Saturday: High tide at Torksey was 7:20 this morning. On past ocasions we have left about 20 minutes before high tide then running with the ebb down to Keadby. This time we had been advised to leave at 9:00. All my researches with tide tables suggested that we might find ourselves fighting the flood tide at the end of the journey which is much stronger. Furthermore, there might not be enough water for us as we would be kept waiting for Keadby Lock. So we left at 8:30 and saw no point in rushing. The wind in our faces again and colder too. At Gainsborough a precautionary call to Keadby Lock informed us that we were on target, that it would take us a further 2 1/2 hours and to call at the motorway bridge. All routine. The flood would not appear until gone 2 pm. So we increased speed up to 6.5 mph, the calculated speed for the timing. At the motorway bridge the lock-keeper told us to take it easy and that he could not let us in for another half hour. We duly arrived and were waved in, needing a turn in the still ebbing tide.
However there was a problem with a sand bar at the entrance. Turning into the lock the bow got stuck and the turn stopped. It needed reverse to get the bows in clear water to complete the turn and then at high revs grind the bottom of the boat over the sand/mud. In the shelter of the lock we realised how cold we were, but soon we were up, the road swing bridge opened for us and we were safely moored up for the night. The explanation for the delayed departure was that our journey would be timed to arrive at slack water the better to make a safe turn into the lock in the strong wind, bearing in mind the sand bar and without the additional factor of a strong running ebb. Just shows the importance of taking local advice.
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