Category Archives: Model making

Shhhh, Quietly Does It! 16th June

Tiddenlake Footbridge 115c to Seabrook Lock 35

The weather forecast for high temperatures looked more accurate for today. The lead we’d made on our schedule had been slightly eroded so we wanted to move, also the amount of shade wasn’t that good where we had moored.

Dew on the cabin sides, also a few more ants!

The alarm was set for 05:15, yawn o’clock! Cuppas were made, covers rolled back, nappy pins removed from the armco as quietly as we could. The engine turned on at the last minute, we pushed off a little before 06:00, I had a mooring in mind which hopefully would give us some shade.

Oleanna crept slowly past the moored boats. The boatyard on the bend seems to have increased the number of boats out on the hard, whilst others sit in the water having had surveys or waiting for some tlc. One had a very rusty cabin, almost looked like it had suffered a fire yet below the gunnel the blacking was pristine and new anodes sat just above the water.

Cruising on mornings like this is wonderful. It feels like you share the world with nature, enjoying the coolness of the morning, doing our best not to break the quiet too much for those still asleep.

We rounded the bend towards Grove Lock, where the pub is the first sign that we have reached the south. The next sign was that the bottom gates were open. Ah, but hang on was that a boat going into the lock? It was! Well who’d have thought we’d find a locking partner at 6 in the morning!

Two young chaps were on a Chiltern Hire Boat, they’d left Winkwell on Monday and were due back on Friday. With the weather forecast not so good tomorrow they’d decided to start early this morning. They were both nice chaps, plenty to chat about, except one of them said he was a touch deaf, so couldn’t hear a word I was saying. They both made up for his deafness by shouting to each other, jumping around which always makes you a touch nervous at big locks, one wrong footing!

It sounded like they had moored above the lock last night, then come down to wind. They had both christened themselves by falling in, one of them twice! Mick and I kept an extra eye out for paddles not closed properly, our ascent went well.

The pound between Grove and Church Lock looked quite down, an obvious wet line suggesting this had happened fairly recently. A wide beam sat very jauntily on the bottom and as we approached Church Lock Oleanna skidded over the bottom whilst we were still quite central, thankfully the depth increased so I could step off at the stern.

Maybe not the best place to be as the lock empties

Up at lock level I could see it was full so lifted a paddle. Below at canal level Mick thought it was empty, so had brought Oleanna in towards the gates. Ah those pesky none leaky gates! So deceiving! Oleanna buffeted around below.

I was glad of assistance in closing the gates, from memory they want to swing back open. Apologies now to the residents around Church Lock as our partners on leaving turned their music up to a level that suited their sound system!

We lead the way, managing to return some idyllicness (yes I know it’s not really a word, but you hopefully get what I mean) to our morning. Slapton Lock sat empty, so was easy to set for both boats. Sounds were turned down as the hire boat came into the lock alongside Oleanna, one chap jumping off, thankfully making land, the other bobbing inside to finish making their tea.

I waited for him to return, through the side hatch and along the gunnels, their preferred route. Then the paddles could be wound up, only for him to walk back down between the boats to get the tea which had now brewed. Mick kept an eye on things in the lock, whilst I watched from above. Two mugs of tea came out, one in each hand and he walked down between the boats once again, not batting an eyelid!

Up ahead a boat was pulling out. Should we swap partners and go ahead, or should we let the lads overtake us as they were on a mission. The lady tied up below Horton Lock, walked up to where the lock was just being emptied then came back to ask if we’d like to share. She was a single hander, so we decided to partner up with her and leave the lads behind. This was conveyed back to them, they were quite happy with the thought of maybe a twenty minute wait, time for breakfast. The deaf chap started cutting up a big mushroom with an even bigger knife whilst balancing in the side hatch.

Our world became peaceful once more, as we worked our way up with the lady on NB Angelwood, sadly we never got her name. She has been living on board for about three weeks and has had a steep learning curve. Her boat was bought in Gloucester and she’d employed a boat mover to get it to Warwick. She joined for the last day of the move and helped work her boat through Lapworth and Hatton, so a full on first ever day on a narrowboat.

The lock cottages shone out in the morning sunshine, bright blue skies behind them, all boasting their dates above the front doors. Off in the distance we looked for the white lion but as so often heading south we couldn’t see it, it was of course really quite hazy this morning. I bet when we come back it will be so obvious!

We worked our way up the next three locks with NB Angelwood then hoped we’d find a shady spot. But sure enough there was no shade so we climbed up Seabrook Bottom Lock too. Now we just had to hope that the mooring we had in mind would be free. Round the bend boats were moored, one with a rather good improvised canopy at the stern. They had pegged a sheet over the top of their whirligig, making a big parasol.

Fingers crossed our space would be free. There it was empty apart from shadows. We pulled in to stake our claim. Mick finished mooring Oleanna up as I went up to help at the lock. Our paths may cross again with NB Angelwood as we are generally heading in the same direction.

Time for breakfast, it was only 10am. Cereal wasn’t quite going to make up for such an early start so I requested some toast and peanut butter for second course.

Today the temperature did do as promised. Our shady mooring did it’s job all day apart from a couple of hours when the sun managed to align itself directly over the cut.

The afternoon was filled with work for me. Adding extra greenery to my panto model, then removing some of it. Painting a new backcloth. I’d opted for just a plain one this year, but it was leaving things a touch flat, so some colour washes to match the front cloth were applied to some water colour paper. That did the job , but then needed blending in to the floor. I just hope we can afford to have it printed along with the front cloth. I could paint it, but it would never quite match, plus it would be another thing for me to paint!

Mum and teenagers adamant to be in the lock

Mick pottered and Tilly kept herself busy outside for most of the afternoon, returning for the occasional drink. I suggested she should try out the pet cooling mat I’d bought for her a few months ago. Sadly she wasn’t taken with it, Mick thinks it’s the fabric that she’s not keen on, a bit like lying in a bed with a plastic sheet over the mattress.

7 locks, 5.1 miles, 6am start, 2 locking partners, 1 noisy boat, 1 quiet, 3 of them things, 1 lovely morning, 10am breakfast, 1 work day, 1 hot day, 2 dates in the diary, 7pm showers, 9 hours! 2 Mrs Tilly stamps.

https://goo.gl/maps/oufSaKyb1eRwm3FZ8

A Little Bit Disappointing.14th June

Mill Lane Bridge 102

A day to sit in the shadows as the temperature was forecast to rise. So we just about managed a lie in, then enjoyed our Saturday newspaper with a cuppa in bed.

Tilly was given 9.5 hours which she used pretty much all of, just returning for the occasional ‘thank you for coming home’ Dreamie and to check we hadn’t moved the outside with her in it.

Mick filled the stern gland greaser and tightened the stern gland, a job to do when the engine is cold.

I set about hunting for hooded zip front overalls on the internet. Overalls tend not to have too many measurements, height, chest and sometimes waist or across the back. These of course are helpful. But when the majority of your actors have a body shape that does not conform to the average trying to find the right size can be a touch of a mine field. One of the actors would fit a Small height an shoulder wise, a Large chest wise, but a XXXL waist wise.

I worked through one brand hoping I was making the correct decisions on sizes, then found the same overalls elsewhere £5 cheaper with different sizes and measurements! In the end there was only one way to go forward, order one of every other size and get them delivered to me to be measured. This unfortunately meant signing up for Amazon Prime, a service I know a lot of people can’t live without, but it pains me not being able to support smaller companies. At least it’s a free months trial so it’s not costing me or Dark Horse anything and I have already put a reminder in the diary to cancel it before it starts to cost.

A long awaited for chat with David the Director of Chippy Panto regarding the coloured model. One or two small adjustments needed and a few extra bits of dressing are required such as a wheel barrow and a tea urn. He’s considering cutting a whole scene, one that doesn’t progress the plot and would save a lot of puppet making and UV paint.

Then it was back to putting some paint on the costume designs for #unit 21 whilst listening to the Prime Minister delaying the lifting of restrictions for four weeks. Later on the local news we realised just how far down the country we’ve come. Jo from Chippy Theatre was being interviewed with regard to the delay and how panto has been on sale for two years now. Looking at a map, we are currently level in north/southness with Chipping Norton which lies just an hours drive away to our west.

A towpath barbecue was enjoyed with an abundance of asparagus followed by salmon and veg kebabs. The day hadn’t turned out to be that hot, in fact it was a little bit disappointing in the heat department.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 stern gland greased, 1 stern gland tightened, 9.5 hours of towpath frolics, 1 speedy hire boat, 2 many measurements and not enough, 4 overalls ordered, 1 float, 9 costumes half painted, 3 highlight pens required, 1 hour chatting panto, 1 urn, 1 wheelbarrow and a few flowers, 4 more weeks, 2 London Leckenby chats, 1 Fatso windfall, 21 C Max.

The Goole Escape, Hiding In The Shadows. 22nd 23rd May

Selby Basin

As each boat came up the lock off the Ouse on Friday, Lock Keeper Nigel chatted away. He’d been talking to the Lockie at Keadby and all looked good for a departure on Sunday morning, this had been the original plan. The amount of fresh on the Trent shouldn’t be a problem. Once we were all moored up in the basin we had a boaters conference.

We’d all enjoyed the cruise to Selby. Our concern as to whether Lulabelle had enough power was unfounded. This was Martin and Wendy’s first stretch of tidal water, they’ve done rivers before but mostly canals, so they took today at a steady pace, enjoying it out on the river. Lulabelle had more power if required, but they’d hung back to give more space at the lock knowing we’d not all fit in together.

Nigel’s news that we’d be able to pen down on Sunday had been a little bit of a surprise, but everyone was happy to hear it, although the forecast hadn’t looked so good for down at Trent Falls. We’d check the weather apps and reconvene tomorrow, David mentioned another new one to us Windy which we later downloaded.

Saturday morning we checked the weather, we checked the river levels, we checked the wind at Blacktoft for Sunday. We’d be penned out from Selby around 06:30 make our way down to Trent Falls, anchor there until the tide turned. The wind looked strong down there between 17 and 20mph southerly. Once the tide had turned the wind would then be in our faces and being over tide this would make the cruise up to Keadby a lumpy one.

After our weekly Geraghty zoom the escape committee convened. Not looking good. Tuesday the weather looked more promising, maybe even a touch of sunshine. We decided to postpone our departure from Selby. Monday wouldn’t be possible as there wouldn’t be a lock keeper available to pen us down.

Mick rang and left a message here at Selby for Nigel, then called Keadby who later called us back. All three boats now booked to pen up at Keadby Tuesday afternoon. They also talked about what time we’d be able to pen back out on Wednesday to make it to Torksey or beyond. A late tide would see us arriving at Torksey a little before dark, or Thursday morning as soon as the Lock Keepers shift started which would be a touch later than they would normally pen you out, so not getting the full effect of the tide.

We’ll be on our own from Keadby as Sea Maiden and Lulabelle will have achieved their goal of being on the other side of the breach. A late finish, or an early start pushing against the tide for some of the way? One to think about.

A walk into town to post a birthday card. A visit to Boots Opticians, my new reading glasses have been hurting after five minutes so the kind lady made space for me in the shop and took my glasses away to adjust them, much better.

A recky for suitable places for Sunday lunch. I took photos of nice looking cafes and pubs to look at later. Then we called in at Sainsburys to do a top up shop. We’ll most probably have to do another before we leave as I want to be prepared should we get stuck on a flooded river, after all we know that Cromwell Service Station on the A1 doesn’t do much food with any nutritional value.

In the afternoon I repainted parts of the Town Square model for panto. A pale chrome green and peach substituting the blues. The outcome isn’t quite a bright as I’d wanted but will go with the costumes better. To brighten things up a touch though I added some bunting to the windows and that did the trick.

Photos done and uploaded for people to see I could now pack away my model making equipment. Hopefully the model is now finished and all that remains is to update technical drawings, oh and see if we can afford to have it built!

Sunday. Instead of heading out onto the river this morning we busied ourselves having a good tidy and clean through. Yep we were expecting visitors.

Today I kept a very tight hold of my mobile phone as Bridget and Storm arrived. They were to be our first visitors inside Oleanna since restrictions have been lifted, in fact they were the last visitors we’d had inside in August last year.

They both were very well and there was a lot to catch up on. Sunday lunch all round at The George Inn by Selby Abbey, we’ve known better but it was still nice to be out with friends. We exchanged news of travels, they’ve just spent a month touring Wales in their motorhome and family news.

A very lovely afternoon spent, much better than clinging on for dear life at Trent Falls.

A quick look at the river level about six hours after high tide suggested there was a LOT of fresh coming down, the height looking more like high tide and the speed at which the water was passing, eek!

Beans on toast with a light dusting of cheddar

This evenings dinner, well a rare plate of food, yummy all the same.

All three boats currently booked to pen down Tuesday at 08:00.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 flooded river, 1 change of booking, 2 arms bent, 6 bananas, 1 pack of bacon, 2 chocolate flapjacks, 2 roasts, 1 pork (with failed crackling), 1 beef (quite dry), 0 Yorkshire puddings, 2 lovely friends, 1 pot of chutney, 3 boats biding their time, 1 bilge pump not pumping, 1 extreamly bored cat, 1 Heather on standby.

Secret Baking. 19th May

Viking Marina, Goole

Mick was off on a train late morning, heading back to Hull. This time it was for his second Covid jab. He’d booked it through the NHS website at the Late Night Pharmacy which is just on the eastern side of the River Hull. Yesterday he’d had a phone call from his doctors surgery in Scarborough offering him one on Friday, which obviously he turned down.

On arrival he had to wait outside until he was called in, after seeing several people he was given his jab and sent out the back door on his way, making room for the next person. A much smaller operation than we’d both been to at the Rugby Club in Scarborough.

Whilst he was off the boat it gave me the opportunity to do some secret wrapping and start to bake his birthday cake. Thanks to Christine (Mick’s sister) for sharing a rather tasty looking apricot tart the other day I’d decided to bake a Bakewell tart this year. The pastry base made by substituting gluten free flour and then the almond filling, ground almonds with lots of eggs, sugar and butter.

On his way back to the station he went in search of The Bay Horse on Wincolmlee. No longer a pub sadly, so he couldn’t stop for a pint, but at last he’d seen where Tom Geraghty his Grandfather lived in 1901 at the age of 10.

Not far away he stopped by The Charter House too. The Master of the Charter House was Mick’s Great Uncle, Arthur Kent Chignell, during WW2. So it wasn’t just a trip for a covid jab.

I finished off making the giant strawberry and took loads more photographs of what I hoped would be the final model, although after passing them onto the costume designer I now need to amend one colour choice as it would clash with her costumes. Yes it is panto, the brighter the better, but sometimes it’s better to be a touch more harmonious.

A little while before 7pm there was a knock on the boat roof. It was Joan’s husband delivering our pre-birthday dinner. Peking Duck with pancakes for Mick and lettuce for me with a green onion sauce that she’d made with gluten free soya sauce.

This was followed by crispy lamb ribs which came with roast potatoes and stir fried veg. All very very tasty and highly recommended. If we get the chance for some more food from her I’m hoping the sweet and sour seabass will be on the menu as that looks very interesting. Not your normal Chinese takeaway, but real Chinese home cooking.

Yesterday a new notice about Selby Swing Bridge was put out by C&RT.

Update on 18/05/2021:

We anticipate it will take around 2 weeks for our Contractors to carry out the temporary footbridge installation and the damaged bridge lift, though we are awaiting a precise date from our contractor for this work to commence. There will also be a short closure to reinstall the bridge in around 3 months time (date to be confirmed).

This is good news as it means the route to and from York will be open, just a shame it won’t be in time for us. David called ABP this morning to book all three boats to pen down at 14:30 on Friday. Goole Docks will need to be called on VHF Channel 14 at around 14:00 to request permission to proceed into the docks. He has suggested a channel for ship to ship comms and done loads of calculations as to speed and time of arrival at Selby. Then he has forwarded pages from the Ripon Motorboat club book. We have a copy of this which I bought for Mick years ago. It turns out that David produced the edition we have. So our flotilla will be in good hands. We just have to pray for good weather now.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains, 2nd jab, 0 2nd job, 1 colour amendment, 1 bridge to be replaced, 1 yummy Chinese, channel 14, 6, 9, 74, 28 beacon, so many fingers crossed for good weather.

Here is playwright John Godber talking about the upcoming production of Moby Dick. I designed the premiere production of this show about twenty years ago for Hull Truck in their old home at Spring Street. John and Hull Truck are my Hull theatrical roots, I think he’s a bit excited.

https://www.facebook.com/jgodberco/videos/170127981597400

The Big Wash. 18th May

Viking Marina, Goole

Late yesterday a boat transporter arrived, backed into the maintenance area opposite us and stayed parked up overnight. This morning Geoff was busy with the boat lift.

The wagon pulled forward, then Geoff followed with the yellow cruiser. The boat suspended over the trailer, inched forward. Pads were moved around, adjusted to fit the shape of the hull, then gradually the boat was lowered. Straps added and eventually the wagon pulled away, turning round the buildings to exit the marina.

This wasn’t where Geoff stopped though. He seemed to spend much of the remainder of the day moving cruisers about. We now have two small cruisers just in front of us, each one taking quite some time to get sorted with wooden supports which had to be brought by forklift.

Onboard Oleanna Mick busied himself with the washing. The washing drawer already getting full after being back on board for a couple of weeks. Being on shore power he was going to make the most of what time we have left. I’m not sure how many loads went through the machine during the day, but it seemed to be going round constantly.

Mick cycled to Boyes to buy some oil and antifreeze. This meant he could now change the gear box oil, another maintenance job ticked off the list.

Then once the next load of washing was finished Mick put up the whirligig. This is most definitly (am I ‘H’? I can never spell the word!) a blue boy job. Hanging washing out on the whirligig when attached to the tiller is just that bit too high for me to manage. Tippy toes maybe, but over stretching ones back is not a sensible thing to do in my experience. So Mick gets to do the washing.

I busied myself working through my A4 sheet of model notes. A painted archway needed to be lowered, this was my biggest job. I still can’t decide whether to fade my cyc out to the sides with black or not. But by the end of the day the box of finished pieces was full, only a giant strawberry to finish off. This may not look that big, in fact it’s actual size is around about a standard strawberry size. But theatre models are made at 1:25. So this strawberry will end up being half a meter wide and nearly as high as a dining table!

During the afternoon David/Paul and Karl came to top up with diesel. Mick had quite a chat with David. It was decided that they would call ABP to book all three boats in to pen down on Friday. One phone call much better than three. We’re already booked in at Selby with the Lockie there.

Now all we have to do is finish the washing and pray for a calm day. We can cope with rain, hail even, but not wind! Currently the forecast is not on our side especially for when we plan to do Trent Falls. Postponing this leg of the journey though means that the tides get later and higher, which also means lower. All our digits are crossed hoping that all the weather people have got it wrong and that the jet stream will whisk away the on coming front leaving us with a nice calm day.

On a brighter note, we decided to book ourselves a meal for tomorrow night. Sometime earlier this year on arriving at the marina we’d noticed a big sign had gone up just outside the marina gates. Joan’s Home Kitchen collection point. What was this?

May be an image of brick wall, outdoors and text that says "JOAN'S HOME KITCHEN COLLECTION POINT Tel: 07402667478"

We had a look round on the internet and found her on facebook Joan’s Home Kitchen. A Chinese takeaway menu is published every couple of weeks with a limited amount of dishes, all of which look tasty. The only problem being that Chinese food isn’t always so good for a gluten free diet, but I really like it.

Sadly she isn’t open on Thursday, but is tomorrow. Mick gave her a call to ask about gluten free options. She was making suggestions of dishes that she could make gf for me, in the end we decided to have a chat in person. Well Joan’s boat is only about 25m away for us. There in the wheelhouse window her 5 star hygiene rating sticker.

We chatted through dishes that I could have without too much extra work for her and placed our order for tomorrow evening. Joan handed over a sample of her seafood dumplings for Mick to try. Blimey four! I have to admit I did try them despite their flour content. Very very nice. We are now very much looking forward to our meal being delivered tomorrow.

0 locks, 0 miles, 3 maybe 4 loads of washing, 10 litres oil, 1 shower brewing, 1 very bored cat, 1 empty box, 1 full box, 1 whacking great big strawberry, 0 digits left uncrossed, 4 dumplings, 1 chef across the way.

Here’s a little bit of footage from my Scarborough theatre roots about their reopening.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioYork/videos/320055276136892

Rules Are There For A Reason! 17th May

New Bridge to Viking Marina

It was left up to Tilly this morning as to when we’d move. Her last morning of freedom for sometime, so she was told to make the most of it. Off she went scouring the long grass for friends.

By about 10am we were the only boat left, David/Paul and Karl had headed off early and WB Lullabelle followed. Did they know when it was due to rain this morning?

At about 11am we were either ready to push off or I’d be settling down to do a couple of hours work. NO sign of the second mate so I set about finishing off the bits for my panto model. My new version of the under sea scenery much better than the original.

When Tilly wants to come in she either comes to the side hatch when it’s open, or jumps on the back of the boat, quite often jumping up onto the roof hatch making the engine board rock to make a noise. Well on her return this morning we heard her land on the stern, but her bell sounded different. Had she managed to change it herself for a quieter version? Or had something happened to it, muffling it slightly?

To us we guessed what had happened, this was confirmed when Mick opened up the back doors. One wet cat. Was this down to wet grass and hunting? No, her head was dry! This was almost certainly down to jumping in, or maybe a fall, or maybe some other excuse for not abiding by the rules which are laid out every time she goes out!

You can be angry. You can laugh. You can chase her round with a towel trying to catch as much of the water as possible before it soaks into the sofa or bed. You can worry every time your cat is out. You can keep them indoors. Or you can let your cat be a cat. Then you can be grateful that she got out from where ever and came back home to share the clean up experience with you.

We think where she got wet was most likely to have been in a short section of drain or pond in amongst the trees. But there is a possibility that the number of ducklings was too big a pull towards the canal. If that was the case, thank goodness she managed to find a way out. However the wet paw prints came from the bank and not the stern button.

As much of a towel dry as I was allowed to give her, she then set about drying herself off by having a bath, thankfully for my end of the sofa, whilst sitting on a towel. Mick lit the stove, the boat warmed up to help with the drying off.

A small boat kept coming past this morning with a C&RT chap sat in it. In front of him it looked like he had a laptop. Was he doing a survey? He headed all the way up to the cofferdam a couple of times.

A big mound of earth just in front of the digger

After I’d finished my model bits and had lunch it was time to push off and head back into Goole. As we winded I did a last zoom in with my camera towards the cofferdam. There a digger was busy and a mound of earth could be seen. Every now and then this morning we’d been able to hear pile driving. Which part was being dug up? I’ll have to wait for Mark’s next set of photos to see. Next time we are up this way the breach will hopefully be mended and we’ll be cruising through it reminiscing.

The four damp miles back to Goole was tracked again on Nebo. I also remembered to have my camera ready to take a photo of the ladybird tile on one of the culvert bridges.

Time to put the panto model together and see if I want to do anything else. A list of notes was written out, nothing major but a couple of hours work. I also took photos so that the costume designer can see what colours I’ve used.

These were also sent off to David the Director for him to have a look at before we have a catch up, so any notes from him can be sorted prior to the finished design meeting with all the creative team and producers.

0 locks, 3.92 miles, 1 wind, 1 soggy moggy, 2 hours drying off, 170 model photos, 1 okay Inn, 1 lovely ship, 1 giant anemone, A4 of notes, 1 model nearly finished, 1 glass of wine to celebrate.

Driving. Breach 50. 16th May

New Bridge

I’m sure breakfast photos must be getting boring!

Yesterday afternoon another narrowboat arrived, keeping well over to the other side of the canal, yet pushing quite a bow wave. We then sat and bobbed about in the resulting waves for a good fifteen minutes until calm was restored.

Have to say we’re a little surprised that not more boats have come out from the marinas for a touch of freedom. Yes the motorways are not that far away and constantly audible, but the amount of sky beats the view of other boats any day.

Fishermen lining up for todays competition

The fishermen arrived and set themselves up along the northern bank and at 11am a shout from one end to the other could be heard, then the plop of bait followed by rods. Todays catches reached 27lbs 6oz. No idea if this is a really good haul, but it sounds like it to me.

After a slow morning watching the local baby boom we headed out for a walk. The towpath officially on our side of the canal, although the northern bank is far busier, we followed it up towards New Bridge and the breach site. The grass has recently been mown despite someone having put a fence across the towpath. There being no sign to say keep out we continued. Under the bridge to where proper fencing keeps gongoozlers away from the cofferdam and new CCTV looks down on the site.

A team of high vis chaps stood around the site. Maybe because they now had on lookers they climbed back into the cabs of the diggers and pile drivers and started to work.

The piles that Mark had photographed from the air a few days ago were now being driven further down. Each one numbered in chalk. The chaps gradually worked their way along the line.

We decided to walk along the flood bank of the Dutch River to have a different view. Someone arrived in a car to check over the generators, all quite busy for a Sunday.

The tide was going out on the Dutch River, Cow parsley stood high on the flood bank and every now and then the remains of some creatures meal sat on the path, muscle shells. Sadly between us and the canal lay a very boggy area, possibly even a drain so the best view I could muster of the level on the western side of the cofferdam was by standing on a stile. No water in view.

Back at the boat Tilly was allowed several more hours of towpath exploration, although the very quick sharp showers that came and went all afternoon brought her dashing home.

Big bolts of lightening towards Doncaster were followed some 15 seconds later by big booming rumbles of thunder. We felt for the fishermen across the way, some already starting to pack up ready for a swift exit after the weigh in at 5.

I continued with my model painting. The Inn now thankfully finished and a few more bits and pieces painted. The underwater scene was partly painted when I had a big change of mind about it, a much better idea which shouldn’t take too long tomorrow to make and paint. This will be a Black Light Scene, illuminated in UV with puppets of fish and mermaids swimming to our principles rescue. After that it will be time to put everything back in the model box, take notes, work through them, take photos and then wait to see what the Director thinks.

An up date of the technical drawings then hopefully the model can be tucked away for safe keeping in my clothes cupboard until needed and we can concentrate on boating for a while.

0 locks, 0 miles, 4th boat, 50 breach updates, 9 hours! 20 babies, 6 showers, 1 biblical downpour, 16 drenched fishermen, 1 final alteration, 2 boaters saving their hugs.

A Weekend Away. Breach 49. 13th 14th May

Goole to Newbridge

This morning the marina was busy. A big cruiser was lowered into the water, then backed away from the slings on the lift. It reversed it’s way out of view before an older yellow cruiser came to replace it, ready to be lifted out. Once on dry land Geoff set to jet washing it’s bottom.

Preparing to move the outside is very exciting for our second mate

With no need to be in Goole for the next few days, we decided to have a weekend away. So after doing the chores, filling the water tank, emptying the wee tank, disposing of the rubbish we untied our ropes and pushed off.

Our normal routine of me giving the bow a BIG push did not work today as the wind was coming from the wrong side. So the stern was pushed out past NB Summer Wind into the gap between pontoons. Once we’d got so far the wind then caught the bow and started to push that round enabling us to turn without getting too matey with any neighbours.

It was busy out there! A narrowboat heading in to the diesel point at the Boathouse, David/Paul and Karl tucked into the corner and the boat formerly known as Harlequin just pulling out from the water point. We headed past waving to everyone as we left, maybe next time we pull away from Viking Marina it will be for the last time.

It being a grey day the four miles back out to Newbridge was a little bit dull. A few fishermen to break up the long straight lengths of the navigation. I wondered what industry had been along this stretch. Two wharfs opposite Rawcliffe Marina and another a bit further on by the Sugar Mill Ponds. Now that name was a clue, but not to the industry that started on the site.

In 1838 Rawcliffe Brickworks stood on the site, the clay was dug by hand from the adjacent land. In 1873 the works were modernised and a 30m high chimney was added to the site. Rumour has it that the two clay pits filled with water in the 1870’s overnight creating the ponds. 1890 the site was sold and sugar was refined here, made from the local sugar beet. By 1900 the factory was completely modernised, but the bottom had fallen out of the sugar industry, so the factory never opened, although locals were still employed to keep the machines in working order.

After WW2 the factory produced glucose, closing in 1963. Then Croda Chemicals who had a plant on the other side of the village used the site for storage. By the 1980’s the site had become redundant and derelict, but since 1996 the ponds have been rejuvenated into a wildlife haven. Further info on the Sugar Mill Ponds.

We pulled in on the southern side of the cut, a short distance behind WB Lullabelle.

Hopefully at the end of the wooded area we will get some sunlight for our solar panels, Tilly can climb trees and we won’t be in the way of any fishing matches over the weekend (14 orders for Sunday breakfast have already been placed).

A forth attempt at the Inn backdrop was started during the afternoon along with baking Mick a loaf of Country Grain bread and preparing gluten free pizza dough. It had been slightly chilly in the boat so Mick lit the stove, but by the time the bread was cooked followed by two pizzas it felt like we were in the middle east, even Tilly ended up sitting on the bathroom floor!

Yesterday Mark visited the breach site, the first opportunity to fly his drone safely for a while.

We’d noticed on our walk the other day that rusty piling had been removed from the bank and some rather long lengths of new piling were sat on the access road. Today we could see what they were being used for.

The hole in the grass has gone and there is now access for machinery on the western side of the drain.

Here the large piling is being put in on the drain side.

The size of it can be appreciated by this photo of three men sitting on one length.

13/5/21 Old piling left standing by the yellow digger

You can also see that some of the concrete (?) behind the old piling has been removed, leaving a narrower stretch of the original concrete above the drain.

Thank you Mark.

In other news a C&RT notice came through this afternoon saying the following regarding Selby Swing Bridge

Update on 14/05/2021:

Contractors and other parties involved in the works have conducted a site assessment and decided on plans to install a passenger footbridge. Assessment have also been made for the safe removal of the Road Bridge and these works are looking to be done as soon as possible.

Once the road bridge has been lifted the navigation will be reopened. Please expect some disruption when the passenger footbridge is installed which we are anticipating maybe for a couple of days. The expected duration of all the works involving the removal and installation of the footbridge will be 3 months.

York is going to be quiet this summer.

0 locks, 3.92 miles, 1 windy wind, 1 escape flotilla met, 6 hours! 4th go, 0 oil for the gear box, 1 loaf, 2 pizzas, 1 extreamly toasty boat.

Cramming. 13th May

Goole and Hull Marina

The morning was spent sharing the dinette table. Me at one end with model crates, rowing boats and a cucumber sandwich marquee, Mick the other with the laptop, cramming for his exam this afternoon.

Originally he’d planned on taking the VHF Short Range Certification exam in Scarborough, at the lighthouse. But the building is currently closed due to restrictions, it is the club house for Scarborough Yacht Club and will reopen 17th May. Mick had been offered one of the first exam slots but he’d decided to try closer to the boat and had been pointed towards Hull Marina.

After lunch we both walked up to the station, me asking simple questions such as ‘If Tilly’s tail was on fire would that be a scenario for a Mayday call?’ No. ‘If Tilly’s flaming tail brushed against the curtains in the boat and set light to them would that be a scenario for a Mayday call?’ Yes! So the boat is more important than me!

*How can I not be more important than the boat!?!*

Off Mick sped to Hull whilst I bimbled around Goole. Purchase of moisture crystals and some kindling was achieved but other (secret) items I wasn’t so lucky with. But by the time I returned to the marina I was glad I was not carrying anymore weight as all my fingers were about to drop off!

Mick walked across Hull to the marina, having to make a detour as most of the footpaths were closed alongside the A63. Bars were busy with outdoor seating in the sunshine.

In the preamble to his exam he was asked what an EPIRB was. Well he couldn’t remember what the letters all stood for (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), but knew that they are used to transmit a distress alert to satellites. On Oleanna we don’t have one of these.

The exam consisted of several written questions and a multiple choice section. The written section was all about distress calls, maydays, none with the scenario we’d talked about earlier. It all took about 45 minutes and out of 28 questions he got one wrong. The question had been which channel to use for Bridge to Bridge communication. Mick had assumed it would be the same as Ship to Ship, but this was wrong. We have since looked in the VHF handbook and it is channel 13, this wasn’t mentioned on the online course.

However getting one question wrong was not a problem, he passed! A rather washed out photo has been sent off to the RYA for him to get his card/certification. We now meet all the criteria for using Ocean Lock that ABP request.

A walk around the marina as the examiner made ready to head off out onto the Humber to do some manoeuvre training. Mick asked if there were any narrowboats moored there. The examiner pointed to a widebeam which was familiar to us, last seen below Pollington Lock in September.

Walking back to the station Mick came across a vaccination centre at City Hall, on the off chance he enquired if he’d be able to get his second jab. We’ve heard of some centres offering jabs to people who turn up towards the end of the day as they have surplus vaccine to be used up, but sadly it was appointment only here. Worth a try though, it would have saved another trip next week.

Mick’s journey back to Goole was slowed by a ship exiting the docks requiring a bridge swing, closing the road, the tug zooming off to assist somewhere. We celebrated his success with a glass or two of wine and a macaroni cheese with extras in the middle.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains, 2 crates, 4 hours cramming,1 cat seeking new heights, 2.5kg crystals, 2kg kindling, 0 secret shopping, 1 toucan, 27 out of 28, 0 handbooks allowed, 1 widebeam, 0 attendance on Zoom, 1 bridge swing, 4 glasses of wine, 1 cat’s tail uncharred, 1 year since we got the house back, 1 big Happy Birthday to Frank!

Empty Nest. 12th May

Goole

This morning we could hear high pitched long cheeps alongside Oleanna. A fairly standard bird call from young when they can’t see their mum.

With camera held tight and wrist band around my wrist I took photos of under the pontoon. Had our nearest neighbour become a mother. The nest was empty.

There’s some great weed to eat on this boat over here

The cheep moved away. Then Mum could be seen leading her one and only chick across the marina. Mick had spotted an egg the other day, but we’d thought there would be more laid as nest building had been on going.

Moorhen chicks make me think of pompoms, small black pompoms. As much as moorhen chicks are babies, therefore the most adorable creature in their mothers eye, I find them a touch ugly when newly hatched. The bald red head doesn’t help, in fact they remind me of a comedian/variety artist from my early years, Max Wall.

Today has been a serious panto painting day. My Inn backdrop came back out again. I tried various methods of adding swags to a painted cloth, found a solution I liked, proceeded to add them, then decided to put it to one side. I seem to have a block on this scene and it maybe needs a rethink!

So I distracted myself with the jousting scene and ended up being quite pleased with the outcome, although tomorrow I’ll revisit the interior of my marquee as the cucumber sandwich walls are not quite right, a minor adjustment required.

Mick did more tidying of the engine bay and Tilly after being annoying for a while resigned herself to a day asleep on my cardigan.

During the day several cruisers have been out of the marina to stretch their legs as it were, but all have returned an hour or so later. Then this evening a different engine could be heard. Was it a tug? Sure enough there it was heading for the docks. The VHF radio was switched on to see what we could hear.

Mick earlier in the day had counted six ships in the docks and this evening some were about to depart and one was heading upstream to penn in before high tide. We watched on vessel tracker as the incoming ship came closer. Two ships penned down onto the river and we could hear the tug heading out to meet with the incoming ship.

It was maybe a good chance for Mick to listen in to radio protocol as he has his VHF exam tomorrow. Well we kind of knew that the docks, ships and tug wouldn’t be using the official radio protocols.

‘Okie dokie’, ‘Ay ay’ were heard and not one hint of an ‘Over’ or ‘Out’!

The incoming ship had a pilot on board, the Yorkshire accent a give away. Despite Ocean Lock facing downstream, ships coming in on a rising tide will wind just upstream of the lock to face the tide, this makes for a more controlled entrance into the lock. Then they turn in, quite an acute turn. Spring lines are used and tonight’s was of a suitable length without 8m of slack!

This spring line holds the bow in position so that the stern can then be powered round against the incoming water without forward movement. We call this an Andy as we were taught it on our helmsman course (by Andy) for use when the wind pins you against the bank, or is trying to push you away from the bank when mooring up. Here it’s the same principle just used on a far bigger scale.

It’s a real shame you can’t get to see ships doing this manoeuvre from the land, but thanks to Mark for letting me use his drone photos again. These were taken back in March as the Fri Brevik came into Ocean Lock.

0 locks, 0 miles, 8 hours model painting, 1 exhibit in Chippy, 1 clean engine bay, 1 pompom Max, 2 out, 1 in, 0 outs, 2 aye ayes, 2 rain showers only today.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna