Category Archives: Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation

Alternative Plans. 8th July

So Where Now?

Well we don’t really know where to go now!

Whilst work is ongoing at the house, and I’m beavering away designing Panto, it suits for us to be roughly where we are. But once the final model is painted and working drawings are scanned and with the set builders and the house full of lodgers again, we will be free for a few months.

**The queue with two already going up River Lock**

We’ve been along this stretch of the Aire and Calder for the last three weeks, I’m sure the local boats that shuffle up and down are starting to wonder if we’ve joined their numbers. I know how long certain boats have been moored in several places. Our current mooring I suspect is one that is used frequently as Oleanna gets stared at as boats go past, often winding a little further on from us. I’m hoping our last two moorings are far enough apart for the number checkers, we’ll find out if not. Anyhow we’ll be moving on in a few days and not just to the services!

So our current options.

Leeds Liverpool. The Leeds end of the canal is currently open, but on restricted hours. We could head up to Skipton, but that would be chancing it with the dry weather. If the canal is shallow it would be a tedious cruise rather than pleasureable.

Calder Hebble. Currently open. River levels fairly normal at the moment although the flood lock at Ferrybridge was closed the other day. Of course we did the Calder Hebble last year to reach the Rochdale, then back from the Huddersfield Narrow.

The Rochdale is currently closed between Lock 1 and 4 Tuel Lane. There is a leak somewhere around Lock 2 and water levels are poor. The rest of the canal is open. But to go that way would likely mean opting to do the Macclesfield to get around the Bridgewater breach. Or maybe the Manchester Ship Canal, an option we’d like to do one day, but not this year.

**Paul and Mick with the carrot cake on the HNC**

The Huddersfield Narrow is out of action due to the bank being washed away by Lock 11W in floods last winter. That route is likely to be closed for some time.

We plan on a return visit to York in a few weeks time. On one of Mick’s train journeys this week, going over Scarborough Railway Bridge he noted that the River Ouse had responded to the recent rain fall in the Dales. The level was up, almost level with the bank at the Museum Gardens moorings.

Sheffield. There’s an option open to us, we’ve been by boat twice now and brought Oleanna away from there when we moved onboard. So that’s two and a half visits.

Our preferred route southwards is the Tidal River Trent, turning right out of Keadby Lock. Currently the Chesterfield Canal is open. We’d love to cruise that way. The going is slow as we were reminded earlier this year on the short stretch we managed. However, dry weather could mean the canal closes at the top end.

**We could go to the Kinema in the woods again**

Fossdyke and Witham. Open and always an option. We could head to Boston, maybe see if the navigable drains are worth ticking off the list. Some boats from the Fund Britain’s Waterways Flotilla are headed that way to cross the Wash. Sadly we don’t have enough time due to commitments to tag along with them, we’ve seriously looked at this.

Then once further south and out the other side of Nottingham, which way should we head then?!

I suspect some of our decisions will be made for us. What will be will be, just so long as we manage to get onto the South Oxford for me to go to work in October.

I Got To Do It! 14th April

Bramwith Junction to Pollington Moorings

Tilly was offered shore leave this morning, but she really wasn’t too keen on the idea. I’ve told you before I don’t like it being blowy!! Sort it out with this outside!!! That told us then, time to move on.

Two boats had been moored across the way at the start of the New Junction Canal and just as we were getting ready to push off they reversed up towards the junction then forwards to Bramwith Lock. We discussed how we’d be pushing off today, the wind wanting to do the job for us. Untying is one thing, but retrieving chains and getting back on board before the boat has crossed the canal is a different matter! We managed it with both of us at the bow, no oncoming boats and then a speedy stern rope.

Onto the New Junction, time to head north. Through the Don Doors and on to the first bridge. I now opted to walk between the bridges to operate them, swinging and lifting as required. I did however hop back onboard to travel the two straight miles to Sykehouse Lock though.

**Dandelions add to an increasingly yellow world**

Here an amber light greeted us. No lock keeper! I’d get to work the lock myself for the first time in an age. Sykehouse is different from all the other locks around here. This is because it has a swing bridge across the middle of it. If you come through when there is a Lock Keeper on duty they can swing the bridge when ever they like, so quite often you are asked to move to the other side of it for them to close it before you ascend or descend. But on boater operation you have no choice.

Your key goes into a panel at the centre of the lock (the white box on the right of the photo), close to the swing bridge, instructions on it’s lid, not so handy if you are short. Turning your key releases the bridge barriers either side of the lock, these you close. This then enables you to lift the big locking mechanism (shaped a bit like a giant key on a sardine can) and then push the swing bridge round out of the way. Once it has locked into the other sardine key the panels at either end of the lock will work, enabling you to open sluices and gates as required. Then when your boat is out of the lock and gates closed you close the bridge following the instructions in reverse order. I like it, it’s fun.

Downstream panel with Oleanna starting to descend

Mick loitered by the next swing bridge for me to arrive, I then walked on to the next bridge the last on the New Junction. Thankfully the strong wind hadn’t hampered us too much.

Up ahead at the reservoir two people zoomed along on their windsurfers, one not having quite so much luck and should have taken note from the Lapwing sat on the bank.

One long blast of our horns and we turned to the west. There was a boat on the nice mooring alongside the reservoir, but we had plans to go further today to Pollington. More stretches of new piling where the bank had slumped after the breach. The grass seems to be starting to come through now, but these stretches don’t have a handy bar to tie to as they did nearer Goole.

**4, dead slow! That’s still pretty fast**

One boat was moored at Pollington, so we opted for the other end of the moorings and pulled in, just as the wind started to be really really strong. I lost my cap, which thankfully landed in the well deck and we both fought with the covers.

Tilly was given the remainder of the afternoon for shore leave, we didn’t think she’d like it, but off she went returning half an hour later for some biscuits followed by Dreamies.

Still some more steps to do I headed out, when Tilly was in, and walked up to the lock. Here a chap on a long term hire boat had pulled up and was about to open the lock gates, his boat on the wrong side of the lock, he had to walk all the way round. I then headed into Pollington and walked past what now seemed familiar from a walk quite a few years ago.

The cricket ground was being mown by a car circling with a cutter behind it, hopefully it was only the outfield being mown like this. A bank of Primroses surrounded someone’s garden. I walked back down to the canal along the road that leads to the long term moorings, eggs for sale here. There is no access from the moorings so I crossed the canal and then walked back up to the lock, the long term hirer having only just climbed back onboard his boat having descended the lock.

**The hire boat just heading away from the lock**

Back on board I hunted out some dark yellow yarn as I’d run out yesterday. Now I could finish off sock pair 64, or so I thought. I seem to be catching Mick’s sleepy reaction to the news, at least this time I put my knitting down before I zzzz’d off to sleep.

No Pollington sunset for us this evening. In fact we sat and wondered why we seem to have liked it here before. The water tap is very slow. Internet is even slower and TV reception optional! Tomorrow showers are forecast, we hope to find a gap in them and move along a bit to improve things.

All boats on the Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign flotilla have now reached Taveners Boating Club just north of Cosgrove. A notice regarding the Marsworth flight suggests the problem may be sorted tomorrow, fingers crossed. Link to Petition.

1 lock, 7.5 miles, 1 left, 6 bridges, 11 held up, 1 blowy day, 2 outsides, 3.75 hours shore leave, 12 dreamies, 5.06 miles walked, 66 minutes briskly, pair 64 not quite finished.

https://what3words.com/fencing.dumplings.faces

High Noon. 13th April

Stanilands Marina to Bramwith Junction

Subjects on the Geraghty zoom this morning covered roofing, Neil Kinnock, foxes, bicycles ridden by Tony Ben and chocolate workshops for Easter.

A shopping trip was next on the cards. With the Brompton Mick could cycle slowly whilst I walked fastley. We worked our way through the shopping list, checked out and loaded up the bike. Now we were to split, Mick back to the boat to stow things and get ready to cruise whilst I had a date with another Mick, at high noon, at the Princess Royal Swing Bridge.

Was that Mick down there moored between several narrowboats? I couldn’t see from my camera screen, but when the cruiser pulled out from it’s mooring ‘Fund Britain’s Waterways’ Banner still showing I knew. Mick on Cruiser Amourouse had stayed with the flotilla to Soar Boating Club, but he knew he’d not be able to make it much further due to low bridges and that his boat was too wide for narrow locks which would be encountered at Foxton. He’s been gradually catching us up.

He’d teamed up with several narrowboats to do the bridges into Thorne yesterday and had hoped he’d make it back to Strawberry Island, but with delays for broken down bridges and that the other boats were wanting a few days in Thorne he decided to take us up on our offer to help him through the last few obstacles, at 84 I’d be taking all the assistance offered.

**What is it with floating chairs round here?**

How would the bridge behave today? A chap sat on the bench near the control panel with his wife in a wheel chair. I think they come every day to spectate, they used to own a wide beam, but when the wheelchair came into their lives they had to move to land.

I checked all the barriers were closed first, the one nearest the panel waggled about a bit, then clicked. I turned the key. An audible click from every barrier. I closed the barriers, having to waggle one until it also clicked. I pressed the open button and the siren started. HOOORAAY!!!

My Mick had messaged that there was a volunteer on at Thorne Lock, so I relayed that to the other Mick. I’d leave him in the Lockies hands and help to get Oleanna ready so we could push off as Amourouse came past.

Once VHF radios had been turned on we had ship to ship communication again. We were given permission to pass, so as to be first to Bramwith Swing Bridge. A swan by his nest took umberance to Amourouse and started to chase the boat. Those side fenders were going to get it! Once the cob was reunited with it’s partner things calmed down.

Liliane still boasts a campaign banner. A cruiser sat with it’s engines running in Thorne Boating Club, they soon appeared behind Amourouse and tagged along behind.

I hopped off pushed the button at the swing bridge and we let the other cruiser go on ahead towards Bramwith Lock. We checked with Mick to see if he wanted to share the lock with us, would we fit? He was quite happy to share, had done numerous times before.

Two volunteers were seeing Pearl down the electric charity boat that moors in Thorne. We waved the other cruiser on, they could go ahead of us. A chat with the volunteers regarding us sharing with Amourouse. They weren’t keen but in the end it was down to us, in fact it was down to the skipper of the cruiser, he was fine with it.

Oleanna was held both bow and stern and kept under control all the time in the lock. The volunteers reluctantly lifted paddles, extreamly slowly, understandably. Slowly the two boats rose, both safe and sound.

A quick chat between boats, we’d be happy to see Mick back through Long Sandal Lock, but he thought there’d be a volunteer on today. But if we could help at Barnby Dun Lift Bridge? We certainly could. Straight on at the junction. We pulled in at the services by the big bridge. Mick set to filling with water whilst I walked up to see the other Mick under the bridge.

Now where do I stand on the number of vehicles I held up? Do they get added to the spread sheet? It wasn’t Oleanna holding up the traffic?

A very cheery wave from Mick as he passed under the bridge, not much further till he’d get back to base. A message appeared on the whatsapp group that he’d arrived safe and sound at 3:15pm. It was a pleasure to help him on his last leg home.

**Goodbye Mick, hope to see you somewhere on the water again**

Watery chores were done. Wee tank emptied, Tilly’s pooh box got a refresh and bins emptied. No sign as yet of the new recycling labels on bins.

Mick winded Oleanna to head back to the junction whilst I walked the towpath, got to clock up 40 minutes minimum. Our mooring was still available, we tied up and let Tilly out. She wasn’t impressed It’s still far too windy for my bottom!

**Winding as another boat comes through the bridge**

A roast chicken was enjoyed. Yes we shouldn’t have as yesterdays burger had been a very naughty treat, but the remains of a chicken will last us at least three more meals which all helps when we are unlikely to see a big shop for over a week.

A pesky swan kept us company for most of the evening and a very light shower came over. Here’s hoping we only get light showers in the coming days, more importantly that the Yorkshire Dales don’t get a deluge.

1 lock, 6.5 miles, 1 bridge for us, 3 more for Mick plus 1 lock, 1 left, 1 wind, 23 years, 2 boxes wine, 1 chicken, 500grams mince, 1 mardy swan, 3 floating chairs, 84 year old skipper, 1 final wave goodbye to our flotilla chums ( who are all down on the GU now), 3.52 miles walked, 44 minutes briskly, 3 hours shore leave, 10 minutes taken, 1 pesky swan.

https://what3words.com/herb.golden.iterative

Dear Princess Ann…. 29th March

Bramwith Swing Bridge to Wykewell Lift Bridge

Sunshine and lack of wind, brilliant, we’d be back on the move again, along with others. As we untied a couple of boats came past both heading for Thorne, would there be enough space for us to moor? Would we be able to top up on diesel before heading out onto the tidal Trent on the 1st? We pushed off and headed eastwards.

The ends were woven in on pair 63 of my sockathon as we made our way through Stainforth. It had been quite chilly when we’d left so we’d dressed to cheat the wind, but as we came under the railway bridge towards Staniland Marina a chap from a boat suggested we’d not be needing the waterproofs today.

I peeked along the first line of boats to see if I could spot Della who has had about six pairs of my socks from me in the last couple of years, but I couldn’t spot her, maybe when we come back this way I’ll give her a heads up as it’s nice to meet the people who’s feet I’ve knitted for.

The service point was free, we pulled in. Yesterday we’d tried ringing to check how much their diesel was and what hours they’d be open today at Staniland, but no-one answered. Mick walked to the chandlers whilst I inhaled the fumes from someone blacking their boat in the shed next door. Still no sign of anyone around to sell us diesel, we decided to drop down the lock and call in at Thorne Marine instead.

I walked on to the lock where a volunteer was washing weed through the lock, ‘won’t be a minute’. I stood on the towpath ready to close the road barrier and then push the bridge out of Oleanna’s way, closing it quickly to let a car across. The volunteer pressed his buttons on his remote, with this he can work individual gates and sluices unlike on the pedestal. I chose to ride down the lock on Oleanna, nothing for me to do lockside.

There was a gap suitable for Oleanna to pull into at Thorne Marine, but would the pump reach our tank? It took a little bit of jigging about and moving a small cruiser for us to reach the hose comfortably, the tank was filled and a length of flexible conduit purchased to tidy up the cables on the tunnel light and horns.

Then to the dismay of a fishing match we reversed back and turned into the visitor moorings, soon followed by a big cruiser that came back and forth disturbing everyone’s fresh bait as another narrowboat tried to squeeze past!

Shopping. Our next shops will be in Newark so some fresh items were required, we headed to Sainsburys and Lidl. Lunch, socks packed up, receipts scanned, water tank filling. I headed off to pop the socks in the post and top up my minutes walking. Yesterdays migraine thankfully was much improved, but was leaving me with a slight unsteadiness whilst trying to find a post box. I tried by the Post Office, an obvious place, but none in view. I spotted one across a busy main road and decided that with no crossing I’d carry on with my hunt. Then 50 yards from where I’d first looked, round a bend from the modern Post Office was a double whammy box, this must have been where the original Post Office had been.

Back at Oleanna it was either stay put for the rest of the day, or make a move now before sitting down. The later was chosen just as a call from the fishermen came along the line at 4pm, the match was over, lines brought in. We’d not be disturbing anyone now.

**lights, buttons and instructions for the Princessess bridge**

With the key of power I walked up to Princess Royals Bridge, yes the temperamental bridge. I turned the key, no clunk. I waggled barriers one wasn’t held back, I waggled it more. A very chatty lad came over to chat and ask me all the questions he could think of whilst I tried to re-read the instructions in case there was a new handy hint to get the bloomin bridge moving. More wiggling. A lady watch with her dog saying that you need to keep your finger on the button to close it properly for far longer than you’d imagine, except I was trying to open it!

Mick pulled the boat in, time to get him involved waggling gates too. More questions about Oleanna now and ‘Do fish follow boats?’ he was fishing with his mates. I pressed the open button, still nothing. I pressed the closed button, the warning siren sounded, no movement noticed, but we did get a big clunk. With all barriers now moveable we closed them all, a crowd collecting now. The bridge moved. Mick brought Oleanna through and I started to close the bridge just as one of the young lads decided to walk along where the bridge was heading. ‘Get out of the way! You moron!!‘ Thankfully he did.

I made sure I kept the button pressed for far longer than you’d think and then some to get the big clunk before opening the gates. We could be on our way again as the young lads flung their lines back into the canal hoping to catch a fish or three.

**NB Christopher B tucked in and for sale**

The wind picked up as we passed NB Christopher B. Two years ago we’d shared bridge hopping with NB That’s It and NB Christopher B when Lesley had an awful accident at the next bridge trapping her leg between the side of the piling and their boat. Their boat is up for sale £58,000. I wonder how they are doing?

Past Blue Water Marina and on to Wykewell Lift Bridge. the wind was now very strong. I took extra care whilst stepping off, the sky darkening all the time. Was it nearly time to stop for the day? Maybe.

I lifted the bridge holding two cars up, Mick brought Oleanna through and pulled in at the bridge landing. Once back on board there was no getting Oleanna off the bank. We tried pushing the bow out, a reverse Andy, the bow thruster worked a bit. But we decided we’d had enough so managed to bow haul her off the bridge landing where she obediently sat by the bank as we tied her up for the night.

Sorry Tilly too late and it wasn’t a suitable mooring for cats anyway.

Blimey that wind was ferocious! Fat fenders deployed to keep us away from the big iron bar along the piling. Bungs needed in the portholes on the windy side to stop the drafts and whistling. Our extractor fan was making noises even though it wasn’t on!

**Boats at Strawberry Island all ready to head off**

Back in Doncaster at Strawberry Island Cruising Club the intrepid boaters headed for the Fund Britains Waterways Campaign Cruise all gathered with flags flying and bunting fluttering for the launch of their cruise southwards. Seven boats look like they will be heading to Keadby for Tuesdays early start.

Last night we’d heard of a possible breach on the Macclesfield Canal. Water was making it’s way out of the canal disrupting the towpath. By this morning boats were being moved from the affected area above Bosley Locks and stop planks were going in. The breach having increased in size over night. This now means another route from the north to south is blocked, leaving the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Trent the only means to get up and down the country. Thankfully for us we’d not planned on heading over to the north west this year, but plenty had and have been replanning routes that now will require some extra thought.

1 lock, 5.2 miles, 3 bridges, 2 cars held up, numerous pedestrians held up, 1 full diesel tank, 1 full water tank, 1 load washing, 1 chicken to roast, 1 launch party, 1 more big hole in a canal.

https://what3words.com/florists.twilight.wiggling

Toooo Windy to Wind. 28th March

Bramwith Junction to past Bramwith Swing Bridge

The original plan for today had been to wind, tie up again with the port side to the bank. Then I’d be able to wash down that side of Oleanna. Then we’d wind again and start making our way along the Stainforth and Keadby Canal to Thorne for a top up of diesel. However, it was way too windy to be winding so much. Was this just here where the canal is quite exposed? Or was it everywhere?

We decided to push onwards and hope for a space on the otherside of the lock and swing bridge where it might be more sheltered. I walked on ahead leaving Mick to push off against the wind, having the lock ready might be a good thing if he had to crab his way towards the lock without getting too familiar with the moored boats.

First manual lock of the year, windlass in hand, long extended beams. I was about to find out what my knee made of pushing gates. I lifted the paddles to fill the lock, unhooked one chain holding the gate in its closed position, waited until everything was equalised. Then pushed making sure my feet were straight ahead of me and pointing straight, this is one thing my physio had been insistent on for my stretches. The gate moved as requested and not a jot of pain in my knee! Hooray!!!

**Hello David, we’ll have more time to say hello soon**

I crossed over the bottom gates to open the other side of the lock giving Oleanna a bigger gap to aim for in the wind. It looked as if it was taking Mick quite a bit of doing getting off the bank, but he made it in the end. Oleanna dropped down the lock, I already had the key of power to work the swing bridge ahead so walked on after closing up the lock.

The sun was out, but boy that wind was strong. I crossed the bridge, no traffic in sight or audible, I pressed the button, a car appeared from nowhere! I paused the operation then started it again. Swing done not one vehicle held up. Time to find a mooring. Mick tried a couple of times to bring Oleanna in and then found a stretch where she came into the bank, well until the wind caught her determined to have her moor on the off side. We got her tied up in the end.

*You’ve missed a bit!* I haven’t started yet!!!

Our new aim was to get the port side washed then move on up to Thorne to be able to fill with diesel. The buckets were filled with water and soap, roof emptied of planks and poles, Tilly let loose on the towpath. I worked from bow to stern, first the roof then the cabin side, the bank too high to do a good job on the side of the gunnels.

Mick pumped up our tyre fenders, went fishing for the spare club hammer that had fallen off the pram cover as he pulled them up. All the time the ‘Moderate’ wind (according to the BBC) blasted across the canal. A few boats came past. A narrowboat towing a cruiser zigzagged its way towards us, almost into the bank then into the offside trees.

With the washing done we decided to stay put for the day, the wind too string for us to battle with it, the forecast much better for tomorrow. All day we’d been listening in to BBC radio, today was Adam from NB Briar Rose last day with the BBC. One comment on Instagram was the usual Good Luck with your new life. I nearly replied, Looking forward to seeing you in your new life! I wonder how long it will be before our bows cross somewhere on the network.

Time to top up on the walking. Unfortunately my Active10 app hadn’t been working so far today, so I wasn’t sure how many brisk minutes I’d done, I hoped it would still be keeping track. I plotted out a route to include some of the Bramwith circular walk along the flood banks of the River Don then back from the next road bridge along the towpath.

A sign at the first stile suggested my chosen route would not be possible, bank repairs were taking place. I decided to walk to see if there was a way round them to be able to loop back on myself. Lots of green and clouds skitting along the sky, wonderful.

Then sadly about a quarter of my way into my planned route I was aware of something a bit odd in my vision. Was this a migraine coming on? I looked this way and that, got my phone out of my pocket, the signs were pointing towards a migraine, only one thing for it but to turn round and head back. Thankfully the flood bank is straight but the location of the high stile wasn’t visible. I got home safely, found the box of pills in the cupboard and sat down for much of the remainder of the afternoon. An early night called for.

1 lock, 0.9 miles, 1 bridge, 0 held up, 2 waves to David, 0 eggs, 0.5 clean boat, 1 cat up a tree shouting about it, 3.18 miles walked, 40 minutes briskly, 1 headache, 2 blowy to do much.

https://what3words.com/slept.hoops.cadet

Goole Green. 27th March

Doncaster Visitor Moorings to Bramwith Junction

A few little gaps in our larder needed filling, we moved Oleanna up to the water point and I left Mick topping up with water as I walked into town. A few stalls were open in the fish market along with a couple of fruit and veg stalls outside. I toyed with trying to buy everything at the market, but I still would need a supermarket for a few bits and another visit to Boyes was required.

**Goodbye Doncaster we may see you again soonish**

Back at Oleanna the development next door was having some piles driven about 2ft away from the gate to the moorings and more importantly 2 ft away from the piling holding the bank back. Mick just wanted to make sure CRT knew about this, so gave them call.

Yesterday a small black narrowboat had arrived towing a small cruiser. The chaps had chatted to Mick asking if he had a guide to the area. They were planning on towing the cruiser and a second one down to Keadby and out onto the Trent and up stream to Nottingham, their main concern was would they be able to breast up one cruiser and still get through the locks. This morning they were manoeuvring themselves round to the other side of the pontoons to collect the second cruiser, neither of which have working engines.

We pushed off wishing them well and headed back down stream. Todays mooring should be one suitable for Tilly to have some shore leave and hopefully one where we’d be able to do some jobs. As we approached Long Sandall Lock we clocked the boat that had been at Bramwith Junction, maybe our mooring would be available?

The amber light at the lock turned red. Ah, the VHF radio had been coming to life on and off and news that Eastwood Lock up at Rotherham was now open suggested to us that maybe Exol Pride was on its way, maybe we were to meet it here? The top gates opened and the light turned green. A chat with a chap in blue, they were here to clear bywashes etc, then up to Doncaster to check things out there too along with the development site. No news of Exol on the move.

Below the lock there was more activity at the pontoon for the flood defences. Numerous chaps in orange were gesticulating to a crane operator. A short distance further on another band of orange people were on the river bank erecting fencing and measuring things out.

At Barnby Dun Lift Bridge I had another prat go through on the red wigwag lights necessitating me lifting my finger to stop everything. Once through I counted the cars, 21 including a funeral cortege, I hope I didn’t slow them down too much.

I now opted to walk to the junction whilst Mick took Oleanna on ahead. Our favourite space available, thankfully the wind that is always present here helped to hold Oleanna to the bank today. Tilly when shown the outside wasn’t too enamoured due to the breeze, so the front door outside was checked, it was slightly better!

After lunch it was time for jobs. I dug out the drill for Mick whilst he dug out buckets for me. Mick would be having a more concerted effort with the stern light today. Our passage through Keadby next week is at 7am, there may be fog on the river and with so many boats in convoy it would be handy to show a white stern light.

I got the boat washing things out. Goole for five months leaves it’s mark on boats, a greening and general layer of dust, time to give Oleanna a scrub up for the Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign Cruise. I decided to split the job into four, starboard side today, both roof and cabin side. The covers will have to wait!

Tilly came out claimed the towpath as hers, ran around like a loon for a while then sat on the gunnels, chewed the tasty bits of grass alongside the boat then went on duck duty, Can’t have ducks making nests on Oleanna, the outside needs to keep changing! Just keep away from the wet side of the boat please!

Ten more minutes of walking were required so I decided to walk round the ‘block’ as it were. From the opposite bank I got a few nice shots of Oleanna and Mick looked like he was nearing completion of the stern light wiring. Along to the Don Doors, a boat just approaching from the last bridge of the New Junction. Across to Bramwith Lock, people from the permanent moorings were sitting out enjoying the early evening sunshine. By the lock there is a cupboard for fresh eggs. Not just chicken eggs, but if you are lucky you can get Turkey and Guinea Fowl eggs too. I’ll look again when we come through, see if we’re lucky enough to try a Turkey egg.

On returning to Oleanna some wiring was happening in the electrics cupboard. After a short while there was a cheer, the stern light was working! Brilliant.

A while after dark we paused what we were watching on the TV, lights and voices could be heard on the canal. It was the black narrowboat breasted up to one of the cruisers, thankfully they weren’t towing as well! Will they have got through Bramwith Lock breasted up? Hopefully where ever they got to they got there safely, we just wonder how much research they’ve done for the Tidal Trent?

1 lock, 5.7 miles, 1 lift bridge, 21 held up, 1 prat, 4.43 miles walked, 52 minutes briskly, 1/4 washed boat, 1 stern light working, 1 loony cat who’s forgotten about the trees over there! Where?!

https://what3words.com/speeded.loans.kingdom

Technical Difficulties. 26th March

Dullcaster and Rowsley, Matlock

A misty start to the day in Matlock. Hotel breakfast, where I managed to avoid the cooked end of the table and had a very pleasant chat with Kate Lovell, Creative Director from the Queens Theatre Hornchurch. A lift back to Level where today we were joined by Dark Horse actors Jo Sproulle and Rebekah Hill, both of whom I know very well.

The morning was spent rehearsing for the on-line symposium discussing how to market and engage general audiences for integrated theatre. There was to be an online panel made up from producers and an agent who have all worked with learning disabled and neurodivergent actors. In the room we were joined by Michele Taylor from Ramps on the Moon, who in 2020 produced Oliver Twist at the Leeds Playhouse.

Lunchtime I took myself off to walk down the path alongside the river, far more picturesque than my walk yesterday in Matlock. Here green hills and clumps of trees could be made out on the other side of the valley, what a beautiful day.

In the afternoon we all took up our positions, the online panel arrived on the white wall opposite those of us in the room. Our focus was to be on a camera. Checks done, then we started. Our hosts did a fab job of introducing the symposium, we all then had to introduce ourselves in turn. When it came to the on line participants there seemed to be a problem, a 20 second delay!

The technical chap in the corner looked from screen to screen, tried this and that whilst Nicky held everything together. The first question was asked of the on line panel, we waited for their response. Sadly the technical delay/glitch hadn’t been rectified and trying to hold a discussion with 20 second gaps everywhere simply wasn’t going to work. Vanessa decided to cut the online panel and the discussion would continue to be filmed in the room.

Such a shame we didn’t get to hear what everyone on the big wall had to say. But these things happen. Hopefully there will be another chance for all to gather, most probably all online to have the discussion in full at sometime in the future.

This meant the day ended early. Not much point in doing something else with the time, so people headed home. I was last to leave, getting a lift with Vanessa to Bakewell to catch the bus back to Sheffield. There is a new stream of funding from the Arts Council which will be applied to with the hope of producing the play that has been in development for a few years. Fingers crossed for a successful application this time.

Blimey Bakewell was very VERY busy and boy that Party Bakewell Tart looked extra tasty. I managed to hop on the next bus which was just arriving and got the front seat upstairs, in amongst the masses of school kids. From here I endured the noise but enjoyed the fantastic views whilst trying to work out when I might reach Sheffield and get a cheap train ticket booked.

The bus time table sadly wasn’t that good and I ended up with 30 seconds to run across the road into the station find the right platform etc. Oh well only £3.50 wasted. I bought another ticket at nearly twice the price and had only a couple of minutes to wait for the next train.

**Images of bands cover empty shop windows all around town.**

Back in Doncaster I topped up my walking minutes by heading home via the scenic route. Everywhere was closed apart from pubs, keeping up a quick pace seemed to be a good idea.

Onboard Mick and Tilly had kept themselves busy whilst pile driving had been happening at the new development. Tilly had been busy sleeping and Mick had been trying to wire up the new stern light, that had gone on the stern of Oleanna last year. He’d been out to buy wire for the job, but then couldn’t find a way through the steelwork for the new cable to run. In the end the conclusion was that there is a cavity between two sheets of steel and some way through would need to be found. The job was paused.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 lifts, 1 bus, 1 giant bakewell, 1 train, 20 seconds not conducive to discussion, 1 hole not 2, 1 bored cat, 4.05 miles walked, 45 minutes briskly, 1 slightly painful hip! 2 more lodgers booked in, 1 house booked for the summer.

The Last Of Her Generation. 25th March

Dullcaster. North Ferriby. Rowley, Matlock.

Today we were all to do different things.

Tilly would do a lot of sleeping and wondering when her next meal would arrive, whilst Mick and I climbed onto to trains to head in different directions.

My train took me to Sheffield where I caught a bus to Chatsworth House, a very beautiful journey through serious countryside that I’ve done once before. I opted to stay on the bus to Bakewell where I had time to inhale Bakewell Puddings and Tarts that tourists were queuing up to purchase. Another bus got me to Rowley where I diced with death crossing the road to the Level Centre.

**An art installation at Level Centre that you could add to**

Here I was joining a group of people, actors, a composer, director, writer and several producers all associated with Separate Doors. A lovely welcome from the staff, a pack up lunch, then we all gathered to discuss how to promote integrated theatre for general audiences. We had tasks, we had discussions, we learnt a song with sign language.

We retired to the Premier Inn in Matlock. I took advantage of an hour’s break to go walking. Along a ridge behind the hotel, down into the valley and back along the River Derwent, managing to expand my 2 minutes brisk walking into 40. Back just in time to walk with everyone back into Matlock for food at Ostello Lounge which had the biggest gluten free menu. Lots of good company and conversation about our favourite crisp flavours.

Meanwhile Mick got a train heading northwards, joining two of his sisters, Kath and Christine. Alighting at North Ferriby they joined Anne and Alasdair, Marion and John. All siblings in one place to mark the passing of the last member of the generation above them, the wonderful Auntie Gill.

Mick here. My auntie, Gill Chignell, was married to my mother’s brother, Uncle Henry. All my four siblings have extremely fond memories of Auntie Gill. Many of our family summer holidays were spent with the Chignell family, their four children and us five made up a great party and many happy summers were spent with our cousins. They had a caravan and we would rent a holiday home somewhere, often on the South Coast. Good times. I am still in good contact with most of them.

My four sisters and I all made the trip to Ferriby in East Yorkshire and although it was a funeral it was great to see everyone and have a good chat. It wasn’t really a sad event: Gill has been suffering from dementia for a number of years and in a care home for 5 years. She was 94 when she died. In many ways it was a relief.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 buses, 3 trains, 1 lazy cat, 1 symposium, 5.84 miles walked, 56 minutes briskly, 1st burger of the year, 5 siblings, 1 celebration, only 1 Aunty Gill.

Dullcaster. 24th March

Kirk Sandall to Doncaster Visitor Pontoon

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.

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!

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna