Category Archives: Birds

Between Bitterns And Beavers. 26th July

Retford and Worksop Boat Club

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.

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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

Waiting Day (1). 18th July

The Committee Said ‘Move Along’. 7th July

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

https://what3words.com/wing.eggplants.blazers

Windy Passage. 4th July

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1 flood lock, 2 locks, 1 left, 1 right, 13.3 miles, 1 wind, 2 much wind, 2 helpful CRT staff, 1 pouncing cat, 1 props list, 1 very blustery night.

Eggless. 19th June

Selby Basin to Naburn Visitor Moorings

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.

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!

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.

Behind us NB Poppy turned out onto the river, the lock gates closed ready to be reset for the breasted up pair.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

https://what3words.com/export.inversion.solid

3 Stamps? 16th June

Stubbs Bridge to Sykehouse Junction

Shore leave permitted for an hour whilst we had breakfast and got ourselves ready for the day. Our chosen route back to York had been because we wanted to top the diesel tank up before setting forth on the tidal river again, so a return to Goole was needed. Then we plan to head out through Ocean Lock and turn left heading up stream on the Ouse.

ABP operate Ocean Lock at Goole, you can pay to go through at a chosen time, but passage is possible for free at certain times of the tide, for us it’s 2.5 hours before high tide. The other day Mick had called to make a booking, the ABP keeper doesn’t give advice as to journey times, when to lock out as C&RT Lock Keepers do. My question to Mick, was there enough time with the tide to reach Naburn? He’d booked that lock the other day but the person who answered the phone didn’t have the knowledge to give advice, they could just book us in.

For reassuance he tried giving Naburn a call, just the answer phone. Maybe someone would be on duty at Selby Lock, there was. The keeper, checked a couple of things and said we should be fine. Mick asked if there would be anyone at Selby should we need to pull off the river, yes there would be someone on duty. However quarter of an hour later they called us back, saying if there were no bookings for the lock then no-one would be there.

A stoppage notice came through. Selby Swing Bridge has a fault and is closed to boat traffic, looks like we’d decided on a good route to avoid the closed bridge. But it also means there is even less likely to be a Lock Keeper on duty in Selby when we pass.

Just as we were about to push off Gary from All Seasons Covers rang about our pram cover. Sadly he didn’t have a template for our covers still, but I could possibly use the other side panel to see if they might have matched. Or he suggested as I was a creative person I’d be able to make a template, if I could find something large enough to use. With the wind being as it is round here this is unlikely to happen soon.

We pushed off, the sun shining down, should have put sun cream on but didn’t think about it until my arms felt a little bit hot! At Whitley Lock there was a volunteer on duty, Mick had the VHF radio on and had heard some conversation between a CRT boat and Off Roader at Pollington. A boat was coming up in Whitley Lock, a single hander who had closed the gates behind him and then was clinging onto his lines for dear life as his boat rose after the volunteer had set the sluices going. The lock fills from the lock island side, so where his boat was positioned the water was bouncing back off the wall where he was trying to hold his boat. If he’d got on his boat before the volunteer had pushed any buttons it would have all been so much easier.

The volunteer worked the lock for us along with a widebeam that had arrived whilst we were waiting. No mention that Off Roader was on its way.

A long sleeved top was now required to cover pink arms. I own a couple of nice linen shirts, but they have been packed away in a suitcase at the house for eleven years! As we reached the maintenance yard at Great Heck we could see the approach of a very heavily laiden Off Roader, sat much deeper in the water than I’ve seen her of late at Lemonroyd. We made sure we held back some to give her enough room to come past all the work boats. As it came towards us the wheel house rose up having just come under a bridge.

**Pollington Lock with it’s bottom gate open**

Would there be a Lockie at Pollington? No just a single hander who I rushed to assist saving him some effort by working the lock to bring them up. Down we went, the bywash below not quite as strong as it has been recently, but enough force to keep the body of a deer pinned to the bank, the second one we’d seen today.

**Not so green on this side of the canal**

I had planned on roasting half a squash and a big bag of carrots this morning, but only remembered now. The aim had been to do the cooking whilst the world was still cool then be able to cool the boat down before it got too hot. I peeled and chopped the veg and set the oven going. Opened every window, side hatch with mesh in it, trying to create enough breeze through the boat without aiding a cat to escape.

One boat moored by the reservoir at Sykehouse Junction, but no-one on the 2 day mooring. We pulled in and took up our preffered place, not too close to the aqueduct but on the T studs. Shore leave rules were recited and the doors left wide open for Tilly to enjoy the outside and the boat to hopefully cool down with a breeze blowing through. After about half an hour all the doors were closed as Tilly had returned with a friend! Itcs dwaed godod herere, she said with her mouth full!

The afternoon was spent doing colour samples for panto. Should the twisty bits be golden, cream, yellow, bright green or dark green? Should the background be a solid colour or sprayed out to the edges? Then what should the front cloth look like in comparison? Far too many decisions and too many colours on my samples to really make up my mind. I’d look again in the morning. I did however decide how I should paint the roses, an Art Nouveau style rather than a boaty roses and castles style.

**Every brush stroke will be blown up to 25 times bigger**

Over lunch we decided to change our cruise up to York. Going all the way from Goole to Naburn is possible, but it’s a long time to be stood at the back of your boat, but would we be able to change our lock bookings? Mick tried calling Selby and left a message. You need to give them 48 hours notice, this was only 46. He then rang Naburn to change our booking to the following day, left a message there too. Kenny called back within the hour, booking changed. We still needed to hear back from Selby though.

It was hot out there, so when Tilly returned with still twenty minutes of shore leave to go we opted to close the doors and keep her in, dingding time a touch early today, at least the wet food would help to hydrate her. But I hadn’t finished, I had buisness to attend to! Don’t you know this is a three stamp of approval outside!! She wasn’t happy, but thankfully she soon fell asleep exhausted.

2 locks, 8.2 miles, 1 right, 2 outsides, 1 heavily loaded Off Roader, 1 very sunny day, 2 pink arms, 1 designer who can’t make her mind up 2 many colours, 7 pink roses, 1 air brush required, 1 cuckoo, 24 yellow hammers, 4 hours shore leave, 1 booking moved, 1 to make, 1 friend at least, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approvel, that’s the third one, it’s an award winning mooring!

https://what3words.com/idealist.purist.typed

Round To Fred’s. 13th June

Granary Wharf, Leeds

Should we move or should we stay? Was the question over our cuppa in bed this morning. At 9am Office Lock would be unlocked to enable passage up the locks out of Leeds. Above the lock is a water point, a top up would be welcome but not necessary. But if we stayed above the lock this evening we might have a quieter night than being by the bars and restaurants in the basin. We thought about it, we’d risk staying put.

At 9am a hire boat returning to base and another boat headed into Office Lock, later in the morning another boat would head up too, only one came down that had been moored above for the last few days.

Mick had heard from the roofer, he’d be at the house this afternoon to sort the random tile/flashing on the rear roof. Mick also wanted him to remove quite a lot of rubble that had ended up in the gutters at the front of the house so he decided to head over to make sure things happened this time. A risk we were aware, as the roofer still might not turn up on a sunny Friday when he could be playing golf!

With the drawing board back out I worked my way through the working drawings for panto. Amending where needed and redrawing the occasional pieces of scenery. It didn’t take that long.

Time to start thinking about colours. The best way to do this was by putting colours together, so I headed off to visit Fred Aldous the art shop. In the basement there were papers to choose from, paints, inks, canvases, all sorts an Aladdin’s cave, I like it here.

I’d originally thought of painting panto in chrome greens and golds, very Art Nouveau, but that would be far too tasteful. Pulling sheets of coloured card out from the racks and putting them together helped, I made quite a bold choice. I’d like to darken off around the edges, how much for a can of turquoise spray paint? £10 eek! It would be good stuff, but expensive for a very big can I’d only need a few wafts from. I’ll see if I can find a suitable colour elsewhere.

On my way back to the boat I called in at M&S to exchange my purchase from earlier in the week, I’ve now measured myself so hopefully this time the bras will fit. Another look at jeans, still none in the appropriate size!

Back at Oleanna Mick had returned. He’d arrived at the house 10 minutes after the roofer had left! We both checked the webcam, they’d done something at the back of the house for three minutes. Was that long enough? A new piece of lead had been added. Will this do the job? Mick adjusted the webcam so we can see what happens the next time it rains. The gutters had been cleared out, well most of them, one that affects next door they couldn’t reach, here’s hoping the window cleaner will be more successful when he next visits.

**The wonderful roof of Kirkgate Market**

Should we move off now? I still had plans to scan a job that wouldn’t take long, but needed doing. We opted to remain in Leeds for the night. Gradually the ambience around us got louder, but thankfully the bar we were closest to wasn’t too noisy. It being a Friday night we expected things to carry on past 11pm, but all music stopped before 11 and soon the masses of people drifted off leaving the basin to the swans, boats and the trains coming and going at the station.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 boat staying put, 1 last trip to Scarborough? 3 minutes roof time, 2 hours by the coast, 1 new batch of guests on the hotel boat, 3 boats up, 1 down, 1 new one in the basin, 11 sheets of drawings updated, 7 scans, 2.35 miles, 26 brisk minutes, 1 bright turquoise, similar to that at the house, 4mm pink beads, A4 gold, 1 designer wondering if she has a manual airbrush in her kit? 200th toe cast on.

Guarding The Box. 9th June

Granary Wharf, Scarborough and Chipping Norton

A silly timed alarm clock for us onboard today. I was up breakfasted, butty made and on my way into the station at 7am, Mick stayed in bed, Tilly stayed curled up. Today I would be heading to Chipping Norton for the white card model meetng for Panto. Mick would be heading to Scarborough to do things he’d forgotten to do with a pint of milk and a key. Tilly would be snoozing a lot, but looking after the boat, a very important job.

First train took me to Doncaster, I had two seats to myself, so one for me the other for the model box which had only just squeezed into an Ikea bag yesterday for ease of carrying. Next train was from an adjacent platform, this would take me to Birmingham New Street, I had several tickets to cover me for this part of the journey which meant changing reserved seats. Instead I opted to pop the model box on the top of the luggage rack and sit opposite it on an available seat so that I could keep a close eye on it.

Next was a change at New Street and a wait, glad not to be rushing to change trains. The train would get me to Banbury, but my split ticketing (to save at least £100) had me moving seats several times. Blimey the train was chocka! Could I be bothered in fighting to reach my first reserved seat and then hope I wouldn’t have to move for someone else? The answer was no, instead an hour of standing protecting the model box as bets I could, moving out of the way for doors opening. I’m so glad I don’t have to do this as often as I used to when I lived in London, and the models then tended to be far bigger.

Hello Banbury, no aroma today! The familiarly coloured roof of John’s car/truck came into view, I had a lift rather than catching the bus out to Chippy. Time to catch up on lots of stuff during the drive, who had left the theatre since I was last there and who was new.

**All set up in order and ready to show the model**

We set ourselves up on the stage, all black tabs (curtains) and lots of speakers about the place. A table, angle poise, note books, laptop, everything to hand apart from a cuppa. The two of us were straight into working our way through the show with the model. A useful time. Should that move there, or here? The next scene change would be harder if we did that. How to transition between this and that, a few bits of writing required, it’s handy the director also being the writer.

A sheet of notes for me to address once home, one scene just nudged about a touch and a bit of model adjusting required for it, but generally all was good. We had eight minutes left before others would join us, time to finally make a cuppa and grab a few bites of chicken sandwich before we started.

**Not so neat and tidy after going through it twice**

Paul joined us (Technical and Facilities Manager) and a new lady who I think works in develepment and fundraising. Gemma (Production Manager) joined via zoom, sadly she’d not been able to join us in person. We worked through the model in a more practical way as John and I’d already done the arty bits. An hour and a bit later we’d got through the show, no indictation on how we were in regards to the budget though. Some chat about trying to get ahead more this year. Last year this had had to happen as their designer wasn’t hands on like me. So we need to find a balance between the two, enough to keep me occupied and far enough ahead to reduce hours during rehearsals.

Time to head back to Leeds. I had several possible trains I could get with my tickets and luckily Paul and his wife Helen gave me a lift back to Banbury so I managed to avoid the bus again.

Unfortunatly there had been a tree fall on the line which had held my train up by half an hour. On the southbound platform it was worse as there was a trespasser on the line further south, so all trains were being held at stations until the line was clear.

Time to go into guarding mode again, the train packed with people trying to get somewhere, anywhere. I stood in the vestibule, but thankfully after a couple of stops I spotted a spare seat. Time to sit with the model on my knee. Another change in Birmingham, another busy train, my journey now an hour later than planned, another seat with the model on my knee. Thankfully at Sheffield the train thinned out and I got the seat next to me for the model box, no need to watch everyone going past anymore. Finally I could get my knitting out and do a few rows, toe 199 coming along nicely.

Arriving back in Leeds just gone 9pm I was glad all I had to do was walk down to the South Entrance and back to the boat, only 2 minutes of brisk walking done today. Mick had been warned of my lateness, so he’d bought in pies and baked some potatoes, all accompanied by a much needed glass of wine.

Mick had traveled to Scarborough by the Coastliner from Leeds, so his bus pass came in handy, swapping buses in York meant he got a comfort break too. He did the few things at the house that were needed and tip toed around avoiding getting anything dirty. Then had caught a train back to Leeds using up a spare ticket he still had.

Tilly, what had she done? Well she’d watched the local swans swimming about showing off their cygnets and had a good old snooze for much of the day. It’s a hard life!

0 locks, 0 miles, 6 trains, 2 buses, 2 lifts, 5:50 alarm, 1 full on solid day, 3 bite lunch break, 1 warm welcome back to Chippy, A4 sheet of notes, 0 major, -1 pint milk, 1 shed door locked, 2.23 miles walked, 2 minutes briskly! 3 cygnets.

Lock Stuff. 29th, 30th, 31st May

Aire and Calder Navigation

Thursday I spent working on the storyboard for Panto again. Editing out options, adding in the basic set to all the drawings and working on the one scene that’s still not quite right took most of the day.

**The Christmas present felt catnip balls have been requested recently**

I walked down one side of the river passing one bridge and crossing the next, opting to take the path inside RSPB St Aidens. The path occasionally gives you a view across the lakes that once were an open cast mine, the river lurks behind many trees on the other side.

Soon I came across what looked very much like a disused lock. A gate recess first giving it away, then curved walls at what had been the entrance to the lock. A mooring bollard and a couple of now bent lock ladders peeked out from the earth that now fills the chamber. I checked Waterway Routes, locations of old locks are marked and we quite often try to imagine what places would have been like.

In 1988 the river bank near the Lemonroyd Lock collapsed into St Aiden’s open cast mine which then of course flooded, lower seams of coal that had been mined collapsed in too, to a depth of 230 ft! An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1992 to create a new 1.9 mile waterway. Kipax and Lemonroyd Locks were replaced with one big lock, the new Lemonroyd Lock. It took ten years before mining could continue at St Aiden’s after the site had been pumped out. The coal reserves are now exhausted and the land is once again flooded and is an RSPB reserve covering 740 acres.

I tried to find where the top gates had been, but had no luck as the land levels out and covers any evidence.

Friday. I forwarded the new storyboard to John at Chippy. There had been a staff read through of the latest draft during the week, footage posted on social media, my storyboard sat in the middle of the table. Time to crack on with the model, lots of propy set pieces this year, so my bead tray is coming in handy. I spent much of the day inventing things panto style.

Late afternoon a familiar voice saying Hello could be heard, Mick had returned from Scarborough having picked up a hire car. Well it was meant to have been a van, £20 a day rather than £60 for a car, but the only van they had was a transit which would be an inch taller than the car park Mick would be heading to in the morning, so he got an upgrade to a car. An evening off work for me and a vat of Yaxni made, which will last us for a couple of meals.

Saturday. A very early start for Mick, off the boat by 6am. He was heading to park in the centre of Liverpool and to then meet up with Marion and John for a trip on the Waverley out to Angelsey and back. A van, petrol and parking were far cheaper than a hotel for the night. If you are lucky he might come along and tell you about his voyage. If I’m lucky I might be able to upload a photo from the trip, but the internet here seems to be getting worse!

There was one egg left that needed eating so the start of my working day was delayed by some blueberry pancakes, well Mick was going off for a treat so I could have one too! Then Tilly and I got on with what is now just a normal day for us. She sites on the roof hatch whilst I work. Then she gets ushered indoors for me to go out for a walk, just around the block today including a trip to the bins. Just gone 11pm, I’d just tidied upmy work when Mick stepped onboard, he’d had a good day if a bit breezy and I’d managed to finish of the model for Act 1.

0 locks, 0 miles by narrowboat, 1 Paddle Steamer to Angelsey and back, 1 car not van, 3 days model making, 1 storyboard finished and sent, 1 gafforing read through, 1 Queen of Oleanna, I wonder if we could trust Tilly to lie on her bed as we cruise? Nope, she’d be off hunting as soon as the oportunity arrived!

A Touch Wet Under Paw. 26th to 28th May

Aire and Calder Navigation

A refill of the water tank, we’d been using the washing machine and had had to top up on the electric too. A shower for me whilst the tank filled so that I’d not need to head to the water point this week. Then just as we were untying to leave it decided to rain, not much thankfully. Sarah waved as we pulled out and turned back towards the canal, maybe next time we meet we’ll be able to have a longer chin wag.

We pulled into the first available gap alongside the road that leads to the marina and awaited a supermarket delivery. Stocks were quite low and the wine cellar under the back steps nearly empty! With everything stowed we pulled away again and went to find a view for this week, away from badger holes. Mick added a spring line and we hoped that our chains would be strong enough should Off Roader come past heavily loaded.

Time for Tilly to stretch her legs again on the towpath after being cooped up for a few days. With boat chores done Mick packed his bag and headed off to catch a bus into Leeds and then the train back to Scarborough. The roofers are returning to the house to tidy up, Mick thinks he’s found a probelm on a different bit of the roof! Time to get the house ready for our next lodgers.

Late evening I recieved an email from John, he’d spent all of Bank Holiday Monday working on the script for panto. There were new ideas he wanted to pass on, one that should give us a wonderful end to Act 1. Time to amend the current storyboard.

A walk before the rain was due. I’ve changed the shoes I’m wearing to walk in to see if that might help with my calf. So far it is better, but it’s not a miraculous recovery. On the other side of the River Aire is the site of some open cast mining, now St Aidans Nature Reserve. Numerous lakes and reedbeds were busy with so many birds it was almost deafening as I strode my way through a central path.

Great Crested Grebe, numerous geese and Tufted ducks, a lapwing who was camera shy and then this duck. The size of a female Mallard but with far superior plumage. Could it have been a Gadwall?

As I walked back to the boat I could hear that something big was on the canal. Off Roader had just come up Lemonroyd Lock. Would our chains hold as it went past deep in the water. Thankfully it didn’t get up to full speed as the canal was also being used by rowers, so Oleanna just bobbed about a touch, the ribs with the rowers causing more wash than the multi tonned barge!

**New treads and flying bar supports and a spruced up prosc**

Back at Oleanna I edited the storyboard for panto and emailed it to John, hoping this version would have a better responce. The answer came back from an initial look, he was all smiley, thank goodness! He’d be in touch tomorrow after spending some time with it. Phew! I pulled the model box out of my clothes cupboard. It’s been used a few times since I last had it and was showing it’s age. I deceided to give it a make over, and new rests for the flying bars, whilst I waited for Johns verdict.

Tilly spent much of the afternoon avoiding getting her paws wet as the rain set it. She has taken to sitting on the stern hatch, so her bed was moved out there a week or so ago. Today it made for a very good DRY vantage point to watch the ducks and swans whilst listening to the rain.

6:30am we bumped the side, Off Roader was on it’s way towards us. I peeked out of the front curtains, there it was some distance away. But more worryingly there was a deer in the cut! Oh blimey! Could I mount a rescue mission? It swam away from Oleanna trying to find somewhere to get out. I thought of various ways I might be able to help, the highish bank wouldn’t help, should I end up in the canal too that would not be a good thing as other than Off Roader there was nobody about. I so hope it managed to swim up stream where the bank is lower and doesn’t have piling.

Tilly has now worn this outside out, she’s used it all up so she says. Sitting in her viewing area wasn’t even enjoyable today. I walked round the block taking the rubbish to the bins at the marina. Plenty of Recycling and General Waste bins, then two wheelie bins with no lables on them. I assumed one would be for glass, correct assumption. The other for food waste, well nobody else seemed to have made that assumption had they!

Back at Oleanna I returned to a great email from John. Just one scene to rework and his choices on options I’d given him for other scenes. I now just need to finish off the storyboard to make it pretty and get cracking with the white card model and sketch working drawings before a meeting that is looming. I decided to treat myself to getting the basic set made for the model with an outline design drawn onto it. By 10:30pm I’d achieved my goal for the day. By 10:30 I’d given up hoping for a lap to sit on! Come back Tom I need someone to pay me some attention! I would just like to point out that I am not ignoring Tilly and I’m more than happy to play the fishing rod game at bedtime. Too right, if that stopped I’d be looking for somewhere else to live!

0 locks, 0.5 miles, 1 full water tank, 0 response from Aquavista still, 1 wind, 1 left, 2 moorings, 1 empty wee tank, 4 boxes wine, 1 full fridge, 2 sausage days, 1 world wet under paw, 8.57 miles walked, 130 minutes briskly, 1 Frank PA phone call, 1 viewing position, 1 edging restuck, 1 actor squeezed in, 2nd WIP storyboard, 1 big thumbs up, 1 scene to amend, 2 portals, 1 front cloth, 1 cyc, 1 improved modelbox, 1 theatre designer needing some new things to listen to.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna