Category Archives: Fossdyke and Witham Navigation

Sightings. 12th September

Torksey 3 day moorings to Saxilby

A post on facebook brought my attention to a new section on the C&RT website. If you log on and then log on to your licence section you can now see what sightings C&RT have for you. I put in this year.

In the past you used to have to write to them for your sightings, a few weeks later they would send you the list. It appears they have now been able to link everything up.

Number checkers at marinas do exist as you can see. Then we didn’t get spotted until we’d crossed over the Pennines. Next in Birmingham. The number checkers will always get you in Thrupp as the moorings are martialed by the cruising club. Obviously no sightings whilst we were on the Thames as it is EA water. Twice in one day in Oxford. Then not until we reached Nottingham. We obviously don’t stay still long enough to get clocked in the same place twice.

Later in the day the Sightings tab was removed from the website by C&RT.

‘Sightings Information

To support customers accessing their data, we have recently made sightings of boat movements available via your Web Licensing account. Unfortunately, the format of that data has caused some customers concern about the location their boat has been sighted and left them with questions. The Trust is currently compiling supporting guidance and information, as a priority, to help boaters best understand this data and help answer any questions they may have.

Whilst we prepare this guidance, we are pausing access to the sightings data.‘

Autumn arrived today with rain! No quandary as to what to wear, long trousers without a doubt for us. Tilly was given the morning to spend outside, she chose not to take us up on the offer despite the back door being open for hours! They only do this when it’s a WET outside! Yesterday’s version was so much better!

Mick worked his morning magic in the kitchen and we settled down to wait for the rain to stop. If only I’d not broken my toe the roof around the mushroom vent over the bathroom would have been sorted in the warm drier weather. But that has not been possible, so we’ll have to live with a puddle in the bathroom whenever it rains for a while longer.

**All gone! I’ve never been partial to tomato skins**

Emails about dressing tables came through from Chippy, a producer has already started to hunt for one, I added more information to assist her hunt and confirmed the need for an overhead projector to help with the drawing out of scenery. Last year it took me what felt like days to get the Piccadilly sliders drawn out, with an OHP I’d most probably have done it all in two hours.

With phone and internet signal patchy or none existent we really wanted to move on. So when it looked like the rain was easing we decided to move, just as Tilly did too! Once the second mate had returned the doors were closed, it was time to roll back the covers.

Wet decks and flip flops do not go together. Chilly air and crocks required some socks adding to them. An intermediate thermal sock was achieved over my broken toe. Then a squeeze into my crocks, not as comfortable as yesterday.

How far should we go? Saxilby, not ideal for a cat. Burton Waters, better but further. We pushed off with light drizzle in the air. The Fossdyke was built by the Romans and stretches into the distance in long straights, the occasional bend giving a change of direction. The high banks hide much of the surrounding landscape, so it can’t be classed as a picturesque canal. Deer ramps extend out into the cut, arrows mark their locations, frequently.

At Drinsey Nook a proud building stands by the road. Was it once a coaching house? A large farm house? A hunt round on the internet later in the day told me nothing about the building. It told me that back in 2014 a family of 11 who lived in Drinsey Nook were all convicted of modern day slavery crimes. One chap had been under their control for 26 years!

Approaching Saxilby it started to rain properly, decision made we’d have to cope with complaints from Tilly for the rest of the day. Past the permanent moorings, past the handy stop off for the chippy, under the rail bridge and to the moorings. We pulled in, moored up and then tried explaining to Tilly that behind the trees lay a noisy dangerous railway and how she wouldn’t know about it until it was too late! I got the ‘But Why?!’ treatment!

Steve and Deena were moored a little ahead of us, they came to warn us of the willows. Mick!?! Yesterday they’d moored at this end and a branch had come crashing down close to them. Mick!?! They had moved up ahead and thought ~~Mick~~ TOM! might want to consider moving us along too. He’s called Tom! Who is Mick!?! Tilly kept a very close eye on them and their woofer through the window. TOM, it’s TOM!!!

After we’d eaten, Mick had a look at the closest tree. If it was to loose a limb it would miss us. We stayed put for the night as the rain returned.

0 locks, 4.8 miles, 10 degrees cooler, 1 pair thermal socks, 1 toe slightly cramped, 1 wet day, 1 indignant cat, 0 Micks, 1 Tom!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHcj1FNox4BsPNT78

Lining Up The Bucket. 11th September

Cromwell to Torksey

**Beautiful, even if it’s mostly from planes**

Would today be the day when I could upgrade from flip flops to something more substantial on my feet? Some slip resistant crocs made the grade, a cautious put on but after that there is plenty of room around my little toe. In the next few days we’ll see what they are like with socks.

Water filling, breakfast early, clear the cratch to make more room and exchange phone numbers with Steve and Deena on NB Preaux for just in case. An Anglo Welsh boat had pulled up last night, they’d been to walk their dog this morning and their boat name was on the list for passage through Cromwell this morning. Steve looked towards the lock the green light was on it was 7:35, Neil was ready for us. We still had a couple of jobs to do but would be along shortly.

As we pulled in and passed our ropes round the risers Neil asked if there was movement from anyone else, only the dog walker. He wanted to see the crew on the hire boat before hand, so they wouldn’t be joining us. The top gates closed behind the two boats, thumbs up that we were ready, the sluices were lifted and down into the dark of the lock we went.

We’d agreed to go first as we’ve done this stretch maybe four times before. 7:50, off we went, up to our cruising speed, hopeful to reach Torksey in time for there to be sufficient water to get over the cill today. We’d be punching what meager tide there was before it would start to help us and give us a push.

Not sure we’ve seen the weir looking so high before, the tide not up to meet it. A sand bank had birds preening themselves in the morning sunshine, maybe we should have worn shorts and not long trousers!

We followed the red line on our charts, this normally feels a touch overkill, but this morning with the level low it felt important to keep in the channel, sandbanks lurk below. Behind NB Preaux followed, their speed not the same as ours.

Round a couple of bends, we caught another fisherman! Mick put Oleanna into reverse hoping that we’d not been caught too well, the fisherman pulled and wound his line, thankfully it came free.

I maybe should have brought out a pencil to jot notes on our new chart, but the red line was what we needed and we followed it as closely as we could. A glance behind every now and again, NB Preaux coming into view then out again at the next bend.

What a glorious morning, not too hot, not much breeze, blue skies. One look along the river gave us 2 Herons, an Egret, Egyptian Geese and a Kingfisher darting along the edge of the banks.

Cows walked to find tasty morsels silhouetted. Sheep scrambled over rocks preferring the nettles there, hopefully none of them would loose their footing and end up in the river!

A cruiser came past heading to Cromwell, he had a loud hailer and wished us good morning, his wind turbine whizzing round on the bow. He was soon followed by a narrowboat. As always you meet boats on a stretch where you are trying to line up with landmarks. The pylon behind with the white domed windmill ahead. Line the pooh bucket up with it.

Gulls sat on top of marker posts, some having seen better days, now rusting away, few bright white anymore.

At Marnham Boat Club two chaps were tentatively backing a speed boat into the river, would it float before water came over the stern? And just how much effort went into the positioning of that life boy? Under Fledborough Viaduct, navigational notes should be amended here to left or the centre pier, rather than under the graffitti, now almost impossible to see until you are right underneath.

Approaching Dunham Dubbs (is it one B or two?) I got out the new chart showing the recently added markers. A new line to follow up to the bend, then to follow the line of the western overhead wires.

The two new boards needed lining up, but where was the white post ahead of us? Two tractors cut grass, maybe they needed to do a little bit of pruning of a tree, then the post came into view. We lined the posts behind and the pooh bucket on the roof with the post ahead, we knew were we in the channel.

One day we’ll stop at the 48 hour mooring before Dunham Toll Bridge, but not today, the tide was busy going out and we were eager to get to Torksey.

Past Butlers sunken island and great views of Cottam Power Station, the coal fired station now decommissioned (2019). Demolition works have already started on sight this year, the cooling towers and chimney stack will be the last parts to be demolished in 2025. Then according to Wikipedia the sight will become a ‘garden community’ with 1500 houses.

Not far now, a couple of big sweeps of the river before we got to see Jack’s Ferry, time to radio the lock and check if we were in time. He’d just had a call from NB Preaux, they were a little way behind us. We were told there was 3ft and a bit over the cill at the moment, the lock gates would be open ready for us, lights on green. We were to approach with caution and slow our speed right down. If at any time he thought we should abandon then the lights would go to red.

We turned into the cut, one cruiser on the pontoon, plenty of space should we need it. The lights were red, the gates just opening, light went to green. A call on the radio, depth over the cill 3ft, we should be fine as we’re 2ft 6″. Mick slowed us right down, the shallowest point being the cill between the small lock and longer lock chamber. We’d made it, 10:41. Ropes were passed up to the top and now there was a short wait for NB Preaux.

The Lockie gave them a call, but he had the wrong number. They’d told us their draught was 2ft, so they should be fine, but the Lockie had not been able to confirm that with them. As they approached they slowed right down and were told to pass a line round a riser in the longer chamber under the road bridge. Once we were all settled the gates were closed and the lock started to fill. Thumbs up from Steve and Deena, what a wonderful cruise it had been.

A pause to dispose of rubbish for us and then we sauntered on to the 3 day moorings, NB Preaux carrying on to explore further. Once we’d tied up, the rules were recited to Tilly who was FAR too excited to listen. 6 what?!! Wow!! See ya!

**Torksey Lock and Cottam Power Station behind us**

An early lunch, well we’d had breakfast far too early. Then a quiet afternoon. Phone signal not the best unless you stand on the bank or resort to Whatsap. I had a catch up call with Gemma from Panto, still waiting to hear back about the cloths and printing, I’d sent an email first thing, but now with poor signal it was hard to follow it up.

Another Denzil Washington film this afternoon Inside Man (2006). A bank heist with a difference, Denzil a NYPD hostage negotiator and items locked away in safety deposit boxes. Only problem was that our internet signal was patchy too, so it took a long time to watch it. As the afternoon progressed rain set in, we closed up the covers and settled down.

2 locks, 16.9 miles, 1 right, 2 boats not 4, 1 fisherman nearly caught, 1 bright sunny day, 2 new markers, 2 upstream boats, 3 ft, 2ft 10, 2 boats onto the Fossdyke, 6 hours, 5th sock finished, 6th started, 1 happy cat, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://goo.gl/maps/6vZAUh4qTHoo8tf89

The Goole Escape, Barn Refuge. 28th May

Torksey Low to Top to Low

A good sleep was had by all after all that fresh air and vitamin D yesterday. We decided that if we could get up the lock at Torksey today without having to come straight back down then we would so as to give Tilly some freedom. She’s been cooped up inside for ten days due to us being in the marina, then at Selby the road was too close to the boat for our peace of mind.

Mick called the lock at about 8:30 when we thought someone would be on duty. We were redirected to a mobile number where he got an answer phone, so he left a message.

A few minutes later as we relaxed with our cuppas in bed the phone rang. ‘Just emptying the lock, come in on the green’. Oh Blimey, like NOW! It was fine for us to take our time, if someone arrived on the top side of the lock before we got there they would turn the lock. With the amount of fresh on the river at the moment the lock could be used just about anytime within working hours. No need to wait for the tide to provide enough water to get over the cil.

We got dressed and were ascending the lock just after 9. One Lockie and two volunteers in civvies helped us up. Our return was discussed.

Tomorrow morning we’d be able to pen down before the tide started to come in, however Lincoln Cruising club were going on a Bank Holiday jolly to Newark, so there might be 14 or so cruisers all wanting to get down onto the river for the tide. We’ve been here before when above the lock has been rammed with boats from the cruising club waiting for the next mornings tide. We checked the lock closing time today and when the tide was due in the morning, 09:54. Tilly would make our decision for us.

The visitor moorings were quite busy but there was space for us without having to be on the bend. There was ample width for us to wind and then pull in to have breakfast.

The stern doors were opened along with the side hatch and Tilly set off to explore, which included checking out the cruiser behind us a couple of times until I reminded her of the rules! We however sat down and had breakfast.

Heather had a slightly convoluted journey back to Bleasdale, a bus from the retirement village to Gainsborough which passed behind The Folly and the interesting white house we’d passed yesterday at near dark. Then it was a couple of trains, a journey of a bit over two hours. Thank you Heather for your company over the last couple of days, it was lovely to share our wonderful cruise with you, good luck for your adventure.

Yesterday I’d had a call regarding my next show, just as we were approaching Howden Dyke Island, it hadn’t been a good time for an hour long conversation so I climbed the bank to see if my phone signal improved. EE not so good at Torksey but our emergency boat phone is on O2 and had full service, Lynda rang me back and we chatted away for an hour.

Dark Horse Theatre have been planning their next touring show for over a year now, it should have been out on the road this last February, but we all know what got in the way. So over the last year I’ve had various conversations with Amy their Artistic Lead about #unit 21. Next February they will mount scenes from the show to an invited audience, this then will hopefully lead to a tour in the future. My work (set and costume) would mostly need to be done for this, adjustments for the tour would follow. But the costumes would be required for a photo shoot in a few weeks.

Best get my designers hat back out of the cupboard.

Tilly came and went for quite a few hours. We pottered away the day, me mostly writing up our epic voyage and editing the photos!

We’d given Tilly a cut off point of 2:30pm, if she was home by then we’d go back down the lock this afternoon, if not it would wait for the morning. She came back in bang on time, so the pram hood was dropped, the lock keepers were radioed and we were on our way again. They were a touch surprised that we hadn’t even got as far as Saxilby, but that wouldn’t have been fair on Tilly.

Are there fewer tea pots than there used to be?

By the pontoon earth works are in progress. A sign at the top of the walkway off the pontoon boasts about Elms Moorings, a new shower block, pontoons and electric hookup. The earth works are however nothing to do with the sign, the flood banks are being improved with piling.