Category Archives: Canal and River Trust

Dashing Up The Trent. 4th April

Keadby Visitor Moorings to Muskham Ferry, River Trent

Neither of us slept well last night. An early start on tidal waters, the trains going over Vazon Sliding Bridge through the night, not knowing what we would find when we reached David, plus the thought that the conditions on the river could be unsafe due to high winds so we’d not reach Cromwell today.

The alarm went off at 6am, enough time for a cuppa, do final checks and put Tilly’s escape pod together. A phone call from Kirsty saying we had ten minutes before she’d open the road bridge in front of the lock. Covers were sorted quickly, ash can back on board then we followed NB No Rush towards the lock, the light having turned green a couple of minutes earlier.

Kirsty said the flood was still a way off so she would let us down the lock slowly and wait for the level outside the lock to be right before opening the gates. We sat in the lock gradually going down chatting away to Will on NB No Rush. Both boats had the same plan, Cromwell, but if conditions were bad then a stop at either Torksey or Dunham. We exchanged phone numbers and with both boats having VHF we knew we could be in touch even if we were out of sight of each other.

It took 40 minutes for things to be right before the gates opened in front of us. Will suggested we went first as we had more reason to get somewhere today and he’d been told he travels a touch slower than most. Out onto the river, the push from the tide not yet really going for it.

We’d not been down to the lock to check if there were any ships moored on the river as we do normally, so it was a relief that there wasn’t one there to surprise us.

Dressed appropriately, thermals, padded waterproof trousers, jumpers, fleece, waterproof coat, we hoped we’d be able to withstand what ever the weather threw at us. The large expanse of river was ahead, we gradually crossed over to go under the eastern span of Keadby Bridge. NB No Rush appeared from the lock behind, at first seeming to keep up with us, but as the two boats settled into their cruising speed with the tide we slowly pulled away from them.

Time for breakfast, sausage sarnies and an insulated mug of something hot. Meanwhile below Tilly was not impressed with the speed we were moving the outside, I’m not a speed monster!

With our Trent chart in a plastic bag for protection from a little rain early on, we followed the red line marking the channel, around us the level gradually rising with the tide.

This was our fourth trip southwards on the Tidal Trent. First trip was on NB Lillyanne in 2015, then on Oleanna’s maiden voyage when we managed to catch an early morning spring tide which carried us all the way to Cromwell. Then last year when we’d come round Trent Falls escaping from Goole. Today the westerly wind would be over the tide giving us waves when we turned into it. Thankfully they weren’t too big.

Familiar landmarks were passed, Owston Ferry (Which pub did Mick’s grandfather stay at?), The entrance to the River Idle, West Stockwith Lock.

Gainsborough where we’d considered stopping last year, but with spring tides and a possible Aegir the following morning we ended up continuing on to Torksey. We were rushing with the tide by now as the river narrows and twists through the city. Areas where the water gets confused as to which way to flow, bubbling around Oleanna.

Then the power stations still with their full compliment of cooling towers could be seen, at one stage both in line with each other.

Torksey Viaduct. A quick check of Windy and the forecast strong winds had moved on a few hours. We agreed to carry on, so far conditions hadn’t been too bad. We passed the turn off to the lock and the pontoons below it, not a boat in sight.

Along the straight to Dunham Toll Bridge we could see NB No Rush was still with us. Last chance to stop on the pontoon here, but we kept on going. A phone call to Cromwell had been made to make sure we’d be able to get in with them today, all was fine.

Things were getting choppier, more twists bringing us in to the wind. Gradually our speed dropped as the push from the tide dropped away and the push the other way from 2ft of fresh water coming down from Cromwell took over, a few more revs needed from Oleanna’s engine.

Overhead power lines were being worked on, pinging in the wind as they whipped around as we followed the channel directly underneath them, a rescue boat was moored at the corner just in case.

Round the meanders where posts sit far out in the water marking where sandbags extend to. Under Fledborough Viaduct where someone needs to refresh the England graffiti so you get the right span for the channel.

Then at the bends where you line up with an old mill on the bank we came across two narrowboats heading downstream, luckily there was enough water for us all to pass without anyone going aground, handy it was a spring tide with fresh coming down.

We’d been told to call the Lock Keeper at the 48km marker, Mick left a message. The final bend and Cromwell Weir came into view followed by the lock. The light was red, but shortly turned to green as the gates opened to welcome us off the tidal Trent. Being able to be right back in the lock made for a gentle ascent.

We needed a pit stop so pulled on to the inside of the pontoon mooring alongside a chap who’d just come from Torksey this morning. Lunch and an empty of our wee tank. NB No Rush soon followed us up, they’d stopped to give the dog a comfort break at Dunham. Blimey that wind and now rain had got up, Will very nearly lost his boat whilst trying to moor up, Mick ran to lend a hand and between everyone they got their boat secured.

Time to move on. David was moored at North Muskham outside the Muskham Ferry. Here there are finger pontoons, short finger pontoons, would we be able to moor up safely? It took three attempts to get Oleanna’s bow close enough to the pontoon for me to jump off and quickly secure the bow rope before the wind and current dragged the stern away down stream pivoting the bow into the side of a cruiser. Thankfully things held and we could finish securing Oleanna next door to David.

Just like Mr Ben a chap turned up on the pontoon, saying he was from the local parish council and asked if we were David’s friends? We’re not sure how it came about, but David has been supported by the Parish Council of North Muskham for about a week. Piles of fire wood sat on the pontoon and a pub meal was being paid for by them each day.

So pretty and in better light than last time we passed.

We are by no means mental health experts, we can listen, hold a hand, give hugs and try and help with practical things. David was in a state as we’d expected. The man we’d met last year we knew we’d not be seeing today. With his problems he’s let the boat and himself go.

Where to start? What to do?

David had been in touch with so many organisations, he’d managed to register with a GP in Newark, the Crisis team had been out to him. But it all felt like he was going round and round in circles, nothing helping, nothing working, just constantly being pushed to the next organisation or a different part of the NHS.

We made a call to his GP. The receptionist tried to help but couldn’t, if David was feeling suicidal than he had to go to A&E something he really really didn’t want to do. Eventually we were given the number of the Crisis team. Mick called them leaving a message voicing our concerns. He had a call back, data protection meant that David had to give consent for us to be part of the conversation, so the phone had to come off speaker and be handed to him. Once that was sorted we were told that David had an appointment for the morning in Newark.

We did a bit of shopping for him, an idyllic walk along the side of the A1 to get to the service station! Sitting outside chatting with David we were joined by a lady who’d been wild swimming, she knew the right things to say, to ask questions, showed care for a complete stranger. What a wonderful person she was.

David joined us inside Oleanna to warm up, have some food, maybe a shower. Instead we ended up chatting with Heather Bleasdale on the phone about all sorts of things, quite a bit about the cruiser she bought a few months ago and what jobs were needing to be done. The pub delivered some chips for David, but they weren’t what he needed, sleep was more important to him even if he’d not eaten properly for a few days.

Later on Mick got another phone call from the crisis team, where were we and what time would we like a cab to get us to the meeting in the morning. We’d assumed that the meeting had already been planned, but it turns out our concerned phone calls had triggered it. The lady was very helpful, told us who we’d be meeting. We hoped that this would be the way out of the circle David felt he was in.

I cooked a meal, we watched TV, went to bed early hoping we’d get a better nights sleep.

2 locks, 1 swing bridge, 1 windy day, 2 possible stop offs, 0 used, 2 sausage sarnies, 1 pit stop, 3 attempts to moor, 1 narrowboat clinging on for dear life, 1 broken man, 1 wonderful woman, 2 phone calls of concern, £19.75 for 30grams of tobacco! 1 meeting for tomorrow.

https://goo.gl/maps/wH2KGSTxHefnsyBs7

Sideways Snow. 31st March

Thorne Lock to Thorne Services Visitor Moorings

A phone call to Sean to see if he’d be visiting Thorne today or tomorrow came up with the answer we’d been expecting. The weather was not suitable for him to fit boat covers so he wouldn’t be making a trip to Thorne this week. Only one thing for it, the Senior Citizen Railcard would be put to use and Mick would go and collect it from Cottingham, which is north of Hull. We checked the times and prices of tickets, then checked a split ticket website and managed to get £5 off if Mick got one return to Brough and another to Cottingham.

In a lull between snow storms we headed out, Mick to the station and myself to Sainsburys for some milk as we’d run out. I thought today might not be so interesting, other than the sideways snow, so took a photo of The Little Shop. It’s one of those shops I really want to go in, but sweeties from a big jar are not something we need. Maybe next time I’ll have to arrange to have a young person with me, the need then will be greater.

Back at Oleanna I had some lunch and set about weaving ends in on my socks. Then the world got busy!

Across the way a narrowboat was being brought down the slipway back into the water. No bung in the exhaust just the engine running to keep any water from going into the engine. Once floating the boat was winded alongside us, then it vanished! Where had it gone? I’d sat down to do some more weaving for just a couple of minutes and it had vanished. It must have gone into the dock opposite.

Then another narrowboat arrived. The tractor came down the slipway to meet it, but the prevailing wind really wasn’t helping things, the bow missed the opening and as they went into reverse the boat was blown down past us, necessitating a more powerful return.

Two boats in the mean time had just come up Thorne Lock, they stemmed the wind waiting to get past. Once they were clear the rumble of a big boat came close, in front of it a big skip boat filled with generators and big hoses. C&RT getting ready for the work at the lock. Earlier on I’d seen a chap setting out mesh on the grass on the offside, maybe this is where the generators will be positioned next week.

Cabin top dropped to get under low bridges.

Then another skip boat came past, Robin Hood pushing the new lock gates. These will have been made at Stanley Ferry and most probably have come all the way by water. The top of Robin Hood’s cab had been dropped to get under the railway bridge in Thorne.

The two boats and their skips breasted up on the lock landing, hopefully there will be a volunteer on duty for the weekend to help single handers through.

Mick soon arrived back with a very natty package including handle, we had our cratch cover back.!

Goodbye Staniland, we did try waving to Jonathan.

In what we thought was a lull in the weather, we untied. Mick kept Oleanna on the mooring until I’d got the bridge open, stopping a reversing bin wagon in the process (not sure how many you get for one of those!), then he zoomed her into the lock avoiding being pushed this way and that by the wind.

A chap came over to chat and watch. Next week he’s picking up his first narrowboat from Lymm, cruising up the Bridewater, up the Rochdale 9, Ashton canal, over the Pennines via the Huddersfield Narrow and along the Aire and Calder to Thorne to moor. Thankfully he’s getting help with his first ever locks on the Rochdale 9, but then single handing from there. He hadn’t been aware of Thorne Lock closing on Monday for over a month. I wished him luck and told him to take his time and enjoy himself.

We pootled to the services, but would there be space for us? One side of a pontoon was available so we could get water, phew! Here is a 24 hour visitor mooring behind gates with the services, until tomorrow unless other wise signed all visitor moorings have been 14 days. We slotted in and started to fill the water tank. This would take a couple of hours as the pressure could compete with all the slow taps on the network. We also did a load of washing and got the dishwasher earning it’s keep.

The cratch cover went back on, the zips all sewn back in by machine, much better than my hand sewing. SPL had also darned a couple of little tares, one that had been there since it was made, the other possibly from a tussle with NB Billy a couple of years ago or when we’d got too close to a lock gate. Not bad for £25 plus a train fare to Cottingham.

By now we were both very cold. What was the likelihood of someone passing wanting water? It was getting dark after all. We decided that we’d stay put for the night and if no-one else had moved off in the morning we’d pull out and leave a space available.

My aim of knitting ten pairs of socks during March was achieved, admittedly the tenth pair being a diddy pair. All adult socks were packed up and addressed ready to be sent off. I’m going to let my fingers and needles have a bit of a rest for a few days, hopefully I won’t get twitchy fingers and start on something else.

1 lock, 0.37 miles, 4 trains, 1 cratch cover, 1 boat through the impending stoppage, 1 swing bridge, 1 reversing bin wagon held up, 2 tugs, 4 gates, 2 boats swapped, 1 hour of sideways snow, 20 frozen digits, 1 full water tank, 10 pairs, 1 March Challenge completed.

https://goo.gl/maps/ftHgPmUyNKKSNnUd8

Critical To Fatal. 28th March

Thorne Lock

You may have noticed (unless the problem has been solved when you read this) that there is no blog roll on the right hand side.

This evening Mick came to the blog to have a catch up on fellow bloggers posts only to find the blog was missing, a ‘critical’ error had occured! Oh blimey, what had Tilly been upto whilst we were out earlier?

WordPress sent an email to our IT department (Mick) regarding the critical error.

Since WordPress 5.2 there is a built-in feature that detects when a plugin or theme causes a fatal error on your site, and notifies you with this automated email.

In this case, WordPress caught an error with one of your plugins, RSS Feed Checker.

Critical had turned into Fatal in one email!

Not being able to access the ‘dashboard’ to look into the problem Mick was given the option of going into a special ‘recovery mode’. He did this and was able to remove the blog roll plugin. The blog is now visible again. More investigation is required tomorrow.

This fly is far more interesting than the wet outside

They sad it was a Sausage Day, but it turned into a bit of a Frankfurter! She said I had nine hours. Then it rained! Tom said I could still go out. Until he closed the back doors and said he and She were going out instead!

A loaf of bread was required along with a stretch of our legs. So we headed into town to Sainsburys.

Below Thorne Lock two C&RT boats are sitting waiting for next week, they have small diggers on them, the sort that are used for dredging only a bit cleaner! These will be joined at some point by a big crane boat which was being used at Newark Town Lock until recently.

With our shopping done we headed to Thorne Boat Services to see if they had any Marine 16, an additive Mick likes to put in the diesel tank to stop diesel bug. We looked round the chandlery, but they had none. Today their diesel was £1.45 a litre.

To cross over the canal we headed for the troublesome footbridge just as someone was opening it to get their boat through. Good job it wasn’t a windy day as when the chap had taken his boat through he stepped off without a rope. Pedestrians including ourselves were on hand to open the barriers, if we hadn’t been we suspect his boat would have drifted away just that bit too much to be able to jump back on. One of those instances where you just have to wait till it drifts back towards a bank.

Dolly Earl always has washing hanging out

We tried the Chandlery at Staniland Marina too, but the doors were firmly locked. Maybe we’ll try again tomorrow.

Mick called the chap who has our cratch cover, it is ready and he’ll bring it with him one day this week when he’s back in Thorne to do other work, he’s not sure when yet.

The afternoon was spent knitting, eighth pair finished and the yarn for the ninth pair wound into two balls ready.

0 locks, 0 miles, 0 winding, 0 bridges, 2 work boats, 3 lodgers, 1 loaf bread, 0 cratch cover, 8th pair finished, 1 Frankfurter day, 1 fatal error thankfully not that fatal!

Boat Conference. 21st March

Bramwith Junction to Pollington Lock, Aire and Calder

Time to put a plan together. Sitting around waiting for my glasses to arrive doesn’t get the water tank filled or other boat jobs done. So after breakfast and updating the blog we had a boat conference. These are actually quite rare, most discussions of our plans are held as we stand on the back of Oleanna, but today we needed to concentrate.

Our original plan had been to make use of the weeks whilst Thorne Lock was shut. The London Leckenby’s have a few days in York so we’d planned to join them, maybe even a boat trip into our home city as Jac and Josh have never done this and the tour guides on Oleanna know exactly where to stop to see our family home from the river. Various boat jobs to get done and do. Friends to catch up with around the area etc. Also being in the area for a change over of lodgers at the house would be handy. It all had fitted together quite nicely. Then after Easter we would head southwards on the Trent, the quick way south.

But since the dates for the stoppage at Thorne Lock have changed we’ve been in a quandary. Spending time in York is very appealing especially since Andrew and I haven’t been in the city together for at least 6 years and that was for a funeral. Catching up with friends is something we’d wanted to do summer before last, but floods and the pandemic put paid to that as we were rafted up with other boats at Naburn for several days.

Should we stay and do all those things?

Should we leave before the lock closes in a couple of weeks?

We’ve spent a lot of time mulling this over and every day for the last week we’ve discussed it further, but still not come up with a plan. Today we needed a plan.

Our discussion actually was relatively short.

If the London Leckenby’s hadn’t been coming up to York then we doubt we’d have been considering heading that way at this time of year. We’ve upgraded to a Gold Licence this year and if we stayed on this side of Thorne Lock and then exited via the Pennines it would mean us loosing about a months worth of Goldness. Decision made, we will be heading south on the Trent as soon as the tides look suitable.

A list of things we need to do was drawn up. Approximate dates worked out and ,most importantly a phone call made to Keadby Lock to book our passage. Sadly there was only an answerphone to talk to, but we knew someone would call us back.

With water needed we pushed off along the New Junction Canal again. If my glasses arrive in the next few days we’ll aim to be near a station to get back to Doncaster to collect them.

We made our way back swinging and lifting bridges. Before Sykehouse Lock three narrowboats that passed us yesterday were moored up, they looked like they were settled for a few days of company, jobs and possibly even a barbeque.

As we came through the last narrowing where a swing bridge used to be the light at the lock changed to red, shortly followed by green. There were plenty of people around. The volunteer who must live there in the tower, another C&RT chap by the bridge and a couple of boaters, so there was plenty of help to move the bridge out of our way and then back once we were below it.

At the end of the New Junction we turned left and headed towards Pollington Lock.

A couple of bank slippages are marked with yellow buoys. These were there when we walked the stretch shortly after the breach happened Christmas 2020. Short red posts and some spray paint mark the worst bits.

The visitor moorings below Pollington Lock were empty so we pulled up to the space closest to the water point and got the tap going. We very quickly remembered that the pressure is appalling at this tap, no sitting and waiting for the tank to fill, best to get on with other things and forget about it. Thankfully we can check our water gauge every now and then to know when the tank was full, the pressure so low that there’d be no boom from our tank and no major gushing of water coming out of the over flow, just a gentle trickle. It took longer than two hours to fill us up!

Tilly checked out the picnic table, but wasn’t overly impressed with the mooring. She’s managed to get on the other side of the ditch here before which makes for an interesting rescue. Mick however looked at the picnic table and realised what we’d be doing tomorrow!

1 lock, 7.32 miles, 3 swing bridges, 3 held up, 3 lift bridges, 6 held up, 2 outsides, 6%, 6th pair knitted, 2 plus hours to fill, 2 pairs of odd socks, 1 conference, 1 plan at last, 1 call booked, 1 useful picnic table and tap.

https://goo.gl/maps/CSMReDdA7iSvRyML8

Blue All Around. 17th March

Bramwith Junction to Doncaster Visitor Moorings

What a difference waking to bright sunshine!

We pushed off mid morning, the washing machine having nearly worked it’s way through a full cycle. A boat was just pulling back from the water point at Barnby Dun so we pulled up in front of them and took over the tap.

The plants in the cratch were given a water, thyme and two troughs of wild strawberries which have survived the winter well. I wonder if I should move a few into another trough to give them more space?

Time to hold up the traffic. For the first time at Barnby Dun a gap in vehicles happened almost instantaneously as I arrived at the panel. I had to have another look round before pressing the button on the panel, it wasn’t too long before a car arrived, thankfully the driver sat patiently as the barriers dropped.

I lifted the bridge enough for Oleanna to get through, then dropped it again, the road now open again to traffic. Thank goodness I hadn’t lifted it all the way up, as soon as I turned the key, turning the power off, an ambulance siren could be heard. It then came into view along the side road, blue lights flashing and whizzed across the bridge. So glad it hadn’t arrived a few minutes earlier when the bridge was up and Oleanna part way under it!

There was a keen head wind which pinned Oleanna against the side, a Reverse Andy with the stern rope was needed to get us going again.

More new houses have gone up around St Oswalds at Kirk Sandall. A couple of semis right up along side the church. Several properties have added fake greenery along their railings keeping prying eyes and the view of the canal out. One house has gone even further and built a large garden room right across the back of their property.

The light was on amber at Long Sandall lock, I hopped off with the key of power, Mick reversed Oleanna away from the bottom of the lock so that I could empty the water safely.

Above the lock there are nice 48hour moorings, there was a space, but sadly only two thirds of Oleanna would have fitted. We decided to carry on to Doncaster, first of all dropping off our recycling at the bins by the lock. Then another Reverse Andy to get off the bank again, this one took a bit more umph, but worked to get the bow out from the side and we were off.

The next pound is a touch mangy. Burnt out vehicles, rubbish, speeding cruisers! But then a high chirp, a flash of electric blue, a Kingfisher reached a perch and sat their chirping away. Sadly I couldn’t get it in shot before we were too far away.

Doncaster Minster came into view, followed by the visitor moorings, only one boat on them, we pulled in behind.

Sorry Tilly no shore leave here! I realised that we’d not finished unpacking since we moved back on board. All Tilly’s toys that had been taken to the house had been packed in her escape pod which was still collapsed in a cupboard. Time to unleash the toys. This was a very popular move and her two newest toys have not lost their pungency of cat nip.

An afternoon of knitting for me whilst Mick tinkered with the blog. He’s now discovered that we can add different links to reusable blocks on different posts. So from now on the blue and red arrows at the bottom of a post, if I can remember how to do it, will link to the page they are referring to, so just click on them.

1 lock, 5.74 miles, 1 lift bridge, 2 reverse Andys, 12 held up, 0 ambulances, 1 sunny day, 1 chirpy Kingfisher,0 drawer movements, 0 glasses news, 5th pair socks off the needles, 1 approach, 6 mice, 2 fish, 1 ball released, 1 happier cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/f9P4N7RZJ5CK95bA9

Five Floating

Sykehouse Junction to Bramwith Junction

Five years ago today, really quite early, in fact a touch too early, Oleanna was craned into the canal at Finesse and Jonathan Wilson’s boatyard. I say too early as she was the first boat to be moved that day and sadly we missed her being craned in by about twenty minutes! Here are a few photos from the day and a Link to the blog post. At the time I had a broken ankle and couldn’t get on board Oleanna, so a fork lift and a pallet were brought to assist.

Today in 2022 would not be quite so exciting. Today we would head southwards along the New Junction Canal, how far dependant on a new pair of glasses for me.

First though was breakfast whilst Tilly had a couple of hours exploring, Exol Pride had moved off, most probably at first light so the way ahead was clear for us. Pushing off at almost midday we pootled past a couple of chaps in high vis who had been looking at a generator that is chained to the Went Aqueduct.

The lift and swing bridges today gave me a few vehicles to hold up including a bin wagon, a car on a trailer. Not the most we’ve stopped along this stretch before but better than a couple of weeks ago.

The light at Sykehouse Lock was amber, but as we came through the first bridge it changed to green, someone on duty. Approaching the bottom gates were open, the swing bridge still across the chamber, but this was moved before we got there. Once in the lock we were ushered above the swing bridge so that it could be brought back into position. The Lock Keeper shouted down to us to keep towards the bridge, the currents created by the paddles towards the top gates can have you going all over the shop.

Two C&RT chaps were sorting things on a small digger boat, maybe this would be heading towards Thorne Lock to assist with the works there next month?

On one of the longer stretches between bridges I gave the Opticians a call. My new glasses had been ordered in Scarborough and last Tuesday they rang me to check where I’d like them sending to, they suggested that they should arrive in a day or two, but I’d not heard a thing.

The line just rang and rang as it had done yesterday. No automated lady giving me options, it just rang. Mick suggested we both try calling at the same time, a possible faulty circuit meaning my call would never be heard at the other end. My phone rang, but a lady answered Micks call, an old 1970’s Post Office trick had worked.

Unfortunately my new glasses had not arrived with them, so I tried the Scarborough store, the lady there said she would look into it and to leave it with her.

At the last swing bridge I thought I was about to hold up a couple of C&RT vans, but they pulled in as the barriers lowered. Good job they arrived when they did. One chap was saying that the barrier on their side hadn’t been working earlier on. They removed the cover and peeked inside, Mick brought Oleanna through, then I pressed the close button. The bridge swung shut, returned to be level with the road, the sirens sounded, the chaps stood back from the barrier.

On my side the barrier rose upwards, on their side the barrier tried, rising only a couple of feet before dropping back down. The chaps encouraged it to lift and also had to give it an encouraging final umph back into it’s upright position. If they hadn’t been there to see to it, I’d have had to call them out.

Under the Don Doors and over the River Don we arrived at Bramwith Junction. This would do us for the day. The wind making it hard to moor again. Mick had to cling onto the centre line whilst I wrapped chains round the steel and tied our ropes. My right hand grip really does not like clinging on to ropes in the cold, hopefully as the temperatures rise this will ease.

Those dry mole hills are great for digging in!

The afternoon was spent knitting, towpath exploring and a touch of planning. On the Trent-link group suitable tides have been worked out for those considering heading round Trent Falls. Mick had identified one of them as a possible for us, so at least his calculations are correct.

The fourth pair of socks was completed, then the next two had yarns auditioned and the fifth pair was cast on and knitted up to the gusset before bedtime. Ooo errr!

1 lock, 5.4 miles, 3 swing bridges, 3 lift bridges, 13 held up, 1 dodgy barrier, 3 C&RT chaps, 0 glasses, 1 boat not in a hurry, 1 possible tide, 4 grey paws, 2 glasses of wine to toast Oleanna.

https://goo.gl/maps/6zL4rfHQAP2YAKaq7

Deluded Lentil Baseballs. 12th March

Sykehouse Junction to Opposite the cement works Goole

Tilly was allowed shore leave whilst we joined the Geraghty zoom this morning. For the last four weeks Mick has been involved in something to do with hire cars, so hasn’t been present for at least three of those weeks, so it was nice to see people again and have a catch up.

Then it was time to push off, would Tilly return? Well, a short while after I called for her there was a meow at the back doors. Inside, 2 Dreamies, padded trousers on, trip computer set and we were off.

Across the way from where we’d moored was a line of buoys marking a relaxing bank, so we didn’t want to get close to it whilst winding. Instead Mick reversed Oleanna back to the junction, good job we’d got the weedhatch cover back in enabling better reversibility. At the junction we turned to face Goole and retraced our wake. Today was chilly and blustery stood on the stern. We discussed our options for escaping Goole, again. If there are enough boats interested then the Trent-Link group will put together an appeal to C&RT regarding Thorne Lock. For us a nudge of dates would be good, freeing up the Easter weekend I suspect would please local boaters.

Someone knows the grass is always greener.

Near Sugar Mill Ponds there has always been a dutch barge moored along the towpath. When we came past last week it wasn’t there, we wondered if it had moved moorings. Then it had returned. Today it had vanished again! Just where does it go to? Maybe for water, diesel? There was a choice of spaces opposite the cement works so we pulled in a touch further away from the boats with woofers. Here is the prefect place to bring a car alongside.

Across the way the moorings outside the Auction house were chocka block. We wonder if mooring is discouraged during the week when they are open, or is it that no-one will notice you mooring there when they are closed?

A large pot of chilli was made in my cast iron casserole and popped on the stove to gradually cook for the rest of the afternoon, saving on gas.

With a visit from Frank on the cards we needed to stock up on a few things, especially potatoes to go with a roast. Mick headed to Tescos whilst I headed to Boyes for some glue and some baby yarn. Tescos supplied us with a new rectangular ceramic lasagne dish, not pyrex, but identical to the one we used to have. So now I can cook reasonable portion sizes again.

The title of the post? Our location on what3words, I found it amusing.

0 locks, 6.11 miles, 1 reverse, 0 dutch barge, 2 gaps, 0 shore leave, 1.5 kg potatoes, 2 types glue, 1 oven dish, 3 meals worth of chilli, 0.75 sock knitted, 1 bakewell tart started.

https://goo.gl/maps/mnc2B2j7mYHVMRdZ6

Sausage Day. 11th March

Sykehouse Junction

A Sausage Day! Was I going to like it? Well yes! But I still don’t know what it means as it involved no sausages what-so-ever! Not sure She even knows what it means. But I’d be quite happy to have more sausage days.

As soon as Tom was up and dressed the back doors were opened, She recited the rules to me and I was off into the friendly cover. I think She said something about 8 hours, but I wasn’t listening at that point! Who would when it’s a Sausage Day!?

I came back quite a few times as requested. My ‘Thank you for coming home‘ Dreamies however have been reduced in number! Apparently we are on an economy drive, therefore my Dreamies allowance has been cut by 33%. She and Tom have cut their wine allowance by 57%. I wonder where this economy is that we’ll drive too, hopefully we won’t be going by car!

The weedhatch cover was removed and laid out on the towpath and given a good scrub all over to remove silt and then left in the morning sunshine to dry off whilst we had breakfast. As just about all of it had been blacked previously I held back with the Danboline, I’ll use this for the handles which sit above the water line and use blacking below.

Once it was dried I scraped away any loose paint and grease, gave it a sand and a good brush down before applying a coat of blacking. This was then left in the now fading sunshine to dry off for as long as possible. Too sticky to do the handles these will have to wait for another day.

*Shall I put that screw somewhere handy for you Tom?*

Mick spent a bit of time looking at the freezer drawer, trying to remove the back as access was needed to replace the handle that became detached earlier in the day. Either the back is glued in or has a screw or two from the bottom which currently is impossible to access as the drawer no longer comes out fully.

The afternoon was spent weaving ends into my first three pairs of socks, daylight a must for such a job. For the next few pairs I’m changing yarns, from DK to 4 ply. This means more stitches to knit and more rows, so each sock will take a touch longer. New patterns were worked out and in the evening the next sock was cast on.

Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me. The target on my Facebook page today was reached and another donation from two of Tilly’s friends has brought my Justgiving page to 75% of my targeted amount. I may have to buy some suitable yarn for baby socks when we get back to Goole as I don’t think I have enough suitable yarn to knit premature baby socks.

Today official news has come through regarding the stoppage at Thorne Lock on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. This was originally meant to be in place by now, opening back up around Easter. We have planned the beginning of our cruising year around this, then when re-open we would head up stream on the Trent, a fast route down the country.

But today in sausage terms we’ve been dealt a Cumberland Sausage! The lock will now close on April 4th and be closed for six weeks, reopening 23rd May. This would have us leaving the area at a similar time as last year when we’d been held up by the breach and covid, therefore not making the most of our Gold licence.

We could of course leave the area before the stoppage starts, but that would mean cancelling various commitments we’ve now made. What to do? We have several options.

A back door open kind of day, until it rained!

Leave via the Pennines, Leeds Liverpool, Rochdale or Huddersfield Canals. None of these would get us south for a while. The there is the other option, Trent Falls. We did this last year and if everything fell into place, weather, tide, locks, we’d choose this option. Mick even suggested seeing if we could do Naburn to Torksey in one day!

The jury however is still out.

For anyone interested in travelling the Trent there is a newish Facebook group Trentlink – Safe Navigation of the Tidal Trent. The aim is to encourage people to use the Tidal Trent in a safe way, offering advice and maybe even buddying up with more experienced boats for the trip.

Other news, Selby Swing Bridge which has only just been reinstated has broken down. From 14th March passage will be possible with 48 hours notice, C&RT will manually operate the bridge for you until the running gear has been refurbished.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 sausage day, 8 hours towpath freedom, £50 donations, 1 coat of blacking, 2 patterns, 7th sock, 1 happy cat, 1 less handle, 16 not 15mm Forstner bit, 1 Cumberland Sausage, 2 boaters needing to come up with an alternative plan.

Hire Boat Aroma 27th February

Bramwith Junction to Goole Boat House Marina, Aire and Calder Navigation

Houses and boats have their own advantages. In our house in the mornings I can get out of my side of the bed, walk round it and then along the landing to the bathroom. If this is done in the dark I usually bang my knee on the bottom of the bed having misjudged it’s size. On Oleanna I usually have to manhandle Tilly out of the way and then crawl over Mick’s feet to reach the bathroom side of the bed. However it is impossible to bump one’s knee and the loo is only a couple of paces away rather than a major hike across Scarborough!

The view from bed in the house is a fairly good one, although the window is not well aligned to the bed. On the boat our big window is perfectly positioned, it was designed that way. Once the condensation is removed (if only we didn’t breath overnight) the view from Oleanna’s bed can be fantastic, this morning we had such a view, the sun rising across the fields and the frost glinting on the grasses. Other days we can be staring straight at some piling or at the cabin side of another boat. The good mixed with the not so good, but the view does change often and that is one thing I miss when in the house.

With limited food supplies on board, intentional for our one night stay, Mick cooked up bacon butties for breakfast, hire boat aroma filled Oleanna for hours.

Then with winter layers donned we rolled back the covers. That wind was there again which meant we needed to think about pushing off, or not pushing as the case was. The wind wanted to push Oleanna away from the bank, so we used this to our advantage. We both untied the bow, so that we knew we’d be able to keep hold of her. I hopped onboard the bow with the rope, the wind gradually pushing the bow out into mid channel, thankfully only a passing canoe to worry about this morning. Then Mick headed to the stern, undid the rope and chain there and managed to get onboard before the stern was pushed out too. By now Oleanna was just about 90 degrees to where she’d started off, a short burst of the engine had our wind completed and we were now facing the New Junction Canal.

The Don Doors hung above our heads as we crossed the aqueduct. A line of flood debris just visible suggesting the recent flooding had been very close to the height of the canal. Flood water still sitting in the surrounding fields.

The five and a half miles of the New Junction is dead straight but crossed at frequent intervals by roads which all have a moveable bridge. All but one of these is key powered. Big swing bridges and lift bridges can hold the traffic up, but this morning being a Sunday there were more cyclists about than cars or vans. At one bridge a boat was moored on the bridge landing, secure for the storms last week (don’t blame them), but in the way today.

As we worked our way through the bridges I could just make out the light at Sykehouse Lock, amber, self service, not that surprising as there wouldn’t be much traffic about. However as we got closer I could spy movement in the lock tower. The light turned green, then red, then green again, there was a lock keeper on duty.

Over Sykehouse Lock is the only manual swing bridge. Boaters operating the lock have to move the bridge before the panels at either end of the lock will work, but a lock keeper can do things in the order they want to. As he came down from the tower with his two dogs a car came across the bridge, there was a long chat before barriers were closed, both dogs returned to the right side of the bridge and it could be opened, all the time we were getting closer.

Once in the lock he asked us to move up so he could close the bridge behind us. Then the water dropped and we could be on our way again. We were now on the pound where the breach had been at the end of 2020. There are mooring restrictions from Went Aqueduct, Pollington Lock to the bend where the breach happened, sections of the piling having fallen in towards the canal when there was a lack of water. Buoys mark the areas well.

Up at the reservoir boats were speeding by, a perfect day for it. We just hoped it would calm down when we reached Goole. We turned right, passing more buoys and headed straight for Drax power station, the only power station in the area still with its full complement of cooling towers.

Then at the 90 degree bend we had reached the breach site. Mick passed through here last year, but today was my first time. From studying all the drone photos last year I knew where the pumps had been, where the walls of the cofferdam had crossed the cut. Now other than the fence over the big culvert looking new and clean concrete and piling edged with rubber buffers you’d hardly know what a state the place had been this time last year. The fishermen I suspect are glad of a slightly better surfaced carpark on the opposite bank too.

There are loads of new signs along the straight towards Goole warning of Animal Escape ramps. These have also been improved and look like new stone has been added to them.

On reaching Goole there was next to no room on the visitor moorings, we spotted Wendy waving frantically from the windows of Lullabelle (a fellow Goole Escapee from last year) as we made our way to the diesel point on the Boat House side. Mick gave Dave the new owner of the marina a call and soon Adey arrived to show us where we’d be able to moor for a few days by the dry dock, Viking Marina had been full when we’d tried there.

Thankfully the wind wasn’t so bad as we manoeuvred Oleanna into her mooring. Adey was very helpful and chatted away for ages about what the plans are for the marina. Mick even ended up with a mud weight, a thing he’s been after for years.

A late lunch, then Mick headed off by bike to catch a train back to Thorne to retrieve the car whilst I did the most important job of pre-ordering a celebration meal for when we move back on board.

On Mick’s return we loaded the car with things we didn’t need and useful bags and boxes which would get filled in the next few days. Electrics, gas and water all turned off, another shovel of coal on the stove and we were ready for the off. Just one thing to do before heading back to Scarborough, say hello to Martin and Wendy on Lullabelle.

11.99 miles, 1 lock, 3 swing bridges, 3 lift bridges, 8 cars, 3 bikes held up, 1 lockie, 2 bacon butties, 1 self turning boat, 1 tidy breach site, 2 many buoys, 1 widebeam, 1 mud weight, 1 Chinese takeaway on order, 1 waving Wendy, 1 hungry cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/1cMnid47YhZvbUNi6

No Stopping The Prime Van Or Us. 26th February

Blue Water Marina to Bramwith Junction, Stainforth and Keadby / New Junction Canals

During the week house reclaiming jobs have been completed, for this winter. All the hallway wallpaper has been patched up, some places better than others. Daily covid test have been taken as half of the Dark Horse Company tested positive the weekend after the show, thankfully everyone seems to have only had mild symptoms and thankfully I seem to have managed to avoid it.

We’ve made the sensible but hard decision to retire our boat Christmas tree. It has served us well for the last 7 Christmases. Coming into the house has confused it the last two years, sprouting and then getting chilly again even with us trying to move it gradually back to outside. It was also getting a touch too big for the boat and was pot bound. A space in the back garden was made ready with a touch of our own compost, which we hope will give it a much needed boost. If it survives I’ll buy it some solar powered lights so that it can be a Christmas tree all year round.

During the winter C&RT do maintenance on the canal system, taking advantage of the quieter time on the canals. For boaters wanting to cruise it means a touch more planning to avoid getting stuck. Our route south is currently blocked at Newark Town Lock which will be closed until 18th March. Then Thorne Lock was due to close between 1st and 31st March for lock gate replacement, the dates of this stoppage are under review as the gate manufacturing has been delayed. All the same should we stay put at Blue Water Marina for a few more weeks we could possibly end up only being able to cruise out towards Keadby, the furthest south we’d get being Torksey until Newark Town Lock reopens.

Add into the mix the fact that we are surrounded by rivers. The River Trent to our east, River Don the south, River Aire to the north and west and the River Ouse. The recent storms have had all the rivers go into flood. Flood gates and locks have been closed helping to protect properties. So understandably during the last week we’ve been watching the weather forecasts and river levels closely.

On Wednesday a C&RT notice came through saying that the Don Doors had reopened. The Doors are two guillotine gates that close at either side of the Don Aqueduct on the New Junction Canal, this is to stop flood water from the Don backing up along the New Junction Canal. Whilst they had been closed we’d tried contacting Staniland Marina to see if they could put us up for a little while, they are just above Thorne Lock. But there had been no space for us, so we’d been relieved to hear the New Junction Canal was open again.

With the weather looking promising for the weekend, our plan started to slot together. A phone call to Sarah at Blue Water Marina meant we had a new gas bottle delivered to Oleanna and our spare keys were returned too as nobody would be in the office when we arrived.

A hire car was picked up on Friday evening and we started to pack. The aim of this trip was to move as much back onto Oleanna as possible, leaving the minimum amount for our last trip when we’d be moving Tilly.

By 9am Saturday morning the car was very full. Tilly’s magic food bowl was set to spring open at evening Ding Ding time and we left a sulking feline basking in the sunshine.

They just don’t care about me anymore! She says it’s all about me, to make my life easier and less stressful. Well being left in a chilly house with Boggy Face Alan, Stumpy Betty and Boss Eyed Shoes glaring in at me is very stressful! Think I’d prefer a car journey.

It was sunny at the marina, the grass no longer squelching under foot, I just hoped Oleanna would be drier inside than last week. Thankfully she was. First job light the stove. Mick failed first time, kindling and matches just a little bit too damp still. The heating went on and the fire was re-laid and was soon blazing away.

Water tank was emptied, not much left, then refilled. We’d wanted to sterilize the tank but with the water pressure in the marina being a touch dodgy we decided that could wait. Fresh water in our tank would most probably be fine to drink, but after months I’d rather any possible bugs were killed, we’d brought a couple of bottles of drinking water with us anyway.

The back steps came out, the dinette opened up and all the things we’d brought down last were stowed giving us room to empty the car again. Then all that stuff had to be stowed away too. Lunch by the hatch, the weather was suitable for it to be open today.

The trip computer always gets sat up like this to stop Tilly from sitting on it

Mick moved the hire car out of the marina, just in case he got back to collect it after the gates had been closed. The covers were rolled and folded out of the way. The trip computer set to record our journey. We were ready!

Time to say goodbye to Blue Water Marina

Thankfully the wind was kind to us and allowed Mick to reverse us out of our mooring, gradually we turned and headed for the entrance. Two chaps came over to talk to Mick, saying they’d just had difficulty, two of them trying to open it, they’d given up and returned to the marina. We assumed they meant Princess Royal Swing Footbridge which can be awkward. Oh well, we’d see how we did with it.

Blue sky, a chilly breeze. Perfect winter cruising weather, we’d chosen our departure day well.

On arrival I opened the control panel where a new sheet of instructions has been added. I made sure I read it fully, turned the key and headed over to close the far barriers. One barrier clicked, the other despite a wiggle or three didn’t, Hmmm! Back over the other side I closed those, click, click and tried to set the bridge in motion. It wasn’t having it. I started to squeeze my way through to wiggle the far gate, but Mick came and did it for me. Still nothing! I’d nudged a near side gate which needed a wiggle now. Hooray the bridge swung!

Water bubbled below Thorne Lock, did the gates need replacing that much? It turned out that paddles were open at both ends of the lock letting water flow through to reduce the level above the lock after the recent flooding. Putting the key of power into the control panel immediately closed all the paddles and I had control.

Just above the lock is a swing bridge with manual barriers, which is tied into the lock mechanism. The barriers and bridge will only move once the top gates of the lock are open. Up came Oleanna in her first lock of the year, she smiled from horn to horn.

With the gates open I headed up to close the barriers to the road. With one closed I was coming back to close the second one when an Amazon Prime van sped up past me and onto the bridge. I shouted about the barrier, he stopped but stayed put on the bridge. It was me who would have to give way to him, no stopping Amazon Prime!

Clear of the stoppage when ever it happens

With him out of the way and barriers closed I lifted the handle on the bridge and pushed it open to let Oleanna out of the lock. All easy. We were now clear of the possible stoppage on Monday.

Staniland Marina with a sunk boat in front of the dry dock!

As we pootled away we wondered what the two chaps at the marina had had difficulty with. Two of them not able to open it? Maybe they had been referring to the bridge at the lock, perhaps they hadn’t lifted the handle, or maybe they hadn’t read the instructions and hadn’t opened the top gates before they tried the bridge. Oh well, we’d got through and that’s all that mattered, no stopping us!

We pootled along, under the M18 and past the scrubby bits where motorbikes must race each other. A breasted up pair came towards us, the canals up here so wide and deep there’d be no problem getting past each other. A batch of new houses have met up with the canal at Stainforth.

Time was getting on and the sun was getting low in the sky. We considered stopping short of Bramwith Swing Bridge but decided we’d prefer to have the view at Bramwith Junction. Through the swing bridge and on to the lock.

Bramwith lock feels so diddy, the extended lock (chained open and not often used) makes it seem so small. Time for a windlass and to manually lock Oleanna up.

Of course as soon as we reached the junction, where we wanted to moor the wind picked up, blowing Oleanna out from the bank, so it took us a while to moor her up as the sun set opposite us. The effort was worth it for the view.

More unpacking, the bed made up and a touch of encouragement to defrost the frozen bolognaise sauce we’d brought with us, we then settled down for the evening back on board Oleanna.

2 locks, 5.85 miles, 1 hire car, 1 left behind cat, 2 car loads to stow, 3 swing bridges, 4 held up, 1 big gulp, 1 chilly blue skied day, 1 boat gradually warming up, 2 happy boaters, 1 smiling Oleanna.

https://goo.gl/maps/P84faAG97Mqea7Dr7

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna