First trip of the year, River Devon

[Mikefule]

Good Friday, day off work. Three of us took the Zodiac 3.1 down to the Trent just up river from Newark, Notts. After chugging down to Newark, we set off at not much over idle speed up the narrow winding River Devon (pronounced Deevon, not like the county) with one of us hanging over the bow looking for shallows.

We made it a long way up against fairly shallow moderately fast flowing water until our way was blocked by overhanging willows. We were no more than 5 miles from home and a mile from a road I drive to work along, but we could have been a hundred miles away. Peaceful, quiet, lots of wild birds, fresh air and bright but cool spring sunshine.

Having established that the Devon was deep enough not to ground the propeller, we came back a bit more briskly, only to find the quiet of this bucolic idyll shattered by the load splashing of two kayakers going the other way. Cheery greetings were exchanged. They were more surprised to see us than we were to see them because we had been talking about coming back with our own kayaks.

On a section of the Trent with hard concrete banks, we were a bit naughty and landed two of us so that my son could "see what it can do" with only one on board. We then returned to the slipway at Farndon and retired to the excellent Rose and Crown for a pub lunch and a pint.

There are times when a bigger faster boat would be nice, but you can do stuff on a small SIB that you can't do on anything else. A good start to the season.

[Firstrib]

Sounds beautiful, I am looking forward to transporting my SIB to other quieter locations at some point, the great thing with a SIB. They launch so well from slipways.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Yep, small boats can be great, especially if going to get an ice cream!

[raymillard]

How much does it cost to launch at Farndon please?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

No idea. I have a 2.5m RIB that i put on my roof rack. I launch (throw in) at Sandy Lane. No charge.

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by raymillard

How much does it cost to launch at Farndon please?

There's a free slip next to a free car park at the Farndon Boathouse pub. There is a gate across the top so if you use a trailer to launch, you may have to ask at the pub. I assemble my SIB on the slip way and launch with transom wheels and it's free apart from the day licence from Canal & River Trust.

I guess that the slip at Farndon Marina is more expensive.



From Boatlaunch.co.uk
Slipway information:

Long: -0.8552464842796326
Lat: 53.060870016105525
Nearest Place: Farndon
Country: UK
Region: Inland England
Web Site: Distinctive Inns -Distinctive Inns
Phone Number: 01636 710990
Fax Number: Email: - info@riversidefarndon.co.uk
Ramp Description:
Slipway access: - Private, property of the pub and available after 11.30 daily, during pub opening hours.

Type: - Constructed concrete slipway above the water, firm sand below waterline. (Old ferry).

Notes: - Arrive early before the parking area fills up. Unless it’s been improved, there are small rocks to one side of the ramp and in the water that can make launch/recovery difficult in windy conditions. There is a small pontoon to the right about ten yards away. Between that and the slip there is an awkward metal construction that prevents you from 'leading' the boat around to the docking area by rope.

Have a look for yourself, zoom in on the map above and switch to satellite view.

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

No idea. I have a 2.5m RIB that i put on my roof rack. I launch (throw in) at Sandy Lane. No charge.

Or there's another free one at Boat Lane, Hazelford, further up river and on the opposite bank. That one is above the next weir and locks and gives you a run up as far as Gunthorpe.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Whoops. Wrong farndon.

River Dee and Trent.

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Whoops. Wrong farndon.

River Dee and Trent.

I wondered!