Tilly would do a lot of sleeping and wondering when her next meal would arrive, whilst Mick and I climbed onto to trains to head in different directions.
Sheffield Station approach
My train took me to Sheffield where I caught a bus to Chatsworth House, a very beautiful journey through serious countryside that I’ve done once before. I opted to stay on the bus to Bakewell where I had time to inhale Bakewell Puddings and Tarts that tourists were queuing up to purchase. Another bus got me to Rowley where I diced with death crossing the road to the Level Centre.
An art installation at Level Centre that you could add to
Here I was joining a group of people, actors, a composer, director, writer and several producers all associated with Separate Doors. A lovely welcome from the staff, a pack up lunch, then we all gathered to discuss how to promote integrated theatre for general audiences. We had tasks, we had discussions, we learnt a song with sign language.
Riber Castle high up on the hill
We retired to the Premier Inn in Matlock. I took advantage of an hour’s break to go walking. Along a ridge behind the hotel, down into the valley and back along the River Derwent, managing to expand my 2 minutes brisk walking into 40. Back just in time to walk with everyone back into Matlock for food at Ostello Lounge which had the biggest gluten free menu. Lots of good company and conversation about our favourite crisp flavours.
Not Auntie Gill
Meanwhile Mick got a train heading northwards, joining two of his sisters, Kath and Christine. Alighting at North Ferriby they joined Anne and Alasdair, Marion and John. All siblings in one place to mark the passing of the last member of the generation above them, the wonderful Auntie Gill.
Auntie Gill
Mick here. My auntie, Gill Chignell, was married to my mother’s brother, Uncle Henry. All my four siblings have extremely fond memories of Auntie Gill. Many of our family summer holidays were spent with the Chignell family, their four children and us five made up a great party and many happy summers were spent with our cousins. They had a caravan and we would rent a holiday home somewhere, often on the South Coast. Good times. I am still in good contact with most of them.
My four sisters and I all made the trip to Ferriby in East Yorkshire and although it was a funeral it was great to see everyone and have a good chat. It wasn’t really a sad event: Gill has been suffering from dementia for a number of years and in a care home for 5 years. She was 94 when she died. In many ways it was a relief.
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 buses, 3 trains, 1 lazy cat, 1 symposium, 5.84 miles walked, 56 minutes briskly, 1st burger of the year, 5 siblings, 1 celebration, only 1 Aunty Gill.
This outside was still rubbish this morning, especially when two she’s and their woofers stopped to chat right outside our bedroom window, and we’d all managed to sleep after 6am today too!
We pushed off at just gone 11am, another day of not moving very far. Just before the railway bridge below Long Sandall Lock there is a pontoon being put together for works on the flood banks. Here a red dinghy sat tied to the pontoon which has legs to hold it in place, another green and red boat semi submerged to one side. Had this been submerged on purpose so it wouldn’t be stolen, or has it sunk? hence all the booms round it. Not much was happening, maybe it was tea break time.
Approaching Long Sandall Lock
Long Sandall Lock was full, the big locks round here automatically fill themselves after a time. Once I’d hopped off Mick reversed Oleanna away, it can get quite busy below the lock as it empties. Key of power in the panel I pressed the open sluice button then the gates once the water was level.
Up she rose, pulling in above to top up on water. A narrowboat pulled in at the visitor moorings opposite, did this mean there might be an Oleanna sized mooring available in Doncaster? We hoped so. Onwards saying hello to a chap on a cruisier moored in a decidedly odd place where lots of fly tipping seems to happen. Each to their own!
Approaching Strawberry Island
Passing Strawberry Island Cruising Club we looked out for a bright blue boat NB That’s It, we couldn’t spot it or guess who else would be joining the Fund Britain’s Waterways Cruise on the Trent. With our fingers crossed we approached the moorings, Doncaster Minster standing out from the rest of the city. Two boats on the pontoon, plenty of space for us, Phew!
Not here! Dullcaster. No point in getting excited here!!
A good selection
Lunch then a walk around town. Mick headed to Sainsburys for a new kettle, the old one tends to pour a little too wide! I headed to find Boyes which has moved from its old store into FrenchGate. Have to say I was impressed a really good range of items. I was after a couple of long handled mini rollers for mooring purposes, so that I could reclaim my painty one. I had a choice of handle length, I chose the longest not bad for £1.60. A mattress protector was also found for our new mattress. I also had a good look round.
Such a shame the ground floor is completely empty
Today I’d not managed to walk any towpath as much of it that exists was closed so I’d have to make up for it around town. I walked up to see Danum House which I’ve walked past before, but never noticed it’s Art Deco shape above street level.
Cast
I paused at the bench outside Cast Theatre where during one production week I’d waited to hear about the written survey on NB Lillyanne and if we needed to adjust our offer on her. All had been good.
A new cinema and the libaray looked interesting with an extensive collection of railway lanterns on one wall and a sculpture of a pilgrim from the Mayflower, her dress decorated with macrame.
What did it used to be Sam?
I walked round in what I thought was circles. Turned one corner to come face to face with the rather lovely looking tower that you can see from the navigation. Sam from NB Red Wharf once told us what this had been in the past. Now it has been converted into housing a rather bog standard extension to the rear. So I was a little bit disappointed at it close to.
I like all the parking signs on top of the painting
However across the road was a rather good mural, a little American in its content, but still rather good.
Twice around the closed market before walking past the deli. I managed to stay outside and only allowed myself a quick peek in through the windows. That cheese counter looked so inviting! But it’s contents need to stay put and not make it onto Oleanna.
They went to sea in a sieve
Forty minutes achieved I headed back through the bus station to the moorings. The building next door to the CRT area is being redeveloped. Holes are being dug, large piles of aggregate sit alongside diggers. They were still quite busy at 6pm, being noisy. Hope they go home soon.
Redeveloping
1 lock, 4.2 miles, 1 full water tank, 2 roller handles, 1 protector, 1 kettle, 4.06 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 1 bored cat.
Site of Smallhedge Swing Bridge to before St Oswalds, Kirk Sandall, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigations
On the day we were loading the van in Scarborough we heard the first Woodpecker giving itself a headache. Back in the house this signalled the start of Spring to us. This morning from somewhere in the hedgerow we got to hear our first ChiffChaff of the year. Here on the boat this signals the start of Spring. Just a shame the sun didn’t make an appearance!
Tilly was given shore leave whilst we had mushrooms and poached egg on toast for breakfast. A full cooked breakfast will be a very rare treat for us this year. Sausages and bacon to be kept at arms length, although I have purchased some chicken cumberland sausages which are sitting in the freezer. Not tried these yet, so we’ll see.
Our nearest neighbours
The Geraghty zoom is still going strong five years a week or so since we started it at the beginning of the pandemic. All five siblings were present today, nieces and nephews are too busy doing other things, but we do get updates regarding grandchildren and trips abroad that they make. Todays topics included, Grandma put downs (social services not required!), Revenue Control officers, Richard II and distant relatives, and lifts this coming week.
Tilly came home part way through the zoom with a friend expecting to be let in through the side hatch, this of course was not granted. Herfjoke newieds a secihgond stabmlihymp of apprbjbjgchoval She said something but no-one knew what she was saying as her mouth was full!
The new Rugid tablet, waterproof and able to show both Waterway Routes and Victron VRM which shows battery, solar etc statuses.
Another day of not going too far, we pushed off, I caught a ride to the first lift bridge, otherwise it would have been a very long way round walking back to the lock to get on the official towpath side. I hopped off at the bridge landing and waited to cross the road, cars zoomed past and over the bridge, all far to quick for my liking.
Lifting
Key of power in the control panel. I listened hard, let a few cars cross the bridge before I couldn’t hear anymore. Turned the key and pressed the lift button. The lights flashed and the barriers were just starting to come down when I heard a car zipping along out of view, no obvious slowing down, just more acceleration! I took my finger off the button and stopped the barriers just above where contact would be made, What a Prat! As he sped off I was able to continue pressing the button and lift the bridge.
Don Doors open
Two more bridges along the New Junction, I walked between them. One a lift bridge the other a swing, vehicles obliged and stopped. I then got back on board for us to go under the Don Doors crossing the River Don.
Looking back to Bramwith Junction
Bramwith Junction, one of our favourite moorings around here was occupied, the narrowboat taking advantage of views to both sides of the canal and a clear sky to top up on solar. We weren’t going to stop here today, instead we carried straight on to Barnby Dun, pulling in at the services. The offcuts of cardboard box were put in the bin then we were ready to continue on our way.
Waiting for a gap in traffic at Barnby Dun takes some patience as it’s such a busy road. It took a while for no vehicles to be in view, I turned the key and pressed the button. The driver of the first car to pull up on my side of the bridge sat and stared straight at me, as if that would make me stop the process and let them through!
Instructions
I now elected to walk to where we planned on mooring, just short of Kirk Sandall. All the chilled medication vans have gone from the house by the bridge, now there is a Morris 1000 and a selection of other cars. I caught Mick up as he was stepping off Oleanna hoping to tie up. Not quite into the side at the bow, we wondered if we’d bash whatever it was under the water. We needn’t have been concerned as today we didn’t see one boat moving.
Tilly was given the rules and some extra guidance, beware of the bicycles and woofers. I kept my eyes peeled and there they were bicycles, TWO of them. I ran away and gave up on this outside after two minutes! No point in even asking to go out until they’ve moved it again.
Lunch followed by a need to top up my walking for the day. Our mooring was right next to a footpath that runs into the woods and up to The Glass Park. Years ago we walked some of the paths round here, but I don’t think we got up to the playing field as I did today. Up ahead of us on the canal used to be Pilkington Glass, Pilks to the locals, the pipe bridge still exists. There is a rather good blog post here, hopefully I’ll get chance to read it fully and more about Doncaster in the next few days.
I like the figures on the top
I walked through the park and down past the station, turning onto Pilkington Road to head back to the canal. A new housing estate that has grown up around St Oswald’s Church, Kirk Sandall is called Silica Court. The church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust and is rarely open, we however managed a visit years ago, so if you are interested here’s a link to the post from that day. The rather wonderful old barn has been converted into living accommodation, so the church no longer stands by itself.
With 60 minutes brisk walking under my belt I decided that not reaching 10,000 steps today didn’t matter. The last few items were stowed away on board. Coats, hats, gloves, drill sander put under the dinette seats. There was now room to breath. Time to sort out the mess I’d made on my latest pair of socks last night as I fell asleep in front of the TV mid row, my fingers continuing to knit without guidance!
0 locks, 4.7 miles, 4 bridges, 19 held up, 1 straight on, 2 outsides, 1 really really good, the other 1 pants, 3.86miles walked, 60 minutes briskly, 1 sock sorted, 1 van load of stuff fully stowed.
Sykehouse Junction to the Site of Smallhedge Swing Bridge
An early alarm, well we were both awake before it went off. Tea in bed and hopefully awake enough to have a telephone consultation with a GP anytime between 07:30 and 09:30. My phone rang from a Hull phone number at 08:20. This year I seem to have been giving the NHS a lot of my blood and this was a follow up appointment to discus the latest results. The previous results had prompted questions about iron levels and was there any history of iron overload in my family! Thankfully today various levels had returned to normal so I must have had what they call a ‘sub-clinical infection’. I had the choice of another blood test in 2 weeks or 8 weeks to check on one enzyme that was still a bit wonky. I was praised on my walking and loosing of weight and to keep it up. He also said he could only tell me with certainty what I didn’t have. Have to say this GP was good, it didn’t feel like he was in a rush and was happy for me to ask questions.
Coming over the Went Aqueduct
My biggest worry had been that if I did have iron overload then the usual treatment involves donating blood. If you normally donate blood I believe you can only do this around every three months, well this treatment would have involved giving blood at least once a fortnight, maybe once a week! So I’m very relieved that I don’t need to cruise with a vampire close to hand! Reading back on the notes the GP made, I have been noted as living on a longboat, therefore we are Vikings!
Tilly was allowed morning shore leave. It’s amazing how different she is on the boat compared to the house. When she came in she requested this mooring should be given a stamp of approval, friends had been found.
Only a short distance to cruise today. I opted to walk to operate the bridges whilst Mick brought Oleanna behind, got to keep walking to fend off the need for vampires!
Lift!
The first bridge is a lift bridge, only one vehicle held up. The second a swing bridge, another car and a cyclist held up here. I’d already spotted that the light at the lock was on red not amber, there was a lock keeper on duty, so once Oleanna was through the bridge I hopped back on board.
Two down and one to go up
The traffic light was now showing red and green, the lock was being prepared for us. On closer inspection it also contained two downhill boats. We trod water waiting for the red light to go out leaving just green. Today the Lockie had a helper. He took our rope wrapped it round a bollard three times and then couldn’t take up the slack. Once this was sorted he then passed the rope around a railing by the car park, totally unnecessary but it made him feel useful.
Very helpful if not so good with ropes
The Lockie checked which way we’d be going and if we knew about certain stoppages. There’s a pontoon near Long Sandal Lock which is being used whilst the flood defences are being worked on, then at Eastward Lock up towards Sheffield there is an electrical problem. Neither of these would affect us, we also mentioned the stoppage at Thorne Lock, he didn’t know about that one.
There’s just so much to do here
Up the lock and on to where we’ve moored before, just short of where there used to be another swing bridge. My long handled mini roller pole came in handy for passing chains round the bar on the armco, saving getting soggy knees. Once tied up Tilly the thug was let loose. The bank down from the canal is an ideal friendly spot. She was kept busy for much of the afternoon.
It’s High Street is 8 miles long!
Thankfully I managed to find a gap in weather for a walk to top up my minutes and steps. Back to the lock, over the bridge and on through fields to Sykehouse village. Here I came across a campsite at the back of the pub, tried to have a look in the church but the door was locked, checked the village sign and in all only walked about 100 yards of the longest village in Yorkshire before returning to the canal on a different footpath.
It may be deep and wide, but you still leave a wake
As I’d set out there had been a dutch barge approaching the low side of the lock, on my return I could hear gates or the bridge being closed. it had taken them around half an hour if not more to get through the lock. I crossed over the bridge and walked back to Oleanna only just being overtaken by the none slowing down barge before I got back. I think the chap needs a touch more practice at the wheel to save his crew from having to stand around waiting for twenty minutes to be picked up.
Inside Oleanna the big box needed getting rid of. It was useful for transporting another box, but really it was far FAR too big for it’s purpose, it would be handy to have a more suitably sized box. I spent the next hour tailoring it for both it’s contents and the space I could allow it. Job done it fitted snuggly in my clothes cupboard.
So what’s in the box? I might leave that for another time.
Suet crust with chicken, leek and mushrooms
This evening we celebrated my good appointment with the GP by blowing my new diet and having homemade Teviot chicken and leek pies. The pastry crust made with gluten free vegetable suit. I’m going to have to do a lot of walking to work that one off!
1 lock, 1.7 miles, 3 bridges, 2 cars held up, 1 cyclist held up, 2 outsides, 1 cat grounded to save the wild life, 0 vampires, 1 box reduction for another box, 4.65 miles walked, 75 minutes brisky, 2 Mrs Tilly stamps of approval, 2 indulgent pies.
Viking Marina to Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal
Maybe someone goes to work early, moving their car from beside our mooring, maybe it’s because Mother Nature is waking up extra early, maybe the docks were being that bit noisier, or maybe I’d just had enough sleep by 6am.
This morning I wanted to get quite a bit done, mostly to do with the aim of emptying the water tank. The immersion was switched on after boiling the kettle, cuppa enjoyed in bed with Tilly keeping my toes warm. Stretches done in front of the sofa and stove, almost enough room! Immersion turned off, shoes stowed in the shoe cupboard, boat hoovered through. Immersion back on.
On the sunny side
A shower, dishwasher loaded and turned on. Ahh but I’d forgotten to make myself a cuppa to go with breakfast! It’s not recommended to have the electric kettle on at the same time as the dishwasher. Yes I could have boiled the water the old fashioned way on the hob, but I couldn’t be bothered.
Mick had finished jobs at the house, he’d returned the van and was on his way back on the train. ETA 11am. I was running out of time to do all I’d wanted to tick off this morning. I managed to get half the floor washed before Mick arrived wanting to be let in the gate. As I finished with the mop the kitchen tap was turned on to drain what was left in the tank.
On Mick’s last visit to Oleanna, he’d started the process of disinfecting the water tank. We don’t normally do this, but as the water had been left for five months we felt it best. The water currently in the tank still had traces of the disinfectant, we’ve been using water from the outside tap for drinking and cooking since we arrived. Once the tank was empty we set the hose filling it up again and headed over to the office to hand back in our fob for the gate and say goodbye.
We enquired if ABP still did a booklet of tide times. Now that it’s all available on line they sadly don’t. Mick had wanted a paper copy at hand as we’ll be on tidal waters quite a bit this year, but he’ll happily make do with them online.
Goodbyes said, the last rubbish disposed of we were finally ready for the off. It being Red Nose Day, Oleanna’s faded nose was attached to the bow fender.
The switch on the Nebolink went on, we’ve still not fitted a voltage sensitive switch. A plan of action was made to extricate ourselves from the mooring. Reverse back to the big boats behind, then with blasts from the bow thruster bring the bow round past the other boats, hoping the wind would then catch the bow to help rather than hinder our manoeuvres. Job done we were facing the right direction.
Mick gave a blast of Oleanna’s horns just as we peeked out onto the canal. Two tones, red lipstick and red nose, if anyone had been there to witness it she’d have turned heads!
Goodbye Goole, Thank you again
The visitor moorings were full, a boat headed towards us. Sadly a grey overcast day, so not as picturesque as when we’d pulled away a couple of years ago, heading into the sunset. Yet it was good to be on the move again.
The little hut like boat seems to have made themselves at home, possibly pruning the trees on their mooring. Someone at the visitor moorings at Rawcliffe Bridge has added a 1 to the 2 day mooring sign. Our first update for Waterway Routes.
Quite a hazy day. The water getting choppier by the minute
A boat headed towards us from the other side of the M18 bridge. My new camera being tested out with it’s zoom. Wearing my reactive glasses outside, does mean it’s hard to actually see what’s on the screen of both my phone and camera. The phone I can adjust the brightness of the screen, I’ll have to see if I can do the same to the camera.
The log house looked to be in the same stage of completion as it was five months ago. It looks as though people are living there now and a big wave came from inside. Lots more Alpacas in the fields than I remembered.
Not sure what that look was for
Round the bend at the breach site. The breach here happened just before Christmas in 2020 and took until August or September to be open again. The breach on the Bridgewater is far bigger and could well take years before any boat traffic can navigate on the embankment again.
New Bridge Buoys
Five months ago CRT had started work on bank repairs on the Aire and Calder. This is where when the breach happened the piling along the sides of the canal started to cave in in places due to the lack of water helping to keep it upright. Buoys have marked the areas for years. A small section by New Bridge has had piling added to it to aid the original piling to stay upright, this means the bank isn’t flat, so buoys mark the pieces jutting out.
New animal escape ramps by new inviting piling
But after the first true bend in the canal there is a length that has had new piling and an animal escape ram added. The piling round here is chunky stuff, chains required to moor to it. We considered pulling in to see if this would make a good mooring, but then spotted signs asking not to walk on the bank whilst the grass establishes itself. Maybe we’ll try later in the year.
It doesn’t look as secure as windsurfing does
Someone was zooming along the reservoir with an inflatable sail. Not sure what this sport is called as it’s not windsurfing. We’d spotted WB Yorkshire Pud up ahead, a boat we look out for and usually see somewhere around here. Time to turn towards the south for us onto the New Junction Canal. No-one was moored on the posts so we pulled in and tied up.
Hurry UP!!!!
Tilly quickly got herself out from her hiding hole on the bed. Jumped onto the Houdini shelf to check the outside. STOP Phaffing! Let me out!!!! Don’t you know I’ve been waiting 10 tails, three paws and an ear for this moment!
But first things first, she’s never allowed straight out of the boat. We have to make a note of our location, using What3words and grid reference. Then the rules were recited, not that she was listening! Then and only then the doors were opened for our second mate to head off to explore. Time for a late lunch for us.
There she is by Went Aqueduct
I’d hoped to get my walk in this morning before leaving Goole, but had run out of time. So instead I walked along the New Junction, swapping sides at the next two bridges and walked up to Sykehouse Lock. Waterway Routes has different colours for towpaths. Red is cyclable, purple walkable, dashed purple is walkable where there is no towpath. I did all three. Well I can add to this that brisk walking is fine on red paths, not so good on purple as it has the potential for ankle twisting, better to walk at a slower speed. My challenge this year is going to be keeping up my brisk walking, at least 40 minutes a day, I may have to venture off the canal to achieve this and there may be days on rivers that it is impossible, but we’ll see.
Back at Oleanna a chicken was popped in the oven to celebrate being back out on the cut and to make use of the freshly cleaned oven! We had the same chap as last year back to give it a good clean as neither of us fancy getting on our hands and knees.
There’s a good view in both directions from here.
Tilly made use of shore leave and was fascinated by a mole hill that kept on expanding with no friend in view!
Still a few more things to stow away and a big box to cut down to a specific size, maybe that’s a job for tomorrow.
Springing
0 locks, 6.5 miles, 1 wind, 1 right, 1 left, 4 hours! 4.6 miles walked, 57 minutes briskly, 1 lucky mole, 1 roast chicken, 2 happy boaters and 1 happy cat being on the move again.
We all seem to have got a good nights sleep on the new mattress. Maybe it would have been better to get it made an inch thinner, giving Mick more head space under the gunnel. But he says he’ll adapt the way he sleeps, if anyone can he can!
Checking the world out this morning
The fire was stoked and the boat warmed up again. Tea in bed was enjoyed before I had a go at my morning stretches. I wondered if the bed would be good, but the width of the boat is a little restrictive, so tomorrow I’ll try the floor in front of the stove to see if there’s enough room there.
Pair 62, I think!
After breakfast it was time to empty the van. Useful empty boxes were popped back into it so they could head back to the house for the next time we move. Mick then headed to the marina office for a new gas bottle whilst I wove ends in on my latest pair of socks, these were to be hand delivered to Georgie back in Scarborough by Mick. I’d sneaked her in ahead of some boat women as they were taking their time in getting back to me, with Georgie it took her less than a minute to respond to what shoe size she was!
When did this lighthouse appear?
Mick returned having paid for our electric and the gas bottle along with a new wee tank connector. Laird was fine with us still being hooked up overnight until we leave, we are leaving a day or two before our mooring fees run out. Only the fob for the gate to return now.
Drax Power Station
Time to head to Tescos to collect our order. Six crates! Just where would I be putting everything? I really hoped it would all fit, having said that there was still quite a large gap in one of the food drawers, I can’t remember what used to occupy the space. With things squeezed into the fridge we then headed off to buy some coal. The marina doesn’t sell it, but Coopers does near East Cowick. Four 25kg bags of Excell got Mick very dusty moving them about, he should have brought his mucky coat!
Stacks of coal
Back to Oleanna, lunch and then Mick set off back to Scarborough to return the van in the morning, the final hoover round of the house, cut the grass and hide our things in the shed and enjoy a fully glutenised pizza from Pizza Tempo.
I’ve opted for tuperware this year rather than plastic bags.
I got on with sorting things for the freezer. A chicken to joint, sausages, mince and turkey steaks to portion up and then get freezing whilst we were still on hook up.
Pedestrians are shorter and thicker in Goole than they are in Scarborough
Tilly was left in charge as I headed out for my walk. Down Albert Street, right at the end, then left down towards Ocean Lock. I wonder if we’ll end up using Ocean Lock at all this year? Currently there is a problem with Thorne Lock on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal, which hopefully will be sorted before the boats from Strawberry Island want to head that way along with us! Ocean Lock would give a different route to Gainsborough, round Trent Falls, but hopefully CRT will have Thorne Lock back in working order.
Ocean Lock, see the size of that motorhome next to it
Only two ships in the docks today. Down at the river the tide was neither in nor out, or so it seemed. Back through town, a pause at Boyes to see if they had a waste food container we can use when the new recycling takes affect across the canal network. I also stopped to say hello to 007 in a shop window, Sean was my favourite Bond.
I’d left the stove to dwindle as it was such a warm day, but it now needed encouraging so I could bake a jacket potato to have with left over chilli. Now it was time to find room for clothes. A shelf in my cupboard needed moving and what I thought would be an easy fit for my Sockathon yarn bag proved to be quite hard. How can that be? It came out of the drawer five months ago and I’ve knitted I don’t know how many more pairs of socks since then and only added a small amount of yarn to it. Some summer clothes needed to be added to the vaccum bags that go under the bed, I did wonder if it was a sensible thing as today had been so warm, maybe I should have put my big fat jumpers in there instead.
Rearranging my cupboard
A quiet evening for us girls, still surrounded by bags, but nice and cosy in front of the stove casting on the next pair of socks.
0 locks, 0 miles, 100kg coal, 1 bag kindling, 6 crates, 1 ordered freezer with spare room, 5 miles walked, 2 office shelves sorted, 1 wardrobe stowed, 5 boxes of wine in the cellar, 1st jacket baked, 1 new mattress to wrestle with on my own later, I’ll help jump on it for you!
Yesterday She sat down after getting up and we had a chat. She does the getting up and sitting down thing quite a lot at the moment, but it’s rare for us to have a chat about something important. She said things that She thought I didn’t know, but blah blah blah blah blah! I know what’s happening and by Cat Nip Dreamies they’ve been taking their time about it! I’ve tried to help by emptying their socks and pants drawers. I purred a lot today to encourage She to go quicker as she changed the bed linen on my bed. I even tried sign language, if She strokes my head she’ll let me out. It didn’t work!
All empty in here!
I started doing the idiot checks, checking every corner of every cupboard to make sure they’d not left anything. Then She started to stroke things, first wet, then dry, but not my head! Tom headed off early and came back in a very big boxer. He said it wasn’t a woofer and the one we were meant to have had a broken face so we got the big Boxer.
All good in Annie She’s bedroom
Tom then walked back and forth, back and forth carrying things whilst She did more stroking, still not my head! I watched from underneath my bed, the longer it went on the more worrying it got. Then they stopped. It always amazes me that we think we’ve nearly finished, there is a whole lot more cleaning to do! And that is so that other Toms and She’s can sleep in my bed and use my Wardle.
Then they’d finally finished. All morning She’d been asking me to use my Pooh Box and all morning I’d not wanted to. She stopped asking me and gave it a wash out and handed it to Tom. This meant our departure was imminent. I hid on the bed between the two piles of soft towels, ears as low as they could be. This had to be easy, I really didn’t want them to get stressed and hiding under the bed really wouldn’t have been good for She’s knees, but at the same time I had to keep up the pretence of not wanting to go. Well I do want to go, it’s just the going bit I’m not keen on. I like it when we’ve got there.
Get on with it!
I was bundled into the caravan and then into the front of the big Boxer. Time to go to the boat Tilly, isn’t that exciting! It would be if you’d just get on with it!!!
I remembered that sitting down was a good thing, lying down proved to be even better. At least Tom was doing his best to make the outside move fast, however it is a bit too fast for my liking.
Maybe one day I’ll get to explore the Sledmere outside
Two comfort breaks required, apparently my timing wasn’t so good this time, but we all got to enjoy Sledmere again.
Hooray!!! When are you going to move the outside?
Then finally we arrived, there Oleanna was waiting for me to move back onboard. She and Tom are meanies not letting me out in Goole. They kept going out, passing things in through the hatch busy busy, all whilst I could be exploring the outside, it looks to have good potential.
Maybe a paw thinner would have been better
Then there was hilarity as they tried out their new bed. It’s not as squishy as the last one so Tom might have to shrink his head to fit. I didn’t dare try it until it had been covered. I’ll let you know how we all sleep tonight.
I’m not touching it!
The view is different than I remembered it, the next door boat has been moved elsewhere so I can see the sky and watch the ducks go by. Thank you Lairdy Tom.
Boaty outside
Now I really hope they don’t spend ages and ages before they move the outside, she strokes my head and I can go out into it to find some friends. I’ll try to give them a paw with unpacking to make it happen quicker.
Viking Marina
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 big boxer, 1 clean kitchen, 2 clean bathrooms, 1 tidy house, 1 lodger confirmed, 1 inventory checked, 1 noisy journey, 1 cat who knows where she’s going, 2 comfort breaks, 1 new mattress, 2 many things to stow, 1 sunny view, 1 happy cat to be back afloat.
We are now into the run down for returning to Oleanna. We’re down to one ears wait!
Our last Sunday walk on the Esplanade
I had managed to find other things to do to help avoid cleaning things like the oven, but that avoidance didn’t go quite to plan. A day keeping a good friend company at a hospital appointment went too well and rather than being there most of the day it only took a few hours before positive results came flooding through. I had thought I’d be able to attend my last mosaic session which would have aided my avoidance, but the lady who runs the sessions had come down with a lurgy so an afternoon of sticking tiles to brown paper was called off. Only one thing for it, carry on with the packing and cleaning.
Packed things ready to go
There are various items that go too and fro to the boat each time we move. Sometimes they are needed, other times they just stay in the boat cupboard waiting to return, then they get tucked away under the dinette.
A big light weight box was delivered, packing removed from inside and the space being taken up by a lot of air was used to pack light things including a bunch of bayleaf twigs, thank you Frank! The box will be reduced in size as soon as I have time and some space on the boat. Documents read and amended. An enquiry from an actor regarding digs later in the summer was replied to.
I did help with some gardening!
Gradually the dining room filled up with items to head to Oleanna. Tilly stayed calm, she was asleep for most of the time! The occasional sniff round things just to check we were packing in a sensible way. Overflow fridge moved inside as the lean to will be dismantled in a few weeks time and only one of us needs to be around for that. Beds made up, fresh bathroom linen put out, our next set of lodgers will see four actors take over the house for a few weeks.
It’ll have to wait until next year to be finished
Despite hoping to get my next big painting completed, I soon realised that this wasn’t ever going to happen, my paints needed to be packed up and the canvas put safely away from the bleaching rays of sun light that come through my work room window, the painting is now unlikely to be finished until next year.
Three paintings however have been put in frames and left in what is known as the fishtank until I can think of where they can be hung, another job for next year.
Tilly Too and my 62nd pair of socks
Monday night we had a very tasty chicken tray bake using up various items from the freezer, I’ll be making that version again. Tuesday involved packing up the kitchen and cleaning things down.
Daffodils in The Valley starting to come out, it will be a sea of yellow in a weeks time
I managed to get my last full walk in round Scarborough in the sunshine. Down the Valley, the daffodils just starting to come out. Across the sands in front of the Spa, the tide out. Up through the gardens on the cliff to the Esplanade. I paused to pull up my big girls pants and register with a new dentist. We’re not likely to cruise through Birmingham this year and as Colin my dentist there has moved down to Cornwall, now seemed a good time to change to a more sensible location.
Last walk on the beach
More cleaning and packing, including sparkling up the big shower after the last shower had been taken. Just time to put some reasonable clothes on and walk up into town to meet with Mick’s old friend Mark. A drink at The Stumble Inn, we’ve not been in there before, followed by what seems to be becoming a last night tradition in Scarborough a meal at The Taj, well it saves on the washing up back at the house.
The boys tucking into their starters
Tomorrow we move.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 full dining room, 3 wees, 1 oversized box, 1 signature, 1 enquiry, 1 resigned cat, 2 papadums each, 2 much food, 1 set of scales tucked away, 1 stone less until today, 1 empty kitchen, 2 troughs of strawberries repotted, 1 urn of strawberries for lodgers, 2 boaters and 1 boat cat ready for the water again.
A short while ago we realised that we’d be in the right place at the right time for once. What for? Well to actually be able to join a Fund Britain’s Waterways cruise on the River Trent. Last year we’d had the cruise on the Thames in our sights, but leaving Scarborough a touch late, being held up by flooded rivers and emergency trips to a dentist soon put a stop to our plans of reaching London in time.
This year however, there are six boats setting off from Strawberry Island Cruising Club in Doncaster heading to join the Thames cruise following on from Cavalcade. Their schedule is pretty full on to reach London by the 7th May. Joining the boats for the trip to London would be a bit too much and we have other plans that will keep us north this spring and summer, mostly in Yorkshire. But on 1st April the six boats will be leaving Keadby to head upstream on the Trent, joined by us and another boat, making eight. On passing West Stockwith Lock another six boats will join for us all to pass under Gainsborough Bridge in formation, ‘line astern’. This is not an April Fool.
6th February 2023
The aim is to reach Cromwell lock that day and then head up to Newark Castle the following morning to sound our horns below Town Lock. This is where we will split ranks with the flotilla as it will have taken us well off course but for a good cause.
Town Lock Newark
When we called CRT to book our passage it was on a Saturday when the local team were not on duty and the system wouldn’t take bookings. The following Monday a Lock Keeper called from Keadby, taking me a little bit by surprise as I answered Mick’s phone. The fact that the Lock Keeper was called Mark (at one time three of the Lock Keepers at Keadby were called Mark), should have given the game away but I thought he was a man wanting to book us in to get the oven cleaned and we talked at crossed purposes for a while. Mick called him back, checked times and confirmed that yes we’d be joining Brian from NB That’s It and the other five boats all headed for Cromwell that day.
West Stockwith
So if you are close by and want to wave and support the campaign cruise, boats will be leaving Keadby around 07:00. Then passing West Stockwith at around 08:30, but be there at 08:00 to make sure. Passing under Gainsborough Bridge at 10:00, best to arrive 09:30. Or you could be a welcoming committee at Cromwell, not sure what time that will be. Alternatively you could be in Newark on the 2nd at 11:00 to help make a noise there. Photographers and hopefully TV crews will catch us on our way, so you never know we might make the news!
Gainsborough Bridge
We will then head back northwards from Cromwell, our next tidal booking not as yet made.
However our third tidal booking has been made. We needed to check on tide times, heights and dates for our second rendez vous of the year. We’re all booked in, we’d even booked our return journey, but then changed our minds as we’d rather not be in too much of a rush, plus Spring tides will be looming then.
Oleanna heading downstream at Cromwell
So all we have to do is keep our fingers and boat hooks crossed that the rivers stay in our favour for the passages.
Tilly waiting to get her shore leave approved by Mr Cundall
Final preparations are being made for us to move back onboard, still quite a bit to do, but thankfully our new mattress has arrived, so we should sleep soundly. Tilly had her annual vets check up and vaccinations last week and has been granted shore leave for another year. As last year we’ve been given a prescription for her super dooper flea, tick spot on treatments, not many cats in Scarborough require such thorough protection. A couple more deliveries are hoped for before we loose our land based address, fingers crossed things arrive in time.
Trent Bridge Newark
Right must get on, there are bathrooms that need to sparkle.
Whilst being in Scarborough we’ve managed to catch up with most people, some more than once, some many times. However one person has eluded us, I knew there’d be trouble if he didn’t get a mention here on the blog, so there was only one thing for it, best invite Duncan and Jaye round for some food. It also gave me a good excuse to make the Squash Winter Herb Crust Butter Bean Pie I’d made last winter. It was just as delicious as last time, the company wasn’t too bad either!
Lovely to have an evening with you both
More walks have been had.
The other Saturday I took advantage of all the sunshine and managed to walk through the old cemetery, down Peasholm Glen to the park (sadly no Naval Battle taking place), round by The Corner onto the North Bay, said hello to Freddie and held his hand, then walked round Marine Drive spotting the fin of a dolphin in the waves, round the south bay which was a bustle with day trippers and back home up the valley (the daffodils still waiting to come into flower). A good 5 mile walk.
More of the roof space has been emptied, we just hope the floor of upstairs upstairs can take the extra weight for a few months! Family history treasures have been seen for the first time in eleven years, theatre models have been reduced in number and scrap books of when the SJT first opened perused.
I think I’ll have quite a project next winter sorting through my Dad’s kitbag with letters, sketch books and negatives from the late 1940’s.
With the weather being that bit better Mick hopped on a train to head to see Oleanna with the aim of getting the horns and tunnel light attached and wired up ready for cruising soon.
Stuck in the mud
Earlier this week we’d seen photos of a ship bound for the Trent that had managed to get itself on a sand bank on the Humber. This was achieved on one of the biggest spring tides of late. Tugs, the Coast Guard came out from Goole and Hull to try to free it at the next two high tides. They had no luck, so with the tides now getting lower the ship will be stuck for another couple of weeks with the hope that when the next spring tides come it will be able to be re-floated. On Mick’s return train journey he managed to catch a glimpse of it, here’s hoping we manage to stay the right side of the buoys when we come to cruise the Muddy Humber in the summer!
Mick’s photo from the train
Mick checked over the electrics on Oleanna. The engine was turned over for a while. He popped into the office to catch up with Hannah and pick up the new BSSC. When we come to leave we may need some extra pairs of hands as we are breasted up to the boat next to us. People to flick and hold ropes as we extricate ourselves would be handy.
Bracket back on
Then it was time to fix the horns and tunnel light back on the cratch. The cratch cover needs removing to do this at the top, then it slides back over the top of the bracket. Mick had purchased a waterproof box so all the cables could be connected and stay dry. However, as thought, it was too bulky to slot in somewhere on the bracket.
Cables were joined, self amalgamating tape used then covered in heat shrink. This hopefully will keep everything dry until he has a smaller box for the connections.
That’s better
Before he’d left Scarborough this morning we’d discussed Oleanna’s smile. Now with 24volt horns the cable connecting them isn’t actually needed as it was before when they were 12 volt, it will purely exist to give her her smile back. What colour should it be? I was given the choice of black, grey, red or cream. Red would fade and her smile had been black, so black in preference.
Top at the top
The horns were connected up to power and tested. The same tone plus one a touch higher. He hunted round for a suitable piece of wire for the smile and connected it.
I got a message that he’d not manage to catch the next train but would be on the following one. This was followed by several photos that I’d nagged him to take. The light in situ. The horns in situ. Then her smile.
Hang on hadn’t I said not to use red wire this morning?! Either he had no suitable wire other than red, or he’d not been listening to me!
WHAT!!!!
I showed Tilly to see what she thought.
Why has Oleanna got LIPSTICK on?!?!!
Hang on
When questioned later Mick said he had been listening, but had no choice as there was only enough red cable available for the job. Having some black cable would be a good thing in his tool kit, so once some has been purchased the red will be swapped out.
RED Lipstick
So even though Oleanna looks a little bit strange with her statement smile, she at least has it back along with her voice. History of lipstick.
Red lipstick showed strength and power in WW2
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains, 1 ship aground, 2 horns, 1 light, 170 Rimmel Alarm Red, 1 Duncan, 1 Jaye, 1st tidal lock booked, but more about that in the next post.
