Tilly was given an hours shore leave whilst we had breakfast and required reminding of the time. Thankfully it seemed that I’d found a suitable moment in between her being busy to give her a call as she came running pretty quickly. I’d just like to say that Arry’s disappearance has nothing to do with me!
The boat infront of us was making ready to set off, Mick had walked down to say hello having spotted that there was Made in Sheffield on their cabin side. This was a Finesse boat owned by Tim, NB Life Positively Quieter, who had a couple of friends crewing for him for a few days as he made his way up the Trent and Mersey, hoping to catch NB Barbarella up on their way towards Stone.
Toodle Pip to Toodle Pip
They set off before us, but I soon caught them up walking the towpath, Oleanna wasn’t that far behind them when we reached the first lock of the day, Aston Lock. Here a CRT work boat was sharing the lock. It’s funny how some people on boats right now have to tell you about how the canals are closing, as if every other boater on the system doesn’t know about the drought and low water levels, You’d have to be totally unaware of everything, but then rumours are rife and the conspiracy theorists are having a field day!
Sharing Aston Lock
We shared Aston Lock. Tim and his friends offered me a lift as I was walking ahead, they do have a very big cruiser stern but I’d rather walk.
Bywash flowing fast
Weston Lock was next with it’s big heavy heavy gates. Unfortunately I was too busy wondering if the new gates (since our last visit) would be any lighter to remember not to open the off side bottom gate. As Mick brought Oleanna into the lock he said he would have scooted her around the gate to save opening it! I tried my best to close it, normally it would be hard, but having lost quite a bit of ballast now it was impossible. Luckily I was soon joined by the other crew and the two of us managed to get it moving.
Huge fat lock beams at Weston Lock
Boats arrived above, saving having to close the top gates. We planned on stopping before Swarkstone Lock today, having a slightly shorter day of it so as to have a better mooring for Tilly than above the lock. So we said our goodbyes to Tim and friends and headed to where we’d planned to moor. They must have stopped for lunch and either decided to stop for the day or had sneaked past us silently as they are electric.
Two Finesse bows
A quiet afternoon for us, a busy one for me!Mick hasn’t been sleeping so well since the weekend so I suggested he went to bed rather than just kipping on the sofa. This he did and had a good couple of hours well and truly asleep, whilst I tidied up a bit more of panto ready to go to the printers. I’ve now the front cloth to sort which will take a bit of time. Because it’s a curtain and I want it to have 20% fullness to it, the piece I made for the model is flat, I need to either stretch the original artwork or add to it. This will take some working out how to do it as stretching the design doesn’t look so good and I really don’t want to have to redo the artwork if I can help it. So some research on how Paintshop can help me is required on a quiet none moving day.
On the off side goods trains occasionally came past and somewhere nearby woofers woofed! We’d had this last night too, they seem to be following us!
We opted to have our tea with breakfast today as we wanted to cover some ground. As we pushed off a narrowboat at the other end of the pontoon had their engine running, but their dog was still lapping up it’s breakfast, would they be heading the same way as us?
Holme Lock
Upstream, under the Radcliffe Viaduct, when we reached the 5km mark Mick radioed ahead to Holme Lock, it would be ready for us, ‘come in on the green’. Once in the lock we were asked to wait, there was another narrowboat behind us, they’d be ten fifteen minutes. Holme Lock is vast and on previous experience it takes quite a while to fill and empty, so we were happy to wait. The following boat didn’t take too long to arrive and turned out to be the boat from Stoke Lock, NB Kettle.
Kettle
As the lock filled and the noise waned there was chance to chat with our lock partners, firstly to find out if they would be carrying on up stream and into Nottingham. They were, we’d have someone to share the locks with. Now NB Kettle is not only black, but it has always stood out from the crowd because of it’s sign writing. We’ve seen her about on the network through the years and the rabbits and moon have left a lasting impression. I chatted to Claudia, they’d bought NB Kettle back in March this year, they’d done no boating before picking her up on the Trent and Mersey. The previous owners had been a writer and illustrator, so the sign writing had been designed by them, possibly even painted by them. Earlier this year Claudia and Lee repainted the boat, as she is know by many they kept the sign writing. Good on them!
Loads going on at the weir
We led the way upstream. There is a mass of scaffolding on the big weir and further upstream at Lady Bay Bridge you have to use the most southerly span as works are on going there too. Approaching Meadow Lane Lock we could see there were no moorings available below the lock, the steps on the other side of Trent Bridge also looked very busy, a mental note taken for future weeks.
Just finishing going up in the lock were a couple of cruisers, they pulled in just above the lock. Was another boat coming down? No-one made a move. Claudia and I set the lock for our boats. One of the chaps asked if we were both coming up, err yes! They seemed to have been wanting to use the lock again, but with no obvious boat waiting?! ‘Can you get two boats in these locks?’ Claudia asked, they were new to boating, this possibly their first uphill manual lock ever, it had taken a while for them to find their windlass.
Just as we were closing the gates the top paddle was being lifted by one of the chaps from the cruisers, half cut on drink or other substances. I walked up to the top end. ‘You get on we’ll do it for you’. He may well have been capable but… ‘My boat my lock and anyway I boat to work locks. Thank you anyway’ The chaps stood back and once the noise had faded we talked quite amicably, he was however suggesting we’d barged in as they had a couple more boats to move up the lock.
Sharing Castle Lock
We paused to use the elsan for our yellow water, then had just about caught up with NB Kettle at the 90 degree bend. Here’s hoping we won’t be making a visit to the Urgent Care Centre here, we’ve already used it three times! Castle Lock had just been vacated by a cruiser so we could go straight in. A narrowboat arrived shortly before we left so the gates could be left open for them. Time to wave our lock partners goodbye, they were heading into Castle Marna for a few days to explore Nottingham. We found ourselves a space on the moorings by Sainsburys and headed off to stock up for the next few days. Thankfully it is still possible to get your trolley back to the boat. We had lunch and then headed on further.
Now Nottingham used to have a reputation, we tend not to take much notice of reputations and rely on our feelings for a place. We’ve stopped by Sainsburys numerous times, making sure the boat is well secured before heading off to explore Nottingham. Today it felt just that bit different. A tent on one of the grassy banks where the students used to have lunch. Dilapidated cruisers (which have always been about) are more plentiful and their possessions strewn across the towpath into the hedges, cans of beer being drunk and a heavy smell in the air. Today we’d have moved on anyway, which was the original plan, especially as I’d just booked a table for a meal tonight.
I walked ahead able to scout out moorings nearer to Beeston. Boats were pulled in at places I’d not noted before, their mooring spikes hammered into the bank whether it be grass, tarmac, concrete or stone. The first mooring was pretty well occupied, up ahead closer to our meal there was plenty of room, Tilly wouldn’t be impressed but we’d still let her out.
Oh it’s Nottingpants! Super fast Toms on their wheels had me running for the cat walk, time after time. A wall, one of those with little if any grip! Zero friendly cover. Pants!!!
The menu for today
A walk into Beeston to The Victoria. We hadn’t expected it to be that busy, but by the time our food had arrived every table in the pub was full. The menu here is not your average pub food. Yes there is sausage and mash, you can choose one or two Bangers, they are not your average bangers, they are long hotdog length but quality Lincolnshire sausages. I checked what I could eat and was given a list of dishes. Paella, sadly they’d just served the last one. Hot Fish platter, with salmon, hake and halibut, very nice. All accompanied by a pint of beer each from the local brewery, their session IPA is gluten free, very wise brewers. No room for pudding so we headed back to the boat.
Levels at Derwent Mouth Lock were still low, maybe tomorrow they will have improved enough.
3 locks, 9.6 miles, 1 right, 90 degrees, 1 kettle black, 2 new owners, 1 shopping trolley back to the boat, 2 lots paracetamol, 1 box aspirin (just in case), 89 minutes brisk, 1 pants mooring, 1 table for 2, 3 fish, 2 bangers, 2 beers, 1 pleasant evening.
Paracetamol has been doing it’s job and Mick woke this morning not feeling the need to take more. We enjoyed a leisurely tea in bed (TIBED) and joined the Geraghty zoom to catch up with Mick’s siblings. There was conversation about our trip to Mansfield Emergency Department (when did they stop being A&E?), sibling ambulance rivalry, the RNLI, Barbara Windsor, Proms and Torches.
How had Mick strained his chest muscles? On tidal waters we keep the well deck clear so should we need to deploy the anchor there is nothing in the way. So spare poo buckets, fenders, ash pan, hose etc all get moved into the shower. The spare poo buckets tend to hold mooring spikes, nappy pins etc and with such contents they are a heavy cumbersome lift, especially when they need to be lifted over the bed and put into the shower out of the way. I’ve injured my back when stooping to pick them up in the past and they may well have been the culprit this time.
So we need to amend how we do some things to avoid injuries. Empty the contents from poo buckets before lifting them, unless it happens to be poo! Emptying the yellow water can be amended too, less lifting of the heavy container by using our long yellow water hose in places like our current mooring which is awkward. This method worked today, it did mean shouting louder to each other. The container was then tucked away in the welldeck where it wouldn’t be in the way until there is easy access to empty it.
Mick radioed up to the lock, there were cruisers coming down so we’d have a bit of a wait. We opted to push out from the bank and hold back on the river ready to enter the lock. Cromwell isn’t the only lock on the Trent that has a problematic sandbank below it. Here there is one about 20 yards below the lock, you can see it quite clearly from above. Yesterday when we returned from the hospital there was a Dutch Barge stuck on it. They’d approached the lock as normal and got stuck, luckily for them the volunteer lock keepers managed to flush them off when they next emptied the lock. The way to approach the locks is to stay well over, at Hazelford to the starboard side of the river then at the last minute turn almost 90 degrees towards the lock then another 90 degrees into the lock a sort of S route. It worked for us and would be handy later in the day at Stoke Lock.
We were joined by a small cruiser who clung onto the lock ladder with boat hooks as we rose, then they vanished off into the distance. The Lock Keeper told us that there wouldn’t be a Lock Keeper at Gunthorpe Lock, my favourite (not) lock on the network!
A lovely stretch of the river, trees just starting to show their autumn colours. We pootled on admiring the boats on the moorings, plenty of people out for a Sunday stroll on the river bank. Just a shame it was a grey day, but that didn’t really matter it was good to be moving, the two of us boating together, just how it should be.
Crews at the lock landing at Gunthorpe
Up ahead I could see a narrowboat being overtaken by the little cruiser. That would be the single hander that had been moored in front of us yesterday. Approaching the lock he pulled in onto the pontoon, crew from the cruiser were heading up the ramp. What would I like to do? Stay on Oleanna let them work the lock, rope round a blue riser, the location of our only other need for an ambulance ten years ago. Or should we offer to work the lock, me pressing buttons up top?
As we got close the single hander asked if we could work the lock, the cruiser crew didn’t know what to do and he was single handing. The cruiser crew suggested we went straight into the lock, his key of power in the panel. Well the very VERY last thing I want to do at Gunthorpe Lock is climb one of the long ladders. Mick put our bow in to the pontoon, far easier and safer for me to step off.
Plenty of keys with no means of retrieving them should they fall in the water
Another cruiser joined us making four boats in the lock. Most of the Trent Locks now just have two buttons at either end to operate them, Open and Close. You press the button when the green light is constant, then hold it to open or close the gates. But here at Gunthorpe it has to be different, you have control over near and far sluices and the gates. I hate this lock with a passion and had jelly legs anyway, now I had four boats to keep an eye on as they rose up. I raised the sluices gradually, all went as it should.
I suggested to the little cruiser to come out of the lock to where there’s a lower wall and I could pass them down their keys. No float on the key ring, No phone number, two big sets of car keys on it too! Stupid testosterone man, ‘Go on chuck them down! Go on!!!’ I refused, why would he risk loosing car keys! Once the keys were safely in the ladies hand they shot off.
All three boats pulled in at Gunthorpe pontoon, well the little cruiser pulled in on the private jetty by the pub. We carried on, Gunthorpe left behind us.
Egyptian Geese really should learn to wash their faces better
Approaching Stoke Lock Mick radioed ahead, time to do the ‘S’ manoeuvre into the lock. We’ve seen a narrowboat stuck on the sandbar here before! We waited for another boat to join us then were penned up by the volunteer. The sandbar below the lock makes Stoke lock just about impossible to work by boaters as it blocks the low side landing.
Stoke Lock
Damn, the low wall mooring was already occupied, the pontoon had two boats, but we could squeeze on the end, over hanging. We took our time, knowing that the usual current here wants to pull you away from the pontoon, not too much evidence of that now though. A late lunch and no shore leave for Tilly, she wasn’t impressed with all those trees around us.
The new mooring when we passed earlier
A walk down the river bank to the pub at Stoke Bardolph, dropping off rubbish on my way and checking to see if I could find the 9km mark hidden amongst the trees, no sign of it. There is a new IWA mooring outside the pub. The wooden fixed pontoon has been there for years, we can only assume the river has been dredged to give enough depth and maybe a few more mooring rings added. Three narrow boats were making the most of it.
St Luke’s
I turned to walk along the fast flowing outflow from the sewage works and then followed roads back towards the river. The small church of St Luke’s was locked, but the doors have glazing in them so I could have a peek inside. The next footpath was looking like it would cross a maize field, I’ve not been lucky with such paths recently, but thankfully here the farmer had left a good 8ft free for walkers. Back on the river bank a small child whizzed up and down the tarmac track on an electric scooter, over taken by a smaller child on an electric motorbike.
Someone’s been enjoying the corn
Back at Oleanna it was close to 6pm, dingding time. The two boats that had been moored on the low mooring had just moved off, a perfect Tilly shore leave mooring. I kept quiet about it as she tucked into some Salmon in Jelly.
A Magpie feather?
Low water levels at Derwent Mouth Lock on the Trent and Mersey have closed the lock today. This is on our current route. We’re hoping it’s from many people using the lock to return to home bases. The stretch of canal is fed from the River Trent so hopefully with CRT opening up a sluice at Wychnor Lock the problem will soon be rectified, even if it’s 25 miles away, we’ve our fingers and paws crossed.
3 locks, including THAT lock, 9.8 miles, 2 cuppas in bed, 2 car keys handed over, 2 ‘S’ approaches, 2 jelly legs, 0 shore leave, 59 minutes brisk walking, 2 snoozy boaters glad to be boating.
Up early, we were in need of filing with diesel and to cruise around three hours today. Currently we have a destination in mind for my meeting on the south coast which needs us to keep moving, not too much, but a constant direction to move in. Once I’ve visited the set builders for panto the original plan was to start heading southwards to be around Banbury or Oxford by late October for me to go to work on panto whilst being able to return to the boat at weekends. Unless there is significant rainfall in the next month we really don’t see the waterways that will be closing on the 26th August or that are already closed due to low water levels reopening in time. So we need another plan.
This isn’t the miserable chap
Current thinking is to stay in the Trent/Soar area so that we don’t miss our repaint slot at Redhill. Originally we’d planned to be out until the New Year with at least one lodger already booked in for the Christmas show. But if we can’t get onto the Oxford we may see if we can come out of the water earlier than planned and very sadly curtail our years cruising, returning to Scarborough when our current lodgers leave. Well that is our current plan and almost certainly going to change for one reason or another, but we are almost certain we’ll be back in the house before Christmas.
No, only the moon!
Back to today. It was going to be hot, really quite HOT with little cloud cover, so we set off quite early for us , the first to leave the moorings. Paul from Waterway Routes had asked us to check if something wasn’t there, a photo was forwarded to him from the location to confirm that there was only blue sky.
Straight on to Nether Lock
A couple of boats had wild moored on the banks, the second one turned out to be a miserable chap on a cruiser who’d been plonked right in the middle of the high wall at Cromwell when we arrived yesterday fishing from his boat. He’d got miffed off with boats mooring around him. As we passed him today, his fishing line was out and he shouted over to us that he was waiting to be rescued as he’d got his rope around his prop. Somehow he’d managed to tie to the bank using his hook up cable. It sounded like someone was on their way to rescue him so we passed slowly and left him to continue to be miserable.
Under the railway
On the off chance, Mick radioed ahead to Nether Lock, a reply surprised us both from the Cromwell Lock Keeper who was at Nether, he’d already set it for us, the light would be green so we could go straight in. We’d been spotted by the Lockie on duty at Cromwell. As ever at the Trent Locks we were asked if we’d be continuing on to the next lock or not, this is so they can let the next lock keeper know there’s a boat on the way. Apparently all the locks are manned at the moment, 9 to 4. Handy to know as there are a couple of locks with sandbanks below them which makes it hard to drop crew off to operate them.
Not even the ducks noticed !
Mick rang ahead to King’s Marina, they’d just opened for the day, their diesel was £1.10 domestic. We’d considered on topping up enough to reach Shobnall where the price will be much lower, but for peace of mind we decided to top the tank up. Mick did a perfect manoeuvre onto their service pontoon, but nobody noticed! Paula the Harbour Master came down to serve us, 103 litres, yes we were welcome to top up with water and use their bins. She’s a very friendly lady and happy to help. The marina toilets and showers were being upgraded along with the installation of a dog shower, I think most Aquavista Marinas are getting these. There is also a pergola going up as a social space for the moorers.
Newark Castle quieter here today than in April
Back on the river Kiln Pontoon was just about full, several boats were moored on the low wall opposite. Town Lock opened up for us and a volunteer took our ropes and saw us up. Everywhere we go at the moment people say what a wonderful day it is, good boating weather. We have to disagree, we’d far rather it was chucking it down!
moo
Now along the meandering river heading for Hazelford Lock moorings. The Newark Crusader pulled out from Newark Marina and followed us. Mick radioed them to see if they wanted to pass, they’d see once we’d got out of town. Sure enough soon after the houses stopped they radioed back asking to pass on our starboard side. Starboard side, our starboard side? We did as requested, looked over our shoulders to see that they were adjusting course to pass to our port, which is the correct side to pass on. They had to adjust course again.
Under the cover
With the sun beating down on us we opted to raise the pram hood to give ourselves some shade. With the front window rolled up and sides off it wasn’t too bad, but we’d still rather not cruise with it up as it impedes visibility, plus if you catch it on a bridge, it’s a costly repair. Today we really didn’t want to get burnt and knew there’d be no low bridges.
Boats came towards us, almost a constant stream of them. We’d best get used to this as we’re on a busy river again, today it felt like we were on the Thames it was that busy. Some boats just out for the weekend, some for the day. Quite a few after the CRT notices yesterday doing their best to get back to their home moorings, some cruises having taken people three weeks to reach here and now they have 12 days to get back!
All the way the visitor moorings were just about empty, but would they be at Hazelford? We had our fingers and paws crossed for some shore leave for Tilly on the lock island. As we rounded the last bend we could see one wide beam on the moorings and our preferred space was free. We pulled in deployed the big fat fenders, opened the side hatch followed by the stern doors for Tilly. Two hours to start with, then another three would follow if she didn’t get too hot. We’d managed to moor up at lunchtime, perfect.
One of the Trent km markers
I did a bit more touching up of cloths for panto, then headed across the bridge below the weir to walk to Fiskerton. A nice riverbank walk. Plenty of fishermen set up for the weekend with their tents. Cows grazing the brittle yellow grass. Thankfully the sun had lost it’s heat so I had a pleasant walk, returning through the Blackthorn archway that in April had been so white, today most of the sloes have been picked.
Barbeque at sunset
Time to barbeque and make the most of the setting sun whilst sitting out on the big steps at the moorings. Burgers and veg kebabs with a glass or two of wine. We like this mooring, we all like it a lot.
A sweep through and some baking to use up some of the blackberries picked yesterday, a recipe I found on line, it suggested if your fruit was really sweet then to reduce the amount of sugar, which I did, all helping to not be too naughty, it also had no fat in it so that was a bonus too. We waited until it was out of the oven and cooling before setting off, me walking ahead.
Sunflower
Oleanna managed to get round the steep bend where we’d come aground a few days ago with ease, maybe the weed boat we’d seen earlier this morning had got rid of the problem for us, hopefully we’d have little or no problem with weed today.
Kingfisher
This stretch runs very close to the A1 for quite a distance, you’d never know it apart from the traffic noise. One house has some lovely sunflowers outside, dark red as well as some very heavy headed standard yellow ones. Interesting weathered tree stumps , a creature I didn’t manage to catch on my camera swimming across the cut and a flash of electric blue from a kingfisher, who allowed me to take a silhouetted photo of it before darting onwards again.
Volunteers volunteering
At Forest Top Lock there was a boat moored just off the top lock landing and the bottom gates were both wide open. Below sat a CRT tug and skip boat the three crew standing around. I wasn’t wanting to speed them up as I was the advance party, there was plenty of time for them to finish their chat and come up the lock whilst Mick arrived. These volunteers have been tasked to move several skip boats up towards Turnerwood for when the canal shuts to replace the lock gates on the leaky lock. The chap at the helm kept saying that they’d leave the lock set for us, that was obvious. Then he was a bit concerned when Mick pulled Oleanna into the lock landing and roped her up so she’d not get in their way, yes we were going to use the lock straight away so he needn’t have worried.
The Mad Cyclists arriving
Above Forest Middle Top Lock we pulled in at the water point to fill up, deal with rubbish and yellow water. We also made use of the time to have some lunch. A phone call came through from our first visitors of the day, a rather garbled message, but they were on their way and would find us along our route somewhere. A boat was now heading to come up the lock, it was already in their favour so we helped them up, then made use of the water to go down, also helping another boat up. They were both going to stop to top up with water before carrying on to make the assisted passage at Worksop tomorrow morning.
Jane hitching a ride
Surprisingly Forest Middle Bottom Lock was empty when I arrived, soon filled and Oleanna was just descending when a dayglow cyclist pulled up alongside and asked how he should put his bike onboard. This was one of our visitors, James, Jane his wife soon followed. I’ve known James since my teenage years in York, he and Jane live near Sheffield and we call them the ‘Mad Cyclists’. Shortly before Mick and I set off on our boating journey eleven years ago, they set off on their own adventure to cycle the full length of South America in nine months.
A posed action shot
Once down the lock we could load their bikes onboard, one in the welldeck the other on the roof. Extra care would be needed whilst passing under trees now, can’t have Titanium Gravel bikes ending up in the Chesterfield Canal.
All aboard
There was time to catch up on news of all the Hall family, a wedding this coming weekend. Hear about the planning of their next cycling trip, three months over Christmas. Only one more lock however to have assistance with before we made our way on towards Retford. We opted to moor a little before the more central moorings by the hospital and cemetery. Train times were checked, bikes removed from their positions on the boat and chained to a post so that we could have a cuppa inside with a slice of Blackberry and Almond cake whilst Tilly inspected the towpath. It’s a bit rubbish here I can’t find my way through the green mesh stuff!
Jane and James ready to head off back to Sheffield on the train
Time for the cyclists to pedal off into the distance to catch their train. Our location was now sent off to more visitors another rendez vous to be had. Time to put on long trousers and freshen up, encourage Tilly home for dingding.
Still no way through!
An hour later Cath and Marc arrived at the hatch. Cath is a Stage Manager who worked on several shows with me at the SJT and The Orange Tree many moons ago. Marc is a wildlife photographer who is currently building up his stock for Christmas fairs.
Marc and Cath
Recently they have got into watching Canal Boat Diaries and been on hire boats, so of course they wanted a guided tour of Oleanna. It wasn’t hard to impress them, modern live aboard boats are very different to those they’ve been on before.
A very nice chicken burger
We headed into town to find somewhere to eat. The Brew Shedhad come highly recommended by Dave at the boat club the other week. It certainly smelt good, but sadly wouldn’t have a table free until much later on. So we opted to walk to the market square where there is a Lounge. These have great menus for everyone. A whole sheet of gluten free options and quite a choice for Vegans. We settled down and caught up on news of friends as we’ve not seen each other for around eight years. Mick and I had burgers which were extreamly nice and Marc tucked into a large breakfast, which would keep anyone going for several days.
Oops!
A very lovely evening after a very good afternoon. We waved goodbye to Cath and Marc, popped into Aldi for a pint of milk before returning to Oleanna for a second glass of wine.
A drizzly start to the day, so I awarded myself an extra long cuppa in bed, I’d not be catching the 10:20 bus today. As I sat having my breakfast a procession of boats came past all from the boat club moorings, the last one being Dave, what was the mass exodus for? He didn’t say, but waved a very cheery wave and headed onwards towards Retford.
Bus stop
At a little after 11 I made use of the post box at the bus stop, for a pair of socks, and waited for the next 97 bus, it was a few minutes late, would this affect me catching my next bus out the other side of Retford? I disembarked with everyone else and turned to check which gate the 99 would be leaving from. Ah, the 97 had just changed into the 99. I wonder if I could have stayed on board and only paid one bus fare?
That’s the way
A few stops in the direction of Doncaster I alighted and walked along the busy road then took the side road to the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, the largest nature reserve in Nottinghamshire. I’d enjoyed walking round the lakes near Lemonroyd earlier this year and hoped here would be just as good, if not better.
A pretty start
A quick comfort break at the visitor centre to set me up for my walk back to Oleanna. There wasn’t much information to be found inside, just cakes and coffee really and a pretty good view over the first of the lakes. I took a photo of the reserve’s map for ease of reference, I’d already plotted out my route along the River Idle then between two lakes where Bitterns and Beavers are meant to hang out. I knew there would be slim chance of me seeing either of them, but you never know.
Well the River Idle here is narrow and has quite high banks, the footpath wiggles its way round following every meander. There were several groups of people walking the path, but I soon left them behind. Not much really to see, just a good path through the undergrowth, lots of plants and plenty of giant blackberries, the biggest and fattest being picked as I walked onwards.
Near Tiln there was a view over a fishing lake on the other side of the river, which was the first real view I had. I hoped for better things to come as there were more lakes ahead. I opted to keep following the river alongside Chainbridge Pit, but I really wouldn’t have known it was there.
At last a view!
Motorbikes zoomed along Chainbridge Lane a wide track thankfully not muddy. I spotted a viewing area on my map so headed there for my lunch. There was a view as suggested, the lake some distance away and the use of binoculars essential, the zoom on my camera not really up to much as everything was so far away. I made use of the bench to eat my sandwich and have a glug of water before setting off again.
Great White Egret
No views from the tracks, maybe I should have stayed on the smaller path on the other side of a hedge. Another viewing point, another distant view. At least here I got to see what I think was a Great White Egret as it was far bigger than the Mallards sat close by.
Teasles
I turned onto the track between the Bittern Pool and where Beavers had been released a few years ago. A crowd huddled at the next viewing area. ‘No that was a Chiff Chaff. Maybe we should try at the next pool see if there are any waders’ My verdict after a brief look across to the distant lake was that yes they’d see a lot more at the next pool.
By now I was feeling that the Nature Reserve was just that, reserved for nature and not human eyes.
Maybe it’s a bit different in the winter months with far less to cover the views. I managed to make out that there was water in the Bittern Pool, but there was not one jot of a view to where the Beavers have taken up residence. I did however get to see a lot of swans, coots and some Long Horn Cattle before I turned away from the reserve and crossed over the River Idle to head back to the boat.
A bridleway headed in the required direction. Ducking under trees, tip toeing past nettles, avoiding being spiked by sloe bushes which were heaving with berries. Then across a harvested field, trying to keep to an invisible path. Sweetcorn still quite a way to go before it would be ripe enough to eat, although from past experience it’s often the type of maize used for cattle feed.
Back at the canal I crossed over into a field where a path crosses just by Clayworth Grange which has been split into three or four rather nice looking dwellings. Stick to the path, or else! I veered off slightly as there was a large patch of nettles, I don’t think anyone saw me! Back into Clayworth and I was facing the bus stop where I started the days adventure. I’d considered just walking to the nature reserve and back, but concluded that that would end up being rather a long walk. However my route with the hope of seeing evidence of Beavers had me walk over 8 miles and 20,000 paces, much at a brisk pace. I think today I set a new record of 134 brisk minutes.
Back at the bus stop where I started
A touch pooped I opted to stay in, not willing to walk back to the club house for a drink this evening. As I sat at the computer the boats that had passed this morning came back. It must have looked like I’d been sat here all day!
0 locks, 0 miles by boat, 2 buses, well 1 really, 1 wee break, 1 CRT key taken for another wee on the way back to the boat, 4 VERY distant views, 453234 coots, 4433 swans, 1 great egret, 1 Gatekeeper, 0 beavers, 0 bitterns, 17 cows, 8.27 miles walked, 134 minutes briskly, 3 hours shore leave, 1 bully of a cat!
We both woke early, would the temperature have dipped sufficiently for Vazon Drawbridge/Sliding/Railway Bridge to move out of our way? Mick put some clothes on and walked over to the signal box, a different signaller from yesterday. Here he met up with a chap from NB Early Rise, who is waiting on the other side of the bridge. A phone call had already been made to York, the temperature not low enough even at the coolest part of the day. Chats were had, then Mick returned and joined me back in bed for some more shut eye, after all it was only 5am.
This face painted white
Over breakfast we considered our options. Should we wait here by the swing bridge, close to the trains kerchunk kerchunking over the sliding bridge through day and night? Or should we try to find a different mooring? One where Tilly could go out further away from the bridge. We decided to have a pootle to see if we could find anywhere. But first Mick walked up to the signal box and made sure they had our phone number for when the temperature dips enough and the bridge opens.
There had been hi-vis people at the bridge this morning along with Northern Power Grid. The domestic electrics were off in the signal box and had been mended. The hi-vis people were from Network Rail and they had been busy painting parts of the bridge white, this will help reflect some of the heat away from the structure. Now as we untied I spotted several blue t-shirts, CRT t-shirts. Hands were shook between orange and blue, might they be about to do a test opening? No chance, the temperature way above the 15C.
Shore leave
We winded and headed back towards Thorne, maybe, just maybe there might be enough depth for Oleanna back close to Pilfrey Bridge, not too far away, but just far enough. There was a lack of blanket weed making the canal obvious to those with four legs and feet, no rocks in view. But sadly no matter how much we tried the bow or stern didn’t get to within jumping off closeness of the bank. We opted to return from where we’d come. When the back doors opened up again, Tilly was most peeved that all we’d done was shake the outside up a bit!
Mick headed for a walk and a possible earwig at what was being said at the bridge between orange and blue people. Other than stopping to tie a shoe lace he didn’t find an excuse to loiter within ear shot for long and ended up going to say hello to NB Early Rise instead.
NB Early Rise by the bridge
Once the meeting had finished the blue bods walked back towards Keadby Lock and stopped for a chat. There was quite a high up person in amongst them. CRT are putting a lot of pressure on Network Rail to get the bridge working for boaters more reliably. They are hoping that the safe working temperature might be raised, even by just one or two degrees. Sections of the bridge had now been painted white and a big light installed so should passage be needed when it’s dark there is now light.
Things lit up by the bridge
Network Rail are working towards publishing a weekly weather report for the bridge, noting windows where the temperature will be at a suitable level for it to operate. Apparently the chap who oversees Vazon for the railway, is in charge of around 9000 bridges, and Vazon takes up half his time!
So we just have to sit and wait, ready to snatch the first opportunity to go through.
My migraine improved enough to go for a steady walk. I’d spotted a couple of paths when we were here last, checked them out on Google maps and set off to cross the railway, then the first ditch and to walk round and back through a wood.
Waiting, I wish I had earmuffs on!
To cross Vazon, as a pedestrian, requires you to press a plunger and wait for a red light and siren to stop, meaning that the gate is now unlocked. If the siren and light stay on, there is a train coming, which there was on my way out. Once it’s clear you zigzag your way across the tracks which go diagonally across the sliding bridge. It’s well worth looking at by foot even if you have to cross at speed rather than loiter on your way across.
More bits painted white
The first track I aimed for had a very protective Cob and his swan family, so I looped back round and walked through the wood to a track and up to the main road. The tide was on it’s way out but still pretty high, would any boats be making their way down stream right now?
Pouring water on the road bridge to cool it down
At Keadby Swing Bridge, the road bridge just by the lock, two Council employees climbed out of the van and walked to the bridge. Here they started up a generator and started to pump water onto the bridge, most probably where it pivots. There was evidence of them having done this earlier in the day. It turns out that at least one boat had been headed for Keadby today, they’d been told to moor up in Gainsborough overnight as there was a problem with this bridge too! Here’s hoping it’s sorted by the morning for them.
After all the excitement at the bridges, even if we didn’t manage to get going, it was time for an easier afternoon. Blimey it was hot and sticky inside, more so outside.
Denmark knitting
Mick pottered on with a few jobs, adding new hooks to fenders, wrapping wire round the yellow water connector whilst Tilly and I watched Denmark (2019) and knitted. Denmark is a bittersweet comedy about a down-on-his-luck Welshman who travels to Europe with a crazy goal, to get himself arrested and sent to a Danish prison where the beds are warm and the water is hot. It’s a gentle British film, with cool outdoor scenes which were welcome today.
Calm descending
Our only neighbour here had been absent during the day. He’d left his woofer shut up inside his make shift boat. We’d been getting quite concerned as the howls were becoming progressively more pathetic. Mick had wondered over to see what he might be able to see, which wasn’t much from a safe distance, we’ve been aware of this chap for a while. Then thankfully the owner returned, beer in hand and quite merry. The door to his boat was flung open and his large dog surged for the bank, all four legs crossed. After dancing a jig or two he packed up all he wanted, bundled his dog back onboard and frantically untied and set off into the sunset. So apart from the trains we should have a quiet evening now.
0 locks, 1.3 miles, 2 winds, 4 blue, 3 hi-vis, 1 sticky day, 0.5 sock, 1 film, 1 mended dishwasher, 2 fenders, 2 broken bridges, 2 more hi-vis, 1 jig, 1 woofer on our radar, 1 boat setting off into the sunset, 1 good place to smoke!
Pollington Bridge to Smallhedge Swing Bridge, New Junction Canal
A better day weather wise. Best get a move on! But first Tilly was allowed some shore leave. It’s good here! Thankfully she came back when called and we could push off.
I set up the drawing board so I could work as we cruised, I then walked to Pollington Lock, not far ahead. Here a single hander was just finishing comeing up the lock, we were able to swap positions and me hand him his key back once the gates were closed. He kindly offered to work the lock for us, but I’ve spent too much time inside recently to miss the chance of pressing buttons.
Pollington Lock
Once down the lock I started on my groundplans for panto. Positions of the permenant bits of set easy, then trying to save tracing paper and adding all the moveable elements onto the same plan. In the end I opted to do two plans, one for each act. At the same time I added things to my cross section, which shows heights of scenery and how they can be hidden from view in the flies. I’ve opted to move the bit of scenery I wasn’t sure about to give it more room, but in it’s new position it may require some tweaking to make it work better.
I spotted the tower at the shooting range just before Sykehouse Junction. Mick made the turn to start heading southwards. A boat reversed out from the junction and headed to Goole, a widebeam following us kept on course for there too. Paddle boarders were having a short break on the Went Aqueduct and chatted to Mick as we passed.
Up she goes
It was soon time to work the key of power. Up came the first bridge, holding up one car with a trailer filled with bags of sand. I opted to walk to the next bridge where we coincided with two boats having just come down Sykehouse Lock. Their crew beat me to the bridge panel, I waved Mick on through the bridge as the second boat was a touch behind the first.
There’s a lot more growth on the New Junction today
A boat was waiting to go up the lock, crew stood at the bottom gate panel, they were joined by the other crew member. I suspected I knew what the problem might be. Either they couldn’t find where to insert their key of power to get things moving, it is half way along the lock in a separate box that unlocks the barriers to a swing bridge first, then the swing bridge, then you can operate the paddles and gates. Or there was something not quite in the right place therefore connecting a circuit enabling things to be worked elsewhere.
I think they were about to call CRT out when I arrived. It was their first time on moving their new to them boat and the first time through Sykehouse Lock. They’d been told how to work it by people at their marina where they were returning to. They’d done everything but the swing bridge hadn’t clunked into position. I pulled it back a touch, said not to lift the handle but just to let the bridge do the work for you. As it closed into the open position the handle clunked down, circuit connected everything else would now work.
Sharing the lock
Mick brought Oleanna into the lock, followed by NB Emily. They bought her six months ago and discovered water where it shouldn’t be. So she’d been in Goole having some welding done by Alistair and now was water tight again ready for a refit by them. I stayed to help close up the lock as Mick moved Oleanna on towards the now removed Smallhedge Swing Bridge. At last I’d done some walking, although I don’t know how far or how brisk as my phone was inside the boat.
Goodbye Emily
We moored up close to a tree that Mick thought Tilly would enjoy. ‘Five hours Tilly!’ Brilliant!!!
I’d just put the kettle on and started to clear the table when Mick said there were a couple of Grebes just in front of us with what looked like their nest, which was drifting towards us and Tilly. Ah!!
We may have a problem here!
We needed to move and leave the parents to it, their body language at just us being there wasn’t relaxed, then add Tilly into the mix! Now we needed to remove Tilly from the outside, no easy thing when it’s brilliant here! was her body language. Time to head for a walk with my cat. It took some persuading but in the end she turned to follow, made use of the cat walk, where Mick pulled her inside. Doors closed. Job done.
Yep a problem
We untied and moved away as carefully as we could without disturbing Mum and Dad. As soon as we were away from the bank they relaxed, heads back at normal height. We moved along as far as we could before suitable places to tie to were lost. The wind would make the nest drift towards the lock, not such a good thing. Maybe it had originally been in amongst the reeds and had become dislodged by fast moving craft.
Leaving the family behind
Now settled Tilly was allowed out again. There might not be such a good tree in this outside, but the friendly cover is very friendly. So friendly that we decided that shore leave should be stopped short today!
Labels ready to go on
I continued and finished the last of the panto plans. Title boxes added and all filed away ready for my meeting. Just a few bits to do tomorrow and I’ll be ready. Sadly I finished too late to select yarn for the next pair of sockathon socks. Maybe I should do that before I start work tomorrow.
2 locks, 5 miles, 3 swing bridges, 1 held up, 1 already swung, 1 right, 2 parents, 1 egg, 3 outsides, 2 many friends, 14 sheets of drawings complete, 20 years.
Selby Basin to Stubbs Bridge, Aire and Calder Navigation
A boat headed to the water point first thing, once it was done and it had reversed to behind us, we set about winding, and then heading back to a mooring ourselves. Time for breakfast, then we’d be ready for the off. Today we were lucky as it was a training day at the lock so there were five CRT staff about, so plenty to help us through the swing bridge.
Swing Bridge Swung
Two chaps came to help us. We’d not seen them before, apparently, they do a refresher course on the tidal locks every couple of years and today was that day. One chap pressed the buttons on the panel for the bridge, the other stood by the little hut on the off side, where presumably they can operate it by hand if needs be. The bridge seemed to behave well and as soon as we were through a couple of narrowboats came into the basin with passages booked up to York today. There’d be six boats heading out onto the river.
Look at those creepers!
So far this year I’ve only walked the Selby Canal, so today I opted to stay on the boat and not get my brisk walking minutes in. After my panto meeting I need to get back to walking every day, I’m quite missing it.
If I had walked I think I’d have beaten Oleanna to the other end. We’ve been on the Selby when it’s been covered in duck weed, but today it was blanket weed which needed avoiding as much as possible, it’s horrible when it’s round your prop. Certainly no 7mph along here, very slow going!
Out onto the river
I sounded our horns as we came through West Haddlesey Flood lock where we turned onto the River Aire. Here it was windy, very windy and with all the twists and turns you didn’t know which side of your hat to keep hold of.
The boat that had been on the bank is now sunk!
At one steep bend a wide beam came past, he shouted to us that he’d had difficulty at Beal Lock with the gates. This is where we’d had difficulty a few weeks ago and had had to use the boat to help open a gate to get the lock equalised. But as we approached it was obvious that CRT were there checking things over. They opened the gates for us.
Beal Lock with assistance
This was the same two chaps who’d helped us through the bridge, we wondered what time we’d be meeting them at Bank Dole Lock later? They’d been called out but hadn’t found anything wrong with the lock as yet. They worked us through and opened the top gates, one of them only partially opening, maybe that had been the problem?
A Whooper swan?
There were two boats on the pontoon above, we tucked ourselves in at the far end and had a lunch break before carrying onwards, todays aim to get off the river and catch up with where we should have cruised to yesterday.
A windlass lock
It was now very VERY windy out there. I left my hat inside as I’d not want to loose it when I needed both hands to work Bank Dole Lock. The chamber was full, a couple were magnet fishing above. Mick and I emptied the lock and opened the gates. Oleanna was just coming in as a cruiser arrived above. There was plenty of time to chat to the crew who had borrowed their son’s boat for the day and they’d already been through this lock, only one top paddle working. We swapped over with them and headed back to the main Aire and Calder Navigation.
Coming up slowly!
Gosh that wind was strong! We just wanted to get that bit further, to Stubbs Bridge where we seem to moor nowadays. Oleanna was held into the side by the wind as we tied to our chains and retired inside. Tilly was given an hour or so, we thought she’d not like it out there, but she was kept occupied sitting in the shelter of the boat and then pouncing into the grass.
Fenders
I put together the first draft of a props list for panto. I’m really hoping we don’t need quite so much fake food, but we’ll see what John thinks when he’s seen the list.
Sheltered hunting today
The evening was a very VERY blustery one. With one side of the pram cover missing things had a tendancy to be moving around out the back. Our bedroom porthole needed closing and a bung bunging in it to stop it from rattling all night long. Here’s hoping we manage to get some sleep.
Around 10am a black van came past, headed down towards the lock, came back and pulled into the passing place close to us. Sean from SPL Covers was on his way to Barnsley and had stopped off to measure up for a new side panel for our pram hood. A template was made and the canvas samples looked at, the closest chosen. Hopefully we’ll have a new side within a couple of weeks. Much easier than me making a template from brown paper and sticking it in the post to Gary. Sean also showed us how they do the front panel of pram covers so that you can open your rear hatch fully. When Oleanna is repainted we’re thinking of gettng smart new covers too, if budget allows and being able to open the hatch more would be a bonus, something to think about.
Selby Basin
As I added a colour to my panto portals Mick pulled us forward to the water point to top up the water tank, next yellow water was dealt with. It was nearing midday and a breasted up pair had arrived ready to head to York. The ladies onboard the pair had hired someone to accompany them up to York to give them some confidence on their first tidal water. He certainly was knowledgable of moving a pair.
We shared the first locking down with NB Poppy, another couple doing their first tidal water, they’d hired a pilot to assist them too. We felt slightly left out it just being the two of us, Hey what about me! I’m an invaluble help. From your nest on the bed!
That sand bar gave us a little bump
Freya passed our centre line round a bollard to see us down, ‘whilst I’m in training it all has to be just so’ she said. The lock dropped, the gates opened and we waited for the go ahead from Freya, a gap in any passing debrise found. We opted to lead the way and out we came, dipping to the side as the flow caught us, then we straightened up and were zooming along with the flow again as if we’d not had a night in the basin.
NB Poppy’s owners first tidal water
Behind us NB Poppy turned out onto the river, the lock gates closed ready to be reset for the breasted up pair.
Mending Selby Toll Swing Bridge
Under the bridges and round the bend, the exciting bit of the trip over quite quickly. When we came to a longish straight I headed below to put lunch together for us, hoping I’d be back up top by the time we reached the first tight bend in the river.
On previous journeys there have been numerous Kingfishers, today not one to be seen, but how many Egrets? Or was it just the one flying off ahead and reappearing round the next bend.
Sheep and cows on the banks moo’d and baaa’d back at me when I said hello.
More tidal water! This is getting boring now!
Soon the push of the tide wained, it really didn’t feel like there was much push anymore, had we outrun the tide? Possible as we’d been let out as soon as we could bump our way over the silt build up outside the lock. It was quite odd compared to yesterday rushing along with little effort on Oleanna’s part.
It’s a hard life!
The bridge keeper at Cawood waved from his sunny seat outside his hut. As NB Poppy came into view the keeper popped into the hut, possibly to let Naburn know we’d just passed.
So low, the speed boats would have a job being launched today
Just where had all the wood gone? When we returned from our last visit to York the next stretch of the river was filled with trees, today there was the odd one, but nowhere near as much as there’d been then. Was it all behind us coming in on the tide? Or had the last lot of Spring tides swept it all out to sea?
Moreby Hall
At the 3km marker Mick radioed ahead to Naburn. A very garbled message came back, hmm what had Kenny just said? Well at least he knew we were nearly there.
Naburn Weir and a narrowboat coming towards us
As we rounded the last bend a narrowboat came into view heading towards us, maybe Kenny’d been telling us they were on the way. At the lock we were asked to pull as far ahead as possible, NB Poppy would come in behind us. He asked the crew behind us how far behind the breasted up pair were, ‘they’ll be miles behind’. Kenny opted to penn us up,we’d expected to wait for the others. Once we’d risen a foot a horn could be heard down on the river. Kenny got on the radio and was surprised to get a reply from them, they’d have to wait now.
Rising up
I chatted with Kenny about our reason for returning to York so soon. I also asked him if he had any eggs for sale, Kenny keeps hens, the cockeril will wake you in the morning. Sadly he’d sold the last of his eggs this morning, but there may be more tomorrow.
Once up we pulled over to the visitor mooring bagging the shadiest patch, oh that was nice and cool. What3words noted, then the doors could be opened for Tilly whilst Mick hung up the washing we’d done whilst on the river. Time to catch up with news on Frank and be his PA for a while. Mick had a towpath haircut. A chicken was jointed, most of it popped in the freezer, one lot made into chicken taglitelli which normally has peas in it, but today it was brocolli, not quite the same, tasty all the same.
That’s better!
2 locks, 14.1 miles, 1 load washing, 3 narrowboats, 1 butty, 2 pilots, 1 cat, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 9 egrets, 3 herons, 0 kingfishers, 2 hours shore leave, 4 messages, 1 crackly phone, 5 potential meals from 1 chicken, 1 plan formulated for our return.
