A boat came past as we were finishing breakfast, no point in rushing to get ready to join them as it would take at least quarter of an hour to get ourselves sorted. So about half an hour later we pushed off, light weight rainy clothes required as the air was full of drizzle.
The bridges in Berko have had a make over, paint and statistics to brighten a grey gloomy day. As we came towards Ravens Lane Lock we were admiring the hanging baskets on the interesting house with coloured bottles in it’s windows, I’d love to see inside one day, a lady walked out onto her balcony.
I now want to know even more bout the lady who lives here
We made a comment about her hanging baskets, not in bloom yet but so many they will be spectacular when they are. The lady then asked if our boat was named after the play. Well, Oleanna is and the lady was correct, the first person ever to make the connection. There was just time to chat a little, we both agreed that Oleanna (by David Mamet) is an extreamly good play, my favourite and that it was about time it was put on in the West End. I vote for Malcolm Hebden to direct it as the production I saw in Scarborough in 1995 is most certainly the best I’ve seen.
We descended four more locks on our own, at Sewer Lock we just about caught up with the narrowboat in front of us, they had been slowed by a widebeam that was weaving across the navigation. We did catch up with them at the next lock and then shared the rest of the days locks.
The Hemel Crew
Stood at Winkwell Swing Bridge was my old college friend Jen who lives in Hemel Hempstead. Two years ago she joined us for a few hours of boating, last night she’d noticed on Social Media that we were near and had volunteered to come and join us again.
Jen winding a windlass again
Using the key of power I got the bridge moving quickly, only holding up a few cars, one of which disappeared whilst I was chatting away to Jen. Both boats came through, there was just enough time to pop Jen’s bike on Oleanna before it was our turn to work down Winkwell Bottom Lock. The widebeam thankfully had reached it’s destination at the marina below so the way ahead was clear.
Nearly there
We worked down the next five locks with NB Candi or is it NB CandI? Jen soon remembered what to do at the locks and we chatted away the hours until we reached the 24hr mooring by Sainsburys. Here we moored up, enough space for both boats, then had a very late lunch.
It was so lovely to see Jen and have a catch up. She’d decided to take a sabbatical from working at the National Theatre in January last year to do some scenic art tutoring amongst other things. This of course didn’t go too well and meant that when all the staff were furloughed from the theatre she missed out. So when October came along and there were shows that needed painting again Jen went back to working three days a week on the South Bank. Lockdown had been hard for her and her family, her son very much missing out on the social interaction with his friends at school.
We all had a lovely afternoon and if only she’d work for free and come and help me paint panto that would be wonderful. The thought of a weeks painting in Cornwall in a workshop with fresh Cornish Pasties being made next door nearly swung it.
By the time we said our goodbyes it was too late to do a big shop at Sainsburys. So instead we did ourselves a Click and Collect for the morning, which would only delay our departure by a little bit.
Last lock of the day
Because our mooring is right by an access road into the retail units for wagons we don’t allow Tilly out here, much to her distain. How ridiculous! Then She gets all annoyed with me for something that She hadn’t done. In fact dear readers I got shouted at! I’d been trying to tell her that my pooh box needed refreshing, but She’d been distracted all day long. So she didn’t take too kindly to my making use of the fresh litter whilst it was still in it’s bag!
Please let this be finished
14 locks, 8 shared, 5.1 miles, 1 swing bridge, 4 held up, 1st person to make the connection, 1 extra crew member, 4 hours of constant chattering, 1 hunt for eco glitter, 1 click and collect sorted, 1 protest wee, 1 hour cleaning the bathroom! 50 panto model photos, 1 email sent, 0 regrets, 1 fish, 1 obligatory photo.
Seabrook Lock 35 to Little Tring Winding Hole, Wendover Arm
Back to the alarm being set at the new normal time this morning. As we had breakfast we could hear water cascading over the lock gates this meant a boat was heading down the lock above, brilliant the next two locks would be set for us.
Seabrook Lock 35
Well that’s what we thought the last time we moored here, two years ago when we were waiting to accompany NB Tyseley up to the summit pound! Several boats beat us to the lock that day, but today no one came past. Brilliant.
I walked up to open the gates, hang on! It’s full, very full!?! Nobody had come past us, so how had that happened? Oh well, I emptied the lock and then we brought Oleanna up. Lock 36 was also full. This puzzled us as the lock had remained empty overnight, the only explanation I could think of was that the towpath grass cutters were out, two strimmers and a lawn mower. The grass had been cut on the off side of the second lock, maybe for safety the chaps fill the lock before trimming the grass. It’s not as far to fall when full.
Does all that grass need to be cut?
The large expanse of grass alongside lock 36 was getting a very good trim. I thought the chap would stop once he’d gone behind the bench, then carry on down the towpath to lock 35. New cutting regimes have been put into practice along certain stretches of the canal. Some places now only the towpath, lock and bridge landings and moorings get cut, leaving stretches of wild flowers to grow to their hearts content.
Wading through long damp grass isn’t that pleasant, but surely on such a large expanse by this lock they could have cut by the lock and bench, then a wide strip for the path, leaving the rest to nature. Sadly no, it all had to be cut.
Is that the tip of the cat’s tail or just bird poo?
In the past there have been a couple of boats along here, but today just about every spot was taken. Is this down to more boats on the waterways? More boats having moved out from London over the last 18 months? Who knows but there is a marked increase.
Seabrook Swing Bridge
The swing bridge swung without too much bother, then we dipped under the railway past Pitstone Wharf. Mick had collected together our rubbish on the back deck so I got ready to hop off at the next bridge to dispose of it. We quite often see photos of bins overflowing with rubbish on social media and people complaining about them.
Moutainous
Today we were confronted with not just a mountain of rubbish but a whole mountain range! There was more rubbish on the floor surrounding the bins than they could hold twice over! Don’t people realise that Biffa are very unlikely to empty these bins in this state. Usually this means that a C&RT employee, who could be out working on navigational things, will have to come and remove the excess rubbish. Yes these bins are situated where none boaters can add to the mountain, they most probably do, but there is no need for more to be added to the pile. A tweet with photo was sent to C&RT saying we hoped we’d find emptier bins ahead of us. Later in the day I got a reply saying the local team would deal with it, they also gave me a link to a map showing all their facilities across the network, useful if you don’t have Waterway Routes.
Hello!
We waved to the people who now own the Margees house on the bend and carried on to the two Marsworth Lower Locks. We came up the first one to see a boat entering the lock above, so we opened the gates and waited for them to descend, I walked up to lend a hand as one of the top gates just wants to stay open.
Waiting for the next lock to empty
The chap up the top lifted a paddle and their boat started to descend, their engine wasn’t on and someone was reaching down into the weedhatch. The paddle was closed and we waited for the prop to have been cleared before emptying the lock.
The pretty cottage
By Bridge 130 the bins were in a much better state, so we hovered and disposed of our small mountain of rubbish before stopping at the wharf to top up the water tank and dispose of the yellow water at the elsan.
Left at the junction and we were soon at the bottom of the Marsworth flight. Volunteers were apparently on duty up the locks today, so we’d have help.
Lock 39 the bottom of the flight
No sign of anyone until we were rising in the second lock, I could see blue t-shirts and red life jackets ahead, great they’d set the next lock for us. They waited quite sometime to do this, but eventually the gates opened.
NO blue skies today, just heavy skies
The two chaps were chatty, worked the locks their way one offering to give me a break. I suspect he needed a break more than I did, I wonder how many locks they get to work on their average day?
Lock 42
With walkie talkies you would have thought they would be quite organised, but the conversations just seemed to confuse matters. Should we wait for a boat two locks behind us? One was coming down, would we meet in the next pound, at the next lock? No the lockie above would make the down hill boat wait and empty the full lock in front of him for us. There must have been a reason for this, but none we could think of.
Passing by
A chap above was just starting to fill lock 44, saw us and closed the paddles, we could fill the lock for him. It turns out it was a boat we’d shared some of the Leicester Section locks with a few years ago NB Old Tom North. The volunteers left us to do the top lock on our own and shifted their assistance to the chap heading down the flight.
Lock 45 the top and summit
We’d thought of heading to Cowroast today, still ahead of schedule. But would there be any moorings free. Instead we both had the same idea, we’d turn right and go down the Wendover Arm for the night.
Blimey considering we’d come from the huge expense of the Ouse at Goole we were now finding our way along the narrow shallow channel.
Breath in!
A Sandwich Tern took advantage of us churning the water up.
It’s following us
It followed us closely, hovering by our stern. The when a glint of a possible fish appeared it swooped down to the waters surface.
Has it spied something?
I tried to film it, but it moved far too quickly and my camera had no idea what it should focus on.
DIVE!
Fortunately I did manage to get several photos of it just about in focus.
Back for more
Boats were moored before the bridge and then at the winding hole, but the short straight length of bank was still free. Spikes were hammered into the dried out towpath and Tilly was set free to explore, although she wasn’t too enamoured.Well it was boring the last time you tied this outside up!
An afternoon of making model dressing bits. Working out how to make a wheelbarrow took some doing, a trestle table was much easier although I had to convince it to stay in one piece before I could chat to the Scarborough Chums on zoom.
Better look as though I’m enjoying myself!
In other news, there is now the first part of Heather’s trip to Hull on the Scholar Gypsy blog here’s a LINK
Mill Lane Bridge 102 to Tiddenlake Footbridge 115C
Stoke Hammond
Alarm set again today, not a too early start, just one to get us going, we pushed off about 8:40 soon arriving at the double arched bridge of Stoke Hammond Lock.
Coming up
This is the proper start of the climb up to the summit pound of the Grand Union, the lock at Fenny Stratford doesn’t really count in my mind.
Pretty
From here locks are accompanied by lock cottages and quite often a pumping station. Stoke Hammond has both along with a rather wonderful dog rose bush which has a white clematis growing through it.
Soulbury Three
Another mile on and we reached the Soulbury Three. We pulled in below to fill the water tank whilst waiting to see if anyone else was on the move in our direction so that we could share the locks. But nobody showed themselves. A volunteer came down and asked if we were heading up, which we were, so he set the first lock for us and helped on our ascent.
In the middle lock
Ground paddle same side, gate paddle opposite, ground paddle opposite then gate paddle same side. This works well to keep your boat into the side if you are on your own on this stretch of the Grand Union.
Top lock
We were the first boat of the day through the locks, above someone arrived and then a while later just as we finished someone pulled up below, we had a straight run up and then meandered around the bends which lead to Leighton Buzzard.
The globe all rickety and inviting
The Globe Inn was getting itself ready for lunchtime trade, looks like they’ve invested in more picnic benches since we saw Alarum perform in the garden. Back then the tables gradually sank into the earth as it was so sodden.
Leighton Lock
Up Leighton Lock where there is always a Mum with a pushchair watching. Ten boats were in at Wyvern Hire Base, they all looked like they were being turned around for the next lot of holiday makers who would arrive later in the day.
A space was available at the 2hour Tesco mooring, so we slotted in there, wrote a list and went shopping. We’d considered doing a click and collect as the collection point is just on the other side of the hedge from the moorings, but we only needed a few bits so it hadn’t been worth it.
A quick visit to Homebase for a trough for the wild strawberries which are coming on a treat. I suspect the crop from them will only add flavour to our cereal in the mornings, but that’s fine.
More lovely gardens
By now my Amazon order was out for delivery, we had lunch and hoped it would arrive at the Post Office before we had to move on, no such luck though! We pootled out of town in the hope of a shady mooring, the towpath was pretty full most of the way along, but we found one space that would do.
As we tied up I got notification that there were 8 stops before my order would be dropped off. I’d just gathered myself together to walk back into town when my phone rang. It was the delivery driver saying he was at the Post Office and he couldn’t drop the parcels off with them. But it was a Local Collect address on their website! If he couldn’t deliver them there for me to collect, what would happen?
He went back inside to try again, still they refused! By now I was already walking in towards town, I asked where his next drop off would be, not that I know Leighton Buzzard but maybe I’d be able to find him somewhere. In the end he said he’d come back to the Post Office in twenty minutes by which time I hoped I’d be standing there with my bright yellow Sainsburys bags.
Leighton Buzzard Market
Twenty minutes had been a guess on my part so I picked my speed up, I wanted my orders and didn’t want to hold the driver up too much. I got there with a couple of minutes to spare and soon a van arrived the chap pulling up next to me to hand over my orders. The boxes were huge for the contents and biffed and broken. I checked everything was there, they were then thanked the chap for being so helpful.
The big box was stupid, so I unpacked it on the street decanting the contents into my smaller bags, a bottle of booze a present for my brother was also checked over, still in tact. Phew!
Some highlighter pens were on my shopping list but when I reached WHSmith I discovered I’d come out without a mask. My costume designs will have to wait a while longer before I can finish them. I walked back a different way through a park where a little man sat on a very big pencil and kids splashed away in a water park. My route brought me to an old railway track which I then followed back to the canal and Oleanna.
Much of the remainder of the afternoon was taken up trying to ascertain why the Post Office had refused to take my two orders. One of overalls the other some Vermouth my brother had asked for. Using the Amazon chat facility I supposedly got passed onto a human instead of the bot. But the human wasn’t able to type English very well so I suspected they were a bot too. Then another, then another.
They seemed fixated on the alcohol I’d ordered, this was a separate order completely to the overalls. Apparently alcohol is not available with Local Collect, my point was then you shouldn’t be able to select that method of delivery. But more to the point the Post Office had also refused my other order which was far more important. They would only accept it if I worked there!
I must have been online for a good couple of hours explaining to four humans (?) that I’d chosen LOCAL COLLECT so that I could collect it at a convenient time, not have to rush into town and chase after the delivery driver. Someone tried ringing me to explain about alcohol and LOCAL COLLECT. I understood that bit and the requirement for ID on delivery so I sent them to answerphone.
Big or small
Then a fifth person joined my chat. She was most certainly a human being as she was astounded that I’d been on line for so long. So was I and by now I’d had enough and was possibly turning into a troll, whiskers were starting to grow out of my chin! I thanked the last lady, I’d received an apology even though people hadn’t understood my point, but now I was going to do something else with what remained of the day.
We do our best to avoid Amazon normally but the overalls were only available through them. Have to say I will be avoiding them even more from now on, just a shame I’ll be needing more overalls!
In other news today was the day Heather Bleasdale along with another boat were making their way to the River Hull. They left Keadby at 08:00 punched the tide down the Trent. At the Apex Light it was more or less hightide, no training wall visible and no need to stick to the main channel. Here they turned right onto the Humber where the tide took them down under the Humber Bridge to Hull. The last photo she sent was of Bleasdale and Lily May tied up to a barge on the River Hull waiting for the tide to come back in to push them up to Beverley Brook. What an exciting day and what a shame we couldn’t be with them, maybe next year!
5 locks, 6.2 miles, 2 boxes wine, 1 loaf bread, 1 trough, £5.25 for a hose connector! 1 car park empty, 1 generator, 1 life raft, 2 parcels, 1 helpful driver, 1 bot, 4 human bots, 1 helpful person too late.
Linford Wharf Winding Hole to Mill Lane Bridge 102
With temperatures set to soar over the next few days we wanted to seek out some shade to be able to sit the worst of the heat out. Living in a metal tube can be a touch uncomfortable in the heat. Our mooring at Linford was okay, but not perfect and we still wanted to make some progress today, so the alarm was set a touch earlier than of late and our first cuppas were consumed as we rolled back the covers to move.
We weren’t the only early birds!
Pushing off at 7am meant we came across a group of fishermen who’d decided to start early to avoid the boats, then we came along!
The sun was already out and warming up the morning although it was still goose bump chilly in the shade.
Second one of our trip
Milton Keynes is very green along the canal, how many poplar trees did they plant when the town was built. Mick wondered what the journey would have been like before the 1960’s development was started.
At the Lionhearts Cruising Club all was calm, no space for NB Tyseley today, but I’m sure some will be made in a couple of weeks as Mikron’s A Dog’s Tale is due to be performed there on the 26th June. A couple of years ago we managed to see one of their shows here, then we worked up the Marsworth Flight with them, but sadly this year we are about 10 days ahead of their boat tour. This years Tour Map
Slow and Fast
Up ahead a red balloon hung in the sky, another beautiful morning to be up there, as a jet left it’s vapour trail behind it. Slow and fast all in one frame.
Long long lines of moored boats kept our speed down, we’re sure there are more than last time, but that’s just what we said then too!
There is always something new to spot as you travel through MK. A repurposed shopping trolley made into a dragonfly. There are plenty of damselflies but we’ve not seen any dragonflies yet. A frog sat and watched the world go by from a bench.
These two boats had found a good spot, guaranteed shade for the day, compared to the visitor moorings at Campbell Park in full sun and almost empty.
Building work still fills the area around Campbell Park Marina, the buildings being higher than the norm around MK. Some new pontoons have been put in on the offside, they are chained off currently.
We passed a couple of Herons sitting high up in trees, the branches didn’t look strong enough to take their weight.
Mum and Dad were showing off their youngsters. It always feels a privilege to see the little ones hitching a ride on a back. Today two were riding high whilst a third was clinging on. Then one of them gloated at the others ‘I’m the king of the castle!’
Coming into Fenny Stratford we wondered if the old couple would wave from their house. Two years ago the garden didn’t look as immaculate and no wave came in our direction. Today the garden looked similar, but a window was open. We waved and a slightly younger looking lady sat in a chair by the window picked up a hanky and waved back. Maybe the house has new owners and she has taken on the responsibility to wave to every boat that comes past.
We considered stopping in shade here, but it wouldn’t last long. On to the lock.
About to start our ascent to the summit pound of the GU
We’d maybe only seen a couple of boats moving so far this morning, now all of a sudden everyone had woken up. Two boats headed down the lock, then it was our turn, no need to swing the bridge that normally sits over the lock.
Everyone’s woken up now
Behind we could see a Wyvern Hire boat arriving so we waited for them. In the meantime two boats had arrived at the services to fill and empty, very quickly followed by another two hire boats. The boat we shared the lock with were out for the weekend to surprise a friend on his birthday, now they were heading back to Leighton Buzzard.
Last week there had been a notice from C&RT regarding low levels either side of the Soulbury Three Locks as investigative works had necessitated the draining of the locks, then the back pump had failed. Mick had asked a question on a facebook group and reply had come from someone who volunteers at the locks, the pump was mended, levels still a bit low but no-one had had any problems with the bottom being too close to the top. Once we’d seen the amount of hire boats out and about we knew the problem wasn’t too bad.
Now time to try to find some shade. We pulled into a shady spot a touch before Mill End Bridge 98 at just gone 10:15, this would do for now.
Yum!
Tilly got to explore whilst Mick checked the sausages had defrosted. It’s been a little while since we had a cooked breakfast, so today we made up for it, very nice it was too.
By the time we’d finished the sun was starting to heat up the cabin sides. Would there be somewhere further on more shady? We studied google satellite images and compared them to the moorings marked on Waterway Routes. But there was no knowing if the moorings would be free or not, after all we’d passed so many places overfilled with boats this morning.
A reckie was required so I walked up to bridge 102 to see what I could see. A group of boats had bunting on their roofs, what was this? The second one gave me more of a clue, NB Jubilee, it was a BCF gathering. It looked like everyone was down in the park so nobody by the boats to say hello to.
Oleanna catching up with me
Notes were taken of shade and trees on the offside which would come into play later in the day, then I rang Mick, he’d push off and come to find me. We pulled up on a slightly jaunty angle, but there was shade.
A while later the only other boat on the stretch pulled off so we decided to see if there was more depth where they’d been, the shade looked more dense too. Tilly back on board we pulled back and found the depth only marginally better.
Three outsides in one day!
Three outsides in one day! This third one looked a touch similar to the second one, but it was still good, lots of field friends to find.
During the afternoon I got on with costume sketches for #unit21. For the photo shoot in a few weeks we’ll only be needing so much of everyone’s costume, but I’d like to get the designs done. I pulled out Justsketchme again to help with poses and got everyone drawn up and ready to be coloured in. A good afternoons work
Ally and Pip sketched out
.
1 lock, 8.61 miles, 7am start, 3 hitching a ride, 2 trees under strain, 2 many boats all at once, 1.5 sausages each, 3 moorings, 3 outsides, 6 hours, 9 costumes, 1 test match lost.
Dunchurch Pools Marina to Norton Junction, Grand Union Canal
Dunchurch Pools Marina entrance
Three miles to Braunston Turn and with each bridge and bend I kept my eyes open, waiting for the first glimpse of the Banger spire. As we came under Bridge 85 there it was just peeking above the hedges. As we got closer and closer the view improved.
Buttercups, cows and sheep now graze the ridge and furrow fields.
Buttercups and Daisy
Tufts of wool clung onto the barbs on the off side, I wonder if I’d be able to collect enough of it for a hat?
Our hope was to be able to pull in outside Midland Chandlers at Braunston Turn if there was space to buy a few things, nothing urgently needed. The water point just before was occupied, so we couldn’t stop there, then there were two boats tied up outside the chandlers. Oh well, we might order what we want and get it sent somewhere, as I say nothing urgent.
Braunston Turn
A short distance on Mick spotted that the boat coming towards us was NB Kamili, stood at the stern were Andy and Irene, friends of ours from Crick. We missed each other a couple of years ago on the Thames when the level came up and before that we didn’t quite coincide for a New Years meal at the Red Lion.
Andy and Irene
Only chance for a very brief chat as our bows passed each other. Their summer will see them cruising to Stratford and onto the River Avon, I’m a little bit jealous, but then so was Irene with our trip.
The Gongoozers Rest was busy, seats on the towpath, their clientele enjoying the mornings sunshine along with a mug of tea and a bacon butty. We tried our best to peer through the hedge to see if we could spot NB Blackbird but it wasn’t that easy.
Approaching the locks
The bottom lock of the Braunston flight was full, I could see a boat waiting below the next lock, were they waiting for a boat to come down? I waited a little while, no water seemed to be coming down, so I set the lock for Oleanna. There was nobody coming from behind to join us, so I just hoped the boat ahead would wait for us, did they understand my wave?
Braunston Lock 1
The chap walked towards us, this meant one of two things. Either there was a problem up ahead or he quite liked a walk to tell us that they were waiting to share the locks. Thankfully he liked the walk and we teamed up with NB Red Kite for the remaining five locks.
We met two boats coming down, but the flight was really quite quiet. The bottom off side gate at Lock 4 really didn’t want to close fully. We emptied the lock before it got too full, despite it emptying at the same time and gave the gate a waggle, then closed the gates the otherway round. This improved things but it took quite a lot of umph to get the top gates open due to the leak.
Lock 5 was having repairs done to the gate surrounding brickwork. New bricks added and large sections replaced, you had to be careful where you put your feet. Mick mentioned about the gate at Lock 4 to one of the chaps who said he’d have a look, hopefully he’d have a long keb to clear what might be getting in the way.
The top lock cottage looking very smart today
We were soon at the top and waving goodbye to NB Red Kite, sorry we didn’t get your names, but the lady had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. Hope they enjoy the Leicester Ring.
They went ahead to the tunnel. Time to turn on the cabin lights, get the life jackets and big torch out. We followed, not quite sure how far ahead they were. A light pointed towards us from the far end of the tunnel.
Quick calculations were done. There is a kink in the tunnel between 500m and 400m from the eastern portal. The tunnel is 1873m long. If the boat we could see had entered the tunnel when we did then we should meet them in the middle, well away from the big kink. This was the case, just after the halfway mark our bows passed each other.
Light coming round the kink
Another light! Where would we meet them? Calculations. Oh it was likely to be at the kink. Mick slowed us down and then when the kink was very obvious to us we stopped as the boat coming towards us was just on the other side of it. We reversed to give them more space. As they clung to their side of the tunnel it meant their bow ended up right in front of Oleanna, we reversed a touch more both of us willing them to swing round before impact. The boats did touch as did the tunnel sides, but at least it was only minor.
Collision course averted
One more boat to pass and then we could motor on through to the end.
The newish piling before Norton Junction was where we were aiming for today. It’s a popular stretch, but we’d timed our arrival well, a gap our size just opposite the view. The edge was a touch overgrown, which became obvious as we pulled up, here there is a spring making the towpath a touch squelchy. With our bedroom away from the constant trickle of water we’d not have a problem sleeping so we tied up, let Tilly out and enjoyed the view.
Office with a view
An afternoon of research for me, whilst Mick sat out on the towpath listening to Tim Spector regarding the new covid variant. We’ve been logging in with the covid app for well over a year now, changing our location everyday as we move.
I don’t want to stay on the towel!
Once work was done for the day, a load of washing was just about dry on the whirligig, Tilly returned quite excited as it was nearly time for dingding. She was so excited that she missed her footing on the gunnel and ended up with two wet back legs! Silly Tilly. The grass made me do it!
Still light in the sky at 11pm
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been heading up hill, ever since we left Trent Falls, with the exception of coming back down Torksey Lock. In that time we’ve cruised 182 miles and risen through 54 locks. Tomorrow we start going down again.
6 locks, 7.42 miles, 1 straight on, 1 tunnel, 2 mysterons, 1 damp spot with our name on it, 0.3 of a wet cat, 2 hours work, 2 space buns, 11pm still light in the sky.
As we were making ready to push off Torksey Lock emptied and out came a narrow boat followed by a couple of cruisers, was this the start of the cruising club descending?
Torksey Low
Other cruisers that had pulled up last night had already headed off, one bound for Hull a much easier trip for them round Trent Falls with the tides due to their engine capacity, suspect they would be there at a different time too when the depth would be greater. All the same they’d have to keep to the narrow channel at the end of the Trent to avoid the Sand Island.
Last of the cooling towers
We pushed out a little before the flood and turned into the still out going tide to continue our journey southwards. It being Saturday morning we wanted to be settled before the weekly Geraghty Zoom which we did as we cruised along. There had been Christine’s birthday during the week when there was a family get together. Today was Duncan’s birthday so we sang to him. Anne was visiting Ruth, James and Penelope, so lovely to see family being able to get together again.
Windmills of various sorts, one more lot of cooling towers. This stretch of the river is really quite familiar and with there being a spring tide still we were given a push for quite a while against the fresh.
Compared to the River Ouse the Trent is that bit more open. There are flood banks, but mostly they tend to be set back and with fewer trees lining the banks there is plenty to look at. Sheep sat in the shade under trees and cows cooled their feet in the river whilst the geese showed off their new youngsters all in a line.
Clapper gate
Nobody seemed to be following us, maybe the Lockies yesterday had over estimated the number of boats coming out for the weekend. But it just turned out that they weren’t so keen to be on their way.
After being in the north for so long with no body able to move we are not accustomed to moving boats. Today this was going to be different, very different. On coming cruisers speeding along had to suddenly slow when they saw us, they were almost certainly breaking the speed limit, their wash most definitely breaking on the banks. This was most probably the reason for the mud to be damp two foot higher than the level of the river.
Then boats from the cruising club caught us up. In batches of three of four they appeared behind then overtook us. Some not too bothered about the numerous sunken islands as there are along this stretch. Blimey it was busy!
We followed our navigation notes, lining up with pylons and the white dome of a distant windmill and used the bridge arch where the ENGLAND graffiti really should be refreshed.
Catching up
All the time we were gradually catching up the narrowboat that had come past this morning. At around the 49km mark there is an old gravel jetty time to call Cromwell Lock and let them know we were just about there.
Passing us by
Three cruisers passed us shortly before the final bend, we and the narrowboat in front just trundled on knowing that the lock would be waiting for our arrival. The weir came into view, we turned right towards the big concrete structure that is Cromwell Lock. A couple of cruisers sat on the visitor moorings below the lock having their lunch.
Cromwell Lock
We pulled into the lock behind NB The Earl, found suitable blue risers for our ropes and waited for the gates to close behind before the paddles were lifted to fill it up.
The Lockie a familiar face came down for a chat, take our name and number and to see if we’d be requiring the next lock.
Off tidal waters
When the top gates opened we had now left tidal waters. Oleanna beamed a smile back at us. The cruisers were heading onwards, so was The Earl, but we planned to stop for water and lunch if there was any space.
Well we timed that extreamly well. There were a couple of gaps we’d fit into, one just by the water point where the wall changes from low to high. I got the low end, Mick the high, a friendly chap came and helped us to moor up. The hose was set up to fill the tank, side hatch opened and we could enjoy lunch knowing we were at last off tidal waters which have been limiting our cruising times.
Chocka Block at CRomwell
Cromwell is one of our favourite mooring spots, more so in less popular times. Cruisers came up the lock, passed by, circled round to moor on the high wall back towards the lock. With our tank and bellies full we pulled away, much to the delight of a lady from a cruiser who dashed to move her boat, now she could have a drink without having to clamber down a long ladder.
On the four mile trip to Nether Lock we were passed by a jetski and over taken by a cruiser, the later arriving at the lock seemingly unannounced to the lock keeper. We’d been asked to wait as the lock was full of boats descending, so we hung back under the East Coast Main Line bridge, trains rumbling overhead.
When the gates of the lock opened it released a swarm of ribs which all zoomed out in a hurry, each creating their own big wash which left us bobbing for some time.
That’s new an Archimedes screw above Nether Lock
We shared the lock up with the cruisier, it seemed they were out of practice with locks and spent a bit of time enquiring how to operate them when no lock keeper was on duty.
Newark
They took forever to untie, so we led the way out of the lock and into Newark. Our last visit to Newark was two years ago in February. The fishing pods on the first bend have gone. Kings Marina where we spent the winter of 2015/16 due to medical factors has now changed hands, a quick glance round showed some familiar boats.
The scrap yard by Aldi has vanished. Kiln pontoon was almost full, just a few git gaps suitable for a cruiser, but not us. The high and low wall opposite were filled with cruisers, as was the wall opposite the castle.
Town Lock and Castle
We’d radioed ahead to Town Lock where a boat was awaiting our arrival. A helpful gongoozler helped us flick our ropes over the bollards and then we gradually rose. Our exit was delayed as someone was hogging the Lockie asking how to operate the locks when not manned, they didn’t seem to know about the key of power (C&RT key).
A rather nice mooring, so long as no one walks on your roof.
Heather had suggested to us her favourite mooring in Newark, we’d spotted Bleasdale here back in October 2015. As with most of Newark moorings there is a high wall a similar height to the roof of a boat. We pulled in, got the tyre fenders out. Not a suitable mooring during floods as it is right by the weir, but today it was fine. A touch of shade from the trees.
Mick headed off for a Saturday newspaper and some milk from Asda, then we settled down for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Another good days boating.
3 locks, 22.07 miles, 17 boats towards us, 14 overtakers, 1 jetski, 1 sunny day, 2 birthdays, 1 full water tank, 1 boat off tidal waters, 1 newspaper (sadly not free), 3 giggling ladies enjoying the evening sunshine, 1 final Look North.
No other boat in sight, no road noise, the occasional bird. Hardly a breath of wind. Some cloud cover, but warm sunshine breaking through. Beautiful.
Looking back at the Apex Light
Our wait for the tide to turn would be so so different than that of a couple of boats who’d come this way a couple of weeks ago. They tied up at Blacktoft Wharf for hours in howling gales.
Heather
Here in the calm, Oleanna drifted around her anchor, tending to stay on a slight diagonal to what we thought would be the direction of the flow. Our wait for the tide would only be a couple of hours.
The side hatch was opened up, the deli cheese broken out of their wrapping and we had a wonderful couple of hours waiting for the next leg of our trip.
Is she wanting to be off?
Oleanna seemed to start to move round that bit more, was the tide turning early? She slowly swung round so that her stern faced upstream.
Happy
Should we make a move to be ready to enter the main channel whilst we seemed to have slack water?
Was now a good time to lift the anchor?
Would we be able to lift the anchor?
It was certainly going to be easier to lift it without the flow of the tide starting to rush by. Mick started the engine, Heather stayed at the stern should we need to over run the anchor to dislodge it from the river bed. Mick pulled us towards the anchor and then pulled up the rope, chain followed by the very muddy anchor. No need to cut the rope or struggle too much.
Two markers
We were now drifting, not much as it seemed to be slack water. We pootled back down stream a touch to await the incoming tide. Where we’d been anchored sits behind a sand island at low tide, the main channel on the other side, which we could see was still flowing out towards the Humber, it was after all still too early for the tide to have turned.
Was that a boat that got stranded on the sand banks after beaching?
In the end we pottered about until we thought the flow on the main channel had slowed. This meant we had time to find three markers which we’d need to line up to navigate the correct route. The red one on the eastern bank was easy, then I spotted a white post ‘Winking Willy’ on the hill, but where was the third one behind us? Was it by the houses on the north bank of the Ouse? Was it just out of view due to the river banks being so close, this turned out to be the case.
Mick took us back down stream and turned Oleanna into the channel doing his best to line up the markers. Were we still too early? There seemed to be little flow upstream.
Boiling
Then the water just ahead of us started to boil, was this the tide meeting the fresh coming down stream? It carried on all around us. We sat in the channel, should we push onwards or should we wait to be certain the tide was coming in.
In the end we pushed onwards the tide having meant to have turned a good ten fifteen minutes earlier, the water continued to boil around us for a while before it calmed down.
The sand island was very obvious now sitting well out of the water. Good job we’d studied the charts and had lined the markers up.
Once we turned the first bend the tide was obviously now with us, starting to push us upstream, passing Burton upon Stather where a crane stood idle and crews of ships have left their marks.
It being Thursday it was time for the Scarborough Chums zoom. I managed to join in using my phone as we reached a long straight. Four attendees today, with a couple of gate crashers, Mick and Duncan! Thank you Ali for the screen shots.
Next the wharfs of Flixborough. More big ships all sitting on the bottom, one with it’s wheel house lowered. Next we could see the familiar shape of Keadby Power Station, no cooling towers here as it’s gas powered.
The Lock Keepers tower sits on the edge of the river, definitely favours travellers from the south, it seemed to have it’s back turned to us. We rang just on the off chance, but only got the answer phone. It was 18:30, just as we’d thought, two hours after the Lock Keepers shift had ended. Onwards.
More cargo
Now back on familiar water we passed under Keadby Bridge. These cargo ships were certainly taking advantage of the spring tides.
Landmarks are now Windmills, the occasional wharf and pubs.
The two pubs in Owston Ferry looked like they have survived the pandemic with popular outdoor areas.
By the time we reached West Stockwith it was 20:00, the heat from the days sun had certainly gone, coats needed in the slight breeze as we sped along with the tide.
Evening sun
Not far now to the Gainsborough Pontoon. The tide was still carrying us at pace, should we stop here for the night or carry on making the most of the push the tide was giving us? Decision was made, it would be another hour and a half to Torksey, but the thought of mooring on the pontoon there was far more attractive than at Gainsborough.
In the past we have been zoomed through the bridge at Gainsborough, the river narrowing speeds the flow up. As we came round the bend where the not-so new apartments stand Oleanna tipped slightly with the change in direction and the speed we were being carried along at.
Gainsborough pontoon
Winding to moor on the pontoon so as to face the incoming tide in the morning might be tight before the bridge, maybe below would be better, but it didn’t matter anymore as we were carrying on, I know I was relieved at our decision, we’d all certainly sleep better.
West Burton Power Station
Which power station were we now aiming for. That one, no that one! The cooling towers came and went with the meanders of the river. The navigation lights were turned on, but we refrained from using the tunnel light as we could still see fairly well.
More warming tea and cheese scones were needed to help keep the chill out. My camera started to complain at the lack of light so the phone camera took over. In fact checking things with the phone camera worked quite well.
At last Torksey Viaduct at 21:50
With a red light showing through Torksey Viaduct we knew we’d not much further to go. The above photo looks quite light, but by now it was really quite dark.
Cottam Power Station
Just over half a mile further on and we turned left into the lock cut of Torksey Lock. A couple of boats were moored up on the pontoons and we soon joined them, arriving as we thought at 22:00.
Torksey pontoon at 10pm
Glasses of wine all round as we warmed back up and gave Tilly a cuddle.
After all the concern of new tidal waters, anchoring for the first time, the planning of our trip, postponing it, being vigilant of the weather, disappointment of not being able to break the journey at Keadby, it all came good in the end, what a spectacular day!
Heather arrived yesterday afternoon with lots of goodies she’d picked up in Doncaster at Scicluna Deli. One of the slices of cake had to be enjoyed with a cuppa as we discussed our cruising plans for Trent Falls. Not being able to get off the river at Keadby was still a sticking point for us all, who could we call other than another helpful Lock Keeper?
The flood barrier being taken out
We enjoyed a curry from Jinnah, thank you Martin for the suggestion, it was very tasty, and a bottle of wine, then it was early to bed ready for the off this morning.
I have to admit to not having had the best nights sleep as I was not looking forward to mooring up on the pontoon in Gainsborough as the river hurtled past at a rate of knots. Tonight’s high tide would be the highest of the spring tides, 7.84m at Hull, so our plan of doing the trip on a Neap tide hadn’t worked out!
Selby Lock, open ready and waiting
This morning whilst Mick made us bacon butties Heather walked over to chat with the Lock Keeper, it was worth another try. The chap on duty this morning didn’t know Keadby or really our planned cruise, so he couldn’t be of much help, but would call his supervisor. As we finished our butties he came over to chat, today the problem was more to do with the sandbar at Keadby Lock than staffing. They were saying there wouldn’t be enough water to get us over it and into the lock at the state of tide when we arrived. He tried again for us, but the answer was still no.
Even I want to moor at Keadby Lock!
By now two chaps from the Environment Agency had arrived, they had checked the height of the tide and were happy that it wouldn’t over top the lock so then wound back the flood barrier. Life jackets on, Escape pod at the ready, the sun was out, it was time to go.
David, Karl, Martin and Wendy came down to the lock mouth to wave us goodbye and take photos for us, not often I get photos of me on Oleanna. The lock emptied, not much today due to the spring tide.
Then it was time to put the power on, leave the lock and wave goodbye to the rest of the escape committee. Thank you all for your company, knowledge, apps, photos and our united escape. Hopefully our paths will cross later in the year when we come back up north, but for now enjoy York and pottering about until things open up again.
Out into the flow we soon picked up speed. Mick radioed ahead to Selby Bypass Bridge to check for air draught. It was 4m so not a problem even though Mick got his tongue tide saying that our air drought was 2ft!
Soon the flow got going and our speed increased. We needed to make sure we reached Boothferry Bridge before the tide dropped too much as here sand banks start to show themselves at low water.
Heather has travelled this stretch of the river before some years ago. Selby Bypass Bridge looked new to her. We couldn’t spot the bridge keeper in his high up perch to give him a wave.
Drax
Drax Power Station came into view, the steam from the cooling towers heading straight up. The weather forecast and information on the Windy app were holding true.
I’d set Nebo going and could see that our speed was increasing, the sun that we’d left Selby in made us think we were over dressed for the days cruise, but now out on the river we were glad of the extra layer.
Barmby Barrage
Once we reached Barmby Barrage we were now onto new water for Heather.
Passing a wharf close to Drax Power Station there was a high vis rescue boat. Two chaps sat in the rib. You could play spot the difference with these photos, I think one of the chaps spotted us and put his helmet on quick.
A crane sat in a field alongside the wind turbines. Was it a new turbine being put together or had the lid been lifted off? A chap sat high up there working away.
Aire to the right, Ouse to the left
We passed where the River Aire joins the Ouse, then Boothferry Bridge and the M62 lay ahead.
There was no need to radio ahead, although the Bridge Keeper kept a close eye on our progress. So far so good, we wouldn’t run out of water.
Under the M62. This bridge can be seen for miles with it’s gentle curve up and over the Ouse and surrounding area, it always used to be hard to slow down on the slip road off it at Howden. The salt and pepper pots in Goole could just be seen through the uprights meaning we’d soon be back where we started last Friday.
Keep to the right
Round Howden Dyke Island, the sand banks only just starting to show themselves, then straight across to the first wharf surrounded by the green of Wren Kitchens. A right angle to keep to our red line on the charts and keeping towards the eastern bank of the river. Here two large ships were being loaded, a reclining figure kept an eye on things, looking down into the hold.
Last Friday we’d been surprised at the lack of debris on the river. You seem to get a lot of it on the reaches up to York. Today however was different, there was plenty of fire wood floating along keeping us company, some of it at one point needed some encouragement to leave us, we slowed down and let it drift off ahead.
Goole Railway Bridge. Today we took the span to the east of the control tower. Here we could see the earlier wooden protection, now superseded by a steel structure, it’s a good job as it looked like the wood wouldn’t be able to cope with a miscalculation from a passing ship.
Goole
Now the river sat wide in front of us. The view of Goole clearer than last week. We followed the red line on our charts, taking us across the river closer to the docks.
Victoria Lock entrance came into view, a big yellow sign asking us to radio Goole Docks on channel 14. We’d tried a little bit earlier, but gave it another go.
Victoria Lock
‘Goole Docks, Goole Docks, this is Oleanna, over.’
The now familiar voice from Ocean Lock replied and Mick gave our location and informed him that we would soon be passing. We were clear to proceed and there was no traffic on the river. ‘Have a pleasant journey on the river’. Thank you.
Bye bye Ocean Lock
Now we could finally wave goodbye to Goole.
New water for everyone. Even Tilly was shouting about it below!
We kept our eye out for the markers on the banks. White diamonds to line up and cross between. Numbered posts with what look like Ikea guiding lights on top of them, these are of course more elaborate than just a nightlight helping to show ships in towards the docks.
Wide and reedy
Yesterday Mick had spent several hours studying the Humber charts and comparing the depths to the red line on our Boating Association charts. The Humber has sand banks that constantly change so the river is surveyed bimonthly, our charts may have been out of date. However the red line followed the channel, so as long as we didn’t stray we should be fine.
A truncated windmill, a lighthouse that both Heather and I thought had a sign with two arrows on it, one pointing upstream the other down stream. Well now looking at my photos the arrows are actually just bolts holding the board to the lighthouse.
Lighthouse! Hang on, lighthouses tend to be at sea on the coast. The occasional one has been built as a whimsical curiosity along side a canal, but this one looked like the real thing and meant business.
Next Blacktoft Wharf came into view. When we’d visited it a few weeks ago by car we’d not liked the thought of mooring to it to wait for the tide to turn. Today we liked the look of it even less for a narrowboat and were glad we had a different plan for awaiting the tide.
Apex Light
There up ahead was our next landmark the Apex Light.
Straight on the Humber and North Sea, to our right the River Trent. Gulp!
Hull up ahead!
The flow was making our progress so easy, zipping along, so far so easy, so easy. The sun was out, only a slight breeze, wonderful.
The Apex Light got closer. And closer. And closer.
On the Humber now
Some people say to head down onto the Humber to bide some time waiting for the tide to turn. Others turn and beach their boats on the sandbanks on the southern side of the Humber. But our plan was different.
Skidding round
David and others had said that beaching might mean that as the tide comes in a wave would build up alongside your boat, trying to force you round. Until the level had risen enough for you to back off the bank this could mean water getting in through vents etc. Maybe on a neap tide this wouldn’t be so bad, but today was the highest spring. So our plan was to anchor instead.
Trent to the left, Ouse to the right, Humber and North Sea behind!
Mick moved the tiller round and we turned round the Apex Light. Out from one flow of tide that had been pushing us along to head straight into another! Well we slipped along side ways for a bit before Oleanna managed to turn . Within a minute we changed from doing about 7mph over ground to almost being stationary now facing up stream on the river Trent.
Slow progress
1.5mph meant we crawled up the Trent, keeping quite close to the training wall which was very visible at this stage of the tide.
Trent 2
S L O W L Y we passed the two Trent markers on the west bank. We had to keep close to the training wall as here there is a shallow channel, not the main one, that is over the other side towards the eastern bank. David had given us a landmark to look out for, a drain leading into the channel, this was shown on our charts as being between two anchors.
Gradually making headway
Heather and I went up into the bow. The anchor had already been placed on the bow locker at the ready, the bucket of chain and rope beside it. I lifted the anchor, Heather the bucket.
David’s landmark
I tried carefully to lower the anchor into the water, keeping control as it passed the newly painted gunnels. However it proved a touch too heavy to manage this totally. Clinging onto the chain letting the anchor slowly drop was hard work, so once all fingers were well out of the way I let go of the chain.
It’s under the boat
The chain followed by the rope pulled out of the bucket, leaving a couple of meters behind, which I assisted out into the water. Now would it bite on the river bed? Mick moved us gently, the flow on this part of the river much much less than in the main channel.
After a while the rope seemed to be getting some tension in it. However it was caught underneath the lower bow fender. Then we drifted over where the anchor must have been, the rope moving down the side of Oleanna. Then back again. I wasn’t willing to try to get the rope from under the fender as this would mean balancing on the bow, I’d rather loose the fender than fall in. But after a while things settled down and the rope sorted itself.
The River Ouse is so vast in Goole you just have to keep looking forwards so as not to be swallowed up by the expanse of water.
That Mick he’s always been a speed merchant!
With a choice of charts, Ripon or the Boating Association, we decided to follow the red line on the later. Popped in a plastic folder the book wouldn’t stay dry if it rained but it would have some protection. We’d rather these got damp than the useful book from Ripon, so that stayed on the Nicholson’s shelf by the back door in case we wanted it for reference.
Tucked away behind the flood bank
However we were close enough to Sea Maiden to see what course to follow, David having produced the Ripon book should know his way along the river.
Goole Railway Swing Bridge
First landmark was Goole Railway Swing Bridge. With wharfs further upstream the bridge swings to let big ships through, no need for that today. David did take a different span of the bridge than our red line suggested, as Sea Maiden is deeper droughted than Oleanna we had no problem following.
The bridge is also known as Hook Bridge, it is a large viaducted hogback plate girder bridge with a swing span that was built to connect Kingston Upon Hull to South Yorkshire in 1869. There are four fixed spans crossing from the western bank then the two that swing on the east bank. The pivot point is vast.
Lulabelle following
At Howden Dyke large wharfs stand with their bucket cranes ready to off load. We looked out for green markers here, but then realised these were actually quite small and are lights rather than big posts with brushes on the top as they are on the Trent.
The second wharf is where you change course quite dramatically. Straight ahead would seem to make sense, taking the shorter route round Howden Dyke Island.
But this course is shallow and the channel heads off at a right angle to the south of the island. Paul from Waterway Routes had mentioned this in an email a day ago, we stuck to our red line and followed Sea Maiden up ahead.
Here they come
Looking behind us, would Lulabelle see which course to take? They came into view and took the sharp left following at quite a distance now.
Left!
As we finished rounding the island Mick’s phone rang. It was Nigel at Selby asking on our progress. We’d only been out on the river for about half an hour. Maybe he thought we’d been let out earlier from the docks, but he’d hoped we’d be further on and not still south of the M62 bridge.
At Selby there hadn’t been a noticeable change of tide this morning due to the amount of fresh coming down. He was concerned that we’d soon be loosing the effect of the incoming tide and then struggle against tide and fresh water to make headway. The river appeared to be peaking a day earlier than expected. All we could do was continue, we seemed to be doing 6mph which we thought was reasonable.
We messaged up ahead to David, Oleanna could go faster, but could Lulabelle who seemed to be keeping up but a long way behind. Did their engine have enough umph to push on upstream.
M62
Nebo showed us doing between 5 to 10 knots only slowing to below 5 knots when changing direction around Howden Dyke and as we approached the M62 Bridge, well we had to have chance to have a good look.
Wonder if anyone saw us?
Just how many times have we been over this huge spanning bridge which opened in 1976. This is our preferred route south from Scarborough and at times it was too from York. On crossing the bridge we always look out for boats and comment on the state of the tide. Today the tide was still coming in and there were three boats pushing their way upstream.
Boothferry Bridge
Next Boothferry Bridge. A landmark of Micks childhood, long before the M62 bridge was built! Living in London and grandparents living in Hessle near Hull they would make the journey northwards by car. Crossing the bridge was a sign that they were nearly there! Excitement would build on the back seat of the Humber Hawk.
Another for good measure
To the south of the Ouse the River Aire joins shortly before a bend. Now up ahead the cooling towers of Drax Power Station rose, new wind turbines in the foreground. Was there a faint whiff of wood smoke in the air? Drax burns biomass to generate power now, just like wooden cat litter.
New and old power generating
I had wondered if we’d be able to see Eggborough Power Station too along this stretch. The thought of a photo with Drax, Eggborough and the depleted cooling towers of Ferrybridge a goal of mine, but sadly this wasn’t to be.
Lulabelle still there
Next time we cross the Wolds on a clear day we’ll have to stop the car to get all three power stations in one photo.
Is this Barmby?
Round another bend and Barmby Barrage came into view. The River Derwent heads off north east from here. A while ago we’d considered stopping here to save the full journey up to Selby. Maybe our progress was starting to slow now the effect of the incoming tide was waning against the amount of fresh coming down, we’d been on the river now for an hour and a half. Was this where we should be?
It is
Mick called Nigel at Selby to give him an update on our location. Thankfully he was happy with our progress, he wouldn’t be sat at Selby waiting for us until 9pm as he’d once thought.
Next year
Barmby Barrage has to be booked with the Environment Agency 24 hours in advance. Heading up the Derwent and onto the Pocklington Canal is one trip we want to do, but for now it will have to wait for another year, maybe next year.
Drax
The red line on our charts was now becoming intermediate. Keeping to the outside of bends, but not too far over as the flow pushes you even further out as we’d discovered on our first trip up to York seven years ago. As we reached Hemingbrough our speed was certainly dropping, Nebo showing it now under 5 knots.
24 to where?
We’d been wondering where all the debris was that usually accompanies you from Selby up to York. Last year it had been like a log flume. Our first tree came into sight bobbing along, a browning Christmas tree. Was this all there was going to be?
26
Sea Maiden up ahead was slowing. The river getting narrower the flow coming towards us stronger. This is where the floating debris started, no wonder David had slowed down. We’d lost sight of Lulabelle a while earlier, but with each of us on Nebo we could see where each boat was. Martin and Wendy were maybe ten, fifteen minutes behind, but they were still moving.
How now
Red markers on the western bank counted upwards. 26 being called Brown Cow on our charts was surrounded by sheep grazing the river bank. From here it was only 5km to the swing bridges of Selby, channel 9 to contact the bridge keepers, but we’d not need them to swing for us, we’d only one to go under Selby Bypass Swing Bridge.
A large tree lay on the bank, was this the tree we’d seen last year on our way up to York? At Roscarrs the river narrows and we could see the water bubbling away, lumpy water. We pushed hard against the flow here and up to the next bend where things calmed down somewhat.
Lumpy water
As Sea Maiden passed under the Bypass Bridge we heard David contacting the lock keeper on the radio. Nigel asked if all the boats were together, there was no reply from David. We waited for him to answer but none came. So Mick radioed our position as we passed under the bridge. Sea Maiden would be penned up the lock on her own, Nigel would then drop the lock ready for us. Mick reduced our speed, a gradual approach to the lock better than having to tread water nearer it. Martin on Lulabelle then followed on the radio with their position, still about ten minutes behind us.
Selby Bypass Bridge
But where was the lock? If this was your first time on the river you’d need guidance as all you can see is trees along the banks and Selby Rail Swing Bridge up ahead. Sea Maiden carried on ahead, then just disappeared out of view.
Finally the red brick flats came into view, these are just after the lock so we slowed our progress even more. The water could be seen dropping from the lock. I made my way to the bow before any manoeuvring by us was needed.
Nigel at the lock
Nigel stood by the lock mouth, handy hand signals as to our position on our approach. The temptation to turn in as you would on a canal is great, especially as we were facing the flow. But holding our course upstream meant we’d not get swept into the bank or the lock walls. Stay out, stay out, NOW!
Approaching the lock
Mick swung the tiller hard over and Oleanna responded nicely straight into the lock. Phew!
Thank you Karl for the footage.
Safe in the lock
No need for ropes as we’d be on our own in the lock. Nigel opened up paddles bringing us in towards the wall where we stayed as we raised up to the Selby Canal.
Two of us up
Sea Maiden was already moored. We winded and pulled in behind them. The lock already being reset for Lulabelle. More hand signals and Martin and Wendy turned faultlessly into the lock, big grins all round.
Keep coming!
All three boats safely in Selby. In the last twenty minutes it had started to rain, but other than that we’d had a pretty dry cruise. We’d found the gap in the weather, pushed against the fresh water. David’s original calculations had had us arriving at Selby around 16:30. We’d arrived at 17:30 after pushing against the increasing amount of fresh coming down stream. So we’d not done too badly and had a pleasant cruise up the river.
Three of us up
All that’s left to do now is head back the way we’ve come. Turn up the Trent, using the tide to help us upstream. Passage is currently booked for Sunday at 06:30.
Can I go out yet?
2 locks, 15.84 miles, 1 wind, 3 lefts, 1 straight on, 0 ships, 38 litres, 2 fenders, 3 boat flotilla, 12 knots maximum wind speed, 3 hours 10 minutes on the river, 1 worried Lockie, M62 and Boothferry Bridge gone under, 1st stage of the escape achieved, phew!
Not much impetus to get out of bed this morning due to rain and thinking our escape plans might be postponed, we drank our tea and looked at weather forecasts, river levels after the recent rainfall. Wind looked to be dying down this afternoon, would this give us an opportunity to make our first move in the escape plan?
Oleanna behind the fence
A phone call from Nigel at Selby Lock brought us news that the River Ouse was starting to come up, due to peek on Sunday morning at 3.5 m. Today passage would be possible but not tomorrow as the amount of fresh coming down the river would hinder our progress upstream even with the tide. He also thought that our trip round Trent Falls currently booked for Sunday 06:30 would be unwise as we would likely be fighting our way up the Trent to Keadby too. If we weren’t going to go today he was suggesting waiting until Tuesday to head to Selby and then head back the way we’d come continuing to Trent Falls on Wednesday. The tides would just make it possible to arrive at Keadby within working hours.
Out to meet the flotilla
We needed to chat to the others and see what they thought. Better to do this face to face rather than on Whatsapp. We got dressed and paddled our way round to the moorings past the big work boats to convene the escape committee.
Shower now full leaving the well deck clear
David had also talked to Nigel, he had also spotted the dip in wind speed this afternoon, which hopefully would coincide with a drop in rainfall too. The wind forecast actually showed it changing direction around about the time the tide would change, the important bit about this was that the wind would be going in the same direction as the tide, reducing the possibility of waves.
Goodbye pontoon
Four out of six of us were happy to give the plan a green light, the other two were still in bed, hopefully they would agree. We headed back to Oleanna for breakfast and to prepare for departure.
Mind Lisa’s boat!
Water tank filled, well deck cleared of everything other than the anchor and chain, rubbish in the bins. The trip computer was set, Nebo started. Just as we were untying the chap from a few boats away started telling us of doom and gloom stories of when he’d been through Ocean Lock, his wife nearly being thrown overboard! Blimey, that didn’t sound good! But we have learnt to take such tales with a pinch of salt.
All of a sudden everyone in the marina had come out, the rain having just about stopped along with a boat moving brought people out from beside their stoves, all nicely timed with us reversing off our pontoon and trying our best not to hit Lisa’s boat whilst the wind had other ideas. Other members of our flotilla were at the services on the other side as we pulled out and turned towards the docks, mooring up at the diesel point at Viking Marina. Time to fill up the tank and check out.
Only 38 litres used in 8 months! Mick gave Laird an electric meter reading, handed back our gate key fob. Then we treated ourselves to two new rope fenders a bit chunkier than the one’s we’d found in a skip a few years ago. These were our present to Oleanna for having a quiet winter and to celebrate leaving Goole.
Escape pod at the ready
Time for lunch, last checks, winter waterproof trousers, life jackets on and Tilly’s escape pod zipped up ready just in case. David and Karl came down to tread water alongside us, shortly followed by Martin and Wendy who had finally been convinced that the weather should stay dry for the trip.
David radioed through to Ocean Lock to ask permission to enter the docks. Radio checks were done all round, all working. We pushed out behind Sea Maiden and Lulabelle.
No need for any bridges to swing for us, David had dropped his masts knowing that then he’d fit under. Plenty of head room for the two of us following.
Past the Tom Pudding hoist (footage of it in use). Oleanna wasn’t quite smiling as she normally does, maybe pensive for her entrance onto the River Ouse. A kind word and a slight adjustment of the cable between her horns and she was reassured, smiling back at us again.
No ships to dwarf us
Such a shame the docks were empty of ships today, nothing for us to feel really insignificant alongside.
Sea Maiden pulled into the port side of the lock, followed by Lulabelle. We were directed to the starboard side of the lock. No ropes required to hold us into the side. The huge gates closed behind us.
We all just bobbed there, plenty of space for loads more boats of our size.
Down we go
Then gradually the water emptied from the lock, the tide was a lot lower than we’d expected it to be, 8 maybe 10ft lower than the canal.
The gates opened in front of us. No need for the chap in the control tower to tell us the ‘gates are in the recess’ as he does for the big ships. The chap who was on the lock side just said we could go as the gates were opening.
David and Karl led the way in Sea Maiden, Martin and Wendy next in Lulabelle then we pushed out from the wall and followed on behind.
Ahead a huge expanse of water. Each boat exited the lock and did a sharp turn to the left, the flow of the incoming tide pushing us slightly as we turned. Blimey it’s wide, it’s really wide.
David pushed on ahead, we waited for Lulabelle to pick up speed, but soon we passed Martin and Wendy, Oleanna wanting to go faster to stretch herself with the incoming tide.
Bye bye Goole
Behind us the Salt and Pepper pots along with the spire of St John’s stood tall, Goole was overcast and getting further away by the second. We’ll see them again when we come back in a few days, but for now it was rather nice to be seeing the back of them. The first part of our escape completed, we just had to reach Selby now!
