Category Archives: Canal and River Trust

Then There Was One. 30th August

Houdini’s Field to Norton Junction

Tilly was still pooped from her freedom yesterday so we had a quiet breakfast without being pestered for some shore leave. Only a couple of boats had come past us before we pushed off, but as always one appeared just as we were about to untie. We waited for them to pass, two chaps who asked where the nearest shops were. Their speech was very loud yet a touch incoherent. Lizzie said thank goodness we’d be behind them as they engaged their dilithium crystals.

Time to say our farewells and leave Lizzie to the last of her Bank Holiday boat chores before she herself would be returning to Crick Marina. It’s been a lovely weekend and so nice to have a catch up at ease on the boats. Hopefully we’ll be seeing Lizzie later this week as some things for panto were being delivered to her work for me.

We pushed off with the aim of reaching the top of Long Buckby and finding a space to moor there for our Sainsburys delivery. Fingers crossed there would be space for us and that we’d have an easy time at Watford with not too much queuing. Our maps suggested it would take us around five hours, plus a bit if we had to wait at the staircase, so we should arrive for a late lunch.

There they go managing to avoid collision with the bridge

However. The blue boat had exhausted the boost of power and now just seemed to be working on Guinness and Stellar! They zigzagged across the cut, one of them trying to do something with their chimney, it’s suspected that it got a big whack going through a bridge hole. Several times it looked like they might be pulling in to let us go past, but this was only so that they could ricochet off the towpath to back into the deeper water before passing into the shallows on the off side. Would we actually reach Watford before the locks would be locked up for the day (thankfully extended hours still in place after Crick show)?

Then thankfully after about three quarters of an hour following them they managed to pull over just after Bridge 24, just after a moored boat, shortly before a winding hole and bend where of course a boat was just coming round! Mick engaged our lithium crystals and managed to pass them before there would be an awkward moment with the other boat. Back to normal cruising speed.

We think it’s the first time we’ve been through Crick without stopping for anything carrying on straight to the tunnel. Water proof coats and life jackets on we had the tunnel all to ourselves. The first 400ms are the wettest, I hoped my lovely clean roof would survive having an extra rinse. As we reached the southern portal the air grew misty, our lights creating search light beams onto the tunnel roof.

On to the top of Watford where we joined onto the back of a queue of 2 boats just nudging up to the top lock behind one going down. I hopped off to go and sign in with the Lockie. With a queue of boats below the flight we would have to wait, the two in front of us would go down, then boats would come up. Time for an early lunch.

Once the first uphill boat had risen up the last single lock we were locked down to wait in the pound above the staircase, therefore using a lock full of water and getting the downhill queue one lock ahead.

The next boat up the staircase didn’t sit well with the engine noise we could hear. A 57ft modern boat which would normally have a beta 43 sounded like an old work boat. This was because in the next chamber downhill there was a boat with a heart pounding thump, in fact it was a National DA2 built in 1949, only one of two thought to be in the UK. This was NB Hadar all 70ft of her, Keith at the helm and Jo working the paddles.

Mick helped with gates and chatted to Keith about Hadarford, the model railway in their hold, whilst I helped with the bottom gates of the top lock, closing them and emptying the lock ready for the next uphill boat.

Six in all came up, then it was our turn to head down. Plenty of Lock Keepers were on hand to assist and we made it down the staircase and the final two locks in no time. There was a boat in each pound below and a queue of hopeful boats was forming beyond them.

We’d been glad of helping with the locks it had kept the days chill off, but now stood at the back of Oleanna it crept back in. At Norton Junction we turned left towards the top of the locks, but it was soon evident that there was no space for us.

We’d just passed a big gap by the water point before the junction so into reverse we went and backed ourselves around the corner. Tomorrow morning one of us will go and await our order with bags and a bike, so no need to cancel the order again.

*They never let me out in Watford outside, the trees always look so good too!*

7 locks, 4 a staircase, 9.88 miles, 1 tunnel, 0 mysterons, 3 to 2 to 1 boat left, 1 pissed boat, 2 fleeces, 4th in line, 6 coming up, 5 Lock Keepers, 1 left, 1 reversed left (or is that right?), 3 hours shore leave, 1 stove lit on a Bank Holiday weekend.

https://goo.gl/maps/tMT5U4dgkrK7FETdA

Lunch With The Sheep, 27th August

Norton Junction to Cracks Hill, Leicester Section

A couple of boats came past and turned left at the junction before we pushed off, this suggested we’d be in a queue for the locks. Oh well! We pushed off and turned left too, only to pull in almost straight away to top up on water. A load in the washing machine had just finished so the dishwasher went on.

The two boats ahead of us were both filling with diesel at Welton Hythe , the first one winding too, maybe our luck would be in. Soon we were passing the service station at Watford Gap then ducking under the road bridge.

Hang on! The Thai/Chinese restaurant that has been gradually been getting more and more dilapidated is having a make over. Painted grey with new windows and fencing along the canal edge. I wonder what it will be?

As we approached the bottom of Watford a boat was just coming out from the bottom lock and there was no queue, we hadn’t even moored up before a Lockie waved us in, a first for us. We ascended then swapped over with another boat in the next pound, ascended the second lock and then pulled in to wait for the last downhill boat to finish in the staircase.

The volunteer Lockie stood and chatted for a while. Today we were the third boat to go up, a very quiet day. They had started with one of the side ponds virtually empty so the downhill traffic had helped fill it, even so they’d had a boat ground on one of the cills going into a lock.

This chap had been on duty the day the sink hole appeared on the flight. A little hole had appeared just by the towpath side gate. He said they stood there and prodded it with their windlasses, wondering what it was. Then they poked a stick down it, six to eight feet deep! More of the top surface fell away and the locks were closed for a while to access them. For a while that lock had to be manned, ropes used to open and close the gate. The hole was then filled with large chunks of aggregate and then bonded together with resin. The top surface filled with concrete and bricks to match what had been there.

It is thought that the sink hole was created by water coming in from a red paddle and making its way through the brickwork on the opposite side of the lock. This then over time has scoured out a cavity behind the lock wall eventually giving way. Thank goodness no one was stood on it when it happened!

It being lunchtime we were left to do the staircase by ourselves, they checked we knew which order to do the paddles in first. ‘Red before white and you’ll be alright’, yep we were fine, I quite like doing the staircase on our own.

What a lovely flight, shame about the noise!

The levels were a bit down but we managed over the cills fine, we’d been warned of quite a leek on one of the gates and to stay back in the lock to avoid it. The chaps had just finished eating in time to close the top lock gates for us.

Rubbish was deposited as we rose up the final lock of the flight and then we were off aiming to moor for our own lunch with the sheep before Crick Tunnel. Plenty of space with a few sheep to keep us company across the way.

With coats and life jackets on we entered Crick Tunnel, prepared to get wet towards the far end. We passed three boats, one with a very smoky engine and the last one had just entered the tunnel.

ABNB, where we bought and sold NB Lillyanne, have moved to North Kilworth, the pool in front of the old office now almost empty. Signs are advertising the moorings.

The Moorings bistro alongside Bridge 12 has now sadly closed. Signs say you can only moor for water and elsan. Another sign advertises The Red Lion in the village, well worth a visit especially if it’s pie night! We’d booked ourselves a Sainsburys delivery to The Moorings, but we soon noticed a gate across the entrance. Our shopping is now cancelled and we’re looking for another handy spot to moor for a delivery.

A new building on the far side of Crick Marina

We looked for familiar boats, they all seem to have had a bit of a mix up since we were last here, no one where they used to be in Crick Marina. During the show a lot of boats get moved to make space for the show boats, usually to the far end of the main pool.

Pootling onwards we hoped for space at Cracks Hill and we were lucky. Here you get about half the amount of dog walkers you do nearer the village so it’s a touch more friendly for Tilly. We pulled to the back of the rings, hoping we’d get a neighbour this evening.

7 locks, 5.75 miles, 1 left, 1 tunnel passing 3, 0 mysterons, 1 full water tank, 1 pesky gate, 7 sheep, 1 mooring for 2, 3.5 hours, 1 rendez vous awaited, 1 test result in.

https://goo.gl/maps/7yFoetcHzTZBHmwHA

PS For Karen, here is a link to the Szechuan Pork recipe I made the other day. I didn’t have proper Szechuan peppercorns but used Rainbow peppercorns, which are a mix of black, pink, green and white peppercorns with All Spice and Coriander seeds. Enjoy.

Todgerless. 24th August

Slat Mill Lock to the hedge near the view between bridges 130 and 129

The weather started off a touch chilly, but soon necessitated a change of legs from jeans to shorts as the sun came out.

Up Slat Mill Lock where the bullocks frolicked in the field. In the past we’ve moored in this pound only to be disturbed by the cows or speeding canoeists, so we choose below the lock where the cows are held back by trees and the canoes by the lock.

Passing the permanent moorings Hello Kitty said hello from a small grey boat with a crackle finish. The chap who has been weeing into the canal for years had his todger hidden behind a breasted up boat. A ginger boat cat eyed up Oleanna for a possible boat upgrade, a stern look came from She inside. It had no chance of upgrading to my boat! Allan Cazaly’s old boat has had some steel work done to it.

Cropredy Lock has possibly my favourite lock cottage of the Oxford, it’s been a while since we’ve passed in the summer months. The garden today was tidy behind it’s white picket fence.

If there was a mini woofer sitting on the fence today it would have been hidden by the giant rose hips. I liked the toy woofer and have planned to have one so as to be able to replace it when we pass next, however I have not got a suitable woofer to leave. Maybe this winter I should make one out of milliput, maybe I should make several so that I can leave a different breed when ever we pass.

Passing Cropredy Marina we could see the new extension, another big pool with full length pontoons, plenty of space for them to fill. Maybe a mooring for Oleanna whilst I work on panto? But getting to and from the marina would involve a cab which past midnight are few and far between in Chippy, we’d also be stuck by Varneys Lock.

At Broadmoor Lock a single hander lady busied herself to get into the lock, I went up to lend a hand having a good chat. She tends to boat alone as boating isn’t for her husband, ‘It’s like sleeping in a coffin!’. A hire boat arrived as she left and I helped them down, dad and his young adult children loving it, mum not so sure she’d be able to live without her full wardrobe if they boated for longer than a week! Maybe they are going to Woburn Safari Park in September.

Alongside the lock there used to be a stall where you could buy apples and a chap sold ropes and fenders. The stall is now gone and the house that was being built is now complete. The railing to the veranda made from half a pallet and three saws, sadly my photo is out of focus.

Varney’s Lock does look like it needs new gates with the amount of hardware on one bottom gate. I helped the single hander again, closing up after her, then pushed the gates open ready for us. At the farm above Elkington’s Lock there is a stall selling veg and pickles, we’ve still to finish off the veg box from last week before we stock up again. The fields are full of sweetcorn and flowers which may be pumpkins.

We decided to stop for lunch where the sideways trees actually grow sideways. We pulled in a short distance away from NB White Swan, Tilly recognising where we were making quite a row inside expecting to be let out. But as it was only a lunch stop she had to leave the sideways trees to Ghost.

The Claydon Locks are currently locked overnight to help preserve water levels on the summit pound, we were well within the time frame so no need to worry. Our pause below had meant the single hander had gone on ahead, but we were still following someone with no boats coming down to swap over with so every lock needed resetting.

Once Oleanna and Mick had reached a good height in each lock I would walk on ahead to set the next one. With a volunteer on the middle lock we made good progress catching the boat ahead. We paused to see what had happened to our bow fenders, a week link had snapped that held the bottom one to the top earlier, now I noticed one of the hooks had come adrift holding the top fender. Mick tried to reconnect it in a lock but couldn’t work out which chain it had come loose from so it became a job for later.

By the time we reached the top lock the boat ahead was only just starting to fill the chamber. I gave them a hand and then once they’d managed to actually clear the top gate to close it, I dropped the lock. As the lock emptied a boat appeared from above and leant a hand.

Now the long and winding summit pound shows the canals age sticking to the contours rather than going through cuttings or building embankments. We passed through the old Railway Bridge where the last two times we’ve paused for me to collect ivy to make Oleanna a Christmas wreath. Today thankfully there was no need as we’d have only just got in the way of the constant stream of boats.

At the tunnelless tunnel we met at least two boats coming the other way, one had to wait for us and the boat ahead, then we waited for the next to pass. One chap coming along a section exclaimed at how narrow it was and he hadn’t got to the really narrow bit!

Fenny was busy as we’d expected. We decided not to stop for a Christmas works do but we’d carry on hoping there would be space near the radio mast just short of the HS2 works. It’s so pretty along the summit, winter or summer. We just wish there were more gaps in the high hedge that masks the views to the west and north.

Up ahead we could see that we’d arrived at our chosen mooring. There were quite a few git gaps, people lining themselves up with the views, understandable as they are so few, just not helpful when you would like to moor up. We sized ourselves up for the first gap, but ended up reversing back to where we’d started. Despite it being late Tilly was given an hours shore leave which she adhered to very well, I could swear she can tell the time! I can!!!

Mick tried several ways for us to be able to watch Home, I’m Darling on the TV. The TV’s browser wasn’t so keen, chromecast didn’t do much better. In the end we used a cable between the laptop and TV, the old fashioned way. Act 1 watched, we’ll save Act 2 till tomorrow, if we have internet.

10 locks, 10.09 miles, 2 many boats compared to winter, 1 ghost, 1 tunnel without a roof, 1 carving, 3 saws, 14th not 12th up, 9 down, 0m 23, 3m 24, 1 moored on the waterpoint, 1 hour after hours, act 1 in the 1950’s.

10 Out Of 10 For Effort. 22nd August

Somerton Meadows to above Kings Sutton Lock 31

A few boats came past us this morning, in both directions, but we knew the first lock of the day would be against us. Not a problem really as a boat was waiting above Somerton Deep Lock. The boat in front of us had knocked on the roof of the waiting boat, but had been ignored by the chap inside, but as the levels equalised a head appeared from below. I think he’d been waiting for someone to come along and work the lock for him, cutting out the need to climb the ladder, he was very happy for Mick and myself to close gates and lift paddles for him.

Next it was our turn. Somerton Deep Lock is just that, deep! 12ft 1″ deep and narrow which makes it seem even deeper. Waiting for Oleanna to stop moving about in the lock below means the bottom gate closes easier. After a thumbs up from Mick at the helm I then lift the paddles. The lady from the boat ahead of us had said the paddles were really really hard to work. With a long reach windlass and adjusting where you start to turn the mechanism you can increase your advantage. Starting your turn at the bottom (pulling the windlass toward you) isn’t as good as starting at the top where your weight gives the windlass more umph! as you push down. This does mean checking to see where the paddle gear bites and then adjusting your windlass accordingly before giving yourself a hernia. One slightly stiff turn and both paddles came up.

The lock cottage here has no road access, it looks as if the current owner is doing some building work as a cement mixer sat near the front door. Two years ago there had been a small porch in front of the door, today only the flashing was left.

Also two years ago the landscape that surrounded the cottage was more lake like than meadows. Plenty of rain at the beginning of November had brought the rivers up, the Cherwell spilling over the fields and in places into the canal. There are areas where sandbags have been added to the banks of the canal, reinforcing them from water erosion.

Chisnell Lift Bridge 193 was down, we think it’s been down more than up for us. It is quite finely balanced and would most probably just require a push up then pull back down with the chain from the towpath, but I don’t trust these bridges so would rather sit on the beam to keep them open.

Lots was happening to telephone poles, we spotted at least three Openreach vans in fields. One lucky chap was stood at the top of a cherry picker, in a another field a ladder leant against another pole. It’s a long long time since Mick had to climb one of these.

Aynho Wharf provided us with a top up of diesel at 82p a litre, it was worth filling up.

Aynho Weir Lock took forever to empty and then refill. I checked the river level board before we exited, well in the green today, we’d be fine passing under Nell’s Bridge. A couple of knowledgeable gongoozlers stood and admired our ‘back garden’ in the well deck of Oleanna at the bow! They continued with their dodgy knowledge leaving me smiling.

Nell’s Bridge Lock was waiting for us with open gates, a boat waiting to come down and plenty of people around to help. No limboing under the bridge today and up we rose.

A brief stop for lunch, before passing The Pig Place. Maybe this would have been a better campsite for the London Leckenbys last weekend as they have a bar on site and bacon frying in the morning is just standard.

The canal meanders round the contour and crawls under the M40 where old and new bridges sit side by side.

Cole’s Lift Bridge was down. Where could I be dropped off? The bridge landings overgrown and vegetation along the edge making it hard to actually see the edge. We tried backing up but I wasn’t too sure my footing would be good, my knees don’t like a leap of faith. So we nudged the bow up to the off side and I managed to get off there.

The chain was too high to pull on, so it was time to hang off the beam, hoping my weight would bring it down sufficiently for me to get above it. All the time I could see beady eyes following my every move from behind a gate onto the towpath, the reason the bridge exists. My second attempt worked, thank goodness I have quite a bit of inbuilt ballast!

I couldn’t find anywhere to fix the bridge open so once Oleanna was through it just wanted to close itself. As it dropped back reconnecting the towpath with the offside the cows gave me their marks. 10 out of 10 for effort, 7 for style!

Kings Sutton Lock, after all the building work is settling in nicely. The grass is neat, flower beds established and if the sun had been a touch lower the honey coloured Cotswold stone of the cottage would have glowed at us. A very nice lock.

We pulled up for the day, our aim had been Banbury, but the Post Office and shops could wait for tomorrow. After we pulled in several others joined us, here the canal sits half way between the M40 and the railway. Also, thankfully, you only occasionally get the wiff from Kenco in Banbury. I’m not too keen on the slightly burnt treacly smell it produces.

4 locks, 6.21 miles, 2 lift bridges, 1 garden at the wrong end, 1 river in the green, 70.52 litres, 3 bovine judges, 10, 7, 456 sandbags, 1 length of new piling, 4 savoury pancakes, 3 sweet.

https://goo.gl/maps/LVc61f124sr6NMX79

A Spot Of Gardening. 20th August

Thrupp Canal Cruising Club to not quite Muddy Slipper

With the news of the Aire and Calder opening this morning I kind of wished we were up in Yorkshire to go through the breach site, reclaiming it for boats from the pile drivers and diggers. But we are miles away and will leave the reclaiming to others in Goole at Rawcliffe. Enjoy your cruise Lisa and Al and anyone else heading out this weekend. Will it be a mass exodus?

It was time for us to get moving again, thank you Thrupp CCC for giving us a base for the last week whilst we’ve been busy with other things. Today it was back to boating!

The bridge landings either side of Shipton Lift Bridge were filled with moored boats, this didn’t really matter as the bridge has been removed so no need to stop. We wondered how busy the canal was going to be after hearing stories of queues at locks further north.

*I liked Thrupp outside!! Please don’t move it!*

Shipton Weir Lock had a Black Prince hire boat just leaving and another boat was about to pull in and come down. We had chance to have a little chat with the crew who were heading out onto the Thames to Lechlade. Then it was our turn into the diamond shaped lock, designed this way to allow enough water to be sent down into the canal for the next lock whilst only a small drop in level was required to get off the river onto the canal.

Last weekend we’d considered taking the London Leckenbys for a little pootle for a barbecue, here just out on the river had been a possible location. Reversing down towards the weir and mooring up would have given us a good amount of space to spread out. Today a small tent sat where our bbq would have been.

Having spent most of October and November on the Oxford for a couple of years everywhere is obviously so much greener than we’re used to, views are different, some gone with the amount of foliage. There are quite a lot of reeds that we don’t remember.

We rounded the bend to Barkers Lock and pulled in behind the Black Prince boat. Above the lock sat several other boats waiting to come down. In the lock was a C&RT work boat doing some gardening. Gardening isn’t really quite the right description for it. Two people were scrapping the chamber walls clearing it of growth, weeding on a big scale. I zoomed in with my camera and realised I knew one of the people in blue, Frankie an Instagram friend.

They soon finished, pulling out of the lock leaving it free for the hire boat to go up. Frankie and I had chance to say a quick hello, maybe we’ll get more chance to chat if we come across each other further north. It was good to she her working on her much loved Oxford Canal, helping to maintain it.

There was chance to chat to hire boaters heading back to Oxford at the lock whilst we waited our turn, we were soon up and on our way again. The pub at Gibraltar looked pretty much as it did a couple of years back, building work seems to have halted during the pandemic.

Next came Pigeon’s Lock, no queue but a full lock. Whenever I talk to the Director for Panto he goes on and on about meeting his sister and her boat at Pigeons Lock, I think he really enjoyed those days. The big house at the end of the lane here was having a lot of building work done, this now is completed. The new roof looks very fine with it’s stone flags.

Jane’s Enchanted Tea Garden was set up to receive visitors this weekend, menus and sugar jars out on the tables. One day we’ll manage to time this part of the canal with it being open. Review here Apparently you need to book quite a long way in advance or follow their facebook page hoping that someone cancels as you are about to arrive.

The quarry moorings were pretty full, someone’s brought their own gazebo. Space for one at the end if you could get a mooring spike in.

Northbrook Lock had another queue. Two C&RT chaps were fishing around by the bottom gate with a keb. Up to Banbury the locks on the Oxford Canal have a single bottom gate which means that should anything get stuck behind it it may not open sufficiently to get your boat through.

The first boat above had been waiting for over a couple of hours and seemed keen to get going again, I know we would have been. Their boat was brought into the lock all six fenders hanging down the side of their boat. One vague attempt was made to lift one of them, but it just fell back down waiting for a lock to grab it.

The chap went to lower the paddle on the offside. It looked like he’d tripped and knocked it as it dropped on the relatively new gate. Yet he wasn’t bothered by this in the slightest, he was more interested in a very wet mouse that was sitting on the lock side. He pointed this out to his wife, who couldn’t hear him. Eventually he crossed back over the bottom gate, I started to open it when I realised he’d stopped on the wrong side of the gate to lower the paddle, not the safest of places to be! He tried time and time to tell his wife about the mouse, convinced it was a water vole, then finally walked down below the lock to get on his boat, still pointing out to his wife about the mouse! With no power engaged they drifted out of the lock, still trying to see the mouse. Mick and I by now were both saying ‘GET ON WITH IT and get OUT OF THE WAY!’ under our breath, I have no idea what those who’d been waiting for at least an hour behind him were saying under theirs!

There were two possible moorings we’d be aiming for today as where we needed to get to was right alongside the railway. A few extra hours would have us mooring at Somerton Meadow, but arriving late in the day would almost certainly mean there’d be no space left. Then at Muddy Slipper mooring someone was already tied to the armco, we reversed back a touch and pulled up a short distance behind, just enough depth for us.

A late lunch was followed by an hour or so working out how to deal with the cinema screen during the run of panto. I came up with a solution which I hope won’t be too much extra work and emailed it through to everyone. Fingers crossed they all think it’s a good idea, or come up with a better solution.

Then as this weekends stag do hire boats came past, ten on each boat, sailors hats and some fancy dress with sea shanties being sung at the top of their voices, clinking bottles of beer I turned my attention to #unit21 and the samples of black canvas I’d received. This was far far tamer than the outfit a groom was wearing as the last boat passed by.

4 locks, 2 with queues, 5.52 miles, 1 Frankie, 1 trimmed and scraped lock, 6 fenders down, 1 mouse not vole, 1 twonk head, 5 hours shore leave, 1 (maybe more) friend, 3 stag dos, 1 solution, 1 email lost, 4 green shades of felt, 2 slots, 1.83 wide black canvas, 5 weeks digs, 1 cauliflower cheese with extras.

https://goo.gl/maps/M9uS1L9bcbvFmuFGA

Open! Breach 59, 20th August

At 9:31 this morning a C&RT notice dropped into our inbox. Exactly 8 months after the original notice regarding the breach was published the canal has now reopened!

Notice Alert

Location: Aire & Calder Main Line & New Junction Canal

Intersection of:

Lock 13, Pollington Lock to New Bridge on Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line

and

Went End Aqueduct to Went End Aqueduct on New Junction Canal

Friday 20 August 2021 09:30 until further notice

Type: Advice
Reason: Information

Original message:

We are pleased to report that the Aire & Calder Navigation is open and operational Friday 20th August from 09:30hrs. There will be no need for leisure boaters to pre-book passage between Skyehouse and Pollington Locks. Through passage to and from Rawcliffe and Goole will restored.

For a short while after this date, contractors will be using work boats to install fenders and so care should be taken when travelling along this section past the breach site at New Bridge.

Navigation Restriction

Please be aware lengths of bank above and below the breach site at New Bridge have suffered extensive damage due to the breach. Repairs are programmed to take place during 2022 and 2023. Until the repairs are undertaken and completed, please note the following information and adhere to instructions regarding mooring:

No mooring or overnight staying in the section from:

200m west of New Bridge (Grid Reference SE67608 20410) to

Went Aqueduct (SE 65002 18441) and

Pollington Lock (SE 61644 19194)

Note:

– hidden underwater obstructions that could pose a danger to navigation are to be found within this area along the bank edges on both sides.
– when navigating keep to the centre line where possible. When passing other craft keep a minimum of 4m from the bank edge where possible.

Towpath Closure

For your safety due to bank damage and instability the towpath is closed from:

– Southside – Pollington No.4 Swing South Dyke Bridge to Went End Aqueduct

– Southside – Beevers’ Bridge to New Bridge

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/20476/aire-and-calder-main-line-and-new-junction-canal

Another notice was sent out about an hour later which was a little bit more straight forward

Sunday 20 December 2020 14:30 until Friday 20 August 2021 09:30

We are pleased to report that the Aire & Calder Navigation is open and operational with effect from 09:30hrs on Friday 20th August. Please see separate notice for ongoing restrictions.

I wonder if the first boat through played a fanfare!

Could This Be The Penultimate Update? 18th August Breach 58

This evening Mark Penn has been out with a new drone to have a look and see how they are progressing at the breach site removing the cofferdam.

Well as you can see the dam has gone. There is water in the cut once again. What a lovely sight.

The pumps are still in the cut, but the pipework from where water was being pumped round the cofferdam is in the process of being removed.

The pontoon that was used to remove the cofferdam is just positioned through the bridge, the boom that was across the cut has been removed.

It looks like there might still be a bit of work to do on the towpath, earth doesn’t look to be fully flattened out up to the piling where the water wooshed round the piling back in December. The level in the drain below looks the lowest it’s been for a long time, covered in duck weed.

There are still railings around the top of the concrete structure over the drain below. There was a hole maybe an access hatch in the old concrete, maybe this is the new one. The water level looks to be back up to normal levels now. How wonderful it is to see water and no silt.

There is obviously some tidying up to do and maybe bits left to sort on the towpath, but all looks good for the 23rd when the navigation is set to reopen. Booking to pass through Sykehouse and Pollington Lock will no longer be required from the 21st.

Dredging is happening up near Lemonroyd. A sunk vessle is being removed up that way too.

I so hope that when I next post about the breach it will be to celebrate it’s reopening after 8 long months.

Thank you Mark once again for your photographs.

Just As Long To Walk As Drive. 13th August

Jericho to Thrupp Cruising Club

Up early to beat the hire boats back into College Cruisers. Late yesterday afternoon NB Hannah May had arrived and arranged for a diesel top up this morning. Movement could be heard across the way at 8:20 so we made sure we were ready to push over once they had been filled up. We did a do-ci-do and took on 40 litres, at £1 a litre we didn’t fill the tank, just enough to keep us going until further up the Oxford.

We pushed back over to the towpath just as the first of the holiday makers were arriving back. Next job was to pick up the things missing from our shopping trip yesterday. I headed off to Waitrose which was kind of on route to Aldens Fish Market.

I chose to walk along the Thames, the patched pipe under Osney Bridge not really doing it’s job as loads of water was pouring out into the Thames. Glad it’s not on our water meter! The temporary pipe over the bridge is quite colossal.

At the fish market I was good, I had a look around dreaming of filling the freezer but only bought what I’d come for, a side of salmon. The lobsters would remain safe under their board for a while longer.

Back at Oleanna it was time to push off as we had a rendez vous to make. The moorings had filled up yesterday maybe people only come into Oxford for the weekend. We met a few boats as we headed out of town, either at locks or along narrow sections which necessitated us pulling in and hoping to not end up in the offside vegetation.

The cruiser with the cats is still along the Agenda 21 moorings, only two felines on the roof today and no sign of the old chap.

Speed bumps have been added to the towpath on several stretches.

Now for the bridges. Bridge 234 still wants to be open as soon as you unlock it. I braced myself for Wolvercote Lift Bridge 233. Here the bridge quite often requires an extra pair of hands to get it lifted and out of the way and the bridge landing has an overhang which has scarred many a hire boats cabin side. Well today the problem simply wasn’t there.

The bridge lies in several parts on the offside under the A34. No bridge beams to struggle with pulling them down and then keep the bridge raised whilst your boat goes through. A couple of cyclists appeared on the offside a touch puzzled as to what they were going to do.

A boat was coming down Dukes Lock so we swapped with them and rose up to meet the next lift bridge. Drinkwaters Lift Bridge 231 was about to close for major rebuilding work when last we passed. During the works the approach walls collapsed and had to be rebuilt. It is now operated by windlass from the towpath side. No longer a fight to unlock it with your key of power, just 30 turns to lift and 14 to drop it.

Our usual stop on the way out of Oxford had a couple of boats moored up. A solitary sunflower stood high in the field alongside the lock. We swapped with a boat as we arrived and another came into view as we left, perfect timing all round.

Next Roundham Lock, where through the last few years the bottom gate beam has been shored up to last that bit longer a section of armco was the last bodge job we’d seen. But today there are new beams at both ends of the lock.

Approaching Thrupp we had to stop quickly as the bow of a boat suddenly came into view past a large bush on the off side. We pulled in, trying to avoid the worst effects of the overhanging brambles on the cabin sides.

The visitor moorings in the village were quite empty, we considered pulling in, but we carried on to the lift bridge. I did the honours, stopping a very new boat from coming through as Mick was in the bridge hole. They then did their best to negotiate the bridge themselves without loosing any paint. A touch more use of power may have assisted them, but give them a few more months and they’ll be a touch more bold with their manoeuvres.

We pulled in at the water point and went to find the lady at Thrupp Canal Cruising Club. Whilst boats are out on summer cruises temporary moorings are available for a small fee, we’d booked one a couple of weeks ago. Sue (?) showed us to our mooring, ever so welcoming and anything they could help with we just had to ask. As soon as we were tied up Tilly was off out to explore, not returning for quite sometime!

Meanwhile on the other side of the River Cherwell, just over a kilometer as the crow flies, the London Leckenbys were pulling up at Willowbrook Farm campsite and setting up their tents for the weekend. Once they’d settled in they then drove round the 9km to join us and walked up to the boat with a rusk sack full of contraband, before returning the car to the site and walking the 1.8km on well marked paths back.

When we’d first come up with the idea of trying to find a campsite close to Oxford and the canal, Thrupp came up as a possibility. A newish eco campsite on a working farm that produces halal meat. Then about a week ago Jac noticed the not so fine print ‘Strictly No Alcohol Allowed On Site!’ Not quite the right place to have a relaxing beer in front of your tent, but you have to respect other cultures. So bottles of gin and wine were brought round to ours and we wouldn’t go to the campsite for a bbq, instead both evenings would be spent on Oleanna.

We’d considered going for a little pootle to find a suitable bit of towpath not too far away for the evening, returning before it got too dark, but just off the side of the TCCC moorings was an area with a bbq and picnic bench. This would do us.

Family were set with jobs of chopping. The other week they had made a tabbouleh not realising I wouldn’t be able to eat the buckwheat, today we made one using Quinoa which was very tasty. Veg and haloumi kebabs were skewered, a potato salad made up. The side of salmon required cutting in half to fit on the barbecue, a grating of ginger, pinch of sugar, soy sauce and lemon juice added then a good wrapping of foil.

Our usual barbecue stove was lit along with two disposable ones that had come from London. The salmon cooked quickly so was nudged to the sides for the veg kebabs to cook in the middle meaning the disposable bbq’s were only really just getting going when we’d just about finished eating!

A lovely if a touch blowy evening sat outside. Cheese was enjoyed back onboard after we’d tidied up outside. Then the head torches were brought out to aid the walk back to the campsite, hopefully the London Leckenby’s weren’t too noisy on their return!

4 locks, 6.51 miles, 2 lift bridges, 1 bridge in bits, 40 litres, 1 side salmon, 1 mooring, 1 campsite, 0 alcohol, 1 happy cat, £646 saved, 1 family get together, 1 yummy meal, 2 beers, 2 G&T’s, 2 bottles wine, 5 head torches for 3, 1km, 9km, 1.8km, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://goo.gl/maps/ffmyBofVnWF4qSnS9

Nearly There! Breach 57.

On Friday there was a section in the fortnightly Boaters Update from C&RT about the breach on the Aire and Calder. In it they give the 23rd August as a date for reopening the navigation. I can almost hear the engines in Goole starting up!

Update on major maintenance work in Yorkshire & the North East

Over the past six months we’ve had to deal with unexpected failures of waterway components as well as some pretty horrendous stormy weather in the north of the country. We appreciate the adverse impact this has on boaters in the region and have been working tirelessly to get things back to normal as soon as we can.

Ariel shot of repair works on river

Repairs to the breach at New Bridge on the Aire & Calder Navigation are almost complete. The navigation will re-open on 23 August. A silver lining of this big project has been that we were able to take the opportunity to do other work on the navigation, which will minimise future disruption, during the stoppage:

Lemonroyd Sluices – Work to repair the sluices is still underway but the lock will be operational for the re-opening of the navigation. A further 1-day stoppage in September will be required to complete the work. This will be planned around freight movements.
Ferrybridge Lock – Gate replacement work finishes today (13 August).
Dredging – Hydrographic surveys and sampling are complete and dredging is planned to commence next week from 16 Aug at Lemonroyd. Dredging at Ferrybridge will not commence until October to comply with environmental conditions. It is difficult to say exactly when the dredging will be complete as we, much like the rest of industry, are facing a shortage of lorry drivers which will impact dredging disposal. When the navigation opens all freight passage will remain on a reduced draft. Given the long period with no freight activity we would not recommend loading deeper than 2.0m (6’ 6”) with some ballast for the first few trips.
Dredging (South Sheffield & Yorkshire Navigations) – Survey work has been completed and potential areas for dredging identified. A couple of the locations identified will be picked up as part of the spot dredging works.
Edge Piles – Our engineers will continue to monitor the piles until remedial work can be undertaken. At this stage we do not anticipate any disruption to freight barge movements.

Goodbye Old Father Thames. 11th August

Sandford Lock to College Cruisers, Oxford Canal

Only a few hours cruising left on the Thames and the last day of our licence, although I think we could have got an extra day because of the hold up at Boveney.

Today our trip would be a relaxed one unlike Mick’s two years ago. The river then was going up and down, not by much, but that much made a lot of difference to cruising. He first made his way up the pretty Iffley Lock stopping for a night or two near a rowing club.

He walked up to Osney Bridge where boats were starting to cling onto the moorings, then on to see what the turn into Sheepwash Channel was like. He did his homework and made his decision to go for it before the next band of rain had chance to rise the river any further. Thankfully it paid off and he made it to the safety of the Canal.

Today we pootled up the river with no fears of levels rising. The lavender at Iffley Lock looked wonderful as ever, a Lock Keeper arrived as we did and worked us up. A chalked sign announced that Osney Bridge would be closed between 10 and 12 today, but there was plenty of space on the East Street moorings where we could wait.

The rowing clubs looked all gleaming in the sunshine and the dreaming spires were all very well tucked up behind the leaves of the trees.

We went round Folly Bridge to the right a trip boat preparing to show the sights to it’s passengers.

Osney Lock was on self service, our last on the Thames for this trip. The bow rope was all ready on the roof ready to be picked up with the boat hook. We’d just closed the gates behind us when a keeper arrived, he’d been to see how things were progressing at the bridge ahead. He reiterated that there was plenty of space on East Street for us to wait.

Space, blimey! Only three boats moored up along the whole stretch, we’ve never seen it look so empty. We pulled up almost to the far end to wait for the work boat to finish.

An EA work boat a while ago had collided with a water main that runs under the bridge. Today they were putting in a bypass pipe so that the original one could be mended without interruption to the supply. The work boat sat plum in the centre of the bridge, we had a cuppa and waited for midday.

Another two boats arrived behind us, the workmen would be another half hour, maybe an hour.

Then a trip boat arrived, it hovered mid channel next to us waiting for the work boat to move, but move it did not, not until about 12:45. We were out, ropes untied and on our way.

I managed to get a photo of a hole in a pipe, but the proper hole was in a much bigger pipe a little further on, only a quick glance upwards and it looked like bits of wood had been strapped to the hole to stem it’s flow. I didn’t notice a bypass pipe, but then we were through the bridge very quickly.

The right turn into Sheepwash was easy, not much flow to make it a worrying manoeuvre. We turned and waved goodbye to Old Father Thames and headed back towards C&RT waters.

Work is happening at the Swing Bridge to restore it, most of the structure encapsulated in white tarpaulin, so nothing to see.

A boat was pulled up on the pontoon below Isis Lock, waiting for the bridge to open. They kindly asked if we wanted the lock gate opening for us, but we actually wanted the pontoon so that we could fill with water from a handy tap alongside the permanent moorings on the canal. We swapped over and they headed out onto the river.

The water pressure was pretty good and by the time the next boat appeared our tank had just filled. They were wanting to do the same as us so were happy to wait for our hose to be stowed.

A narrow lock! And a pretty one. No heaving or having to bump the gates to get them moving, just a gentle little sigh to let you know it’s ready to move. I know that won’t be the case by the time we reach Somerton Deep Lock, but for now I’ll enjoy the ease of the locks.

We’ve heard the stories of so many boats on the Oxford Canal at the moment. Sadly the canal into Oxford seems to have a bit of a reputation, fortunately for us it meant we had the choice of moorings.

Having spent quite a bit of time here over two winters whilst I’ve been doing panto we know the advantages of where to moor. Nearer Isis Lock you are slightly sheltered from the noise of trains, but the outlook is of the hoardings for the development that may one day actually happen across the canal in Jericho. But this mooring now has a lot of over hanging branches, not so good for solar. Further along you get the view of College Cruisers and the house where the first murder in Inspector Morse happened. Here you get a lot of sunlight, but increased train noises. We chose sun and being nearer to the footbridge.

Tilly was quite happy to be back in this outside, she knows it very well, except someone’s changed it’s colour to green!

3 locks, 2 river, 1 narrow, 4.51 miles, 5o much space at East Street, 1 copper house, 1 hour wait, 1 right, 1 full water tank, 1 washing machine running again, 1 meeting confirmed, 1 get together postponed, 1 menu written, 1 shopping list, 1 Gothel portrait, 1 Dame painted, 1 model totally and utterly complete, 1 cat back in the Oxford outside.

https://goo.gl/maps/TKEfN3YH7w3t9fVW7

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna