Moored in Newark

This will be Jomima’s winter home. It is, of course, not winter yet but the time has come for us to attend to other things. We will still be taking her out on occasions, if the sun shines, for a trip up the river. However, the river Trent is usually at its best in the spring when the new ducklings hatch and the fishermen are constrained by the closed season. It is strange, most walkers, rowers, sailors and other users of the river always say hello and wave as we go past. Unfortunately, much as we have tried to be friendly and avoid disturbing their lines, the fishermen only respond with a glower.

That is all for now. If we make any interesting river journeys then I will provide an update. Now where shall we go next year?

Cruising Back by Truck

I had originally planned to take Jomima back to Newark on Trent, which is near our home and where we bought her from, via a cruise up the east coast of England and then down the river Trent from Hull. However that is a journey of about 400 miles by water and, even if the weather was perfect, would probably take at least 3 or 4 days. Unfortunately, based on our recent experiences, the weather would have been diabolical for two out of three days so it would probably have taken us two weeks! If you then factor in the cost of the diesel and moorings the other way back is more appealing i.e. by truck.

Jomima is 13 feet wide so a second man is required to help the driver. I had to get back to Newark myself anyway, so I became the second man. The day was planned to with an early start but the yacht that they had to lower in first, at Swanick Marina, went straight into the mud and would not move away from the crane. We therefore had to wait for the tide to come in sufficiently before Jomima could b safely loaded onto the purpose built trailer. I do admire the skill of the crane drivers when they manoeuvre 9 tons of boat and lower it precisely onto the supports on the trailer.

When we got underway it was great to watch the traffic from my lofty perch in the passenger seat of the truck. I rapidly began to appreciate the problems that truck drivers encounter as they steer such a wide and long load through the traffic. Suddenly lamp posts, pedestrian refuge signs and other tall objects become a hazard that have to be squeezed past. Main roads and motorways were relatively easy. However, as we got nearer to Newark, we negotiated a traffic island signalled left and swung out to make the turn. At that point a car then sped through the inside of us and nearly ended up under the port side of Jomima’s hull.

The last hazard was a low bridge and, after careful measurement, I was assured there would be two inches of clearance. As we swept under the bridge I listened for the crash of Jomima’s windscreen hitting metal and was greatly relieved when the hazard was passed without problems. Jomima was then unloaded and returned safely to the water.