Over the last couple of mornings Mick has been in the engine bay trying to solve our power problem. This morning he succeeded in getting things working again. Hooray!!! The lap top now has 100% power.
We’ve been able to keep moving so there is plenty to write about, well most of it is written in long hand so I didn’t forget it. Plus there are hundreds of photos to sort through so it will take some time to catch up with ourselves whilst still moving!
In other news however there has been a breach on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Yesterday afternoon the following C&RT notice came through
A closure to navigation and towpath is required between Bridges 109 (New Barn Bridge) and 110 (Aspen Bridge) on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Rishton, while our engineers investigate significant leakage through the bed of the canal.
Due to the volume of water loss, please be advised that water levels between Barrowford Bottom Lock (No.51) and Blackburn Top Lock (No.52) may be affected and lower than normal. We advise against unneccesary travel through this area until repairs have been completed.
Then this morning it was followed with this
Our teams have been working throughout the night to try and stabilise the significant leak between Bridge 109, New Barn Bridge and Bridge 110, Aspen Bridge, Rishton on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, unfortunately, during the early hours of this morning the canal bank has breached.
Dams are currently being installed onsite and our teams are organising a method of repair, including pumps to be able to pump water over the affected area to maintain a feed to the lower section of the canal.
To help conserve water in the surrounding areas, the following Lock Flights are closed:
Barrowford Locks
Blackburn Locks
Johnsons Hillocks
Wigan Flight
Another update will be put out tomorrow. This all seems very familiar to us. We obviously really feel for those affected and hope there is a speedier solution than there was on the Aire and Calder. We’re also glad we decided against going that way just over a week ago.
This morning at 09:59 the following notice dropped into our inbox from C&RT, not much notice of the start of works!
Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line Location: Low water levels at Goole Starts At: New Goole Caisson Ends At: New Goole Caisson
Monday 4 October 2021 10:00 until Wednesday 6 October 2021 09:00
Type: Advice Reason: Information
Original message:
British Ports are undertaking emergency repair works to their lock gates.
We will have a reduced water level of 300mm for today and potentially tomorrow as the levels need to be dropped to allow the repair works to be carried out.
Last year there were rumours that the lock gates out onto the River Ouse leaked quite badly, which didn’t help retain levels in the docks when the Caisson was closed. Well they leaked too until stop planks were put in behind them.
Presumably the stop planks have been dropped back in as the caisson gates open the wrong way to maintain levels upstream on the canal, or has the whole pound back to Pollington and Sykehouse Locks been dropped?
I’m hoping that people living on their boats in the marinas at Goole have had prior warning as the levels dropping by 300mm might feel a little bit like deja vu!
Updated Update
Update on 04/10/2021 at 15:30:
Associated British Ports have advised us that they have completed the emergency repair works and water levels are returning to normal.
Further works will be required in the future and we will advise of these works when we have more information.
Thrupp Canal Cruising Club to not quite Muddy Slipper
With the news of the Aire and Calder opening this morning I kind of wished we were up in Yorkshire to go through the breach site, reclaiming it for boats from the pile drivers and diggers. But we are miles away and will leave the reclaiming to others in Goole at Rawcliffe. Enjoy your cruise Lisa and Al and anyone else heading out this weekend. Will it be a mass exodus?
There she is again
It was time for us to get moving again, thank you Thrupp CCC for giving us a base for the last week whilst we’ve been busy with other things. Today it was back to boating!
There used to be a bridge there!
The bridge landings either side of Shipton Lift Bridge were filled with moored boats, this didn’t really matter as the bridge has been removed so no need to stop. We wondered how busy the canal was going to be after hearing stories of queues at locks further north.
I liked Thrupp outside!! Please don’t move it!
Shipton Weir Lock had a Black Prince hire boat just leaving and another boat was about to pull in and come down. We had chance to have a little chat with the crew who were heading out onto the Thames to Lechlade. Then it was our turn into the diamond shaped lock, designed this way to allow enough water to be sent down into the canal for the next lock whilst only a small drop in level was required to get off the river onto the canal.
Shipton Weir Lock
Last weekend we’d considered taking the London Leckenbys for a little pootle for a barbecue, here just out on the river had been a possible location. Reversing down towards the weir and mooring up would have given us a good amount of space to spread out. Today a small tent sat where our bbq would have been.
Having spent most of October and November on the Oxford for a couple of years everywhere is obviously so much greener than we’re used to, views are different, some gone with the amount of foliage. There are quite a lot of reeds that we don’t remember.
We rounded the bend to Barkers Lock and pulled in behind the Black Prince boat. Above the lock sat several other boats waiting to come down. In the lock was a C&RT work boat doing some gardening. Gardening isn’t really quite the right description for it. Two people were scrapping the chamber walls clearing it of growth, weeding on a big scale. I zoomed in with my camera and realised I knew one of the people in blue, Frankie an Instagram friend.
Frankie at the helm
They soon finished, pulling out of the lock leaving it free for the hire boat to go up. Frankie and I had chance to say a quick hello, maybe we’ll get more chance to chat if we come across each other further north. It was good to she her working on her much loved Oxford Canal, helping to maintain it.
Waiting our turn
There was chance to chat to hire boaters heading back to Oxford at the lock whilst we waited our turn, we were soon up and on our way again. The pub at Gibraltar looked pretty much as it did a couple of years back, building work seems to have halted during the pandemic.
Next came Pigeon’s Lock, no queue but a full lock. Whenever I talk to the Director for Panto he goes on and on about meeting his sister and her boat at Pigeons Lock, I think he really enjoyed those days. The big house at the end of the lane here was having a lot of building work done, this now is completed. The new roof looks very fine with it’s stone flags.
Jane’s Enchanted Tea Garden was set up to receive visitors this weekend, menus and sugar jars out on the tables. One day we’ll manage to time this part of the canal with it being open. Review here Apparently you need to book quite a long way in advance or follow their facebook page hoping that someone cancels as you are about to arrive.
Have gazebo, will cruise
The quarry moorings were pretty full, someone’s brought their own gazebo. Space for one at the end if you could get a mooring spike in.
Pulling out twigs
Northbrook Lock had another queue. Two C&RT chaps were fishing around by the bottom gate with a keb. Up to Banbury the locks on the Oxford Canal have a single bottom gate which means that should anything get stuck behind it it may not open sufficiently to get your boat through.
The first boat above had been waiting for over a couple of hours and seemed keen to get going again, I know we would have been. Their boat was brought into the lock all six fenders hanging down the side of their boat. One vague attempt was made to lift one of them, but it just fell back down waiting for a lock to grab it.
At last on the move
The chap went to lower the paddle on the offside. It looked like he’d tripped and knocked it as it dropped on the relatively new gate. Yet he wasn’t bothered by this in the slightest, he was more interested in a very wet mouse that was sitting on the lock side. He pointed this out to his wife, who couldn’t hear him. Eventually he crossed back over the bottom gate, I started to open it when I realised he’d stopped on the wrong side of the gate to lower the paddle, not the safest of places to be! He tried time and time to tell his wife about the mouse, convinced it was a water vole, then finally walked down below the lock to get on his boat, still pointing out to his wife about the mouse! With no power engaged they drifted out of the lock, still trying to see the mouse. Mick and I by now were both saying ‘GET ON WITH IT and get OUT OF THE WAY!’ under our breath, I have no idea what those who’d been waiting for at least an hour behind him were saying under theirs!
There were two possible moorings we’d be aiming for today as where we needed to get to was right alongside the railway. A few extra hours would have us mooring at Somerton Meadow, but arriving late in the day would almost certainly mean there’d be no space left. Then at Muddy Slipper mooring someone was already tied to the armco, we reversed back a touch and pulled up a short distance behind, just enough depth for us.
They’re on Muddy Slipper!
A late lunch was followed by an hour or so working out how to deal with the cinema screen during the run of panto. I came up with a solution which I hope won’t be too much extra work and emailed it through to everyone. Fingers crossed they all think it’s a good idea, or come up with a better solution.
A slot
Then as this weekends stag do hire boats came past, ten on each boat, sailors hats and some fancy dress with sea shanties being sung at the top of their voices, clinking bottles of beer I turned my attention to #unit21 and the samples of black canvas I’d received. This was far far tamer than the outfit a groom was wearing as the last boat passed by.
4 locks, 2 with queues, 5.52 miles, 1 Frankie, 1 trimmed and scraped lock, 6 fenders down, 1 mouse not vole, 1 twonk head, 5 hours shore leave, 1 (maybe more) friend, 3 stag dos, 1 solution, 1 email lost, 4 green shades of felt, 2 slots, 1.83 wide black canvas, 5 weeks digs, 1 cauliflower cheese with extras.
At 9:31 this morning a C&RT notice dropped into our inbox. Exactly 8 months after the original notice regarding the breach was published the canal has now reopened!
Notice Alert
Location: Aire & Calder Main Line & New Junction Canal
Intersection of:
Lock 13, Pollington Lock to New Bridge on Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line
and
Went End Aqueduct to Went End Aqueduct on New Junction Canal
Friday 20 August 2021 09:30 until further notice
Type: Advice Reason: Information
Original message:
We are pleased to report that the Aire & Calder Navigation is open and operational Friday 20th August from 09:30hrs. There will be no need for leisure boaters to pre-book passage between Skyehouse and Pollington Locks. Through passage to and from Rawcliffe and Goole will restored.
For a short while after this date, contractors will be using work boats to install fenders and so care should be taken when travelling along this section past the breach site at New Bridge.
Navigation Restriction
Please be aware lengths of bank above and below the breach site at New Bridge have suffered extensive damage due to the breach. Repairs are programmed to take place during 2022 and 2023. Until the repairs are undertaken and completed, please note the following information and adhere to instructions regarding mooring:
No mooring or overnight staying in the section from:
200m west of New Bridge (Grid Reference SE67608 20410) to
Went Aqueduct (SE 65002 18441) and
Pollington Lock (SE 61644 19194)
Note:
– hidden underwater obstructions that could pose a danger to navigation are to be found within this area along the bank edges on both sides.
– when navigating keep to the centre line where possible. When passing other craft keep a minimum of 4m from the bank edge where possible.
Towpath Closure
For your safety due to bank damage and instability the towpath is closed from:
– Southside – Pollington No.4 Swing South Dyke Bridge to Went End Aqueduct
Another notice was sent out about an hour later which was a little bit more straight forward
Sunday 20 December 2020 14:30 until Friday 20 August 2021 09:30
We are pleased to report that the Aire & Calder Navigation is open and operational witheffect from 09:30hrs on Friday 20th August. Please see separate notice for ongoing restrictions.
I wonder if the first boat through played a fanfare!
This evening Mark Penn has been out with a new drone to have a look and see how they are progressing at the breach site removing the cofferdam.
18-08-2021
Well as you can see the dam has gone. There is water in the cut once again. What a lovely sight.
18-08-2021
The pumps are still in the cut, but the pipework from where water was being pumped round the cofferdam is in the process of being removed.
18-08-2021
The pontoon that was used to remove the cofferdam is just positioned through the bridge, the boom that was across the cut has been removed.
18-08-2021
It looks like there might still be a bit of work to do on the towpath, earth doesn’t look to be fully flattened out up to the piling where the water wooshed round the piling back in December. The level in the drain below looks the lowest it’s been for a long time, covered in duck weed.
18-08-2021
There are still railings around the top of the concrete structure over the drain below. There was a hole maybe an access hatch in the old concrete, maybe this is the new one. The water level looks to be back up to normal levels now. How wonderful it is to see water and no silt.
There is obviously some tidying up to do and maybe bits left to sort on the towpath, but all looks good for the 23rd when the navigation is set to reopen. Booking to pass through Sykehouse and Pollington Lock will no longer be required from the 21st.
Dredging is happening up near Lemonroyd. A sunk vessle is being removed up that way too.
18-08-2021
I so hope that when I next post about the breach it will be to celebrate it’s reopening after 8 long months.
On Friday there was a section in the fortnightly Boaters Update from C&RT about the breach on the Aire and Calder. In it they give the 23rd August as a date for reopening the navigation. I can almost hear the engines in Goole starting up!
Update on major maintenance work in Yorkshire & the North East
Over the past six months we’ve had to deal with unexpected failures of waterway components as well as some pretty horrendous stormy weather in the north of the country. We appreciate the adverse impact this has on boaters in the region and have been working tirelessly to get things back to normal as soon as we can.
Repairs to the breach at New Bridge on the Aire & Calder Navigation are almost complete. The navigation will re-open on 23 August. A silver lining of this big project has been that we were able to take the opportunity to do other work on the navigation, which will minimise future disruption, during the stoppage:
Lemonroyd Sluices – Work to repair the sluices is still underway but the lock will be operational for the re-opening of the navigation. A further 1-day stoppage in September will be required to complete the work. This will be planned around freight movements.
Ferrybridge Lock – Gate replacement work finishes today (13 August).
Dredging – Hydrographic surveys and sampling are complete and dredging is planned to commence next week from 16 Aug at Lemonroyd. Dredging at Ferrybridge will not commence until October to comply with environmental conditions. It is difficult to say exactly when the dredging will be complete as we, much like the rest of industry, are facing a shortage of lorry drivers which will impact dredging disposal. When the navigation opens all freight passage will remain on a reduced draft. Given the long period with no freight activity we would not recommend loading deeper than 2.0m (6’ 6”) with some ballast for the first few trips.
Dredging (South Sheffield & Yorkshire Navigations) – Survey work has been completed and potential areas for dredging identified. A couple of the locations identified will be picked up as part of the spot dredging works.
Edge Piles – Our engineers will continue to monitor the piles until remedial work can be undertaken. At this stage we do not anticipate any disruption to freight barge movements.
A saunter around the island, of course we noticed that there were spaces at the next mooring where we’d have let Tilly go ashore. That mooring is added to the ‘next time’ list. As we’re in transit we won’t be touching on the ‘next time’ list, we’ll just be adding to it.
A metal warrior stood guard over a garden, whilst a severe fencing kept people off off a lawn. A rather lovely roof line caught our eye, the room at the top of that fire escape would have fitted my teenage dream.
Joining back onto the main channel there was a sign in the middle, the river would be closed for a regatta today, good job there’s the alternate route. We arrived at Shepperton Lock before any Lock Keeper would be on duty, the blue Self Service sign displayed. No need for a Key of Power on the Thames, just patience as they can be slow to fill and empty.
Extra fencing has been added around locks to dissuade people from gathering too close. Signs ask for crew to stay on their boats and if a lock is on self service then only one crew member should go to operate it.
Pharaoh Island
At Pharaoh Island the house on the end looks to have new owners, it was on the market two years ago. A boat is moored round the back and a kids trampoline stands in the garden so that you can gongoozle at the passing boats whilst bouncing.
Chertsey Lock
At Chertsey Lock we were joined by a cruiser, the strong wind making it hard for them to manoeuvre. Oleanna has weight to her so she hunkers down on windy river days, so long as her speed has purpose she is fine. By now we’d remembered how to do the ropes on the Thames if I was acting as Lock Keeper. Positioning the bow rope on the roof and taking the boat hook with me I could then wrap the rope round a bollard to keep the bow in whilst heading away to press buttons, popping back to adjust it if needs be as the lock filled.
Today we spotted a couple of cruisers that have a different line from the usual. They have a hint of a barge to them, quite a pleasing shape and with colour to the cabin sides we decided we quite liked them.
More shapes and sizes as we cruised along.
Approaching Staines on Thames there are new static caravans being built with a difference. Some have roof terraces, others extensions that take them away from the standard oblong design, however the cheapest one will set you back £499,999! We preferred the older more characterful houses. Does anyone know what this tree is please, with fleshy leaves and large white flowers?
Just before Bell Weir Lock we ducked under the M25 for the last time.
Runnymede is already on our list for next time so no need to add it. Today we’d have found a nice mooring, although the road would be a touch too close for Tilly to go off exploring. Only one of the French Brothers trip boats was cruising today. Banners boasted of a refurbishment to Pink Champagne, but the pandemic looks to have put paid to that happening and the fake steamer sat below trees filled with chairs collecting tree sap and bird droppings.
Day boats increased in number the closer we got to Datchet as we skirted round Windsor Royal Park all immaculate as normal. The Queen won’t be short of mistletoe this Christmas, they just need a big cherry picker. Just through Victoria Bridge there are ground works going on. Big boulders and a crane was being put together. Maybe this will be a new rock garden for the Queen!
A side filler
At Romney Lock we were joined by a trip boat as we waited for the lock to empty. Two Lock Keepers attended to the button pushing whilst we inhaled the smell of gravy and stewed cabbage that was to be lunch on the trip boat for the OAPs. We wondered at what age does stewed cabbage become appealing?
I failed to throw my rope over a bollard and a Lockie came to assist. I requested he passed it round a second time which he didn’t seem too keen to do, but as it was a side filling lock he relented after I’d mentioned my failing grip. A second turn means less clinging on for dear life even in the gentler filling locks.
Out of the cut we popped out the view of Windsor Bridge where Eton meets Windsor and where as a child staying with my Aunt and Uncle we used to stand to hear Concord fly overhead, I’m sure we never heard the sonic boom but Uncle Peter swore he did!
Just how many swans! A fayre was set up on the Brocas, we decided we’d carry on, hoping the mooring we’d stayed at above Boveney Lock would be available. Liz wasn’t at home anyway for a cuppa, I suspect she doesn’t want visitors whilst the builders are about!
Only part of the queue
Blimey was that the queue for Boveney Lock ahead?! The full length of lock landing filled with boats. People were stood about, although not quite enough for it to be a queue. Two more things didn’t seem right. NB Zenith was one of the moored boats, the other thing was the narrowboat in front of them was just hanging up their washing on a whirligig. We pulled up closer and heard the news, the lock was broken!
That gate shouldn’t be at that angle!
The story goes that yesterday the Lock Keeper had reported one of the top gates was making an awful noise. By the end of the day the collar had broken and the gate sat at an odd angle. No-one would be going anywhere today other than in the opposite direction.
During the afternoon more boats arrived. The lock island already had boats moored on the other side and by the end of the day they were four abreast behind us.
It’s broken
The Lock Keepers came down to keep us informed. A crane was being brought in by road tomorrow morning, hopefully it was just a case of lifting the gate back into position and replacing the collar, which shouldn’t take too long. If they couldn’t mend it on Saturday it would be Monday. Fingers crossed for the morning.
The choice for what to have to eat this evening was somewhat taken out of my hands as a camembert cheese was starting to plot world domination from the fridge, it needed stopping.
This evenings mooring
PS Selby Swing Bridge is now open to boat traffic and through a Facebook fishing page on the Aire and Calder I have heard reports that the Eastern side of the cofferdam at the breach site has just about been removed. Fingers crossed for everyone still in Goole.
6 locks, 15.43 miles, 1 regatta, 2 self service locks, 0 Liz at home, 1 rock garden, M25, 10 portions stewed cabbage and gravy, 15 waiting below, 10 above, 1 part time boat cat, 1 smoked salmon and camembert quinoa crust quiche, 1 world saved by our tea.
This afternoon C&RT have issued the following notice
Notice Alert
Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line Location: Rawcliffe to Goole Docks Aire & Calder Navigation
Tuesday 3 August 2021 16:45 until Friday 20 August 2021 18:00
Type: Advice Reason: Information
Original message:
Work to extract the cofferdam piles at the New Bridge breach will commence 5th August this will require a reduction in water level from the breach at Rawcliffe to Goole Docks and all connecting marinas.
The reduction in water level will commence on the 4th August and extend until the 18th August. During this period water level may be up to 200mm below normal level.
Skippers of all craft are advised to check mooring lines and allow for a 200mm reduction in water level
Hopefully this will mean the navigation will open soon after the 18th maybe by 18:00 on the 20th water levels will have returned to normal. Fingers crossed that this is the case.
St Pancras Cruising club to Marshgate Bridge 15, River Lee Navigation
Aire and Calder Breach Site 17/7/2021
Back in Yorkshire it looks like it’s been a lovely day and a good one for drone flying, Mark has been back to the breach site today. Thank you Mark for letting me use you photos.
17/7/2021
The breach site has been without water for quite sometime now, there are plants growing on the silt on the southern side. The little boats are back that were used to get across the canal in the early days of the cofferdam, it also looks like the small tug is back on site.
17/7/2021
In the above photo you can see that the access road has had a change in direction. It now leads across the eastern side of the cofferdam to what looks like a little pool of water.
17/7/2021
This is where, when the cofferdam was built, they discovered a void behind the original piling on the south side. This had a temporary fix done to it to make the dam water tight. Now the top has a new concrete edge, a more substantial fix having been made.
17/7/2021
Back on the north bank it looks like they have started to remove some of the aggregate that was being used as an access road. Parts of it have been dug out.
17/7/2021
30/5/2021
The piling now has a top edge, capped off to neaten it off. The concrete over the drain below has now been brought out to meet the level of the piling, neatening it all off. The surrounding bits of towpath have been filled in and levelled off.
17/7/2021
17/7/2021
17/7/2021
Here’s hoping that when they raise the water levels everything remains water tight. Then the next stage will be removing the cofferdam and reopening the navigation.
Meanwhile back in London
Mick in the blue
We dropped into the Geraghty Saturday morning zoom for about ten minutes before paying for our mooring and making ready to push off. Graeme had his crew arrive, Roy and Jamie.
Mick walked down the gunnel of the boat in front of us and pulled our bow rope, pivoting Oleanna so that her nose poked out from the other boats. Terry from NB Flora Dora gave us a final push with a pole as Mick cranked the engine up, our extrication from the basin far easier than we’d thought it would be.
Oleanna leaving St Pancras
The sun was out, the sky blue, we were both lathered in sun cream, the world looked good. Once in the lock Mick got out his new propmate ready to clear the prop, making sure he put his hand through the string. There had been no point in doing so before we got out past all the weed in the basin.
Misty Blue
NB Misty Blue soon followed us out and the two boats were ready to descend towards the Lee Navigation.
St Pancras Lock
With plenty of crew our cruise would be plain sailing. We dropped down St Pancras Lock and said our goodbyes to the basin, thank you all for making us feel welcome and giving us somewhere to be whilst we headed to Scarborough, Huddersfield and attempted to sort the washing machine. But I have to say I won’t miss the trains early in the morning.
Last of the gas holders in their original place
A short distance on by Goodsway Bridge there is part of one of the gas holders left to mark where they had originally stood. Then on to Islington Tunnel. A lady moored on the offside just before the tunnel ask if we could lend a hand. Last night they had their rowing boat stolen, it was used to break in to a charity boat on the other side of the tunnel. If we could see it could we make sure it was tide up safe for her to collect later.
We had to wait for a trip boat to come through then the way was clear, NB Misty Blue following on behind. The rowing boat was tied up on the moorings so safe for now, maybe the lady would be able to get someone to tow it back through the tunnel for her.
Swapping at City Road Lock
A boat was just coming up City Road Lock, so we swapped over and waited for our lock partners to join us.
Lots to see. Interesting boats, graffiti all with the sun beating down on us.
A couple of volunteers were on duty at Old Ford Lock, they helped us down meaning we could stay on board and get ready to turn left onto Ducketts Cut, The Hertford Union Canal. With only three locks and 1.2 miles long the canal is easy, it cuts the corner on going down to Limehouse Basin and back up to the Olympic Park, which is 4.7 miles and 6 locks.
Misty Blue led the way, onto new waters for her and her crew.
More colourful boats, the Dad of the flamingo we’d seen up near Tring a few weekends ago and C&RT signs that are now totally unintelligible! We think the mooring sign used to say 4 hours, but we’re not sure!
Loads of spray cans, it must cost a small fortune
At Old Ford Lower Lock a chap was busy creating on the wall alongside. For as long as we can remember this wall has always had graffiti on it. Today it was getting a refreshed look. The face of a green man was appearing as the chap worked away. I was interested in how they work.
As a Scenic Artist I usually have reference to work from, a scale model, this chap kept looking at his phone. The chap said the wall was usually planned out before hand, but not always sometime it was just how the mood took him. He was however following whatever was on his phone quite religiously. I said I looked forward to seeing how it turned out when we return in a week or twos time. He said it was going to be a really good one, but that it would have been painted over by the time we come back.
Here is where the two boats parted company.
Misty Blue heading south
Graeme and crew on NB Misty Blue turned southwards with the aim of cruising round City Mill River to see the stadium, his crew being West Ham supporters.
We turned northwards up into Hackney Wick. Blimey the river was busy! Moo canoes filled the water, the towpath was chocka, bars and restaurants were filled to the gunnels, the whole area alive and buzzing.
Eggs
The graffiti artist who has the ‘I ♥ Eggs’ as their tag has decorated one of the bridges. They have moved on from just their tag that appears near St Pancras, now there are fried eggs to accompany it.
We moored by the Copper Box for our first Christmas afloat in 2014, large areas of the land surrounding it have changed so much. It was what felt like desolate wasteland before, now it is filled with buildings.
Gainsborough School and footbridge
We passed under the footbridge from Josh’s old junior school where we once moored on Lillian, this stretch now permanent moorings. Onwards northwards the only gaps in the moorings were too shallow, but we knew somewhere we’d be able to moor.
Up ahead tucked in behind a bush we could make out a riveted hull, then the red and green of the cabin side came into view, we slowed down and prepared to pull alongside NB Billy. An exchange of messages yesterday with Clare meant we’d be passing today, but they had decided to stay another night at Hackney Marshes and offered for us to moor alongside.
See you somewhere up the way
We’d only really just got settled when NB Misty Blue came past, sadly Old Ford Lock was closed on the Lee so their trip around the loop hadn’t been possible. As we are heading in the same direction our paths are likely to cross again in the next week or so.
Clare and Pete returned from a bike ride round the Marshes. We decided to do a do-si-do, for us to be on the inside and them on the outside. This would mean we were ready for them to push off in the morning and Tilly could have shore leave without passing over another boat. We swapped sides, possibly confusing a boat who thought it’s luck was in as both boats pulled out, but then snuck back into the same spot.
NB Billy
NB Billy should have been long gone, but they had had an incident with a large chunk of tree and their prop a week ago. A lot of damage was caused and necessitated being in dry dock for a day, their prop blades were distorted, it sheared off 8 bolts from the shaft coupling and dumped their propshaft into their bilge. But all is just about right now, just a bit of packing needed in Billy’s stern gland.
As we chatted Tilly came and went, her calculations went slight array when she attempted to leap from the stern which os moored out at quite a distance. A big splash, one soggy cat extricated herself from the cut onto the bank and ran inside, to be grabbed by me with a Tilly towel. I’d told her not to go off the back! It was all planned, a nice cooling dip!
Tilly having a bath after her dip
Now we have yet another dirty towel needing washing with no washing machine!
Mick rang back a company he’d tried yesterday to see when an engineer might be able to come out to look at our dead washer/dryer. We’d been given several options yesterday regarding payment and we’d decided that £125 to fix it wasn’t too bad, a new one being at least £300, if they couldn’t fix it then £55 would be the call out charge. However when he tried calling the department to see when they would be able to visit the phone just rang and rang and rang. He gave up.
Not much of a view in St Pants
Google suggested several other firms. ‘Sorry we don’t cover that area’ was quite a common response. Others suggested they’d be able to get someone out to us this afternoon. ‘What’s your postcode?’ This was given, handy to be at the Cruising Club and have an address. Then Mick would say we were on a boat. ‘Oh, we don’t do boats. Houses yes, boats no!’
St Pancras Lock
A notice was put on the London Boaters group, but the only suggestion was to buy a new one as they are so cheap now. We’d rather see if it can be mended, but we might just be giving someone some money to look at a totally dead machine.
Eventually a company was found who didn’t have a problem coming out to us on a boat. An appointment made for tomorrow afternoon. Mick called the Harbour Master, Tony to see if we could stay a bit longer in the basin. This was fine and a key holder for the gate into the car park would be found to let the engineer in.
Mick headed off to find a new connecting hose for the washing machine, a longer one would help when pulling it out from it’s cupboard. 2.5m would do and be handy even if we end up having to buy a new machine.
Hello!
Back onboard I, at last, had a chat with Gemma (Production Manager for Panto). We talked painting the set, a quote for more than my design fee had come in from a scenic artist. I know you can earn more money painting than designing, but when I’d already said I’d paint the show for a top up on my fee! Logistics in our pandemic world make things a little more complicated than before, but hopefully with a bit of thought things will work out.
Not being much of an assistant
I decided that as we wouldn’t be moving today that I’d do some work. The drawing board came out and my assistant sat by and watched as I drew up some basic plans for the set of #unit 21. This didn’t take too long, I just need to get them scanned now and sent off for a friend in Leeds to give me a quote.
Mick had another trip to make to Christine’s. A new propmate had arrived for us to replace the one now sat on the bottom of Limehouse Basin. The design has changed a bit since we bought our original one. Now made from pipe with a bent handle and it comes with a wrist strap already attached! Hopefully this one will be with us for longer than the old one.
Being cooped up in the boat all day I had a walk around the Kings Cross development. A meander of a walk took me through the new buildings, many empty. Landscaping and seating is everywhere making for a green environment.
Wish I could look inside
I walked past York Road Station, one of the original stations on the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway. Opened in 1906 it was designed by Leslie Green and connected to the platforms by two lifts. It closed in 1932, discussions have been made about reopening it, but as it’s quite close to Kings Cross the £21million (2005 estimate) needed to bring it up to modern day standards it is unlikely to happen.
Cinema across the water
A cinema screen plays to an audience on the steps across the canal. A couple of films are shown a day along with the Tour De France at lunchtimes. All the restaurants and bars were packed, as much as they can be and the whole area had a hubhub about it.
Art covers walls and expensive shops fill an area which used to be full of railway lines delivering coal.
It being Wednesday night it was club night at the Waterpoint the old water tower that overlooks the basin. A glass of wine and being sociable was on the cards, hopefully with a visit to the roof of the tower.
Looking SW
Our luck was in and we got shown up onto the roof. From here views down to St Pancras Station, BT tower, a bit of the London Eye and the numerous cranes which are on the site of the new Google building.
Looking SSE
Northwards is mostly railways and tower blocks, but all the same with the sun gradually going down it was still quite a sight.
Ballcock
The roof is what used to be the water tank which used to hold 17,000 gallons of water which was used to fill the tanks of the steam locomotives. In one corner is the ballcock, pretty much like a toilet ballcock only far bigger!
St Pancras Station
The tower used to be situated along the lines at St Pancras, however it was in the way of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link HS1 so it had to be moved. The tower was split into three, the top two layers moved to behind the lock cottage. A new bottom third was built and the top two thirds were craned in on top. The Cruising Club are custodians of the water tower, it is currently their club house. You’ll find it open to the public several times a year.
Looking NNE
The whole area around Kings Cross was a huge coal depot. Where the basin is now used to have railtracks running over the top of it. The gas holders have been moved from their original site and new buildings built within them to suggest the old tanks. Using this link you can see how much the area has changed since 1892 by sliding the button on the bottom left.
Today a new C&RT notice came in
Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line Location: Lock 11, Ferrybridge Flood Lock, Aire & Calder Navigation
Navigation Closure
Monday 19 July 2021 08:00 until Friday 13 August 2021 16:00
A stoppage is required to replace the downstream gates and cills. Check and repair downstream sluices.
Here’s hoping the end of this stoppage coincides with the breach site reopening.
0 locks, 0 miles, 0 washing machine, 1 engineer booked, 2 new quotes, 1 conversation, 1 set drawn up, 16 more panto photos, 1 dormant station, 2 glasses up on the roof.
