By the time we were up this morning the river was well on it’s way down, our tyre fenders were doing a good job of keeping us away from catching on anything on the bank. We’d survived the rising river as we thought we would.
Green base
Today was going to be more about trying to keep cool than river levels. First thing the sun was managing to shine at us between houses, but that soon stopped and we managed to stay in the shade until late afternoon. This served us well, I was able to keep model making without scalpels slipping , some panto floristry required today.
The costume designer had been in touch, so after lunch we did a bit of show and tell, just to make sure her frocks wouldn’t disapear into my set colours but also so that we were coming from the same place colourwise.
2 shades of green leaves
Tilly came and went in the morning, Mick sat out on the path listening to Yorkshire playing cricket up the road in Clifton. If it hadn’t been so hot he’d have gone to watch, but the shade from our tree was far more appealing.
Bead roses added
At 4pm it was time for a break from work and a little stroll was required. This year we’ve been extremely reserved on the chilled medication front (unlike some new live aboard boaters!). We’ve been moored close to both floating medication suppliers for a number of weeks this year, today would be our last chance to sample their wares. We walked down to the ice cream boat by Millennium Bridge, only one person in front of us, a suitable amount of time to choose our flavour of medication.
Quality chilled medication
Mint Choc Chip for Mick and Lemon Curd for me. Mick’s came in a cone rather than with one added to a tub this time. We stood in the shade of the trees and enjoyed our treat.
Panto floristry completed
The temperature inside Oleanna reached 30.1C late afternoon, thankfully it hadn’t been that all day. Our evening meal was a couscous salad which only required the electric kettle to be boiled.
Viking Recorder at 7pm
Episode 11 of Traitors NZ 2 was watched. Oh blimey! This season has had some really good twists to it. It was too late and too hot to watch the finale, we’ll save that for tomorrow when we’ll be away from the noisy loitering boats!
0 locks, 0 miles, 12 minutes colour chat, 2 hot for cats, 143 for 3, 1 model nearly nearly finished, 30.1C, 2 very yummy scoops well deserved, 5 left, 0 wellies required.
A cuppa in bed then we made ready to move, we needed to fill with water.
The Lowther putting out their chairs on King’s Staithe
Services for boats in York have always been pretty poor, since the Star in the City took over the building by Lendal Bridge the elsan and rubbish bins have gone, we remember them from our first visit by boat back in 2014. However, there is still a water point, if you pull up when the trip boats aren’t running!
Ouse Bridge
We untied and made our way into the city at 8:30 a load of washing sitting waiting in the machine for when we arrived at the tap. The distance down the bank required us to bring out our extra hose pipe. The tank started to fill, washing machine turned on, Tilly’s pooh box got a refresh, we stay dirty until later. The final rinse of the quick wash coincided with the tank being full. The bin at the top of the ramp said Litter Only, handy! A lady from the trip boats appeared as Mick was winding the hose back up, as long as we were clear by 10am we were fine.
Lendal Bridge
There were a couple of spaces close by, further away from the trains crossing Scarborough Bridge. We pulled into the first gap, plenty of length, but concrete sandbags not that far below the surface. It took a little while for us to find a suitable length we could fit in and not be too far out from the bank. Across the way at the rowing club we can see four steps, when we’ve been here before it’s been two at most, the river is low!
Long hoses required
We decided to let Tilly see how rubbish this new outside was and opened the doors, giving her five minutes of shore leave. After a while she managed to scale the stone bank and could be seen checking out the big trees. Then her tail disapeared between the railings of the Museum Gardens. Maybe our plan had back fired? No she was soon back, too many people.
We had breakfast and then settled down for the day. A message from Frank came through suggesting his current stay in hospital may soon be over and him heading home, a big surprise to him and us.
Lots of walls today
I pulled put all the wall bits of my model and got them all painted along with swirling railings. These will all need a lot of greenery adding later, a job for another day. Mick made himself useful wandering around town trying to find me some green card or paper for the greenery, sadly not being sucessful. He was more sucessful in purchasing Oleanna a present, a new water hose, our current one having lasted us 11 years and exploding on us last year on the Caldon.
Cheers to Franks continued recovery
To celebrate Franks news we decided to pay a visit to Pizza Express, well there was also a deal of a second pizza for just £1 and some time away from the boat was needed. We left Tilly in charge and enjoyed our cheap meal for two.
The Minster beautifully lit by nature
It was a lovely evening, so we walked up to the Minster which was being perfectly lit by the lowering sun, through Bootham Bar which was hardly recognisable due to the amount of scaffolding on it, then down Marygate back to the river and Oleanna.
The river wasn’t bad either
One day I’m going to manage to sort out yarn for the next pair of socks!
0 locks, 1 mile, 1 full water tank, 1 clean pooh box, 2 flip flops, 1 sniff of gardens, 1 dormant cat, 3 walls and railings, 48 hours left, 2 pizzas, 2 glasses wine, 5 doughballs, 10am, 0 green card, 25m of new hose.
Up early for us and on the move backwards before breakfast. Time to top up the water tank, check if Kenny’s hens had laid then make a move before it got too hot, plus I had a meeting to attend at 11.
Roses fading on the gateway now
Water tank full, still no eggs. We waved NB Poppy goodbye, they are heading up to Ripon where they have permission to ascend Oxclose Lock on Monday morning to reach their home mooring. They were determined to make it to at least Linton today, a shame as a stop off in York wouldn’t have held them up that much.
A serious bow rope!
Off we set, with the aim of finding a shady mooring in towards town. We passed all the familiar sights. Someone was watering the grass just before Archbishops Palace, wonder how long they’ll be allowed to keep their grass green, he was being extremely generous with the hose pipe. No-one in the garden at the Palace, no-one swimming in the river, the sewage works particularly stinky today.
The river level was too low to see the roof of my old family home today, but the house behind it was still there. We spotted Philli heading off to work in her bright orange trousers. Under Millenium bridge about to celebrate it’s 25th anniversary. Now we looked for shade.
Ice cream boats not headed off to sell yet
New Walk has overhanging trees. For the next few days the shade would most definitely be required, mooring at Museum Gardens would be unbearable, Oleanna would become an oven. Now knowing where the chain eyes are of a wider diameter helped in our choice of mooring. Under a tree that wouldn’t waft onto the roof, perfect.
We got moored up, sent some messages, had breakfast, then I settled down ready for my zoom meeting with the production manager for panto. Lots to catch up on and discuss. I hope Gemma understood my points of view on finding a happy medium on the painting side of the show this year.
Mick headed into town to try to find me a very thin blue pen. Black ones are easy to come by at 0.05mm, but blue is more problematical. This is to outline parts of my model and a more standard 0.5mm pen would end up being a touch too wide for what I want once blown up by 25 times. He didn;t have any luck so I’ve ordered one which we can pick up at the house on the next turn around.
Terry’s
I painted up numerous roses on my portals. Jus when I thought I’d nearly finished I remembered there was another piece of scenery with more of them on it. Hopefully I’ve got them all painted now!
Time to check my calf out. I’ve been doing no brisk walking, and very little walking over the last few days, hoping that the rest would help. A parcel had arrived at a locker for me so an ideal opportunity to see if the rest had worked.
Lovely clock face
I took it easy at first, then increased my speed a touch. Down the riverbank over Millenium Bridge and onto Bishopthorpe Road. Onwards to a new Co-op amongst the new apartments that have been built up around the old Terry’s Chocolate Works. My parcel was there, but more importantly I was now not that far away from the art deco factory with it’s clock tower. I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so close, so it was worth a nosy around.
The chocolate works
The development seems nice and airy, retaining some of the original buildings. A restaurant/cafe/bar/deli sits close to the clock tower, gents sat out in white shirts and dicky bow ties. I wouldn’t stop for a drink. Long avenues all seem to lead up to the clock. When I was a kid, during winter months I could just make out the shape of the tower from my bedroom window. Back along a stretch of the riverbank I’ve never walked before.
Calf verdict, much improved only a slight suggestion that if I’d pushed it more then I’d have hobbled. So complete rest seems to be what I should do when it happens again.
What?!?
Back at Oleanna I opened up my parcel. What on earth?! Beauty Equipment?! I opened up the box, phew, it was an airbrush. They must sell more to the beauty market than to artists. Here’s hoping it can cope with acrylic paints, and not just acrylic nail varnish!
After breakfast the final checks were done, the well deck emptied of everything other than the anchor, chain and rope all attached to each other and the T stud at the bow. Mick had done engine checks yesterday and checked the weed hatch. Boating Association charts, VHF radio, life jackets. At 9:30 Mick radiod ABP at Ocean Lock. We’d been told to do this to check when we’d be allowed into the docks, it’s also to check you have a VHF radio as that is a requirement by them. There would be a twenty minute wait whilst boats moved about then they would give us the go ahead.
Sure enough after a bit of conversation on the radio we were hailed and told to proceed towards Ocean Lock. We were now entering the world of the big ships, stilettoed diggers, 50 shades of sand. Chaps waved at us from high up as we made our way. The lock gates were in their recess, we were safe to proceed entering the lock, we turned the slight right, a chap told us to stay at the back of the lock, but it didn’t matter where. We had the vast lock to ourselves. Strangely it didn’t feel quite as huge as it had done in 2021 when we shared it with WB Lullabelle and Cruiser Sea Maiden.
The huge gates closed behind us then the level started to drop. All that water for one little narrowboat! As the lock levelled out Mick rang Selby and left a message to say we were about to leave Goole. The Gates are in their recess, you can leave the lock now.For your Information there are no ships on the river. We did as instructed, the tide already visibly coming in at quite a lick. We thanked ABP and headed out to catch the tide. Well it caught us really, Oleanna dipping to one side as Mick turned us to follow the flow, keeping to the west bank for a while before moving over to the east, red line followed.
Peeking out onto the vast river
Mick had managed to down load our track from 2021 when we’d followed David on Sea Maiden, but the charts were also kept an eye on.
Goodbye to Goole
Mick’s plan had been to take a touch longer than the half hour marks on Waterway Routes, our journey of 16 miles would ideally take us 4 hours, so 4mph, this would mean us arriving at Selby around high water so we’d not have to turn to face the tide to enter the lock. Back in 2021 the Ouse was filling with flood water and our progress was far slower, infact Nigel the Lockie at Selby had wondered if he’d have to wait for us until 9pm to penn us up off the river.
Memory Map gives you your speed, 7mph, best knock the revs down! We needed to be doing only 4mph. Down to tick over to maintain steering, we were doing way above 4mph. Oh well we’d be early, the amount of fresh on the river affecting the push of the tide and our progress.
Hook Railway Bridge
Under Hook/Skelton Railway Bridge, we’d not need them to swing for us, but we did need to up the revs to stop being pushed towards the peirs. Blimey it was going at quite a lick through there!
Howden Dyke
On up towards Howdendyke, here at the wharfs they don’t have stilettoed diggers. No ships in, infact we didn’t see any boats out on the river today.
There’s a lot of water, but it’s not all that deep!
At the last wharf you do a 90 degree turn to port and head for the south eastern side of Howden Dyke Island, the M62 loooooooong bridge now visible along with Drax Power Station. When crossing the Ouse on the M62 at low tide you can see why boats need to take this route as there is so much silt to the north westerly side it just about dries out.
M62 going slow westbound
Crossing from one side of the river to the other to pass under the bridge, it really is vast soaring through the sky. The traffic west bound however was moving very slowly as after lots of work has been carried out on the bridge recently two expansion joints have failed on the west bound carriageway. There’s likely to be more road works now.
Boothferry Bridge
Stay to the north to pass under the northern most span at Boothferry Bridge, ‘We’re nearly at Grandma’s’ it being a landmark for the Geraghty family on trips to visit family from the south. We wouldn’t need the bridge to swing for us, you have to book this one five days in advance as it takes quite a bit to get it to swing.
Seriously confused water on the bridges
A few bends kept us busy, trying to stay in tick over as much as possible, we were still rocketing our way. We both wondered if we should have kept to our original plan of heading to Naburn today, no need to turn and stem the tide with the current zipping along.
Barmby Barrage
Barmby Barrage came past, our trip up onto the River Derwent and Pocklington Canal thwarted by lack of rain this year. Next year, if it ever rains again. A call to Selby Lock, were they there? Yes. We’d be early, possibly by an hour. Should we turn and stem the tide for a while, or carry on towards them. The choice was ours, they’d be there for us no matter. We thought about it, we’d carry on.
The River Aire joins to the left
Heading northwest we had wind over tide, the river became choppy. Waves with brown horses (too much silt for them ever to be white on the Ouse) crashed around us, we were surprised at how big they were.
Hemingborough
The spire of St Marys at Hemingborough stood tall caught in the sunlight.
At No Man’s Friend bend, a steep one, the river was more confused than at others we’d zoomed through. It was evident we needed more revs, Mick cranked up the engine, then some more, more, the willow branches stroking the cabin side but thankfully no more. Preemptive revs were used round the next steep bend and our line was better.
Selby Bypass Swing Bridge
Approaching Selby Bypass Swing Bridge, Mick radio’d ahead to the lock. Nigel responded, as the tide was still running we’d be needing to turn to face it to enter the lock. Once round a slight kink in the river we wanted to turn, but up ahead there was a branch, quite a chunky one sticking out of the water, drifting in the same direction as us, just at the wrong time!
The pesky branch
The lock still not visible, but we wanted to get turned with plenty of space before the lock, so should it take sometime to get round we wouldn’t be being pushed towards the next two bridges. Reverse, let the branch carry on upstream without us. It kept on going and Mick made the turn. Now to drift backwards towards the lock, where was it? The roof of the block of flats just beyond came into view just as the current was doing it’s best to push us in towards the bank and trees. Quite a bit of tooing and froing was needed to get us to stay away from the banks, little progress being made towards the lock.
Now facing the tide
With a better line and in tick over against the current we started to move towards the lock. Nigel on the radio, were we okay? Yep just taking our time. Gradually we crept backwards, lock in view, gates open waiting for us.
Now it was all about picking the right moment to turn in towards the lock. The current wants to take you one way, a patch of still water infront of the lock, the sand bank we’d seen a few weeks ago on the downstream side of the lock. Mick bided his time, then ‘I’m going to go for it’.
The flats, a topless man, that’s the lock
Revs tiller, she started to turn. The bow in the calm water, the stern now turning to get the full force of the tide. More revs, in she went. Phew! So glad it wasn’t me at the helm.
Nigel stood back and watched on as Freya took our centre line, passed it round a bollard and back to us. She then closed the lock doors and set the lock filling. Freya is being trained to be the Lock Keeper at Selby, she just needs to get her VHF licence and be certified. One big fella to one very slight lady. We got news that the swing bridge on the canal is back working, but the one out on the river is still broken.
Oleanna was winded and we pulled into a space in the basin, ready to face the tide again tomorrow and ready for a fitting too. The sun shone down all afternoon, time to trace out the design on panto portals and cloths. Then by late afternoon Oleanna nestled down into the shade the flats next to us provided, the world starting to cool down.
2 locks, 17.5 miles, 2 winds, 1 hour too early, 7mph, 1.4 when turned to face the tide, 1 hello from a willow, 2 more avoided, under 4 swing bridges, 3 hours in the sunshine, 0 shore leave, 1 surprisingly poor internet, 2 identical words in what3words.
Granary Wharf to below Fishponds Lock, Aire and Calder Navigation
As we had breakfast we could hear the gulper pump over on Lady Teal the hotel boat in almost constant use. We wondered how big their water tank must be and how big their califorier to be able to have enough hot water first thing for four showers one after another. It was then obvious that they were filling with water. The official tap is just above Office Lock but where Lady Teal was moored is where restaurant boats used to be, there must be a tap in one of the little boxes there. When they pulled out Mick asked the lady at the helm about the water point, yep it’s there behind the closed, unlocked door.
Waiting for the tank to fill
We rolled up the covers and pushed over, set the water filling and did a Briar Rose, got a load of washing going. Having been in water conservation mode for a while we’ve a lot of washing to catch up on. The tap had good pressure and our tank was soon full, I headed to the lock as Mick pushed off and winded Oleanna, the wind today not being too much of a problem as it can be here in the middle of Leeds.
Winding at Granary Wharf
I tried unlocking both ground paddles and giving them a turn as we’ve spotted other people using them this week. But try as I could I just couldn’t get them to turn more than twice, maybe that’s all anyone can manage, or maybe I’ve lost my umph power. A family stood and watched as I filled the lock, using just the gate paddles takes some time and they’d wandered off. But as soon as I started to push open a gate I could hear running feet approaching, we’d have an audience and assistance with the gates once the lock was empty.
River Lock
Time to say Ciao and thank you to the city, hopefully next time we visit the Leeds Liverpool will have sufficient water to make a passage easier across the Pennines.
Back on the river, under the numerous bridges and down stream to the Armouries. A beep of our horn to warn those who might be turning out from the basin. Key of power to work the gates and sluices, then we were on our way again.
City Bridges
Paul Balmer had asked us to double check a couple of things as we left Leeds. One was how long, if at all you could moor on the pontoon near the services for, the next mooring in towards Leeds had changed from 3 to 2 days. As we passed the pontoon we could tell there used to be signs on the posts, but someone has removed them. Whether that be CRT or a boater who knows, also what they used to say is impossible to know. The services here have been hit time and again by mis-use, the elsan being mended what felt like weekly for months on end, so it’s not impossible for CRT to have removed signs regarding mooring.
Two signs instead of one
At Knostrop Lock I let Mick know that there were rowers below the lock about to set off on the river. I counted three boats, more being made ready to set off. We kept our eyes open for rowers and the next bridge. Thwaite Mills Bridge used to be number 3, but new CRT blue signs now have it as 3D and Thwaite Mill Bridge, another thing checked for Paul, who’d only caught a glimpse of the signs from his bike. We wondered where bridges 3A, B, and C might be, the next bridge downstream being 6!
Being followed
Round a few bends we caught up with the rowers. Then more boats headed towards us, boat after boat after boat, far more than the three I’d counted. Fortunately we were spotted by them all, so collision courses were avoided.
Coming towards us
Fishpond Lock had had a grass cut, four chaps laid on the ground by the tower, hi-vis Community Payback on their backs. It must have been their lunch break. Once back on board we spotted a nice sunny stretch of bank, the solar could help with more washing and the whirligig could be put out to make the most of a drying wind, we pulled in, tied up and Tilly was given her shore leave rules and four and a half hours. See ya! Tilly made some use of her shore leave, but then stayed pretty close waiting for the ding ding bell to ring.
I can smell freedom!
After lunch, I opened up the latest draft of the panto script, John has worked the scene changes into it now, plus there are all the lyrics for the songs, which usually means lots of added props! Time to take notes to start putting together a props list and check we were on the same page as each other with regards to the scene changes. Act 1 then a walk around the block, followed by Act 2. I’d missed one thing, but it’s an easy addition to a propy bit of set.
4 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 2 Briar Rose washes, 1 wind, 3D not 3, 2 days not 3, 3 signs not 2, acts 1 and 2 read, 4.5 hours shore leave, 1.5 taken off the boat, 2.84 miles walked, 34 minutes briskly.
A slower morning than yesterday with Saturdays newspaper in bed with a cuppa.
A contender for a painting
Over breakfast I plotted a route to walk today, up the canal to find an M&S then over towards the market. I hoped the closer M&S would have what I wanted, a new pair of jeans and some underwear. Over the last few months with all the walking I’ve been doing my clothes have started to be a touch too big for me, having a pair of jeans that don’t hang off me would be nice.
A view upstream from Monk Bridge
I set out, brisk minutes up along the canal towpath, a little path has been made between the canal and river which is very pleasant so you can avoid the bicycles hurtling along the towpath. All was going well until my calf complained again! I think if I was in Scarborough I’d see if I could get an appointment with the wonderful physio I saw before Christmas to see if she could give me any exercises to help improve things as this is just really boring now.
What a fab building, you can’t go wrong with terracotta
Then the M&S I was looking for didn’t seem to exist, well it might have been tucked away in an office building, but there was no obvious sign of it, so I carried on hobbling into town to the main one.
In a square was a group of statues all playing Boules, a little lad peeking out from behind his mum’s skirt. I called in at a shop on my way and purchased some crafters tweezers to help with putting little things on models and some bright pink paint and beads. Then on to M&S.
The hunt for jeans started. I was aiming to try on a pair but could I find a size 14 short anywhere. I found one pair in Long! Would they be worth trying on? Not really they were in a cut that were very wide and that is one thing I’m trying to avoid despite it being the latest fashion. Up to size 12 or over 20 were all there. This means one of two things, either all women in Leeds of the sizes between grab anything as soon as it arrives in store, or there are very few women who fall between size 12 and 20. No good for me. I could have a go at ordering a pair on line, but which branch should they go to?
No new clothes, just work things
I then checked out the bras. I should have measured myself beforehand, oh well at least there were plenty of sizes to buy. Unfortunately, I chose a size that wasn’t quite right, I’ve measured myself now and know which size should fit.
Hobbling round the market wasn’t appealing so I hobbled back to Oleanna for lunch and to start on the model notes from yesterday. I managed to only use part of the dinette table so Mick could have his laptop out too, tomorrow that is likely not to be the case.
0 locks, 0 miles, 0 14s, 0 M&S, 3.67 miles, 29 minutes briskly, 1 really annoying calf, 4 hours model making, 1 PA catch up with Frank, 4 chicken spring rolls.
The highlight of our summer plans was going to be teaming up with our friends Graeme and Vicki on NB Misty Blue and tackle some off piste water to gain access to Beverley Beck. The off piste bit of water is open, we’d be in a very VERY serious drought if the Humber Estuary dried up!
Heather Bleasdale and Simon Judge did this trip in 2021, we’d have joined in too if we’d not been on a mission to see our family in the south after the pandemic. Others have also done the trip on narrowboats and widebeams, just not many, and the cruise is done by many a cruiser heading for Hull Marina.
This year a couple of things stand between Oleanna and Beverley Beck.
Firstly, the River Hull (which connects the Beck to the Humber) is officially closed due to bank slippage. This happened before we came back onto Oleanna this year and has been shored up with big bags of aggregate. However, a more permanent solution is needed and there is no timescale for that right now.
I’d seen that Syntan one of the Beverley Barges had been moved onto the Aire and Calder for May as the river was closed. I got in touch with my friend Jeremy to see how they had managed on the Hull. He forwarded the following Notice to Mariners.
MARINERS ARE ADVISED that the temporary closure to navigation between Sculcoates (Chapman St) and Wilmington Bridges promulgated in Notice to Mariners No.9/2024 will, in general, remain in place until the repairs to the collapsed section are completed later in the year. However, requests for a controlled transit past the Ashcourt’s site during the spring and summer months will be considered upon request and on a case-by-case basis providing certain conditions can be met, namely:
· A formal request is made in advance to the Harbour Master’s Office
· The owner/master/ or person-in-charge has visited the area and assessed the restricted navigable channel in relation to their craft
· The passage(s) will be made in daylight and with visibility of at least 1 nautical mile (1852 metres).
· Transit past the damaged section will be conducted at minimum safe speed to avoid creating a wash
· The owner has a valid certificate of marine insurance for their craft
· The owner signs an indemnity form
The damaged section will be marked at the upstream and downstream extremities by yellow flags and by fixed yellow lanterns at the upstream, mid and downstream points.
Syntan
Scale Lane Bridge is also having work done to its turntable mechanism, so larger vessles wouldn’t be able to get under it, we suspect we’d be okay.
Then there was a crane boat that sank and slipped its moorings blocking the river. This was moved to the side, but holes in it’s hull meant it stayed on the bottom no matter what the state of the tide was and on the highest of tides it would be completely submerged.
It’s now been moved to the side
This last week Syntan has succefully made it’s return journey back up the river. There was an overnight stop at Hull Marina and then when the tides and visibilty were right they headed back up to the Beck on Friday. The damaged section needs to be passed at high water. This is relatively easy on the way upstream, you can go with the water. However downstream is that bit more tricky timings wise.
We contacted Graeme with a list of the closures up north and our concerns about the River Hull. His other concern was should the summer remain dry, he’d either not be able to get to Yorkshire, or get stuck and not make it back to his winter mooring around Rugby. Last year he got stuck on the Lancaster and then again on the Huddersfield Narrow, so understandably he’s more cautious this year.
For a trip that requires a lot of planning, charts for the Humber change frequently as the sand banks move, recently catching out a big container ship and then two smaller boats had the coast guard out to them last week as they were stuck. Add into the mix problems on the River Hull. Then the final reason for cancelling our plans, we’d have to do it alone without NB Misty Blue. This is not an option even without any problems on the river, two boats is far safer than one.
Another real shame. We both have strong connections to Hull, Mick’s family and a large part of my theatre life. Beverely would have been good to catch up with friends in the area and have been close to Scarborough for the house and visits to friends. But it’s not to be this year. Next year it’s already pencilled into the diary.
Humber Bridge
One day we WILL cruise under the Humber Bridge rather than take it’s photo from dry land.
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.
A new arrival on the towpath
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.
Hooray!!!!
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.
Crossing the River Aire
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?
Big, medium and little boats
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.
The Queen of Oleanna
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.
Deer just visible near the piling
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!
Rose
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!
At Last, model bits!!!!
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.
Another look through my sketches this morning before I sent a link. Time to forget about panto for day or two. Time to think about how we’d be getting back into the marina tomorrow after a night away. Still no-one had returned Micks phone messages, still no-one had replied to an email he’d sent yesterday, still tumbleweed!
Puddles!!! Remember them!
I sent a message to Sarah from NB Honky Tonk, well actually right now they live on Dutch Barge Pheonix. Might they be about tomorrow at around 4pm to be able to let us into the marina? She offered us a spare key and came to meet us at the gate. A quick exchange of greetings and thanks before we were off along the towpath to Woodlesford Station.
A bag of socks to finish off
From here we headed to Leeds, one stop, the dark red widebeam still moored just above Office Lock on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Out through the barriers to pick up something for lunch, M&S didn’t do too well, but I found a nice chicken salad. Then onto a train bound for London, time to catch up on a bit of knitting as the countryside whizzed by.
St Pancras
London was busy! It usually is, flashing lights and being funneled out of the station, was something happening, or was this just to accommodate football fans heading to Wembley? A long wait for the No 30 then we could sit back and enjoy the ride towards Hackney. That was until the bus decided to change its destination! Oh well we’ll get the Overground one stop. Nope that was closed for the weekend! Back on the bus, finally reaching our destination.
Today, Saturday, is Jac’s birthday. Big hugs all round and Josh had made a surprise visit for the weekend. Cuppas and chats, followed by exchanging presents. Jac got a mattress topper and some olives from us, Mick got an oil filter wrench and a head band to wear in bed which has flat speakers, so he can keep up with the test matches abroad without having ear buds in.
Jane, Jac and Kevin
Glad rags on, and face mask off for Jac, the next guests arrived bang on time. Jane and Kevin, who were over from Australia on a celebratory trip for a significant birthday of Janes earlier in the year. We last saw them in 2022, since then they have married, so there was even more to celebrate. Andrew and I grew up with Jane and her sister Emma, so there was lots to catch up on. Their celebratory trip funded by Inspector Morse, Jane was in an episode and her residual payments from one episode tend to be enough for a trip back to the UK and Europe every few years. A friend of Josh’s, Mia, bobbed in on a break from work to wish Jac a happy birthday. The pub where she works was very quiet this evening, so she managed to get the rest of the night off and came back to join us.
Pip, Mick, Josh, Mia, Jac, Jane, Andrew and Kevin
A very lovely evening, with very good company, a huge salmon, apple cake and homemade ice cream and maybe just a little bit too much wine!
Sunday morning there was only really enough time for a cuppa in bed with Ziggy and Finn and a brief chat with Andrew and Jac before we headed to catch our train, it was far too early for us to see Josh! Bus and tube, enough time to buy something to eat for brunch on the train then we were hurtling our way back northwards.
Opens in the autumn!
Tilly had looked after the boat well, but was understandably seriously bored!
Time to return the key to Sarah and Phil on Pheonix. We were invited inside for a cuppa, it’s always a bit of a shock going inside a wider boat, soooo much room! They bought Pheonix just over a year ago, Phil is tall and NB Honky Tonk was just a little bit too low when they decided to live onboard full time. NB Honky Tonk is moored on the Trent and Mersey currently and used to cruise further south when there is time.
A rather good clock on the underground
We’ve followed each other on Instagram for a few years and recently Sarah was added to the Ladies of Finesse group, so it was really nice to finally meet her and Phil. NB Honky Tonk was launched about a year after Oleanna, so we had quite a few things to chat about in common. Their evening meal was just about ready so we did our best not to disturb it too much and headed back to Oleanna to finalise a supermarket delivery and get something to eat ourselves.
I opted to walk ahead again today, covering the same route up to Bank Dole Junction that I’d walked a few days ago. Then onwards crossing over Trundles Lane Bridge turning left to walk along the towpath towards Ferrybridge. A lady walked her three dogs, all pretty strong. Other dogs made a beeline for them, smaller dogs barking and straining on their leads for blood! Just what was it about these woofers to cause such a fuss?
Freda’s garden is an immaculate length of the towpath. Roses, Lilies, shrubs all very pretty and cared for by the community in Freda’s memory Freda used to live in a cottage by the canal and she treated the stretch of towpath between Cow Lane Bridge and Shepherds Bridge as if it were her own garden, it is now tended by volunteers in her memory.
Hello!
As I approached the flour mill Oleanna was catching me up, Mick knocked back the revs to accompany my pace. Boats were moored by the amphitheatre, rope added to old mooring ring fixings to make this possible.
The path up high
The path then moves to on top of the bank, a narrow strip of land separating the canal from the River Aire with it’s weir. The flood lock would be open today, so I’d arranged to be picked up just before it, my brisk minutes done for the day.
Ferry Bridge
Out onto the River Aire, under Ferry Bridge designed by John Carr in 1797. This reach of the river used to be interesting, but since the cooling towers of Ferrybridge Power Station were demolished it’s just another river with willow trees exploding their seeds everywhere, the air thick with them.
Someone has tried to add a bit of interest by building a wooden structure, possibly for a tree house or just a good place to launch oneself into the river. Under the A1M, the railway bridge. Then Bulholme Railway Bridge came into view, the lock off the river just beyond it.
Key of Power in hand I emptied the lock, a cruiser was getting ready to come down, so the lady pressed the buttons at the top end for us. Now to find a mooring.
The bank is high here
We didn’t want to be too far along and be near the permanent moorings as the boats there tend to run their gennies late, very late at night. So we were pleased to see plenty of space nearer the lock to tie up to. Tilly got to have an explore, her second outside of the day, before we headed out to do a bit of shopping in Cas (Castleford).
The nearby Premier shop didn’t have anything for my lunches, todays special had been a foot long hot dog, so we had to carry on into town to the supermarkets. Morrisons did it’s best for us and a red onion was purchased off a green grocer. We made sure we crossed the river on the curvy bridge so we’d get some respite from the cars.
Curvy
On our way back to the boat we called in at what we’ve always thought was a garden centre. They had a Thyme plant, my old one bought from a boat had finally died last year. There was also a big bag of kindling which Mick picked up. They also sell a LOT of booze, kegs of beer and bottles of all sorts of flavoured spirits.
This afternoon I went through CV’s of potential props makers and put the top six in order of preference. Then I started to collect reference pictures for Panto. Set in 1890’s France I had a lot to look through on Pinterest and set up a board to look at later.
Just by the dry dock a pretty car
2 locks, 1 open, 8.2 miles, 1 left, 0 cooling towers, 1 lovely garden, 2 outsides, 1 pooped cat, 1 sunny day again, 1 thyme plant, £6 bag of kindling, 1 heat wave now guaranteed to continue, 1 PA catch up, 6 possibles, 6.43 miles walked, 53 minutes briskly, 1 warm chicken salad.
