Today the wind was much reduced. Tilly had some shore leave whilst we chatted to Mick’s siblings. Topics today, down grading hire cars, Inverness, Halifax, £1000 for a Premier Inn room and disembodied voices.
Last nights sunset
The yellow water was delt with, a load of washing put on and Tilly came home on cue, time to make a move. The drawing board was lifted back onto the dinette table and I worked my way through the rest of the scenery whilst Mick moved the outside.
He pulled us up to top up with water above Whitley Lock, here we disposed of our old hose reel, one less thing to move about in the cratch when coming in to moor up. With the key of power I did the honours at the lock and we dropped down to the next long stretch of canal.
Anglers
The side hatch went from being open, to having the glazed doors closed, to having the outer doors well and truly closed. It sounded like Mick was pulling us in, had we reached Pollington Lock? He was pulling in on the wrong side of the canal for that. It was raining, the sky was black behind us, this was soon to arrive overhead, so Mick was aborting our cruise.
He’d pulled up just short of some bollards. I had to shout to make him aware of them, so we nudged up to make mooring a lot easier and more importantly quicker!
After lunch the weather calmed down. Tilly went out, a whole new outside for her to explore. It got the paws up, or should that be down for a stamp of approval.
Drawings drawn
By the end of the day I’d finished the working drawings. Just the groundplans and section to finish off now, but they can wait for tomorrow.
I popped burgers and what would have been veg kebabs into the oven to cook, outside not really suitable for a bbq. We’ll end up having eaten everything suitable for outdoor cooking by the time the next heatwave arrives, which looks like it is on it’s way. Shady trees will not be so easily found as they were in York. Plus our route southwards is more than likely to be blocked due to high temperatures, low levels and sand bars! What will be will be, and we’ll see where we can get to once we are no longer tied to my panto designing.
Neither Mick or myself have ever been the gooey smaltzy romantic types. We don’t call each other darling or babe or anything much other than our actual names, well there is the occasional ‘Stinky Boy!‘ but that’s it. So this morning when Mick leant over and said Beautiful Lady, I knew it was one of two things.
One. The puzzle I was working my way through was titled ‘Beautiful Lady’. He can read when he’s got his glasses on!
Two. Today would be a sport filled day and he was trying to butter me up so that he could watch both the cricket and cycling highlights later!
Enforced resting
The wind was still very strong and blustery. Tilly was given shore leave to start with, but the gusts were really very strong so we kept her in for a couple of hours hoping things would calm down. We also stayed inside, the thought of battling along the canal, crabbing to get a couple of hours cruising under our belts was not appealing.
LIfe on the cat walk
So the drawing board came out, I could spend the day updating and inking in my technical drawings for panto. Ground plan and section looked at to check the ‘out deads’ for pieces of scenery. This is how far out a flying bar can go, which isn’t very far at Chippy. If you want to fly things in then they are either limited by their length so they are out of view behind other things, or they have to ruch up on themselves. One piece of scenery needs to ruch up, but is there enough depth for it, or will I need to move it somewhere else. Out deads of the bars will need checking with Paul as the tech spec is a little bit ambiguous.
Now they won’t let me back in!
Mick listened to the cricket whilst I worked, Tilly was allowed back out as the gusts got less. It wasn’t until part way through the afternoon before we saw any boats moving. The three cruisers that had seemed like they had a permanent mooring above Woodlesford Lock came past, the three ferrits tucked up in their hutches on the back of one.
The chicken ended up being a Saturday roast, accompanied by roasted new potatoes and a big bowl of salad. If the temperatures rise again we’ll be glad of some cold chicken.
Yum num yum!
Yesterdays cricket was caught up with and the start of the Tour de France watched.
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 windy for boaters, 2 windy for cats, 3 ferrits on the move, 7 sheets of drawings, 1st day of cycling, 0 a good day for cricket!
Naburn Visitor Moorings to Selby Basin, Selby Canal
Rain overnight had woken us, the windows needed closing to stop the rain from coming in. Then the geese decided the weed on Oleanna’s waterline was tasty at first light! So not the best nights sleep.
Well deck cleared, shower filled!
No shore leave this morning, we had the tide to catch. As we waited we did chores, Tilly’s pooh box got a refresh, yellow water emptied, then we moved up to the water point and topped up on fresh water. Nigel arrived and suggested we should be ready a little earlier, 1pm in the lock.
A daintier arch on the right
I remade the archway for panto and we had an early lunch, all as the heavens opened up again. Would we be getting wet on our way back to Selby today?
As the rain cleared we got ourselves ready for the off. Kenny walked by so we had chance for a chat and a thank you, we’ll maybe see him next year and finally be able to try some of his chickens eggs.
Gates closing behind us
At bang on 1pm we were entering the lock, we’d be on our own on the river today. Nigel said to give him a call when we were on the straight before the bend, before the two Selby bridges, we said we’d radio him from there. After ten minutes the bottom gates opened and let us loose out onto the tidal Ouse again.
Lock empty and gates opening ahead of us
It started to rain.
But thankfully it didn’t last long and by a couple of hours or so into our cruise we took our coats off as we were starting to overheat.
Clear peaty river
Heading down stream you punch the tide all the way to Cawood Bridge. On our last trip this way, we encountered a river of wood heading towards us from around the 3km marker all the way to Cawood. Today there seemed to be hardly anything in the river to start with, maybe the last spring tides had take it all out to the Humber.
Sheep had been shorn. Egrets outnumbered Herons again. A couple of oystercatchers.
Dormant speed boats
The floating landing at the ski club was actually afloat today, on our way up it had been sat on the mud. Would we be followed by speed boats? Well we think we counted five boats high up on the bank, but thankfully none looked like they were about to be backed into the river.
Cawood and wood
As Cawood came closer so did the floating logs, quite big rafts of them headed towards us. Mick did his best to swerve to miss them and then get lined up to go through the bridge. The bridge keeper waved and chatted to someone on the phone or radio.
Going under
It was soon very obvious that we’d picked up some wood on our bow. Once round the tight bend, the tide starting to go slack Mick tried his best to stop Oleanna and reverse to leave the branch behind. But it was caught good and proper, doing an impression of a dolphin at our bow, rising and falling.
I took a boat hook through the boat, giving Tilly something to think about. It took a bit of doing to free at least three big chunks of wood and a long spindly branch from our bow, all pushed well away so we could continue.
Our rugged trip computer, speed rising
The tide had now turned, our speed increased, the rafts of wood now heading in the same direction as us.
Choppy waters
Last nights weather forecast had been for 9mph winds but as we turned onto the long straight with the wind over tide it was obviously far stronger! We clung onto our hats. I checked Windy, 17mph and gusts of up to 35mph! Round the bend onto the straight Mick radioed to Nigel, the lock would be ready for us.
My phone binged, a message from the production manager for panto with a quick question. She’d have to wait as we sped under and through the Selby swing bridges. The sand bank just below Selby Lock gave us an idea of where we were heading for, the blocks of flats a landmark of where to turn to face the tide. Mick turned the bow thruster on, should it be needed, then swang the tiller round. Oleanna skidding down the river at 90 degrees to the current. Was there enough room to get round, a touch of reverse and round again. We now slowly headed backwards towards the lock where the gates stood open and Freya and Nigel waited for us.
Turn as you pass the flats
Oleanna seemed to want to go into the lock backwards, but that certainly wasn’t the plan, that landmark sand bank was getting closer all the time. Nigel gave subtle hand signals to keep going backwards. Then once our bow was in the right position he gave Mick the nod to bring her round and into the lock.
Third time this year in at Selby without touching the sides, well done Mick. A centre line passed round a riser and we were on the way up off the tidal river.
What did we want to do now? Sean from SPL was due in the morning to fit our pram cover side, so we needed to be somewhere he’d be able to get his van close. We’d also need to wind to have the port side to the bank. Above the lock there were a couple of boats moored in the corner, add into the mix the strong wind, it was decided that we’d just moor up and hope for less wind in the morning. Tilly was disappointed with the lack of shore leave. Nigel and Freya would be about tomorrow morning to get us through the road swing bridge once we’d had our cover fitted.
Into the lock
I worked my way through a few more panto model notes, soon this model will be finished, soon! Then we decided to treat ourselves to an India takeaway from Jinnah. Mick ordered on line then headed off to collect it. Well we’d had a couple of numbers come up in the premium bonds this morning, enough for a nice takeaway.
Same again for another day
There was enough food with just our starters, an onion bahji and liver tikka. So we decided to do a Harnser and save enough for a second meal in a day or twos time. Very nice it was and we’ll get to enjoy it all again. Our next problem, what to watch this evening as there’s no more Traitors?
By the time we were up this morning the river was well on it’s way down, our tyre fenders were doing a good job of keeping us away from catching on anything on the bank. We’d survived the rising river as we thought we would.
Green base
Today was going to be more about trying to keep cool than river levels. First thing the sun was managing to shine at us between houses, but that soon stopped and we managed to stay in the shade until late afternoon. This served us well, I was able to keep model making without scalpels slipping , some panto floristry required today.
The costume designer had been in touch, so after lunch we did a bit of show and tell, just to make sure her frocks wouldn’t disapear into my set colours but also so that we were coming from the same place colourwise.
2 shades of green leaves
Tilly came and went in the morning, Mick sat out on the path listening to Yorkshire playing cricket up the road in Clifton. If it hadn’t been so hot he’d have gone to watch, but the shade from our tree was far more appealing.
Bead roses added
At 4pm it was time for a break from work and a little stroll was required. This year we’ve been extremely reserved on the chilled medication front (unlike some new live aboard boaters!). We’ve been moored close to both floating medication suppliers for a number of weeks this year, today would be our last chance to sample their wares. We walked down to the ice cream boat by Millennium Bridge, only one person in front of us, a suitable amount of time to choose our flavour of medication.
Quality chilled medication
Mint Choc Chip for Mick and Lemon Curd for me. Mick’s came in a cone rather than with one added to a tub this time. We stood in the shade of the trees and enjoyed our treat.
Panto floristry completed
The temperature inside Oleanna reached 30.1C late afternoon, thankfully it hadn’t been that all day. Our evening meal was a couscous salad which only required the electric kettle to be boiled.
Viking Recorder at 7pm
Episode 11 of Traitors NZ 2 was watched. Oh blimey! This season has had some really good twists to it. It was too late and too hot to watch the finale, we’ll save that for tomorrow when we’ll be away from the noisy loitering boats!
0 locks, 0 miles, 12 minutes colour chat, 2 hot for cats, 143 for 3, 1 model nearly nearly finished, 30.1C, 2 very yummy scoops well deserved, 5 left, 0 wellies required.
Time to get down to some serious work. Mick was up early and did a very good job of giving me a day on my own. He headed off to Headingley to watch the England versus India test match. During the morning he posted pictures of the ground just as an old school friend did the same from the other end. So at lunchtime Mick and Jeremy met up for a catch up before settling down to watch the afternoons play.
Jeremy and Mick at Headingly
Back on board, Tilly came and went, then she stayed for most of the remainder of the day, tucked up in her escape pod.
Lots of cutting out to do today. Then I realised that having some spray mount would be advantageous. The turquoise paper I’d used for the back ground was likely to distort itself if being stuck down with pva which is something I wanted to avoid. No spray mount in my stocks, so I combined my walk with hunting round York for some.
I tried several stationers, no art shops in the middle of town any more. Then I visited Barnitts, their glue wasn’t repositionable and £1 more than elsewhere, admitedly for a bigger can. I opted for the repositionable brand from Rymans. I also popped into M&S for some lunch things.
Blue backing
I got all the backgrounds stuck down and did some extra painting here and there and popped a big vat of Yaxni on to cook using some of the chicken stock I’d made when I jointed a chicken the other day. Very nice it was and a good way to use up old potatoes and bits and bobs.
Chris in his faded hat
Chris the Pink Hat Man today completed the 82nd day of his walk from Lands End to John O’Groats to Lands End! Today he reached John O’Groats where he enjoyed some chilled medication despite it being a touch chilly to celebrate him turning around to return southwards. Chris is heading back by a different route which will take him along quite a few canals, so once he’s back in England keep an eye open for his hat, you can’t miss it!Here’s his video from today, with awards for his best room with a view, meals etc. His walk is in aid of Hope and Homes for Children. Well done Chris.
The staircase in what used to be Habitat
Tuesday, as much as Mick really wanted to go back to Headingly it wasn’t a suitable thing to do as he had a phone appointment with a nurse at the GP’s in the afternoon. It turned out that he made the right descission as the match was very exciting at 6:30 when his phone call was due to happen!
Instead, to keep out of my way he caught a train over to Scarborough to do a turn around. Last week we’d had Alex and Angie of Heroica Theatre Company stay with us. We don’t normaly do single weeks as it’s not that cost effective for us, but we knew the house would be immaculate after their visit, which it was. Just the bed to change, pop fresh towels out and cut the grass before waiting for his phone call. All good just a slight change of medication.
Portals nearly there
On Oleanna I finished off the cloths and portals for my model, carefully alligning coloured paper so joins wouldn’t be horrible when enlarged by 25. I then chose which scene to start painting the scenery for. I opted to start in the kitchen, yellow green and fuchia pink, it is panto afterall! Still a bit to do, but a good start.
0 locks, 0 miles, 4 trains, 1 can spray mount, 1 day walking, 2.95 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 2 portals, 2 cloths, 1 dresser, 2 ground rows, 1 door, 1 cat who has given up!
A suggested plan for the day arrived as we had breakfast, visitors expected late morning. We gave the boat a tidy through and got dressed for the weather, hot with extra hotness and a possible walk.
Today my best friend Emma was coming to visit along with her new (to us) boyfriend Soren. they are over from Australia on a whirl wind tour catching up with friends, then heading to Denmark where Soren is from. Emma was last over in January 2020, before covid struck and it’s been the longest we’ve been apart since she emigrated down under. Our trip to York this time is purely to coincide with her being here for two days.
Walking down the back lane
A tour of Oleanna for them both, then a walk along New Walk up into Fishergate sneeking a look round the back of the house where Emma’s family lived in our teenage years. We then climbed into their hire car and headed off into the countryside, the Howardian Hills just north of York. So many pretty villages, we joked about them moving back to York and buying one of the lovely houses somewhere like Coxwold.
The pub
The car was lovely and cool, the sky progressivly getting darker and the outside temperature quite a shock on gettng out of the car. We pulled up at the Fauconberg Arms in Coxwold, a very pretty old fashioned pub, much more used to having a crackling log fire going.
Soren, Emma, Pip and Mick. Emma obviously didn’t get the blue shirt memo
Their holiday has been funded by letting out a cabin in the Blue Mountains at the back of Soren’s house. He is a guide, he takes people on adventures around the Blue Moutains, absailing and cannon exploring. Then three of four times a year he is also a guide in the Himalayas! He’s a mountaineer!!
There was so much to catch up on, I think we hardly scratched the surface! After lunch, I had to have fish and chips, we drove to Castle Howard reminising about our fathers speeding along the straight but bumpy roads, doing their best to get their sporty little cars to take off back in the 70’s.
Castle Howard
When Emma had sugested going for a walk, we didn’t quite know what to expect, especially with Soren’s job. Would we be taking on a ten mile hike up and down dale? Hence me trying to get my calf improved. But instead we ambled around the grounds of Castle Howard listening to the peacocks and enjoying the rain that fell on us in the rose garden. We joked about which wing of the house we would have each and how we’d have a pimms party every Friday night in the central hallway.
Chilled medication
Some chilled medication couldn’t be turned down. Mick a little surprised to recieve his in a tub, so Emma asked for a cone. This was added to her tub as if it was a flake! A very peculiar way of serving it.
Best friends
As there were more people to catch up with we were returned to Oleanna before they headed on to their next engagement. Big hugs were given that have to last us a few more years. There’s never enough time. The only way there is more time is to head to Australia to visit them there. We just need the SJT to employ one of our favourite cat friendly actors who would be happy to look after Tilly for a few weeks.
That’s more like it!
As we’d hardly walked anywhere and my calf was up for it, I walked around the block. Up to Scarborough Railway Bridge and back again, only a slight twinge. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up the pace now.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 rendez vous made, 58 years of being friends, 1st meeting, 1 celebration, 1 snoop, 9 pretty villages, 1 of each, 4 for the price of 3, 4 chilled medications, 2 cone accessories, 5 years, 5 hours, 1 hour for each year.
Around 10am a black van came past, headed down towards the lock, came back and pulled into the passing place close to us. Sean from SPL Covers was on his way to Barnsley and had stopped off to measure up for a new side panel for our pram hood. A template was made and the canvas samples looked at, the closest chosen. Hopefully we’ll have a new side within a couple of weeks. Much easier than me making a template from brown paper and sticking it in the post to Gary. Sean also showed us how they do the front panel of pram covers so that you can open your rear hatch fully. When Oleanna is repainted we’re thinking of gettng smart new covers too, if budget allows and being able to open the hatch more would be a bonus, something to think about.
Selby Basin
As I added a colour to my panto portals Mick pulled us forward to the water point to top up the water tank, next yellow water was dealt with. It was nearing midday and a breasted up pair had arrived ready to head to York. The ladies onboard the pair had hired someone to accompany them up to York to give them some confidence on their first tidal water. He certainly was knowledgable of moving a pair.
We shared the first locking down with NB Poppy, another couple doing their first tidal water, they’d hired a pilot to assist them too. We felt slightly left out it just being the two of us, Hey what about me! I’m an invaluble help. From your nest on the bed!
That sand bar gave us a little bump
Freya passed our centre line round a bollard to see us down, ‘whilst I’m in training it all has to be just so’ she said. The lock dropped, the gates opened and we waited for the go ahead from Freya, a gap in any passing debrise found. We opted to lead the way and out we came, dipping to the side as the flow caught us, then we straightened up and were zooming along with the flow again as if we’d not had a night in the basin.
NB Poppy’s owners first tidal water
Behind us NB Poppy turned out onto the river, the lock gates closed ready to be reset for the breasted up pair.
Mending Selby Toll Swing Bridge
Under the bridges and round the bend, the exciting bit of the trip over quite quickly. When we came to a longish straight I headed below to put lunch together for us, hoping I’d be back up top by the time we reached the first tight bend in the river.
On previous journeys there have been numerous Kingfishers, today not one to be seen, but how many Egrets? Or was it just the one flying off ahead and reappearing round the next bend.
Sheep and cows on the banks moo’d and baaa’d back at me when I said hello.
More tidal water! This is getting boring now!
Soon the push of the tide wained, it really didn’t feel like there was much push anymore, had we outrun the tide? Possible as we’d been let out as soon as we could bump our way over the silt build up outside the lock. It was quite odd compared to yesterday rushing along with little effort on Oleanna’s part.
It’s a hard life!
The bridge keeper at Cawood waved from his sunny seat outside his hut. As NB Poppy came into view the keeper popped into the hut, possibly to let Naburn know we’d just passed.
So low, the speed boats would have a job being launched today
Just where had all the wood gone? When we returned from our last visit to York the next stretch of the river was filled with trees, today there was the odd one, but nowhere near as much as there’d been then. Was it all behind us coming in on the tide? Or had the last lot of Spring tides swept it all out to sea?
Moreby Hall
At the 3km marker Mick radioed ahead to Naburn. A very garbled message came back, hmm what had Kenny just said? Well at least he knew we were nearly there.
Naburn Weir and a narrowboat coming towards us
As we rounded the last bend a narrowboat came into view heading towards us, maybe Kenny’d been telling us they were on the way. At the lock we were asked to pull as far ahead as possible, NB Poppy would come in behind us. He asked the crew behind us how far behind the breasted up pair were, ‘they’ll be miles behind’. Kenny opted to penn us up,we’d expected to wait for the others. Once we’d risen a foot a horn could be heard down on the river. Kenny got on the radio and was surprised to get a reply from them, they’d have to wait now.
Rising up
I chatted with Kenny about our reason for returning to York so soon. I also asked him if he had any eggs for sale, Kenny keeps hens, the cockeril will wake you in the morning. Sadly he’d sold the last of his eggs this morning, but there may be more tomorrow.
Once up we pulled over to the visitor mooring bagging the shadiest patch, oh that was nice and cool. What3words noted, then the doors could be opened for Tilly whilst Mick hung up the washing we’d done whilst on the river. Time to catch up with news on Frank and be his PA for a while. Mick had a towpath haircut. A chicken was jointed, most of it popped in the freezer, one lot made into chicken taglitelli which normally has peas in it, but today it was brocolli, not quite the same, tasty all the same.
That’s better!
2 locks, 14.1 miles, 1 load washing, 3 narrowboats, 1 butty, 2 pilots, 1 cat, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 9 egrets, 3 herons, 0 kingfishers, 2 hours shore leave, 4 messages, 1 crackly phone, 5 potential meals from 1 chicken, 1 plan formulated for our return.
No shore leave was granted this morning, we needed to reach Goole before Viking Marina shut up shop for the day. We’re used to their winter opening hours when they close at midday. Mick reversed us back to the junction, a touch of bow thruster had us turn beautifully to face the east and Goole.
I decided to opt out of the long stretches of canal this morning and headed back below to take over the dinette table and do some work. A look at what I’d done yesterday, a bit more of this, a look back at my Mucha reference. Most pantos have black lining, the scenery outlined in black paint. I’ve only done this once when actually I went into over-drive black lining with lots of hatching. Mucha uses a colour similar to that in the overall painting, different weights of line and not everything outlined either. Things are grouped together and selectively lined.
By the end of the hour and a quarter to Goole I’d made lots of decisions and started to paint up a sample of the cyc, backcloth which is very painterly this year. A few adjustments in tones and that should all work nicely.
Up top Mick spotted a Goole Escape boat WB Lullabelle. Martin and Wendy, moored at Rawcliffe. Back in 2021 Oleanna, Lullabelle and Sea Maiden all made a bid for freedom from Goole and headed up stream to Selby after the Aire and Calder breach. Tomorrow we’ll be doing the same cruise, but most probably on our own. Wendy waved, a shame not to be able to ask if they’d made it over to Liverpool a few years ago.
Blimey! Goole is empty!
The shed moored close to Goole Caisson let me know we were close now, I bobbed out to the bow as we came in past the ever increasing number of big barges. Straight down to the service mooring at Viking for diesel. Two boats were breasted up there, we slowly pulled in and asked the lady on board the outside boat if we could breast up. It was fine, although I had nowhere to tie the bow line to as they were a very short boat and it was too far to throw a rope over to the next boats T stud. Centre line onto their grab rail and stern line.
Three abreast in front of Phyllis
As Mick walked down the gunnel to secure us his phone rang, Selby Lock confirming we’d be able to pen up with them tomorrow and he made a booking for the following day to head on up to York. Time for chats with next doors crew and Hannah whilst being three abreast and a boat was being brought round from the slipway to go onto a lorry. If we’d been a little bit later I’d have got a photo of three abreast and a double decker. Diesel 85p.
One boat about to head for waters new
On our way into Goole we’d noted the lack of boats. No-one on the visitor moorings and only one boat moored opposite the gravel place. We’d be fine for a mooring tonight….. except! A boat came from that way, a cruiser from over there, plonking themselves on the visitor moorings a gap between each of them. We had enough room to pull in for water, but that was it.
As our tank filled Mick walked up to the auction centre to see if we could moor there for an hour whilst we visited the Coffee Dock for lunch, this was fine. I phoned Frank for a catch up and to wish him well for this week. Then we nudged up and headed for lunch.
A nice big pot of tea
Jacket potato and a panini were enjoyed in the outside/undercover area. All the time we kept a watchful eye on the boats out front. One was moved away by the marina staff, but we weren’t quick enough to grab that space. Then the cruiser started to untie, we lunged at the opportunity to move, thankfully we’d just finished our lunch.
A quick wind and we squeezed ourselves into the new space which was only just long enough for us, nestled in next to the tug Little Kirkby. How to tie up when the bollards aren’t that tall and the other boat you need to share with has wrapped their rope round the bollard three or four times so there’s little room for your rope. They’d also tied off at the bollard. I passed the bow rope under theirs and did my best to tuck it in. If you follow Oleanna on Facebook you’ll have seen the discussions about ‘dipping the eye’ this week after I’d posted a photo of a bollard with four ropes round it. Here’s an explaination on how to do it and if everyone knew about it mooring up and leaving would be a whole lot easier.
More work required today, I set about scanning the drawn out pieces of model with the aim of then using carbon paper to trace them onto thick watercolour paper so I could paint them, then cut them out. I scanned them and then printed them out, try as I could I couldn’t get the image printed the same size as the original. I enlisted the IT department, eventually we managed to find a program that worked. So much for having everything drawn out by the end of the day!
Try outs completed, now to do it for real!
Off Roader arrived around 7pm, far higher in the water by about 6ft! They only paused for a short while before we heard our VHF jump into life, they were headed for Hull, due to arrive at 3am. A while later Little Kirkby chugged into life behind us. Mick had chance to chat to Karl who was headed out to help one of the big ships who’s bow thruster wasn’t working. He was back an hour and a half later. Little Kirkby is pretty noisy so we’re glad he didn’t be come back at 2am!
Mick did a shopping trip. He looked round Boyes to see if they might have an airbrush I could buy. No chance, neither did Argos! It’s looking as though I might have to buy one via Amazon and get it sent somewhere. Needs must unfortunately. He also gave Sean at SPL covers a call to see if he might be able to help with our pram cover side, we now have a rendez vous with him at Selby, being local we should be able to get a new side quite quickly.
200th sock!
This evening I cast off my 200th sock for Dementia UK, that’s 100 pairs in the last three years. Pair 101 is going to need some thinking about which I don’t really have time for at the moment with work, so they may get bumped down the line a touch.
0 locks, 6.6 miles, 3 winds, 100 litres diesel, 1 full water tank, 0 brisk walking, 1 calf getting a good rest with hopeful improvement by the weekend, 0 shore leave, 1 chat with Little Kirby, 1 jacket, 1 panini, 1 big pot of decaf tea, 2.5 hours to print the right size, 100 pairs, 1st episode of Traitors season 2 NZ!
Photos, lots of them of the model box. Time to do the white card version of the storyboard. Also photos of all the model pieces for the Production Manager to see alongside the working drawings, these still need updating.
During the day we started to plan our next cruise. Should we go that way or this way? Which lock? We’d need to chat to lock keepers. Mick got on with the job of booking our next tidal lock, checking times, asking for advice which at the lock we’ve chosen to go through, they don’t give as they are far more accustomed to bigger boats than us.
In the seat next to me today
With the new storyboard forwarded to John I could now have a shower and get myself ready for an evening out. This meant I missed saying hello to Paul from Waterway Routes. Today he’d cycled from Wakefield to Leeds checking data for his maps. Mick sent him to check on some mooring rings above Office Lock to see if they should be included.
A train journey over to Huddersfield meant we had chance to say hello to Paul at the station as he waited for his train to whisk him off back to Bristol after a long day. It was nice to have a brief chat before we all headed for our trains.
A photo that always has to be taken
There is a serious upgrade happening to the Transpennine route so trains go the long way round to Huddersfield or have been replaced by buses. A hobble down to the Lawerence Batley Theatre, taking a slight detour to see what if anything had been happening in the Piazza, this is where Dark Horse Theatre Company used to have an old shop where they rehearsed. The far end of the Piazza and the old undercover market has all gone, were they new concrete structures or the old ones behind the hoarding?
Things are a changing
We weren’t here to see this, we were here to see a development showing of Dark Horses lastest show, We’re In Love (Actually). This has been devised by the ensemble, two members of staff assisting with scene changes and lighting, quite a scratch performance with some wonderful moments.
The Cellar Theatre at the LBT
The actors were great as always. A quick rendition of Romeo and Juliet mixed with 90’s dreams of romance and lots of references to Romantic films. A video camera was used by the actors to follow the action projected onto a screen. Green screen was used to introduce the characters.
Rebekah and Jo
Highlights included multi faces projected and manipulated with large sheets of card. Some very tender moments between the lead actors. The fish tank scene in Romeo and Juliet with some florestry wrap. Claytons dance to amuse the ladies and the one that will be with me for some time must have been during a recreation of the Titanic, Toby appearing as the iceberg wrapped up in a sheet!
A very amusing evening, yes it was rough around the edges, but I haven’t laughed so much in ages. My face ached for hours afterwards.
Naughty Nandos
We followed it up with a cheeky Nandos before getting the train back to Leeds. It’s funny going out for the evening by train, you don’t do that in Scarborough, but here in West Yorkshire I suspect it’s a frequent occurrence. A very good night out, thank you all at Dark Horse for inviting us.
0 locks, 0 miles, 250 photos, edited down to 70, 3 boats up, 1 hotel boat winding two times, 1 visit from Paul, 2 trains going the long way round, 0 cats at the station, 2.11 miles walked, 4 minutes briskly, 9 actors, 4 aching cheeks, 1/4 chicken each, 2 glasses of wine, 1 bored cat.
Woodlesford Lock to Granary Wharf, Leeds Liverpool Canal.
Tilly was given a couple of hours whilst we had breakfast and joined the Geraghty zoom. Subjects today included barns versus gardens, snobby boaters, trapese theatre and Dr Who deceipt.
It was finally time to give Oleanna and ourselves a cruise, something that has been missing for the last few weeks. As we got ready to push off we got chatting with a couple who were looking for a better mooring. Solar important to most boaters nowadays, they were looking for a gap in the trees. We pushed off, giving them a choice of places closer to the lock.
Swapping over at the lock
I walked on ahead with the key of power, reaching Fishpond Lock as a boat was coming down. The gates need to be closed to retrieve your key, Oleanna still a distance away the gates were closed so the lady could get back on her boat, I then reopened them.
Stourton Wharf
We’ve done this stretch a few times over the years. Today we spotted where Off Roader must come to. New ladders and steps over a wall, along with new mooring bollards. The canal isn’t wide enough for the big boat to wind by the mooring, so it must continue up to Knostrop Lock where there is plenty of room.
Thwaite Mill
Sadly Thwaite Mills is now closed. It was a great museum that we visited back in 2019. Reading up about it’s closure, Leeds City Council felt they couldn’t justify the £250,000 rent each year so had pulled out. It looks like the owners CRT have put it up for sale, but no one seems to know for how much or when. There used to be a mooring here that you could pay for a night, but now big signs say NO STOPPING!
4ft Mallard
Rowers were getting themselves sorted at Knostrop, glad we’d not set off any later as there were quite a few boats going out.
Knostrop Weir
Up the lock, time to look at the giant Mallard and the bridge over the weir before climbing back on board and heading up the wide expanse that once used to have a long island down the middle. No need to stop for the services so on to Leeds Lock, quite a shock to be in a short lock again!
Leeds Lock
Now the yellow river taxis appeared, they run between the Royal Armouries and Granary Wharf. I didn’t pop my head over the high wall to check for moorings in the basin, as we hoped to moor closer to the station, we’d return if we had to.
Heading into Leeds
Along the River Aire up to River Lock, Lock 1 of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Sadly we won’t be ascending further than the first lock this year, the locks only available up to Skipton Friday to Monday due to low water.
River Lock
Windlass in hand and a handcuff key required now, the key of power put away. I tried to get the ground paddles to work, one wouldn’t unlock, the other only turned a couple of times so I’d have to use the gate paddles, carefully. The old rack system is easy to use, it pulls a wooden cover away from an opening to let the water through, there are more of these at Bingley. It took a while, I went back to try the ground paddle to see if the change in water pressure had made a difference, but it hadn’t.
Gate paddle gear
As ever it was windy in the wharf, we found a space, the rings not ideally positioned for us, but the boat ahead would be moving off in a couple of hours once they’d stocked up, food or weed I’m not sure which. Just as we got the covers up it hammered it down with rain, a perfect time to show Tilly how pants the mooring was.
A late lunch, followed by a run through with my model, then it was packed up ready for the morning.
Part of Wharf Mill
A chicken went in the oven, enough time to add some more minutes walking before it would be ready. I walked round the station then tried to find the river bank to follow upstream for a while. I seemed to be following an odd looking chap who was quite interested in people’s bags as he walked along. I took a detour and eventually made it back to the river only to find my route cut off by building work. Instead I had a wander around Tower Wharf, which we’ve seen develop over the years.
Looking towards Granary Wharf from the River Aire
I managed to pull out some yarn and do some knitting for the first time in two weeks, I’ve something to keep me occupied on the train southwards now.
Dali watching over Aire Street
4 locks, 5.4 miles, 1 grey day, 2 boaters boating again, 2 hours shore leave, 1 turned up nose to Leeds, 1 roast chicken, 100th pair cast on, 1 big box permenantly in an IKEA bag!
