Today David has had a more promising response from ABP.
I have had a call through from the Dock Master at ABP this morning. The information that I gathered from the call I have summarised.
The main challenge at the moment is replenishing water used by Ocean Lock. Operating the lock whilst being able to retain functionality of the dock, and enabling contingent use for emergency operation is a somewhat difficult balancing act.
There are some high tides predicted for next week and the port are expecting some particularly deep droughted commercial vessels. With a higher usage, this will hopefully give the opportunity to see how the pumps at the breach site contend with replenishing water levels in the dock.
Depending on how next week goes there will be further assessment regarding lock operations. The situation will be reviewed with the possibility of LIMITED use by Leisure craft. I stress the word limited.
ABP have suggested that the offer to help coordinate this would be well received by them. Hopefully this could at least give the opportunity for boaters who would otherwise be stuck here for a longer period of time, to leave Goole.
We should be mindful of how this message is disseminated. In the first instance, it is probable that a limited number of bookings will be considered, keeping the number of pens to a minimum. The danger is that the message could me misconstrued and assumptions made that operation is back to normal. This is highly unlikely to begin with. ABP have been very clear that this needs managing closely. The last thing they want is craft stranded on the river due to a snow ball affect of people expecting to use the lock as normal.
With the above in mind, I’d like to start to gather info regarding how many people would ideally like to pen through and the destination they would be heading for. If you could let me know by comment or DM that would be great.
I am awaiting a further update from the dock master in due course, and will of course update this page accordingly.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a season of cruising waters afar, following these testing times for everyone.
David.
Well done to David. We’re keeping all our fingers and paws crossed. Any further information I get I will pass onwards.
A sunny day, so Mark has been back to the breach site with his drone.
4/4/2021
The good news is that the cofferdam seems to be holding up.
4/4/2021
The access road into the dam has been extended.
The large bags of aggregate that were visible on the water line have been removed, but others can still be seen under the access road.
4/4/2021
The blue tarpaulin that was used to stem the water has also been removed. No obvious big black hole though.
4/4/2021
The water level is the lowest it’s been. According to someone at Pollington the water levels there today are a couple of foot lower than normal, you can see silt in the photos on the bend out side the cofferdam. That’s a lot of water not to be in that pound as that is the stretch with Southfield Reservoir.
4/4/2021
Above Whitley Lock the navigation is now open, it opened on 1st April. Passage down through the lock and on to Pollington and Sykehouse Locks will be possible from the 12th April if pre-booked.
4/4/2021
The small dam and pumps in the drain below look like they have been removed.
4/4/2021
The bridge over the pipes on the southern side has been re-instated and it looks like they have created foot access onto the bed of the canal here too. This photo you can see the extra piling they added along the southern bank on the outside of the dam.
4/4/2021
Hopefully the site is now ready for inspection by the engineers, C&RT suggested that this would be shortly after the Easter weekend. Fingers crossed.
If you are a stuck boater in Goole and wanting to escape please join the facebook group, The Goole Escape Here or leave a comment here on the blog.
This morning we had an email from a chap, David, who is also trying to escape from Goole. He’d posted on Canal World Forum this morning after playing ping pong with C&RT and ABP with regards to being allowed out through Ocean Lock onto the Ouse.
C&RT sent him to ABP, they back to C&RT, and back and forth a few more times!
During the day we’ve exchanged emails ourselves and this afternoon a facebook group has been set up with the hope of trying to find other boaters also stuck in Goole who are wanting to make a bid for freedom out onto the tidal River Ouse.
I think I can see David’s boat.
It is hoped to be able to have a meeting with both C&RT and ABP to see if it would be possible to pen a lock full of leisure boats out through Ocean Lock.
If you are stuck boaters wanting to escape please join the facebook group. The Goole Escape Here
If you don’t do facebook, then please leave a comment at the bottom of this post or use Contact at the top of the page to send us a message so that we can keep you in the loop along with seeing how many boats would like to escape.
None of us will be holding our breath, but it’s worth a try. Maybe as a group we will have a bigger voice.
It’s not often you feel relieved to see a canal with a lack of water in it, but the fact that the cofferdam has drained itself whilst not refilling itself is great. I think it was about a month ago that it was this empty.
30/3/21
25/2/21 upside down for comparison
There are a few things to note from todays photos, other than it’s a lovely day to go boating!
The western end of the cofferdam seems to have improved water levels, so no overtopping.
30/3/21
The aggregate ramp into the cofferdam has been added to. The pile driving crane is no longer on the floating pontoon. In the photo above you can see what looks like a light with a red box standing on some new aggregate which I think will be used to illuminate the area and down into the drain.
The bags that were dropped in by helicopter are very visible now.
30/3/21
So is the big hole in the towpath by the blue tarpaulin.
30/3/21
What can also be seen in the above two photos is a yellow pump on the north bank by the drain.
30/3/21
There is now a small tarpaulin dam in the drain and the yellow pump appears to have two hoses one to either side of the dam.
30/3/21
Now that the water in the cofferdam has drained down into the drain below, as much as the breach will allow it, my theory is that the drain under the canal will now be pumped out. This will give them access under the canal.
30/3/21
The cofferdam seems to be holding its own now, hopefully things can progress. Will they need to do a fish rescue?
30/3/21
Then, at last, they will be able to pump out the remaining water to reveal the canal bed and the breach itself.
30/3/21
According to a local boater who has recently spoken to the control at Goole Docks, they are still not permitted to pen leisure craft through the locks onto the Ouse. He was told to contact C&RT for updates.
The tide at Goole this evening was going to be high 6.5m, 3 ships would be leaving the docks and 3 more coming in. Both locks in operation. Here’s hoping the high tide means the level doesn’t drop too much in the marina. I hope we left our ropes slack enough!
Other good news is that the Figure of Three Locks on the Calder and Hebble will be reopening on 12th April. This means that if we ever get to leave Goole this year then we might just be able to cross the Pennines via Standedge Tunnel.
Thank you to Mark again for the use of his photos.
We have experienced a few challenges with the coffer dams at the breach site during the weekend.
To help manage this we have had to drop levels between Ferrybridge and Pollington, therefore fluctuations in water levels may be experienced over the next few days as work continues at the breach site on the long term repair.
Skippers of all craft are advised to check their mooring lines to ensure their vessel is securely moored allowing for water fluctuation.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Levels had been overtopping the cofferdam at the western end over the weekend. The prevailing wind not helping. A video from Lisa shows the extent of this. Finger credit to Lisa.
The Aire and Calder appears to have no spillway between Ferrybridge and Goole unlike most canals. Spillways help to keep the level of a pound at a certain level or below, but the spillway to this pound is the docks in Goole which when ships are coming and going with the tides works pretty well. But now the cofferdam is in the way water needs to be pumped round it to supply the docks with sufficient water and to help keep the level above the cofferdam at a suitable height.
This all means that it is a bit of a balancing act to keep the levels at suitable heights for all. The levels in the docks for ships to come and go. The moorings in the docks. The moorings at Rawcliffe Bridge. Low enough not to overtop the cofferdam. Above the cofferdam the moorings below Pollington Lock.
Ferrybridge where there water can be let into the canal from the river
Levels seem to get dropped all the way to Ferrybridge, which suggests that this is the only place where they can control the amount of water coming into the canal. Tracking Google maps towards the breach there may be one sluice above Whitney Lock where the level could be dropped, but this goes into a drain rather than a river, so could end up flooding fields.
The height of the cofferdam seems to be an issue that comes and goes. They are planning on raising the level of the piling at the eastern end, handy as that is where the work pontoon is. But will they be able to do the same at the western side? Do they need to do this or will they be able to keep the levels upstream managed sufficiently to stop it overtopping? Or will another pontoon be required at that side to raise the piling?
Good news elsewhere is that the works on the breach near Hack Green on the Shroppie are nearing completion, the area was being filled with water yesterday. Well done C&RT, just wish they had been as successful on the Aire and Calder.
*Post update Mark has been out again with his drone today. Good news is that the cofferdam has emptied itself again.
30/3/2021
There are more photos, so I’ll write more in the morning as it’s time for food now.
Andrew Percy the local MP has been down to the breach site today. He has posted the following on social media.
Aire and Calder Canal Breach Update. I’ve been up to East Cowick this morning to meet with the Canal and Rivers Trust to view progress on the works to sort out the canal breach. Fair to say, still someways to go before the permanent solution is identified. They had hoped to have the breach section fully drained by now thanks to the cofferdams. However, the water found its way around one of the cofferdams so they have had to pile a further section along the bank to get the seal! They hope to have this completed tomorrow so that they can start to fully drain the breached section and effect the permanent repair. As the canal serves the docks, they are also raising the cofferdam level on the dock side so that the canal level can be raised to provide more water to Goole docks. I will be popping back down once they have the section drained and are clearer about what they are dealing with. In fairness, they have always said to me that the works to actually get the section isolated could be more challenging than the actual repair to the breach. I shall continue to keep pushing!
Well Canal and River Trust have been busy with notices. On the website yesterday they posted the following
Update 24/03/21
The Trust and its contractors are in the final stages of making the cofferdam watertight, to enable the cofferdam to be dewatered. We anticipate that our engineers will be able to carry out the first detailed inspection at the breach site shortly after Easter. Water levels continue to be carefully monitored. While passage through Goole Caission is not possible at present, the Trust is working hard to ensure boaters can once again pass between Pollington and Sykehouse Lock. We intend to operate this on a booking only basis from 12 April (in line with the Government road map).
Certainly the levels in Goole were much better yesterday. But another ten days before engineers carry out a detailed inspection!
Then today notices regarding assisted passage have been coming through.
From the 12th of April access through Whitley Lock will be possible twice daily at 10am and 3pm.
From the 12th April, we shall be permitting a once a day access through Pollington Lock and Sykehouse Lock at 10am daily to allow boats to transit between Pollington Lock to Sykehouse Lock.
Mooring and overnight staying along sections between Pollington and Sykehouse Locks is not currently permitted.
Passage through these locks needs to be booked 48hrs in advance by calling 0303 0404040, Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm
Why assisted passage? Because they need to control the water levels in the pound where the breach is and should two locks full of water be let out at the same time, the wave created would likely overtop the cofferdam.
This is all very exciting. Except we still can’t get out from Goole!
A is Viking Marina B Ocean Lock onto the River Ouse
But should we be able to escape out onto the River Ouse we would be able to turn left and head up stream to Selby.
C Selby Lock
Turn in at Selby lock onto the Selby Canal.
D Tankards Bridge, E Beal Lock
You can only pass under Tankards Bridge, the last on the canal, if you are under 7ft high as currently scaffolding is being used to reinforce the parapet wall which suffered damage last September when a vehicle struck it. From there along the River Aire where a width restriction of 10ft 5″ is in place due to silt build up behind the lock gates. Thankfully neither of these would be a problem for us.
F Whitley Lock
Once up Bank Dole Lock we would re-join the Aire and Calder Navigation and turn left heading eastwards towards Goole. We’d be able to pass down Whitley Lock one morning.
G Pollington Lock, H Sykehouse Junction, I Sykehouse Lock. J The breach site
Then down Pollington Lock the following day, turn right onto the New Junction Canal and up Sykehouse Lock. Then and only then would we have successfully escaped!
According to Canal Plan if we did this route it would be 40 miles 1 furlong and 8 locks, normally taking 13hrs 45 minutes. But with current restrictions it would take us 3 days waiting for locks to open.
A Viking Marina, I Sykehouse Lock
Without the breach in our way Canal Plan has the more direct journey at 8 miles 3/4 furlong, 1 lock, taking us 2hrs 45 minutes.
Yesterday afternoon we picked up a hire car and gathered things together. This morning it was a very early start which included a girl look upstairs upstairs for a suitably sized piece of wood to cover all of Oleanna’s batteries in one go. I came up trumps with an old shelf from some cupboard somewhere which had a couple of spring clips on it, but it was the perfect size.
Then we set off at 7:30 for Goole. A couple of rain showers made me glad I’d left an upturned crate for our veg box to be left in as we’d not be home today when it was delivered.
Plenty of daffodils were out on our route through Driffield, but the big roundabout between Foxholes and Langtoft and the one at Bainton are still yet to show off their abundance of yellow.
A normal view out of the windows!
At the marina we were very pleased to see that the water level was much improved. No pontoon view out of the windows and no need to sit on the pontoon to undo poppers on the cratch cover. Today she was just a slight step down, the highest she’s been since before Christmas.
No big step down today
We arrived with plenty of time to swap the wood protecting the batteries out for the new piece, put batteries back into the CO and heat detectors, all were checked. Windows and side hatch opened up along with the cratch cover rolled right back for ease of access and the bow rope was tightened.
Mike arrived a little early, but we were ready and relaxing with a cuppa in hand, sat on our folding chairs on dry land. Current guidance is that you shouldn’t be on board whilst the inspection is carried out, understandable as it’s impossible to be 2ms away on a narrowboat if someone wants to pass you. In the sun it wasn’t too bad but the breeze did dip the temperature.
Mike in heated debate
The gas locker was checked, the cut off found in the galley. We had to point him towards our third fire extinguisher which lives behind the bathroom door (still fixed to the wall). He went out the back, lifted the engine board, checked here and there, counted mushroom vents. At the same time he chatted at length with one of our neighbours about current affairs, they knew each other and have very different opinions on matters.
We were then asked if we had a copy of our RCD certificate. Now where might that be? Apparently there wasn’t a copy on line for Mike to check against. We hunted through our boat files, the bible that came with Oleanna, but I had an inkling that it had been emailed to us and we’d never printed it out. Without a lap top to check back four years on emails we were a little bit stuck, but we found some information he needed in the bible. Only downside to this is that he has had to date our new certificate with todays date, loosing a few weeks.
Then the verdict.
She’d passed, no required items, no advice items, just one observation regarding the CO alarms.
YES!
When Oleanna was new CO alarms were not part of the BSS. She came with two heat sensors on the ceiling. We’d questioned this with Ricky from Finesse, when they came to fit the new batteries they came armed with 2 CO alarms which we’ve fitted one in the galley the other near the stove/sofa at gunnel height. The heat sensor in the bedroom has been swapped out for a smoke and CO alarm by us during the Beast from the East in Nantwich, this is on the ceiling above our bed.
Boat lift on the move
Mike was happy with this and we have plenty of detectors for CO that we may create on the boat. However the one in the bedroom would not really help us should we have CO come in the window from other boats and their stoves. Having a sensor nearer to our head height would be better, but there isn’t really anywhere to put it as we have a cross bed. We will look into positioning one above a bedside table which would be at the same height as our heads when in bed.
Strops being positioned under the cruiser
But she passed with flying colours. Invoice handed over and all paid online within an hour of him arriving. Hooray!
Take off
Now what? It was still before 11am. We did a couple of jobs. I dug out a box of fabrics that I haven’t touched in four years, the space can be used for toilet roll. Yes we have a stash of it as we’ve started buying recycled toilet roll on line, minimum order 48 rolls! So we can stock up the boat with it.
Life jackets for servicing
The life jackets have also come out of storage so that we can service them. A new gas bottle was bought and stored in the locker, we ran the engine.
Just as we were tucking into our pack up Al tapped on the roof to say hello. So we had a chance to thank him for keeping an eye on Oleanna when we’ve not been able to come down.
Level nearly normal
Before we left Goole we drove down to the caisson gates. Here was pretty much as it had been two weeks ago, just that the level was higher. There are still stop planks across the cut but there was quite a flow of water over them in towards the docks.
Someone’s headed for freedom
A narrowboat was moored where we tend to moor when visiting Goole, they’ve possibly escaped from one of the marinas for some space and to save on some money in fees. Maybe when we’re allowed to stay overnight we’ll have a jaunt out and join them.
See you soon
0 locks, 0 miles, 0 winding, 6am alarm, 76cm by 32cm, 1 automatic, 2 to 3 weeks before yellow totally takes over, 3 inches down, 4 alarms, 3 windows open, 1 hatch open, 1 masked surveyor, 1 heated debate, 3 one side, 1 the other, 1 pass with flying colours, 1 little wiff of gas, 1 big wiff of diesel, 2 butties, 2 mugs of tea, 1 boat crane, 1 freedom seeking boat.
Three Months ago today we learned of the breach on the Aire and Calder. The canal was doing a good job of emptying itself into fields, the flow of water heading for the villages of East and West Cowick. That all feels like a long time ago.
This morning my computer binged at me, a message from Mark Penn with new photos from the breach site. His initial comment was that there was no change. This was right in some respects, no progress on emptying out the cofferdam ready for inspection. But on the other hand there has been quite a bit happening.
20/3/21
Four days ago we received the notice from C&RT regarding a temporary fix to where the cofferdam meets the piling on the south eastern end. They would be implementing a more secure seal here, which is in progress and visible on Marks photos.
The first thing noticeable is that the floating pontoon is back on site. It had been stored through the other side of New Bridge. The pipes pumping water round the breach have been extended towards Goole, meaning that the pontoon and workers wouldn’t be drenched whilst working.
20-3-21
Water is actually being pumped into the cofferdam from the western end. This at first seems strange, pumping water in to where there is a breach, only for the water to flow out and into the drain below.
20-3-21
But thinking about it, it must be to help relieve pressure on the cofferdam whilst they make a more robust seal. We all know that lock gates open easily when the water level is equal at one end of the lock, yet the water pressure at the other end is immense. So keeping the water level between the cofferdam and the canal will mean less stress on what they are working on.
By the pontoon you can see a lot of new piling being put in along the bank where aggregate had been added last week. The void has been filled and now they are reinforcing the piling where it meets the cofferdam.
20-3-21
The above photo shows this better. A better fix than some blue tarpaulin and a roll of gaffa tape would do!
20-3-21
From above you can see the new piling lines up with the dam and the aggregate. Here’s hoping that this fix is nearing completion and that no more voids will hold up the cofferdam from being pumped out fully next week. Then the investigations can start and the engineers can get to work on a solution.
20-3-21 A boom has been positioned downstream near the bridge
A year ago we had arrived in Nantwich to stock up before continuing northwards. Little did we know we’d be there for months. The world was a different place, everyone getting used to what social distancing was, panic buying and hand sanitizer were new things. Supermarket shelves were empty and queues were long.
Tomorrow, Saturday, we’d have our first Geraghty Zoom.
21/3/2020
In all our minds back then we knew lockdown was coming, but only imagined it would last for a few months. Then life would return to some form of normality. Kath, Micks sister had left a plant on her office desk hoping it might survive, she’s not been back.
Theatres closed their doors on the 16th March 2020. A year later it was apt to have a panto meeting. Showing my white card model to the creative team and producers was a little strange on a Zoom meeting. Mick had enabled my phone to be an extra camera so that I could show people round my model whilst giving them motion sickness! A good meeting.
Muddy Cows
On Wednesday I caught a bus up to Scarborough Rugby Club where I joined the queue for the local vaccination centre. I’d last stepped foot in this building eight years ago when collecting old rugby shirts to be used in the premier production of John Godbers Muddy Cows at the SJT.
SRUFC Vaccination Centre
This time I left with my vaccination card and a sticker. My photo on social media has caused some unrest from those who didn’t receive one. Mick is miffed and so is Kath from Herbie along with numerous friends. Sorry!
This morning I have received my NHS vaccination letter, I’m glad my doctors had everything in hand as the nearest hub to us is Saltburn 31 miles away. The 3.5 miles on the old railway line is much better. Just a shame I’ve had a few side effects, hopefully todays vertigo will pass soon.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 dam filling up, 1 reinforced joint, 2 boaters still with fingers crossed, 3 months, 53rd Geraghty zoom, 1:25 scale white card model, 18 rugby shirts, 1 jab, 3.5 miles home, 1 sticker controversy, 1 wild flower bed planted, 6 more houses to go, 2 thank you’s to Paul (Waterway Routes) and Dave Scouts for blog advice, 1 map from last year to check it still works, 1 window open all sunny day for Tilly, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.
This morning we woke to an update regarding the breach from C&RT.
Update on 16/03/2021:
The downstream seal of the cofferdam has been fixed temporarily with downstream water levels stabilising. A robust fix is currently being implemented to secure the seal.
Dewatering of the cofferdam is now programmed for week commencing 22nd March with breach investigations to follow.
15-3-21
Mark went back to the site yesterday. Plenty of vehicles about the place and a delivery of diesel for the generators looked like it was happening.
15-3-21 Wonder when the crops will start to show themselves
Some of the new pumps look like they might be adding to the water levels.
The level on the downstream end is certainly higher. It is helping to keep the cofferdam topped up again too.
15-3-21
It may be possible to raise the piling here to help keep the water out of the breach along with keeping the levels higher towards the docks.
Obviously water is still draining out of the cofferdam into the drain below.
15-3-21
This photo I find the most interesting. Just above the blue tarpaulin, on the left hand side, is the hole in the grass that has been visible from early on. This at one time had been filled with aggregate. But working left from here, along the piling edge, it looks like there are three more holes as the canal widens out.
It’s been almost three months since the breach happened. Here’s hoping that the cofferdam does get drained next week and that there are no more hold ups. Then the engineers will be able to assess what will be needed for a permanent fix.
Thank you for the comments about our move. It does seem that other peoples blog rolls are not showing our latest posts though and at the moment I’m having difficulty seeing statistics regarding views, maybe I’m just looking in the wrong place. You know how I like numbers!
Thank you Mark for the photos again and thank you Mick for sorting the blog.
