragging when reversing.
The right way to deal with the problem
Having eventually managed to turn around and while heading off the River Slea, we passed two boats heading up. I stopped to warn them of the problems, but they said they had it covered and would be alright. This picture shows their plan, which should work, as long as the river is not too narrow. Those familiar with boats will notice that they are facing opposite directions. One drives forwards going up and the other drives forwards coming back down. Clever!
As ever, click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
AND THEY SAY A CANAL CRUISE IS A VERY RESTFUL WAY TO TRAVEL ////// XXXXX