Just tucked up in bed, reading, my phone rang, Vazon Bridge! This was it the call we’d been waiting for!
Bottom half of pyjamas replaced by trousers, socks shoes, maybe even a jumper, it should be a touch chilly out! I’d said to Nick or was it Neil the Signal Keeper we’d be ten fifteen minutes, but I think we were closer to four. Covers were being rolled up and dropped in the dark, extra care stepping on and off the boat, we’d had a couple of glasses of wine.
Across the way the crews from the four cruisers hurried from the back boat, a boozy evening had been being had. They didn’t have quite so much to prepare as us. The chap on NB Phoenix Lady was making ready too. I had a key of power, but was beaten to the manual bridge by a lady from the cruisers. By now the sirens from the bridge were sounding and the big railway bridge was sliding out of the way. A boat headlight could be seen making it’s way towards us. I shouted across to the lady at the bridge, there would be at least three boats coming through maybe five or six. She relayed this to the skippers who were starting to push off, they pulled themselves back in as the first boat came through.
Bridge swung and a boat coming through
I pushed the bow out, but being so close to the bridge structure it needed some help, a blast of bow thruster to get us round. I called back to Mick that we needed more, only to be told the bow thruster fuse had blown. A little patience for the bow to fully come round and we were on our way the lead eastbound boat.
Passing the signal box
It must have been a good long window between trains, Nick/Neil peered over the top of his control panel as we came through. There may have been light at the bridge, but once through we were glaring into the dark, headlight and nav lights lit, but still. By the way it’s the first time we’ve had chance to use our new tunnel light, it worked.
Passing the bridge
I stayed at the bow, close to the pointy end and relayed what I could see back to Mick. The glint of two eyes on the towpath, they blinked at the bright lights coming towards them, then turned and ran off along the path, a fox maybe, too big for a cat.
Leaving the bridge behind
There’s the big signs about overhead cables. There’s the spillway with a white sign next to it, Mick could just make this out. Did we want to pull in at this end of the moorings? Yes. We slowed our pace, then stepped off cautiously. Looking behind us the following boats followed suit despite there being a big gap in front of us. One boat came round and pulled in further ahead, the others opting to bang spikes in behind on the grassy bank.
I walked down to see if there was any sign of life on NB Delhi or NB Python, all silent, tucked up for the night. Their last post of the day saying how they’d be up early hoping the temperature would be in their favour. No point in tapping on the cabin side.
Now on the side of southern possibilities
The chap on the cruiser in front of us said they’d not been expecting the call so soon. They’d heard that there had been a power failure at the bridge, and that there had been some doubt as to whether the back up generators would have enough umph to move the bridge. The crews had moved onto the Rum and Brandy! Four boats out for two weeks from Great Heck on a pub crawl to Nottingham, if they make it that far!
Time to tuck ourselves back up in bed. The excitement of getting through the bridge needed to wain. Three nights of waiting and now we are through, we can now say that we’re southbound! Here’s hoping there’s enough water to keep us heading in that direction!
0 locks, 0.5 miles, 1 bridge swung, 1 bridge slid, 3 westbound boats, 6 east bound boats, 2 dormant boats, 15 crew in the dark, 2 eyes, 1 excited cat, 0 shore leave at this time of night Tilly, 1 boat able to carry on it’s way tomorrow later today.
We’d guessed that they might be on their way today and sure enough photos appeared on the Strawberry Fools group this morning of sunrise at Vazon Railway Drawbridge, 5am the bridge had been at the right temperature for boats to go through and NB Purple Emperor with Ian and Alley were the next boat from the Fund Britain’s Waterways Cruise to be heading for home. Breakfast had just been served up when we heard the Princess Royal Footbridge opening up. Sure enough on the other side was the familiar bow.
You’ll soon be home Alley
Three boats in all came through, the second crewed by a chap we remembered from the get together on the bank at Keadby and again in Newark. Ian manned the gates as Alley led the boats through, we were spotted and there was time to say a few hellos. Alley was so looking forward to being back home by the end of the day after their three months cruise of around 1000 miles.
We put together a shopping list, perishable items and headed on up to Sainsburys. Some salad we’d got from Lidl had expired long before it should have, all slimey and horrible so that along with fruit needed sorting. On our way back we got a call from Sean from SPL covers, they had arrived and let themselves through the gate, we were only two minutes away. As we arrived back the new side was already on and Sean was hand sewing up where the zips on the pram cover had come adrift. The blue just about matches and the see through panel is just that, see through compared to the original one which is now more frosted.
When Oleanna gets a repaint, we’ll be looking at smart new covers for her, not a cheap thing, we asked Sean for a ball park figure. £1200 for a new cratch and around £2300 for a new pram cover, he suggested we have the sides zipped so we can roll them up rather than remove them completely and risk another one falling into the canal and drifting away. A good idea, but how do they fare when the whole pram hood is folded down? We always do this for cruising, many boats around here never seem to take their covers down preferring to just have the sides up and peek out of the sides. Research needs to be done on this.
BIt of a tight squeeze to get under there, that chimney needed to come off.
We were now free to leave. A top up with water, a shower too to maximise the tank fill as we’ve no idea how long we might be waiting in Keadby for the drawbridge to open. Lunch, then we came out from the moorings, leaving them empty, Mick reversed us back onto the diesel point at Thorne Boat Services. £1.05 a litre, a touch more expensive than in Goole but the last place before the Chesterfield Canal.
Goodbye Thorne
I walked up to the bridge whilst Mick winded Oleanna. As I turned the key in the panel the gates all clicked, a good noise. I made sure every barrier was locked in position and the bridge swung first time. I can now see where the confusion lies with boaters. A light comes on on the panel saying that the bridge is Closed when it isn’t quite and you have to keep pressing the close button until you hear the barriers click unlocked, a light illuminates saying the bridge is Locked. Job done without a hitch.
Out through the remainder of Thorne, time to work the bridges. Time also to decide how far we should go today. To where we’ve stopped before between Medge Hall and Godnow Bridge? Or all the way to Keadby in case the drawbridge might open overnight? We’d certainly be crossing the Yorkshire/Lincolnshire border.
Yorkshire behind us
The canal started to get greener and greener, both banks a stretch of pet fooling green away. Our landing net has not lasted eleven years and I doubt would take the weight of Tilly now should she casually walk onto the green and find she needed to be buoyant. Temperatures didn’t seem to be as high as they’d been forecast, maybe it would be worth going all the way to Keadby incase the temperature dropped to 15C and we’d be able to get through.
Just inside Lincolnshire
I chatted to the bridge keeper at Godnow, did he know anything about Vazon? Everyone is asking as they come through by boat, he was careful what he said more concerned with the wasps nest by the door to the little hut.
Ever encroaching green
At Crowle I hopped off Oleanna to walk the rest of the way, over 2.5 miles would see my brisk walking to where it needed to be today. Soon it started to spit, Mick tried out the new umbrella he bought after leaving the old one at the cricket the other week. As we got within a mile of our planned enforced stop for the day I got the hint of a blind spot in my vision, a migraine coming on. I hoped I was wrong, but it soon was evident that my suspicion was correct. I rang Mick, getting back on board soon would be a good thing, but also it looked like there was a stretch without too much weed which would be good for Tilly and shore leave.
Sadly the bottom was far too close to the top as Mick tried a few times to come into the side to moor up. Only one option, carry on to the bridge landing at Vazon. Three little yoghurt pots sat on the bridge landing, a big space in the middle for us. We were just starting to tie up when the drawbridge started to make it’s familiar noise of sirens, this is what you hear when the keeper is about to open it for boat traffic. I took a key of power for the manual bridge before hand and walked up to the signal box to check on things.
Up the steep staircase to chat to the keeper. ‘You got my hopes up there!’ I said. Sadly we’d not be allowed through. A phone call was made to York to check on the bridge temperature, 19C it needs to be 15C for them to open it for boats after it failed a few weeks ago. Maybe overnight the temperature would drop enough for us to sneek through, I gave them my number to call in the early hours should our luck be in.
Vazon Swing Bridge our mooring for the night …. or longer
My migraine now took over. Reading and speech problematical, time to lie down for a while with my eyes closed, Mick and Tilly being quiet.
The trains however weren’t quiet, neither are the bridges or sirens at the bridge and level crossing which seems to be in constant use, that person in the box is kept busy.
Later in the evening Mick bobbed up to the signal box and suggested we’d be happy for them to call us during day light hours, going through in the dark, having to open a manual swing bridge and then moor up would not be the safest thing to do, but as soon as the sun was up would be fine, if the temperatures dropped enough.
Pylon at dusk
A quiet evening in front of the TV. My was phone left on with the sound turned up, I was in bed a little after 10pm leaving Mick to watch the cycling and waiting for the news to come on after the football. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, we’re not that hopeful.
0 locks, 9.4 miles, 1 reverse, 1 little hot pork pie, 105 litres at £1.05, 6 bridges, 4 held up, 1 digger, 2 black labs swimming, 1 returning boat, 1 new pram side, 3 bags of fruit and veg, 1 border crossed, 1 wasps nest, 61 brisk minutes, 1 sock frogged, 2 warm, 1 sensor in York, 1 white painted bridge.
No real need for an alarm on this mooring as the rowers started to pass not long after 7am. I was up, breakfasted and out of the door heading towards the station a little after 9am.
Sunny on the Bar Walls
The sun was out, I crossed Skeldergate Bridge. Should I follow the river on Skeldergate? Walk through Bishophill? Go along Nunnery Lane? In the end I opted to walk along the Bar Walls round to the station, what a lovely morning away from the traffic.
The bridge now gone
From my vantage point above Queen Street I could look down on the works that have been taking place to remove a road bridge around the outside of the walls. This used to raise traffic above the rail tracks that punched their way through the walls to the old station. The old station was a terminus, no through rail links and soon railway traffic had outgrown the site, it had become a bottleneck so a new station was needed.
Permission from Parliament was granted in 1866 for a new station on the other side of the walls, the first train pulled out of the station at 05:30 on the 25th June 1877, bound for Scarborough. The station took three years to construct and was the largest in Britain, confirming the city’s status as heart of the network.
Frolicking Foxes
A group of people stood on the walls, phones out looking down the bank. Was this a location from a film or TV program? What was catching their eye? Well it turned out to be a Vixen and her three cubs frolicking in the long grass on the inner side of the walls.
View from platform 4
I hopped on the next train to Scarborough, quite warm from my walk and the sunshine, thankfully I knew things would be different in Scarborough today. As the train approached Seamer the sky had already turned misty and dark. Stepping off the train I was immediately glad of my extra layers, the sea fret was in, no view across the valley and only 10 C! I had time to take a selfie with a sea view so walked up to the Esplanade.
Great view of the South Bay and Castle!
An appointment with my new dentist had called me to Scarborough. A nice lady, not the same chair side manner as Colin in Birmingham had, but maybe that was reflected in his prices, also Scarborough is well known to have a serious lack of dentists, hence having to wait about five weeks for my first appointment. All good, thankfully and another appointment for a clean in a few weeks time.
Knitting on the train
I picked up something for lunch and then headed to the house, time to check the place over after our last lodgers had vacated and do a couple of jobs. They scored 9 on our lodger scale, loosing a point due to a bin not having been emptied, leaving a light and the second fridge on which was very empty. But other than that all was good.
Castle Mills Lock
The garden is in need of some tlc, sadly the gardener we’d lined up never reappeared! But it does mean the bluebells are having a good time undisturbed. Thank you to our lodgers for keeping the strawberry plants watered too, someone else will benefit from then in a few weeks time.
Polling papers for the new Scarborough Town Council had arrived. We should have applied for postal votes, but have now run out of time. Mick will be around for the election, but I needed to get a proxy application in quickly before time ran out at 5pm today.
It’s quite good, apart from all the people!
Meanwhile back in York. Mick headed to Barnitts the stove rope I’d bought was a little chunky for the lower door, so he swapped it for the next size down. A top up shop at Morrisons was done. He also walked up to Castle Mills Lock on the River Foss. Sadly there was a sign on the lock saying it would be closing on Sunday for the rest of the summer for works on the lock. We’d hoped to head up the Foss and see how far we could get before having to most probably reverse back. You have to give at least 2 days notice for the lock, it’s operated by the local IWA. Yes we might just be able to squeeze it in before Sunday, but there are other things, more important things to do before then. We’ll just have to return another year.
Boo!!!
I took advantage of there being running water and had a shower at the house, a good collection of shampoos and bits and bobs left by lodgers. Thankfully there was a comb so I could wash my hair, all saving water on Oleanna. I rapidly picked up the fruit and veg that had been left along with the big tin of Danish Oil (ours not the lodgers) and then high tailed it back to the station, just a few minutes spare to catch the next train back to York.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 closed lock ahead, 0 enough time, 2 trains, 4 foxes, 1 sunny city, 1 fretted town, 1 stove in working order, 1 cat snatching moments on the bank, 1 near clean bill of teeth, 1 quick shower, 3 bulbs garlic, 2 lemons, 4 onions, 1 lime, 5 apples, 7.55 miles walked, 99 minutes briskly, 1 speeding boat, 2 pizzas.
Torksey Lock Bottom side to Stockwith Bridge 85, Chesterfield Canal
What is it with bubbling tidal rivers?! We’d not heard a jot of it yesterday afternoon and evening, but as soon as we’d just managed to nod off last night the river bubbled it’s way up the sides of Oleanna’s hull making for an unrestful nights sleep. Not so good when the alarm was going off at 05:30!
Getting ready to push off
As we got dressed outside light was starting to clear away the nights darkness, getting ready for the sun to rise. Extra layers, thermals, padded trousers, although Mick couldn’t find his. Vest, long sleeve top, jumper, fleece and coat on top before a life jacket. This morning it was going to be cold!
The frozen covers rolled up, Nebolink turned on. The boat from further down the pontoon pushed off bang on 06:00, he said to Mick that he was headed for Gainsborough Pontoon. It took us another ten minutes before we untied our ropes and pushed off up to the junction where we turned northwards.
Cottam Power Station
Cottam Power Station pastel colours in the dim light. Mist rising from the river. Where was the castle? That’s the viaduct, but which part of it to aim for? There is an island and a peir to watch out for. I described where we needed to be as best I could with the outline of trees just sitting above the fog.
Visibility was such that we could only just make out both banks, were we in the middle? Time to concentrate, rely on Memory Map and Waterway Routes to show us our location and which way we were facing. Mick had the track we’d made last Tuesday showing on his tablet, maybe if we stuck to that line we’d be fine. The tide all the time pulling us along towards the North Sea.
Oleanna seemed to freeze more as we cruised along
First Mick spotted the wake in the water from NB Airbourne, they couldn’t be that far ahead of us. We slowed our pace as best we could and there about 100ft ahead was the boat. We let them get further ahead, better to have space between us today seeing as how we couldn’t see very well.
Here comes the sun!
The sun started to rise to our right. Vapour trails which had been pink as we set off turned yellow above our heads. The mist glowed, the best light diffuser you can get. We just needed the sun to be up and start burning it’s way through the fog. Should we have set off? With our gps and nav lights we felt confident that we shouldn’t bump into anything we shouldn’t.
Mistical
What a stunning sun rise. My photographs snatched between moments of concentration. Our charts show places where you should line up between white poles so as to avoid banks of silt. The river was quite low, would we be able to stick to the red line? One recently painted post came into view, we just needed to spot the other one. We knew that trees had been cleared to make this easier, but not when there was fog, we only spotted it when the other post had long since vanished behind us. We got away with it.
Cwor!!!
Blimey it was cold despite having layers upon layers. Fingers frozen, needed to be used to turn pages and keep Memory Map alive. I soon turned off the sleep mode on my phone, the screen alive constantly.
There they are
There was the boat in front, he’d pulled away from us a bit more. A clearing of the fog, great. Then we were plunged back into the next cloud of freezingness. Today is the first time we’ve not managed to see the Landmark Trust property up on the hill, we could just about work out where it might be and wondered what the current guests would make of their view over breakfast today!
West Burton Power Station
West Burton Power Station sat in the cloud ahead like the giants palace in Jack and the Beanstalk. Mick’s phone rang, it was John the Lockie from West Stockwith Lock, checking to see we were on our way, he’d got up early to come and meet us. A reassuring phone call to have, knowing there’d be someone at the lock to get us off the river.
As we came to the tight turns south of Gainsborough the mist started to clear a touch, John had said that it was clear at West Stockwith, phew we’d be able to see our way into the lock. Past the flour mill and we could see the boat ahead clearly, the morning world now revealing itself to us.
Gainsborough Bridge with plenty of room today
What a difference to last Tuesday. The tide we’d been pushed along by then was obviously much higher, the tide today lower and that bit slower. The arches on Gainsborough Bridge felt to be a third bigger than last week, how had anyone had a problem going through?
NB Airbourne pulled in towards the pontoon, we slowed Oleanna’s engine so as not to add to the difficulty of mooring up on a tidal river. The chap seemed to be alright, the boat staying put as he dealt with ropes.
A phone call to John at the lock. There was 4ft of water over the cill, we should be fine to get in. Mick cranked the revs up a notch.
Gainsborough was very very quiet today. No crowds on the bank. No beeping of horns. No drones above following us. However one large banner still hangs from a balcony facing downstream. The flotilla would today be arriving in Leicester making a noise getting peoples attention again.
West Stockwith lock in front of the white house
Now the mist had all burnt off as we headed up the last straight before the bend where the lock is. John called he was ready for us. Had we watched the videos of how to turn into the lock? We’ve been in twice here, once at slack water, the other time turning to stem the outgoing tide and then make our way back towards the lock.
John and a trainee lockie guiding us in
I moved to the bow before any manoeuvres happened, Tilly had already assumed the brace position on the bed tucked up amongst our pillows. Mick turned Oleanna then brought her back towards the lock, John stood signalling to keep going straight towards him. Mick the pushed the tiller over to kick the bow round, maybe just a little bit early as the starboard side touched the lock mouth before the bow had got in the lock. Ropes passed down to us, then we rose up into the daylight, quite a warm morning now!
Two bums to the beam
We pulled over onto the visitors mooring in the basin. Time to warm up and have breakfast, we’d finish off the bacon from last week. Then it was chores time, Tilly’s pooh and the wee tank sorted.
Breakfast!
Not far now to our chosen mooring, we winded and then pootled to the first length of armco along the Chesterfield Canal. Time for a rest for us and some much needed shore leave for Tilly.
A big muddy ditch once the tides out
Todays walk took me back upstream along the river bank, the tide still working it’s way out to sea, the mud banks looking very, well, muddy!
The Station
I then crossed fields which are used as a flood water reservoir, the roads and footpaths closed off when it’s full, today a bright green grassy crop was doing well. I got a green light to cross the railway, Walkeringham old Station House along side. The station opened in 1867 and closed to passengers in 1959.
I passed a long line of houses that were built for workers at West Burton Power Station, crossed the main road at Walkeringham Cross, not that there is much of a cross ontop of the stone steps now.
An intriguing property
I passed South Cottage, that sits at an angle to the main road, tiles and brick work on it’s façade, surely there must be information about it somewhere. The only thing I can find is a suggestion of a Sunday School on an old Ordnance Survey map.
The Staff
Across fields to where big mounds sit fenced off from the world, part of WW2 petrol tanks. A sign close to the road suggesting the work force is maybe a touch young.
For Sale
Up near the canal a house for sale. Lovely gardens. Then back along the canal to Oleanna, walking past the first two locks of the Chesterfield Canal and an awful lot of reeds in the water, that’ll be interesting tomorrow!
The Chesterfield Canal
Eight years ago today, we finished packing a van with a third of our possessions, popped Tilly in her escape pod and drove to Sheffield to move onboard Oleanna, our new home. Such an exciting day.
The Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign Cruise hit Leicester and threatened to return Richard III to Yorkshire. They are still making quite a noise, but we think they sounded way better with Oleanna’s horns added into the mix. If you haven’t signed it yet please sign the petition.
1 lock, 15 miles, 1 wind, 1 extremely foggy morning to be following another boat, 1 stunning sunrise, 1 kingfisher, 2 lock keepers, 1 empty wee tank, 1 clean pooh box, 1 cooked breakfast reward, 5.71 miles walked, 86 minutes briskly, 1 big Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, 64th sock yarn chosen, 1 quiet afternoon and evening.
This outside was still rubbish this morning, especially when two she’s and their woofers stopped to chat right outside our bedroom window, and we’d all managed to sleep after 6am today too!
We pushed off at just gone 11am, another day of not moving very far. Just before the railway bridge below Long Sandall Lock there is a pontoon being put together for works on the flood banks. Here a red dinghy sat tied to the pontoon which has legs to hold it in place, another green and red boat semi submerged to one side. Had this been submerged on purpose so it wouldn’t be stolen, or has it sunk? hence all the booms round it. Not much was happening, maybe it was tea break time.
Approaching Long Sandall Lock
Long Sandall Lock was full, the big locks round here automatically fill themselves after a time. Once I’d hopped off Mick reversed Oleanna away, it can get quite busy below the lock as it empties. Key of power in the panel I pressed the open sluice button then the gates once the water was level.
Up she rose, pulling in above to top up on water. A narrowboat pulled in at the visitor moorings opposite, did this mean there might be an Oleanna sized mooring available in Doncaster? We hoped so. Onwards saying hello to a chap on a cruisier moored in a decidedly odd place where lots of fly tipping seems to happen. Each to their own!
Approaching Strawberry Island
Passing Strawberry Island Cruising Club we looked out for a bright blue boat NB That’s It, we couldn’t spot it or guess who else would be joining the Fund Britain’s Waterways Cruise on the Trent. With our fingers crossed we approached the moorings, Doncaster Minster standing out from the rest of the city. Two boats on the pontoon, plenty of space for us, Phew!
Not here! Dullcaster. No point in getting excited here!!
A good selection
Lunch then a walk around town. Mick headed to Sainsburys for a new kettle, the old one tends to pour a little too wide! I headed to find Boyes which has moved from its old store into FrenchGate. Have to say I was impressed a really good range of items. I was after a couple of long handled mini rollers for mooring purposes, so that I could reclaim my painty one. I had a choice of handle length, I chose the longest not bad for £1.60. A mattress protector was also found for our new mattress. I also had a good look round.
Such a shame the ground floor is completely empty
Today I’d not managed to walk any towpath as much of it that exists was closed so I’d have to make up for it around town. I walked up to see Danum House which I’ve walked past before, but never noticed it’s Art Deco shape above street level.
Cast
I paused at the bench outside Cast Theatre where during one production week I’d waited to hear about the written survey on NB Lillyanne and if we needed to adjust our offer on her. All had been good.
A new cinema and the libaray looked interesting with an extensive collection of railway lanterns on one wall and a sculpture of a pilgrim from the Mayflower, her dress decorated with macrame.
What did it used to be Sam?
I walked round in what I thought was circles. Turned one corner to come face to face with the rather lovely looking tower that you can see from the navigation. Sam from NB Red Wharf once told us what this had been in the past. Now it has been converted into housing a rather bog standard extension to the rear. So I was a little bit disappointed at it close to.
I like all the parking signs on top of the painting
However across the road was a rather good mural, a little American in its content, but still rather good.
Twice around the closed market before walking past the deli. I managed to stay outside and only allowed myself a quick peek in through the windows. That cheese counter looked so inviting! But it’s contents need to stay put and not make it onto Oleanna.
They went to sea in a sieve
Forty minutes achieved I headed back through the bus station to the moorings. The building next door to the CRT area is being redeveloped. Holes are being dug, large piles of aggregate sit alongside diggers. They were still quite busy at 6pm, being noisy. Hope they go home soon.
Redeveloping
1 lock, 4.2 miles, 1 full water tank, 2 roller handles, 1 protector, 1 kettle, 4.06 miles walked, 42 minutes briskly, 1 bored cat.
Bullocks Bridge to almost Hyde Bank Tunnel, Peak Forest Canal
We really need to get better at getting a move on in the mornings, we didn’t get going until 10:45, we’d a bit of catching up to do from yesterday, plus a flight of locks along with other things.
Three miles to Marple, it was windy! We were glad to see the chap still has his collection of things at Bullocks Bridge, spotted a boat that had come up Bosley ahead of us a few years ago, it doesn’t look like it ventures far now. A cat got a chin rub from a passerby, then had a serious grump on at a woofer on the towpath. Passing Goyt’s Mill a gust of wind caught my cap and very nearly had it in the drink!
A message came through from our house. A leak had manifested itself overnight following feral weather on the North Yorkshire coast. Some time was spent trying to talk to someone who’d be able to at least go and have a look to see what the problem was, all we got were answer phones to talk to, hopefully someone will call back.
Sylvester and Peter keeping an eye open for fly tippers at the services
There was one space left in Marple, we tried pulling in, the wind making it hard so an Andy manoeuvre was required. All very well except the local ducks were convinced I’d have several slices of white sliced and were positioning themselves right in the crush zone. I waggled my hands to try to get them to move, but they just thought it was pre-dinner entertainment and Mick thought I was suggesting he brought Oleanna in further. No ducks were harmed in the end and all they got from us was the weed on Oleanna’s hull.
Mick had a prescription to pick up and a pint of milk to buy. Then it was lunchtime. Then we could push off again. The new services in Marple have opened, big fanfare! They have been closed for years whilst some new housing was being built. But now there is a stone built building with elsan, water, toilet and if you go around the corner behind a locked door is a room filled with red Biffa Bins of all varieties! I should have hung onto our recycling. There are also many bird boxes, bird feeders and a rather nice bench all provided by Marple Men in Sheds. There are also five EV charging points, each space was full, no car was charging up though.
They saved the best till last
Under THE Macclesfield roving bridge and the end of the Macclesfield Canal. Left please! The top of the Marple flight of 16 locks, a drop of 207ft 10″ that’s very nearly 13ft each. Mick hopped off and topped up the top lock. Then we were on our way down.
Going down
A chap stopped to chat, as the water dropped I had to excuse myself as I’d no longer be able to hear him as Oleanna descended into the depths. He went to chat to Mick who had now come back having set the lock below filling. In Lock 15 I had quite a wait, Mick came back saying there was a boat coming up. With the pounds here being quite short and the wind blowing a hoolie we swapped over, he could do the do-ci-do.
Mick waiting to move across the pound
The lock below us had it’s bottom gates open, I could see the interested chap chatting away to the man from the uphill boat, the lock ready, but just chatting. They moved over into the next lock, once the bottom gates were closed I lifted a paddle so our locks worth of water would help fill their lock rather than just run round over the bywash. I opened our gates, the lady from the boat below opened her gate, the chap ignored the fact that the lock was ready and carried on chatting on the stern. Come ON!!!! Wake up smell the coffee!! The lady shouted repeatedly to him, I was about to join in and Mick had the back door of Oleanna open ready to give a blast on the horn. He looked up, ‘oh it’s ready, are the next gates open?’ Yes and there’s a boat that’s been patiently waiting for you to get a move on. The lady and I smiled a knowing smile at each other, we were on our way again.
Gate beams overhang the lock bridges
There’s always gongoozlers down Marple. There’s always pissers coming out of the lock walls going down Marple. In the next lock we paused so I could go below to close all the windows to save having puddles inside. The wind blew, the bywashes flowed making some hovering a little difficult. Mostly Mick walked on ahead to set the next lock filling whilst I closed the top gate and dropped paddles before waiting for him to return. One gongoozler said Mick was walking three times as far as the boat was moving. True.
Sunshine!
The sun was out. In a couple of weeks the flight will be filled with golden trees, today it was still pretty.
New stonework on the right
One of the locks had very new looking paddle gear on the top gate, a recent stoppage this last week. Then as the water level dropped in one lock we could see where it had been rebuilt recently. New stone work with dints in it to try to mimic the older stonework. The Marple locks have had a tendency to narrow and several have had to be rebuilt in the last few years as they have narrowed too much. Quite a lot of the stone work overhangs in some of the chambers, stepping out by a few inches!
Fancy stone work either side below the lock
The bottom gates overhang the lock bridges, meaning you can operate the gates from the bridge, you just need to climb up to the top to operate the paddles. I’m a little bit short for some of the gates, but Mick didn’t seem to have a problem with them.
Closing the top gate
From above
A boat was heading up, a lady appeared with a windlass. ‘They don’t half take time to fill these locks’ she said. As I passed NB Somerton the chap at the stern made mention of Tilly, I think his dog sat on the roof was Hannah. Nice to meet you even though very briefly.
Rows of Chocolate Fingers to help you get your grip (just humour me)
We descended the next lock, Mick said we’ll see how well the next few retain their water and I said to myself how nice it was that all the pounds were full, no struggling to get over cills today.
Where’s Mick?
Then at the next lock we discovered why the uphill boat had been taking their time to ascend, a bottom paddle a good few inches up, there was also a top paddle partly open too. Some of the paddles won’t close fully if the gate is open, Mick had had to return to a few himself as we came down the flight.
Across the aqueduct to the viaduct
Under the railway and across the aqueduct, views out towards the north east. Through Rose Hill Tunnel, no longer with a roof. We were now at our preferred mooring, but so were quite a few other boats. It took us a little while to be able to find a place to pull in close enough to the bank, only slightly on a list!
16 locks, 4.6 miles, 1 left, 1 new service block, 2 look outs, 1 months pills, 1 pint, 1 hat saved, 1 aqueduct, 1 very slow man, 1 hire boat catching us up, 0 time for shore leave.
Vale Royal Visitor Mooring to Odeon Pontoon, Northwich.
The locks on the River Weaver are open at 9am, we were wanting to get a mooring back in Northwich for the day, so ideally wanted to be on our way as soon as the locks opened. As we pushed off from our mooring Mick made a phone call to the lock, we were on our way from their top side.
We had less than half a mile to cruise to Vale Royal Locks, so took our time. On arrival the lock wasn’t ready, the swing bridge was still across the lock chamber. Was there anyone in sight? It took a while to spot someone in a blue t-shirt, he didn’t seem to be coming to work the lock. Mick checked his phone. Ahh he’d called Hunts Lock not this one! Who leaves Mick to make arrangements and bookings? The chap popped out of the little hut, a volunteer arrived, we got a wave, they were on their way.
8th swing bridge over a lock
The swing bridge had it’s ropes removed that hold it in place and then one of the chaps stood on the end of it as it gradually turned from over the lock, no winding of handles. On closer inspection later we noticed an electric drill was used to rotate the bridge.
We were joined by a boat that had stayed in Winsford last night, they’d had a peaceful night and were now heading into Northwich to moor for an hour or so and visit the market that was meant to be on today. Market! Did someone say Market? I looked for information online. The second Saturday in the month there is an Artisan Market in Northwich.
Spooky faces
We followed them down Hunts lock, then led the way in towards Northwich. Spaces on the wall where we’d moored on Sunday, we pulled up close to a boat already there, our locking partners pulled up close to us. Then Mick spotted a space on the pontoon, that would serve us better, we moved over, thanking the other boat for mentioning the market.
Straight to see what was what. The market stretched for most of Witton Street. Bakers, sausages, cheese, olives, macaroons, gin, beer, scotch eggs, lots to choose from and then stalls of things nobody actually needs in their lives.
There is no point in rushing in to the first stall that has something that looks nice, best to walk round everywhere, see what’s on offer then pounce, or as was the case today, join the queue!
The butchers window
A big sign behind one queue was for a gluten free bakers! Pies, pasties, numerous cakes, we’d certainly be coming back to this stall. Infact other bakery stalls didn’t get a look in. I joined the queue my eye s set on an egg custard, not had one for years. The amount of things people were buying, one chap requested 2 of these, 1 of those, a slice of that cake, a vanilla slice (my ears pricked up at that one), that scotch egg. The lady behind me made a very audible sign, she’d had her eyes on that scotch egg. She asked the baker if there were any more, ‘Sorry last one’ ‘No point queueing then’ She made sure she had words with the chap who had bagged the last scotch egg!
Our edible swag
The pies! Which one? Chicken ham leek and dauphinoise potato .The Sausage rolls, which one of them too? Pork and Black pudding. Oh dear was that a small custard and a vanilla slice that snooked into my bag too! Mick decided he’d see what C Webb and Sons had in the way of pork pies, they had a queue out of the door too. A warm pork pie and a sausage roll. Next we headed to the HS Bourne Cheese chap. Two wedges of treat cheese, some blue Cheshire and some clothbound Cheshire. That was enough edible swag for one day.
This afternoon we walked up to the station, from here we caught the train into Manchester. The London Leckenby’s had arrived in the afternoon with a very full car load, Josh was moving into Halls in Fallowfield at the University. Andrew and Jac had booked into the Ibis Hotel, once The Portland Hotel where I stayed in the early 90’s whilst working on props for the touring version of Phantom of The Opera.
Leckenbys
Big hugs all round, we then walked into the Northern Quarter to find a pub Andrew knew of, this took some time to find, but we got there in the end, it took a while longer to find a table. Beer and wine and lots of loud conversation were had before we then headed to Sweet Mandarin a few minutes walk away. I’d heard very good things about Sweet Mandarin as they have an extensive gf menu, a rare thing for a Chinese Restaurant. The food was very yummy, no-one noticed the lack of gluten. We drank, ate chatted away and had a very good evening.
Now Josh headed off to meet with a friend from Hackney who had also moved to Manchester today. His new life starting as he headed off on the top deck of a bus doing his best to ignore his mothers loud waves! They are seeing him again in the morning for the final goodbye. Another pint in a pub near to Piccadilly Station before we said goodbye to Andrew and Jac. A lovely evening celebrating Josh starting University.
Josh’s first night living in Manchester
2 locks, 3.1 miles, 1 right wrong number, 1 swing bridge, 4 rowing boats, 2 sausage rolls, 2 pies, 2 treat cheeses, 2 pudding yums, 2 trains, 13,893 steps with a pole, 1 new Mancunion, 2 Londoners, 1 old student trying to remember, 1 new student with places to discover, 1 great Chinese meal, 2 many glasses of wine, pairs 51, 52, and 53! 1 cat totally forgotten about!
Below Plant’s Lock 41 to before Rookery Railway Bridges 158A
Up early, breakfasted, exercised, covers rolled up and outside ready to push off before 9:12, which is when our extra crew arrived. Paul Balmer had kindly offered to help us down the Cheshire Locks today and had made his way up from Birmingham to join us. Once his ruck sack was stowed inside Oleanna we were on our way. Me at the helm, Mick and Paul walking ahead to work the locks.
Starting on down
We’ve done the Cheshire Locks many times before, our share boat was based in Sandbach for her first few years. From what we can remember we’ve never done them all in one day before. It also depends on where you consider the locks starting and ending. We’d already done the top lock yesterday, our aim was to get down the two locks at Wheelock before stopping for the day, there are still 5 more locks to Middlewich Junction, then three round the corner to Big Lock, we don’t count these last 9.
Bye Mick
Having two crew made things pretty quick, both working a lock then one walking ahead to set the next whilst the other stayed to close up behind. I just had to keep up with them both!
Chatting
It was a grey dreary day, with a slight amount of wetness in the air every so often, but that didn’t put us off. Dropping down to Red Bull services we had Police Officers asking if we’d seen a chap in red shorts covered in tattoos, we couldn’t help. Mick dropped the rubbish off as we went past the bins. Only one other boat moored between the tunnel and the bottom of Townfield Lock 46, where were all the boats!?!
Hall’s Lock 49 a cruiser coming up one of the paired locks
The chaps hopped back on board to ride to Church Top Lock, Mick taking over the helm so I could sit down. Mick and I over the years have developed hand signs to convey information. Boat coming up, boat going down, walking, can I have a lift, I’m walking ahead is that okay? On several occasions Paul came to relay information to me, Mick had already beaten him with our signs. It didn’t matter as it was nice to have someone to talk to.
Looking back to Hall’s Lock
Whilst Oleanna and I dropped down inside each lock Mick and Paul chatted away up top, boats and trains most probably the main subjects covered. Gradually as we worked down hill the canal lost it’s bright orange hue from the tunnel, the only residue was left as small drips on Oleanna’s clean roof!
Crew ahead at the next lock waiting for a boat to come up.
At Hall’s Lock we met an up hill boat at the paired locks, both in use today. Then we passed a few more through the Lawton Locks, crew from other boats helping where needed.
Click photo for details
Everyone on board to cruise to Rode Heath where there were a few boats moored. Above the lock a house for sale. Normally this would be a stopping point for us, but it was still too early even for a lunch break.
The oven was heated up and just before the two Pierpoint Locks a tray of sausage rolls were popped in the oven. I’d guessed at cooking and cooling time, but the chaps were a touch too quick with the locks so we had to wait for them to cool down for a while before tucking in. What was in the Quality Street tin to follow? Apple flapjack of course, this years cruising fuel.
57 varieties
There was Paul’s list to go through, there’s always a list of questions and subjects to cover. We also had plenty of photos to look at too. Maybe if we’d have stopped ten minutes earlier we’d not have been second in line for Lock 57, but we were.
I remember them!
One boat coming up, another to go down, then two coming up sharing. Were these the two we came across earlier this year, in a similar area? Almost certainly. I had to call Mick back to help get Oleanna off the bottom, too many boats mooring in this pound and not enough carrying on up to let water down.
Sitting in the locks I got to see things from a different angle. The buffer plates in the T&M locks vary quite a bit, the most interesting ones most probably the oldest ones. Looking back, picking Mick up every now and again I spotted that quite a few sets of steps have had the stone treads turned upside down, the worn area now filled with mortar, but a new flat step on the top.
Clover
Earlier this year, possibly at Maddocks Lock 59 I took a photo of all the daffodils between the paired locks. Today the grass is filled with clover flowers, many past their best.
That red buoy upstaging everything!
At Clear Water Lock 63 we took our time exiting. Paul wanted some photos and the depth below the water measuring. A boat hook came in handy for measuring. The depth of water up to my chest, the first rung of the lock ladder at our cabin height!
I got to see a lot of backs today
The pound below the lock was a good 14 inches low and Oleanna took her time to cross over the bottom cill. A boat waited below. As Oleanna exited I’d need to turn her to miss the boat, the bow thruster came in handy as there was nowhere for the stern to go. I very nearly ran out of space as the chap on the waiting boat had stopped waiting, and was heading straight towards the lock, reducing my manoeuvring room all the time! He’d apparently asked Mick why I was taking so long, was there something around the prop? No there was only just enough water under my boat making her unresponsive. Maybe I should have just stopped and waited to see how far he was going to bring his boat. I could have had a go at him, but just said Hello instead, life’s too short to deal with an impatient Twonk head!
In the last lock of the day
Mick would climb back on board when ever there was a slightly longer gap between locks so I could have a sit down. Only two more locks to descend, down to Wheelock, then we’d be on the flat again for some distance. Onwards we cruised to just before Rookery Railway Bridges where there are mooring rings and some rather good friendly cover for Tilly.
Paul, Pip and Mick, the Cheshire crew
Another cuppa and some flapjack to keep Paul going before he headed off to walk to Sandbach Station. Thank you so much for your help today Paul and for your company.
25 locks, 7.9 miles, 9 sausage rolls, 12 pieces of flapjack, 2 many low pounds, 1 short ladder, 1 impatient twonk, 2 emergency safety pins, 5 hours 20 minutes, 1 hour shore leave, 1 big fish pie, not enough time to award a Mrs Tilly stamp.
The tunnel light shone on the roof of the tunnel. The nav lights glowed by the top front corners of the cabin. I sat still hoping my weight would assist at the bow. Once Oleanna had been lined up fully with the tunnel, Mick gave the engine just a little spurt of power.
It’s only 75 yards long!
The portside was getting quite close to the curving roof, should I just push it clear a touch? It’s never a good idea to fend off at the bow, Oleanna’s made of steel, she can withstand contact with brick, skin is less effective. I checked with Mick at the stern, no idea what he may or may not be able to see.
Mick’s back there somewhere
A blast of bow thruster, then the other way just a touch. A jot more from the engine. Oleanna glided onwards. A little scraping noise from the port side, was that the grabrail or the gunnel?
A green arrow on the wall indicated the nearest exit was behind us, ‘That way out’. Another 60ft and the arrow pointed the opposite way, ‘This way out’. Oleanna was still moving, if we got stuck now would anybody know?! A hire boat had pulled up at the end of the moorings on the west side of the tunnel, maybe they’d know if we’d made it or not.
Slowly and steadily Mick nudged Oleanna onwards, a burst of power to starboard, forward a touch, port, forward.
After 8 minutes the bow of Oleanna was back out in the day light. We’d been warned that the canal takes a sharp turn to the left on exiting so it would be good to start moving the bow over as soon as you could, using the bow thruster.
Mick was still kneeling at the stern, torch pointing forward. Then gradually the stern appeared into the light, so did Mick’s head. The bow being pushed across to miss the bank. As he stood up we’d made it through!
The sign suggests a passage time through the tunnel of 2 minutes at 2mph, well it had taken us 10 minutes! But we’d done it. No-one there but ourselves to witness it!
Oleanna’s smile slightly relieved.
We pootled to above Froghall Lock 1, this is the first lock down onto the Uttoxeter Canal, the first of 17 locks and 13 miles. Today you can only go down one lock where there is a basin you can moor in. Time for me to turn the windlass, Mick could do it on the way back, but I had to work this lock.
Lock 1 of the Uttoxeter Canal
The bottom gates leaked like a waterfall, no wonder as they get little use. Oleanna dropped down into the basin. Would there be room for her? On past visits I think there has always been at least one boat moored, one occasion three, but today we had it all to ourselves. Mick backed us in, tied us off, a silver propellor location reached. Not that we’ve taken the evidential photos elsewhere, but we think we’ve now been to at least 18.
In Froghall Basin
A little walk round confirmed that despite it being a lovely mooring it wouldn’t be safe for Tilly, a road passing quite close by. We broke the news to her gently. GENTLY!!!!!! I’m a silver propellor cat and you just don’t give a monkey about my welfare!!
We walked over to Hetty’s Tea Room to see if there was a menu we could peruse maybe for breakfast, none on display. Across in the car park were the three cyclists we’d seen at Wood Lock earlier, they’d been heading to Leek. We stopped for quite a chat with them. They’d enjoyed their bike ride and met various interesting people and had been all the way to Leek and back in the time we’d not even done half the distance. We think they had all spent time on life boats, one of them said he used to work on the Chiswick life boat, another did training on the Humber.
No neighbours!
We returned to Oleanna and grumpy Tilly. A big chilli was cooked up, enough for three meals, and a glass or two of wine to celebrate getting Oleanna through Froghall.
So todays journey at the top of this post should read
Cheddleton Visitor Moorings to Froghall Basin
A slight scratch
6 locks, 5.6 miles, 1 lift bridge, 1 river section, 1 burst hosepipe, 1 chimney removed, 2 horns relaxed, 1 boats pensive smile, 1 pram and cratch cover removed, 1 tiller pin removed, 1 gauge, 10 minutes in the dark, 1 little scuff on the grabrail, 2 happy boaters, 1 grumpy cat! 0 TV but good internet signal!
Fradley Bridge 90 to Bridge 55, Trent and Mersey Canal
Plenty of boats had passed us before we pushed off this morning, but we timed our departure with a gap. Half an hours cruise to Fradley Junction, the morning had started bright but it started to turn grey.
Fishing
A hire boat was pulled up on the bridge landing, poles, hooks anything available was being used to try to find something, a wallet had sunk into the murky depths. The bridge an easy push to open so I operated it and then rather than walk round to the locks I hopped back on board.
Property of the Year!
A For Sale sign! This may well be my property of the year!! Junction House has for as long as I can remember had piles of wooden stuff outside the front door, suggesting an interesting owner and interior. Today I spotted a bell hanging in a tree, not sure when it gets rung. Looking at the house from the junction it doesn’t seem half as big as it actually is and with around an acre of land, just a shame it doesn’t have it’s own mooring. The estate agent photos confirmed my theory of an interesting owner, the first interior photo does not disappoint. If anyone would be willing to give me the £800,000 and maybe a touch more to give the building some TLC I’d be very grateful. Thank you.
Getting in line
Oleanna was turned left towards the east, the first time we’ve been on this stretch of the Trent and Mersey since June 2019. As ever there was a queue, but how long was it? A boat had just pulled into the lock landing, another going up in the lock. We crept along the line of boats, a chap quickly making us aware that there was a queue and he was in it despite being tucked in amongst the long term moorers. So third in line we trod water, waiting for our turn, the blue shirts of volunteers visible at the two locks ahead.
Hello T&M little arched lock bridges
I’m missing working locks and with volunteers on hand I decided to pick up the windlass and help, I just needed to get off Oleanna first, a rather big step off the stern when we reached the lock landing. With stick in one hand and windlass the other I went up to help reset the lock.
One of the forty volunteers who man Fradley
The full compliment of volunteers at Fradley now numbers 40, but today it being summer their numbers were depleted due to holidays, so only three were on duty, thankfully the two we were to pass through had volunteers. I lifted and closed paddles and gates, the top gate could wait for the volunteer to join me. At Shadehouse Lock the volunteer did however leave me to carry on pushing the top gate open and went to lower the paddle, I’d imagined that would be my job, the gate maybe a little too heavy for my knee, but I managed.
HS2 was going to cross the canal shortly before the southernmost bend to the T&M, but that was the stretch that was cancelled. A mound of earth sits close to the canal, will this be left for nature to reclaim and boaters in years to come say ‘that was once going to be HS2’ or will the land be flattened out? Round the bend however is different, this length of HS2 will still go ahead meeting up with the existing line between Lichfield and Rugeley on the Trent Valley line. The trees along the canal bank are still there but then comes the earth works behind.
Compulsively purchased
Wood End Lock moorings are fenced off and look pretty unsafe, the lock cottage also fenced off. We pulled in behind the boat ahead to wait our turn, Mick wondering why the chap didn’t pull further along to make bollards available for us. I already knew I’d not be working this lock, the bent beams on the bottom gates require some umphing!
Use the wall to push off!
Moving up to leave space behind us for the following hire boat, I waited for our turn, then gave the bow a touch of bow thruster and off I went…. except Oleanna was stuck on the bottom again! After much pushing with a pole and engine revving we got her off the bottom and slowly into the lock. Maybe this was why the chap in front of us hadn’t moved his boat forward to give us a bollard!
Now to find a suitable mooring. Past Kings Bromley Marina towards bridge 55, we hoped for a space. It was pretty full, but there was a space, would we fit. We breathed in and shoe horned ourselves into the gap, most probably left by a 57ft boat. The boat behind us didn’t offer to move up, well he was mid painting his cabin side.
Catching up with the knitting
Ah wet paint. Cat. Ah!! I’d just given Tilly the rules and the news of four full hours of shore leave, but hadn’t opened the door yet. A conference. The boat behind the tacky wet painty one had a dog roaming too. The chap painting said he’d be moving off at tea time back to the marina. That Tom had better have his tea at 2:30! He finally moved off at 17:30, sorry Tilly.
Knitting needed catching up on, I finished off the first sock on pair 33 and got the toe knitted of the second one. A much simpler pattern that should mean I can catch myself up again.
Sad git’s meatballs tonight. I usually cook them in a pan and add sauce to them, but tonight as Autumn seemed to have arrived I opted to cook them in the oven, helping to take the chill out of the cabin.
3 locks, 3.7 miles, 1 left, £800,000 a bargain, 1 jaunty Mona Lisa, 5 years, 4 0 hours shore leave, 1 painty boat, 1 roaming woofer, 1 bored cat, 1.25 socks knitted, 12 meatballs for heat, 1 more Dr Who to go.
