Category Archives: Fund Britains Waterways

Minutes Not Hours! 8th May

Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal to Stubbs Bridge, Aire and Calder Navigation

Shore leave was granted this morning for 90 minutes. 90 BRILLIANT!!! As we finished breakfast Tilly got a call from the hatch, this was shortly followed by me putting on my shoes to do the mad cat woman up and down the towpath. Yesterday we’d been joined by NB Ampere so I even had witnesses to my calling into the friendly cover.

**We’re seeing lots of big broods this year**

After five minutes or so I thought I heard Tilly’s bell. It gradually worked towards me and she popped out from between the nettles. You said 90! It’s no where near 90 hours yet!! She reluctantly headed towards Oleanna, her moves suggesting that if I didn’t grab hold of her soon then we’d be waiting for quite sometime whilst she decided whether to use shore based facilities or not! Thankfully I managed to pick her up quickly without too much of a Rugby tackle, the onboard facilities used quite promptly and would have ended up being her choice anyway.

**Lots of egg shells and skeletal remains on the towpath**

I clicked the Nebo link to on and then headed off to walk ahead with the key of power in my pocket. Along the New Junction to the bridge over the Went Aqueduct then along the towpath towards Pollington Lock. Back in December 2020 or January 2021 Mick and I walked the last stretch of this trying to get to see the slipped banking that happened after the big breach on the Aire and Calder. A pleasant walk with only a couple of slight bends, no sign of Oleanna following me though until I’d got quite close to the lock.

Two boats were just coming into the lock, three people wearing life jackets walked from one end of the lock to the other, there were volunteers on duty. The area around the lock always looks smart so I suspect they spend most of their time cutting the grass etc, but today they were being kept busy with boats.

The bywash pushed the exiting boats towards the towpath, not enough umph applied, where as Mick knew what was coming so upped the revs and zoomed through into the lock.

I’d achieved my brisk walking for the day, but was short on steps, however over the last couple of days my right calf has been complaining, I think after trying to open Beal Lock, so I decided that that would be it for today, leaving some stretches of the Aire and Calder yet to be walked.

**Different surfaces and textures around lock gates**

No volunteers at Whitley Lock, Mick hovered in the lock so the paddle held him to the side, it’s a side filler and if you stay on the left hand side going up it’s easy. On past Eggborough moorings, the same boat still moored here. We are getting to recognise the local boats that nudge up and down the Aire and Calder and wonder if we’ll be considered to be one of them in the coming weeks.

We pulled in a little earlier than we had done the other day, managing to find rods in the chunky armco to use chains to moor up. Tilly was given 4 HOURS shore leave. The roof here was a very good vantage point, but before I could make the most of it I had to make sure everything on the roof was still mine. Strange noises of cat scratching came from the roof as Tilly made sure that pesky grey cat’s scent was eradicated from everything.

Work wise I worked through my annotated script adding my notes to a list, from this I now know where each scene is set, what it requires set pieces wise and whether it is a front cloth scene or full stage scene. Some of the scenes may reuse the setting from an earlier scene, but they also may require different bits and bobs of dressing.

**Yesterday outside the Houses of Parliament**

The campaign cruise left West India Dock this morning and most probably split three ways, some back in at Limehouse, others Brentford and the rest up to Teddington to head up stream on the Thames. Petition if you still haven’t signed it.

2 locks, 8.2 miles, 2.98 miles walked, 48 minutes briskly, 2 outsides, 1 cat who only works in hours, 1 mad cat woman, 5 pages notes, 2 scenic breakdown, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://what3words.com/newly.springing.gladiators

The Big Ship Sails. 7th May

Empty Waiting Rooms. 1st/2nd May

2 Replies

New Walk, York

Alarms set both in York and Scarborough. When I woke up I wondered if I’d survive the day! My cold now a touch chesty, should I really be beathing in peoples faces at the hospital? I tried ringing for advice, but when I’d only moved one place in the queue I decided I should head for the hospital before ran out of time, if I was turned away so be it.

In Scarborough Mick greeted a chap who’d come to clean the oven, it’s now all sparkling and gleaming for our next lodgers. We’ve decided to get someone in to do this every year rather than Mick spending a whole day doing it. There was also a chap who came to replace the glazing in one of our recently double glazed windows. We’d noticed it was going cloudy when the sun hit it on very cold days. He made himself a workshop in amongst the bluebells of the front garden, I suspect his touch up paint went off quickly. The lean too out the back also needed clearing out, Tilly’s tree and our barbeque were moved and Mick worked his way through washing the towels and bed linen from our last lot of lodgers, an hour on the line and they were dry.

At the hospital I wore a mask and awaited my turn in the Ophthalmology Department. Area B, to A, to C, then back to B for a very long wait. In fact I was the last person sat in the waiting room before lunch. The doctor looked deep into my eyes, then added stinging yellow drops. Her comments were that I had no signs of glaucoma and maybe it’s just the way my eyes are that things aren’t totally visible. But my vision is good, very good, even though I know I miss quite a lot on the periphery vision test. I’ve not been discharged, but will have a recall in ten to twelve months, so I’m happy with that.

**A Japanese tourist posing in front of the Minster with hat and glasses on she could have been anyone.**

In Scarborough today it’s polling day for our new Town Council. Mick went to put crosses in boxes for the both of us. We must remember to reapply for our postal votes next time.

The river was busy with day boats pootling up and down in the sunshine. Tilly was chased by a couple of woofers, one who wanted to follow her onto the boat, so they got short shrift from me.

An hour of engine to charge the batteries up, I suspect if we’d been sat in direct sunlight all day the solar would have done it for us, but I’d rather have a cool boat.

Thursday. An earlier start for me to beat Frank to the hospital where he had another appointment today, I really didn’t want to miss this one and arrived before most of the staff. My cold was still loitering so it was another morning wearing a mask. There was lots to absorb and questions to ask, then lots to talk about over a cuppa afterwards. We then walked into town where Frank headed off to peruse the vinyl in HMV and I managed to tick off the start to some secret shopping, it’s May and there’s quite a lot of birthdays coming up.

I returned to Oleanna. My PA role for Frank needed to be handed over to the Scarborough PA. Then some knitting in front of a film which kept on being interrupted by the amount of traffic on the river, you could tell it was a Friday of a Bank Holiday weekend, lots of cruisers heading into town.

***I think I’ve had enough of this outside now***

In Scarborough today our lean to was dismantled (it would have done it itself before too long), and the now exterior walls have all been covered in black plastic to protect them from the elements for a while. It doesn’t half make the back of the house dark! Mick was back a little after 6pm, so tomorrow we can make a move again.

In flotilla news, all the boats are now in London. Those that hadn’t made it through Maida Tunnel are settling themselves in at Little Venice for Cavalcade this weekend. This did mean they had to get the bus round to St Pancras Cruising Club for a Fund Britain’s Waterways do. Two boats had already made it there, the tunnel is still closed, so they may stay there until they head down to Limehouse to muster for the cruise to the Houses of Parliament next week. Other boats will be heading to Brentford to cruise down the Thames, through the barrier then back to Limehouse when the tide suites. Link to petition, please sign it if you haven’t already.

**Blue Bridge over the entrance to the River Foss**

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 sparkling oven, 1 newly glazed window, 1 clear lean to, 2 appointments, 2 yellow eyes, 10 months, 2 annoying woofers, 37 day boats, 1 M&S sandwich for lunch, 1 dismantled lean to, 6 loads washing dried, 2 PAs, 1 afternoon knitting, 9.31 miles walk over 2 days, 96 minutes briskly over 2 days, 128 pages, 2 boaters ready to move on.

A Third Reason. 30th April

Arrivals. 24th April

Still There. 22nd April

Naburn Lock to New Walk, River Ouse

Anyone who has ever visited York by boat will be aware of how bad the boaters facilities are in the city. So before we left Naburn we wanted to have a full water tank. After breakfast we got ready to reverse to the water point, but we’d just been beaten to it by the boat behind us. We pulled back anyway, they weren’t using the water point and our two hoses would reach our bow. They pulled off soon after we arrived so we tucked up closer to the tap.

Mick rang York Marina in Naburn this morning to see if they could accommodate us for a few days, this would make plan 6C work for us. However unless we were willing to sign up for a full year they weren’t interested, our three days not enough. Time to work out plan 7A. I walked over the lock island to check on the pontoon there, 48 hours and empty today, but would it be when we want it to be?!

Tank full and a booking to return to Selby made we were ready for the off, and thankfully the sun was shining.

The river is far more interesting lots of moored boats to look at. A pontoon we’d not seen before which is reserved for York Marina despite being quite a distance away. The River Bus has various stops along the way to pick up campers and take them into York.

Then the slightly more shanty town moorings, steep walkways to interesting boats, some of which archaeologists would have a field day on their roofs. A small cruiser with sails was slowly making it’s way upstream, we passed as did a day boat.

Archbishops Palace. The opposite bank was what at the age of six, was a long walk from our house, but a good landmark for turning around plus the dogs used to like swimming there.

The A64 bypass bridge. Fulford Hall on the bend. Is that where the bench seat was that my Dad Fatso used to walk Bramble his dog to? The undergrowth and possibly a fence blocking the view. Would that be the case a little further on?

**There she is! The pan tiles belong to next door.**

The willow trees are starting to get thick with leaves would there still be that gap in them that lines up with the grid on our map? It’s been five years since these sight lines were checked and the river then was that bit higher. We slowed as we approached the grid line. The big house just visible, then the roof of the house behind. Then the trees parted for a very good view of my family home, the house that Fatso built, the house where I was born. We know the new owner has done some building work and replaced the wood cladding to the front of the house, this used to be dark marrying in with the trees surrounding it. The new cladding thankfully isn’t as bright as it was in photos we’ve seen, it has silvered, a different wood from that it was clad with in the early 60s. But she is still there, the glimpse from the river the same.

**Might have to visit if they still go to near Millennium Bridge**

Now past the York Motor Club Moorings, would they be able to accommodate us? We suspected not. The University Rowing Club Moorings, I’ve still not quite finished off a pair of socks that need to be delivered here, the hope of being able to moor alongside obviously not possible, so a visit by land will need to be arranged. The Chilled Medication boats were followed by Millennium Bridge.

We now started to look for somewhere to moor up, a little bit further would suit our needs best, but with some solar a bonus. Chain swags line the river wall, would we be able to moor to those. We slowed and had a go as day boats came past, a trip boat winding up stream of us, at least they know their horn signals. Thin rope was used to tie through the eyes that hold the chain, an old soft shackle from our centre line was used too. There’s a ledge just catching Oleanna’s base plate, so we deployed the Shroppie Tyre fenders. Brilliant, we are moored somewhere Tilly can have some shore leave too. Maybe York will be York to her and not Yurk!!!

**This used to be Thomas C Godfrey’s a Blackwell’s Bookshop**

After lunch I set off with the intention of finding some Almond flour, finer than ground almonds and a touch harder to find. This gave me a reason to have a good walk around the city, spotting favourite old places including the old bookshop I used to sell maps in, currently selling things made by local artists.

I went here there and nearly everywhere. The obligatory visit to Barnitts. Today I wanted new rope for the stove door and some glue. Barnitts never disappoints, there is always a selection. Just how many shoe laces and flasks could anyone want!

I was also on the hunt for views of York to paint. I’d like to do a painting for my brothers holiday let in York. Not of the usual views. I love the Snickleways, maybe Lady Peckett’s Yard? We’ll see what else I find in the next few days.

Back at the boat our quiet evening was disturbed by the rowers from the University, they seem to start and end their training where we are moored. The boats are not too bad despite their wake, but their coach is very VERY LOUD!!!

In flotilla news all boats are back on the move continuing towards London. However tonight we’ve seen that there is a stoppage at Denham Deep Lock on the Grand Union Canal and the lock gates are padlocked shut! This stoppage stands between lots of boats and Cavalcade! Here’s hoping its not a lengthy fix. Petition link.

0 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 roof line, 1 new mooring to try out, 500grams almond flour, 2m stove rope, 1 bottle glue, 5.2 miles, 47 minutes briskly, 7 possible paintings, 1 man shouting 2 loudly!

https://what3words.com/valve.trap.line

Easter Oranges. 20th April

Selby Swing Bridge

A lazy start with the Saturday newspaper in bed, listening to the Abbey bells. We were up in time to join the Geraghty zoom, breakfast had to wait for later though. Subjects covered, empathy, sheep with hankies, sponsored relay cruising and a walkie talkie lunch.

**We forgot to defrost some sausages, just as well really**

Yesterday we’d found some gf black pudding so that was added to our egg, tomatoes and mushrooms. Tasty.

A walk down to the lock to see if a Keeper might be about. The door to the little hut was open and Nigel was sat relaxing, he’d had an early start checking the levels up on the Ripon Canal this morning. We checked that we were still booked in for tomorrow and heard that there were five or six cruisers headed from Naburn this afternoon. That would be worth coming back to watch, we headed into town to see if we could find the Easter Bunny.

We’d missed all the fun by the market cross. The Abbey was setting up tables for something later today. Not many people about. We had a good wander around.

Houses for sale, this nice looking little terraced house down Rupert Street, wiped clean of any interior detail. Mr C’s Chippy, now when did we have 2 of each from here? Did we have a car at the time? It turns out it was when we were waiting for the River Ouse to come down on our escape from Goole in 2021, Tuesday night is GF night.

Down a side street towards St James the Apostle Church. A row of rather fine terraced houses, one of which is prime for some TLC, filled with original features. But would you keep the avocado sink and toilet?

We made our way back past the station and my favourite door in Selby. It used to roll to the sides and has had some remedial work at some time. But the tarmac on the pavement restricts any possible movement along with brackets at the top, possibly holding it now to the building.

Back at the lock the first of the cruisers was coming up off the river. Just as Nigel was dropping the water for the following boats they arrived. One winding to face the tide, the gates just opening in time. The other winded a little further down stream and then made their way back to the lock and entered before Nigel had given the go ahead. Nigel wasn’t too happy with this.

**The Lockies Key of Powerful Powerness!**

Several gongoozlers watched on, crew from the first boat came to help, but all were very much kept in check by Nigel, looking out for everyone’s safety. Ropes round bollards and risers these two boats were penned up. The boats had all timed their arrivals with penning up in mind, good gaps between them.

The next arrived winded and had to stem the tide for a bit as the lock emptied. The next and final boat came past the lock, winding further down stream. Would they both fit in the lock together? The lead boat was nudged right up to the top gates. Tail end Charlie waved in to join them, directed by the Lockie, instructions relayed by the crew to the skipper inside the cabin. A perfect entrance to the lock, the skippers first time turning into Selby and their first time on a river!

Close to Oleanna was a newly arrived boat. We stopped to say hello thinking they might be joining us tomorrow. But the crew despite having boated for well over fifteen years and been just about everywhere, they have never gone on tidal water. They’d come and watch tomorrow and give it some more thought.

I was short on my walking for the day, so carried on past Oleanna to see if I could find Staynor Hall which looked like it was surrounded by a new Persimmon development. I walked round into the houses. Looked for what I thought would be an old building but could see nothing but a green modern school building at the back of some playing fields. It may still be there somewhere, but disguised in a plain modern building.

I tried to find a path back towards an older housing estate, but found it fenced off, so had to return through the land of little boxes. The road arched round to Denison Road which brought me back to the Swing Bridge. Time to put that joint of Pork in the oven.

The flotilla appears to have now split into three. Two crews having headed back to their houses for Easter, another two in Hemel and I’m not sure where the lead boats are now. Happy Easter to them all. Just incase you haven’t signed it yet, here’s a link to the Fund Britain’s Waterways petition

0 locks, 0 miles, 8:45 start at the tip, 4 slices black pudding between us, 1 slow walk, 5 cruisers, 0 space in the basin, 5.36 miles walked, 48 brisk minutes, 1 joint of pork, 2 beers, 4 glasses wine, 1 quiet evening, 0 Easter eggs, 2 chocolate oranges left from Christmas.

We Have No Bananas. 19th April

Burn Bridge to Selby Swing Bridge

Our plan to see if we could get in along the full length of moorings at Burn Bridge was thwarted this morning by there being an angler who’d set up camp half way along from us to the bridge. Instead Mick went along with our boat hook, dipping for depth. Shallow, shallow, until he prodded at about the point where the old moorings had extended to. We reckoned there was under 2ft of depth by the bank all the way along the moorings. An email to C&RT with photos will be sent as it’s all very good to make the moorings safe, but only if it’s worth mooring there!

Mick pushed off and I walked the towpath in to Selby, by the end of the day I’d walked the full length of the canal. Oleanna’s speed was greater than mine today as there were a few sculptures to stop and look at on the way. Little if any information can be found about them which is a shame.

In towards Selby we passed Selby Boat Centre, this is where we purchased chain for our anchor and a new set of ropes from a boater who let us moor alongside, way back in 2014 on Nb Lillyanne.

Two boats had passed us this morning, the first was moored close to the Fire Station. We tried pulling in behind them, the chap coming to lend us a hand and have a good natter. Then we tried in front, just before a bend. Then on a bit further round the bend. I remembered we’d had the same problem last time we were here, but had eventually succeeded opposite the Council Tip. We kind of managed to get in behind a widebeam, this would do us.

**One of the canal culverts leading to a drain alongside the fields**

No shore leave for Tilly as the road is close and had a queue for the tip today.

After lunch we walked over the railway to the supermarkets. Meal plans for the week hadn’t included anything extra nice for it being Easter, so at least a chicken was sought. First call was Aldi, who are reportedly trialling a Gluten Free range of products, however Selby doesn’t seem to be a store that stocks them.

Next was Tescos. Big signs where the bananas should be. What is it with Tescos and Bananas, the lack of them seems to be a regular thing in their stores, yet Aldi was full of them. No Saturday newspaper of our liking! Then there was a serious lack of suitable roasting meat of all varieties, unless you were going to have 24 for roast pork!

**We decided not to choose this option for our Easter Sunday meal**

Third supermarket was Morrisons. Newspaper, bananas, and some choice of meat. We got a pork joint that should last us a few meals but not the rest of the month. To finish off my walking for the day I briskly walked down to the lock. The tide was heading out to sea, but not at the great speed I’ve seen here before. Minutes ticked off I returned to Oleanna to make a fish crumble for our dinner.

In flotilla news , the boats continue heading southwards. 2 new cables were fitted to one boat this morning by RCR. Hopefully that will be the end of problems for them all. Petition Link here.

0 locks, 2.2 miles, 2 shallow for all, 1 angler, 2 sculptures, 1 woofers wee, 1 more enquiry, 3 supermarkets, 1 joint pork, 1st of the year I think, 0 Easter eggs bought, 5.42 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 0 shore leave.

https://what3words.com/gathering.twee.drip

All Nice And Spicy. 18th April

West Haddlesey to Burn Bridge

Showers. Tilly was offered some shore leave, which she took up for a while before retreating inside. I’m a fair weather cat and I like it like that in my older years. Thankfully the showers petered off, not that they’d been very soggy.

We’d toyed with staying put for the day, but our options for shopping were just about none existent and if we left it too long before heading into Selby then it would be Easter Sunday with just about all shops closed. Mick spotted a Tesco Express near to Burn Bridge so that was our aim for today.

I opted to walk, at about 3 miles it would be a good way of ticking off the brisk minutes. We both suspected that I’d beat Oleanna as the Selby Canal is really quite shallow, so slow cruising. It also gave me chance to check out the footpath along the first stretch.

A big sign showed lots of local walks and that the towpath continued to Tankards Bridge, information already passed on to Paul at Waterway Routes. The footpath was good and obviously well used. I kept my pace up and kept just in front of Oleanna with enough time to pause to take photos.

**Paperhouse Bridge with the tunnels/culverts/aqueducts either side**

Yesterday I’d crossed Paperhouse Bridge where two round areas sit alongside the canal. Our maps suggest that the canal passes over these on aqueducts, even though they look just a bit like fancy side ponds. But information from the big notice says they have a tunnel, culvert between the two of them. These were designed by William Jessop to collect water and help stop the canal from getting flooded. There were originally four such tunnels/culverts/aqueducts, one has since been filled in.

I paused by the high wall mooring. Mick rang. As it was available, should we stop here for the day? Plan changed, he reversed Oleanna back to attempt to moor. There seemed to be quite a few branches in the way. He got the stern in and then with the boat hook managed to pick a branch out. However there were more branches and these were stubborn to shift. Back onboard to try from there, it wasn’t easy. I helped by staring at the branches. But that didn’t even help. After quite a bit of revving we decided to give up and continue to our original mooring.

On we plodded to Burn Bridge. Mick pulled in at the end furthest away from the busy road, under the willow tree. We’ve been here before several times and despite the road it’s a nice mooring. Had something changed? There seemed to be more grass on the bank. The stern came in, but when trying to pull Oleanna in she stopped just that little bit too far out to be able to comfortably step across. The bottom was far too close to the top! We tried again, nope! Not wanting to go any further, or to try mooring nearer the bridge we opted to bring the stern in and have the bow sticking out, after all we’ve not seen a moving boat for a couple of days and we’d still not be blocking the navigation.

Some mixing and stirring was required by Tilly, some festive baking needed despite watching what is eaten at the moment. This was left to rise whilst we walked to Tescos for a few essentials, we’ll do a bigger shop in Selby tomorrow.

Whilst I added spices and fruit to the mix, Mick chaperoned Tilly’s shore leave. We knew she’d be far more interested in the friendly cover at our end of the mooring, but every now and again she’ll do something unexpected, if that involved the road that would be very bad indeed. I took over once the buns were proving again.

Mick checked the stoppage notices. The moorings at Burn Bridge have been closed since June last year.

Please be advised that some moorings at Burn are currently unavailable due to ongoing safety renovations. The original footboards, planks, and structure had deteriorated beyond repair and are being replaced along the original banking. Alternative moorings are available at Haddlesey, and Gateforth landing. The notice stopped on 14th April.

**The mooring is a quarter of what it used to be**

Looking back at old photos, it looks as if they have removed and not replaced the original footboards. This extra few feet may have meant having enough water to get into the side and now it is far too shallow. We’ll have a go at pulling in further along in the morning to see if it’s all too shallow for us.

**Hot paw buns with their marzipan prints**

All was baked and ready to be a pudding after our main course this evening. We can’t have Easter without Hot Paw Buns! The boat smells all nice and spicy now.

The flotilla to London has had quite a few problems today, failing hydraulics on one boat and a second morse control cable has broken. RCR are on their way to fix it tomorrow. Petition Link.

0 locks, 2.8 miles, 3 tunnels, 1 towpath, 2 attempts to moor, 2 many branches, 1 willow tree trimmed, 1 very jaunty angle, 5 bananas, 1 pot humous, 130 grams cranberries, 12 Hot Paw Buns, 1 willow climbed three times, 2 pairs of socks wrapped and ready to send.

https://what3words.com/backyards.comical.grazes

Nothing To See Here, Or Here, Or There. 17th April

Whitley Lock to West Haddlesey, Selby Canal

Sunshine!!! Not much wind, a much better day for cruising.

We pushed over to the other side to fill with water and empty the wee tank. Jobs done I headed to the lock with the key of power to empty it ready for Oleanna. Today no glitches in the system, last year there had been a power cut so the panel hadn’t worked for quite sometime and the lock had been temperamental too.

A little chat with Richard from NB Isabella who were now moored above the lock. I wonder where we’ll see them next?

Today we wanted to make up for not moving yesterday, so at least 2 hours cruising required. We passed quite a few familiar boats from these parts. A pylon caught our eye as it has three sets of arms. Then a Leeds Liverpool Short Boat Mersey, looked like it had recently been blacked.

Past the huge slag heap to the south, a new distribution centre to the north, the solar farm and then the rubble which is still Kellingley Colliery, one day it will show signs of progress, one day.

At Bank Dole Junction we turned the tight right towards the lock. It’s been five years since we’ve cruised this way, would Bank Dole Lock work without problem. In the past it’s been an extreamly slow filler, in fact we once had to go away and come back the following day after C&RT had to remove silt from around the bottom gates so that the lock could make a level.

As I started to fill the lock a car drove up, a gongoozler ready to lend a hand with the gates. He’d never seen a boat come through the lock before and because there were a few weeds in the top gates he’s assumed it wasn’t used anymore. If he saw some lock gates around the system with their fully grown gardens he’d have quite a shock!

**An interesting level marker, possibly EA**

The gates are heavy, the paddles endlessly turn, but it all worked fine and we were down onto the River Aire with it’s twists and turns.

I used to enjoy the river, meandering back and forth, three power stations to spot, Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough. The first of Eggborough’s cooling towers were demolished in August 2021. Ferrybridge started to be demolished in 2019, the last of the cooling towers detonated in March 2022. Now only the most distant power station still stands, Drax, only occasionally visible above the banks. So there’s nothing to see here, or here, or there! The river is now just brown, green banks and sky.

As we were getting close to Beal Lock Mick had a phone call from his friend Chris from The Pink Narrowboat. Chris is currently walking from Lands End to John O’Groats raising funds for Hope and Homes for Children. It’s his 70th birthday this year and he’s hoping to raise £70,000. But being Chris he’s not only walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats but back again too! He’s currently posting a video on his channel every day, today being Day 15 on the Somerset Levels and along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

At Beal Lock we paused for lunch. This is where Houdini our first second mate discovered she could swim! Tilly wasn’t allowed shore leave, we wanted to carry on and we’re not too keen on her going out on pontoons. The lock cut has recently been given a tidy up, very little growth between the pontoon and the bank, I wonder if all the Himalayan Balsam will return later in the year?

The lock only has a small drop. Today I didn’t even bother checking the level boards as back at Bank Dole the river wasn’t even in the green! Below back on the river there was quite a bit of noise. This next stretch can sometimes have speed boats with water skiers in tow. Today however the boat that was speeding around was a touch too small to pull a skier along, it just went round and round in circles far quicker than Oleanna ever could! The chap came up to lend a hand with the heavy gates, he then said he’d race us to the next lock.

Tighter twists and turns. One day, will a flood end up creating more Oxbow lakes or do we now manage water too much to allow such things to happen? Still no power stations, oh well!

We’d heard of a boat having been in trouble along this stretch in some floods this winter. Alistair from Goole had been called out to the boat, but there was nothing he could do to help in the conditions. We thought it had been a widebeam, but today the only boat out of the water was a narrowboat.

**Through the flood lock that protects the Selby Canal**

West Haddlesey Flood Lock was open to us, no need to operate paddles or the very big gates today, we just sailed straight through and pulled up on the mooring.

Our location noted, I took a quick look at the OS map, plotted a route to see the weir and back through some fields and headed off so that five minutes later Tilly could have her shore leave without following me.

Along the river bank, I kept my eyes open in case I could see a widebeam on the bank. Nothing to be seen. Then into Chapel Haddlesey with the hope of crossing the river on the A19 to then join a footpath to the weir. But there was no footpath along the road, it’s a busy road, so I wasn’t going to risk it. Instead I carried on walking towards St John’s The Baptist, it had caught my eye because of it’s Rapunzel like tower. Rebuilt completely in 1836 and extended a couple of times, with tower and spire erected in 1891. Sadly the door was locked, a quick check in the graveyard for any access to the river bank, none obvious but I did spot George Best’s grave stone, from 1934.

**George, wonder if he was a good footballer**

Back the way I’d come, then across fields towards Paper House Farm where a track crosses the canal. No footpath shown on my OS map and no towpath shown on Waterway Routes, I chose to carry on along the footpath, across fields of Rapeseed and down into the village. An interesting looking Indian Restaurant where there was once a pub. On reaching Tankards Bridge I noticed that there was a path alongside the canal towards Selby. When we come back I may investigate further.

**Footpath through a hedge near Paperhouse Bridge**

Tilly had had shore leave, but wasn’t impressed by the young lads fishing Can’t they read the signs! Even I’m not allowed to fish! A pot of chilli was put on to cook.

Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla news. Some boats had a day exploring Bletchley Park, we can highly recommend it too. Others stocked up at Tesco and Aldi in Leighton Buzzard continuing on southwards. Link to petition

4 locks, 1 a flood lock, 10.6 miles, 3 waterways, 1 right, 1 left, 15th Day, 1 speeding boat, 2 donkeys, 1 tower, 4.49 miles walked, 63 minutes briskly, 2 outsides, 1 vat of chilli.

https://what3words.com/seasick.appealing.cowering

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna