Category Archives: Stainforth and Keadby Canal

Cadburys Take Em… 21st August

Ellis’s Bridge 86 to Gees Lock 36

A boat! NB Golden Eagle passed us heading towards Leicester, would they be stopping at Kilby Bridge services or carrying on? It’s a rare thing to see a moving boat round here at the moment, I suspect that will change tomorrow. We moved up to the services ourselves and topped up with water, disposed of rubbish and Tilly got a fresh pooh box, no sign of NB Golden Eagle.

Up to Kilby Lock, set against us as we knew it would be. As we made our way to the next lock a C&RT chap was walking the towpath with a keb (a rake with bent ends used to clear bywashes and remove reeds from the canal. He shouted across to us that there were paddles up at the next lock, he was running water down to a low pound. Once he was out of view we then asked ourselves should we leave the paddles up, or leave them down at the next lock. A touch of a moral dilemma for a boater, it feels wrong to leave a pound emptying itself with no-one watching. But once Oleanna was down I went back and lifted a top paddle, we’d possibly be grateful for the extra water further ahead.

Below Ervin’s Lock a group of lads were noisily fishing, they weren’t doing so well. I remembered that I hadn’t locked the front door, a thing we do when in built up areas and going through locks, you just never know. Below the lock was the low pound, the bywash gushing forth into it from above. Blimey it was slow going! We remembered this from four years ago, the really shallow pound, at least it gives you time to appreciate peoples back gardens.

A house for sale, no end of garden mooring, wonder if you could persuade your two neighbours (and C&RT) to let you moor across their gardens? A slightly disturbing giant gnome, nowhere near as good as Monty (Neighbourhood Watch by Alan Ayckbourn). This gnome looked as if someone had been wrapped in fibreglass to create it.

I think it was Whetstone Lock that was finally in our favour, a boat moored above a short distance must have recently come up, it made a change from having to close gates and fill it. At the bottom gates I found myself standing in a squirrels left overs, a carpet of cracked hazelnut shells covering the ground, not many nuts left in the canopy.

As we turned the big bend at Glen Parva we hoped for a space to pull in. NB Ragamuffin sat at one end of the mooring, a fisherman the other. Maybe we’d have been able to squeeze in but it would have been really quite cosy. We decided to carry on a few more options available ahead.

Gees Lock, empty with a bottom gate open. I walked down to close it and start filling the lock. Mick followed but didn’t lift a paddle as I expected. He was suggesting to moor up on the lock landing, it was a long one and we could tuck ourselves at the far end, after all there’s hardly any traffic about if any. This we did knowing we’d be moving first thing.

Still quite a busy towpath, but Tilly made good use of it. One boat came past making use of that closed gate and letting it swing back open as they left. Oh well, I’ve closed it once I can do it again.

**99% plastic garden, 1 dying plant in a corner**

Our friend Chris on NB Elektra got in touch this morning regarding my printing problems for panto. He was willing to have a go at improving the image with various programs he has. Many thanks to him for his hours tinkering away, they are an improvement. However it could be that I’ve shot myself in the foot with my original artwork, a collage may not be the best thing to scan to be enlarged. 0.5mm depth between layers may not be helping. Maybe a really good photograph would be better? Maybe I just need to have a chat with Peter, the man who deals with such things all the time, only tricksy thing is we’d not been planning for his company to print everything.

At midday a notice came through about the leak on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

A leak has occurred close to the M18 Bridge and it affecting a section of towpath between M18 Bridge running parallel to East Ings Road track at Thorne. The team are working to repair the leak as soon as possible. The navigation is currently open and but this section of towpath above the leak will be closed until the repair is carried out. During the afternoon photos of a tug and skip filled with clay were posted on facebook, presumably heading towards Thorne. Fingers crossed they get the leak bunged up quickly.

Another notice came through regarding the Chesterfield Canal.

Low rainfall and diminishing reservoir levels mean we have no option but to close the Chesterfield Canal from Boundary Lock 41 upstream, as we are unable to provide enough water to accommodate boat movements. The closure will commence on Friday 1st September. We’d been thinking of heading that way, but with the best part of the canal closed we’ll leave it for another time.

6 locks, 4.4 miles, 1 giant gnome, 1 low pound, 1 dilema, 2 moving boats, 565783 hazelnuts, 0 covered in chocolate, 2 notices, 40 tonnes of clay! 1 closure, 1 plan changing, 1 phone call needed, 1 more Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://goo.gl/maps/nbYVXU2kfnXiNEGLA

Don’t Let The Swans Through! 20th August

Between Locks 21 and 22 to Ellis’s Bridge 86

Kingfishers could be heard darting along the canal, then as we made ready to push off more of the high pitched calls could be heard from the pond/small lake just behind our mooring. Maybe we should have got chairs out last night and sat down there waiting to see them.

One more lock and a mile before we reached where we should have been last night. Here the towpath is narrow, so we’d not have felt happy having a barbecue even if the wind had died down. However the view is good across to St Wiston’s Church all the meadows were filled with buttercups on our first visit here back in 2015.

Newton Top Lock had a sign on it’s top gates, warning to not let the swan family down as they would then fight with another family. We took our time, once the lock was full I leant against the gate to keep it shut until Oleanna’s bow had been positioned in such a way to hopefully exclude the swans, Dad was the ring leader, but we kept him out, the gate closing as close to the rudder as was possible. Thankfully today there were no signs about C&RT running water down the locks, this next section used to have problems with low levels.

Below the second lock sat a boat, moored on the lock landing. Someone has written the reason for the boat being there on the lock gate.

Top Half Mile Lock is one where the camera has to come out. For some reason I like the tree alongside it, it’s on my favourite tree list. It has a pleasing shape, it’s position by the lock makes it photogenic no matter what season you pass in. I took lots of photos, then struggled as usual to try to keep the lower gates closed.

Behind the hedge, across a golden field three cherry pickers had people hard at work, the electrification of the Midland Main Line, no trains today.

A half mile until the next few locks, each and everyone of them empty, we were following someone towards Leicester, most probably NB Raggamuffin who passed us yesterday, they’ve not been seen since.

Those bottom gates are annoying, requiring to be closed before filling up the lock, cracking a top paddle at Bumble Bee Lock 29 is the only way to keep those gates closed. When we dropped down the gates opened themselves, Mick pushed Oleanna over to shut the offside gate and lower the paddle. We both held the gates closed for a while, they lulled us into a false sense of security staying shut until our backs were turned. Oleanna had by now positioned herself below the lock so that it was hard for Mick to step back on board despite having taken a centre line with him. I however could get on almost at the bow, then walk through the cabin, disappointing Tilly as I went as we’d not stopped for the day.

Once we were both back onboard we glanced behind us, both gates wide open again as they had been when we’d arrived above! Heyho.

A suitable mooring was soon found a distance away from the road, maybe deep enough to eat out this evening after a small amount of nettle pruning. Tilly wasn’t impressed though the sideways trees not interesting enough and quite dense and don’t ask me about the footfall! I don’t know where it falls from!

A catch up phone call to the London Leckenbys was made, news of holidays, birthdays, house sales, future plans and Andrew and Josh’s current backpacking in Scotland were exchanged. Mick interrupted me, a Policeman had stopped to ask if either of us had seen a young lady. In the photo she was wearing a mortar board and thick rimmed black glasses, the Police were concerned for her. There had been numerous people come past since we’d stopped, but none I’d really taken much notice of. I hope they find her safely at a friends.

The amount of footfall including bicycles put us off sitting out, instead our meal was cooked in the oven. Baked Basa with garlic and lemon with roasted vegetables. Basa a first for us, just a white fish really, nothing to write home about.

During the day a visit to the leak on the Stainforth and Keadby had been made by the chap who runs the Trentlink group on facebook. He’d come across two banksmen. The foliage around the area had been cut back so that the leak could be monitored more easily, the rest of the stretch still quite overgrown. More photos and a video were on view. It’s a worry as there’s quite a lot of water where it shouldn’t be, but the levels in the cut remain at normal height due to the pound being fed from the River Don.

8 locks, 3.7 miles, 1 photographic tree, 4 troublesome gates, 1 missing person, 1 outside not being awarded with any stamps, 1 heel turned.

https://goo.gl/maps/Xhj4fc3TG2jMUybN8

Holding Up His Majesty’s Mail. 19th August

Between bridges 8 and 9 to between Locks 21 and 22

Princess Sparkle and Bilbo Bagins let go of the timeshared outside before Tom and She did. The outside moved slowly away, but it moved slower for them. She said we’d just about caught them up when the bridge drifted up to reached us.

On arrival the bridge had only just closed, the crew from NB Drifter just about to climb back on board after letting themselves through, some road traffic and then a couple more boats. I walked over, turned the key unlocking the barriers which are manual here. I closed one side and was walking across to do the other one when a Post Office van arrived. The Postie offered to help push the bridge, a welcome offer as it is really quite heavy. He was also happy to wait for a following boat to come through too, he said he was used to it, normally helping the day boats through. We were all soon on our way again.

At the bottom of Foxton boats were here there and everywhere. A day boat wanting to wind from it’s mooring, NB Drifter had opened the bridge and were now backing up the otherside of it towards the bottom of the inclined plane to wait for water. The boat in front of us was trying to find a suitable place to pull in before checking in for the locks, we just waited until there was a suitable pause and headed through the middle turning right under Rainbow Bridge towards Leicester.

Back in the world of widebeams we passed one which you could say was moored in a winding hole, but it’s a big winding hole, they’d taken time to find places for their ropes just below the waters surface. Past Debdale we were now where we should have been last night and entering the SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSI area.

When we first did this stretch we noted the amount of reeds, how narrow the channel was and how few moorings there were. Now it’s pretty much like most canals, certainly there was little difference on our way to Market Harborough. The wind blew the reeds about, a wave of green alongside Oleanna, but thankfully the gusts didn’t seem to be catching us out.

Tunnel mode engaged for Saddlington Tunnel. A chap at Foxton the other day had been saying how long it was and that he’d be cycling over it later. I told him of Standedge Tunnel and how it was six times as long, certainly no way of seeing from one end to the other. With our powerful torch at the back we could see all the bat boxes, you are meant to be able to see the bats swooping out of the tunnel at dusk.

A pause at a mooring for lunch then onwards to the locks.

The Top Lock Cottage is for sale, a renovation opportunity apparently, even though it has quite a new kitchen. A big amount of land comes with it too for a guide price of £650,000. They’ve been very careful with their drone photo to include the lock and not too much of the sewage works the nearest neighbour!

A C&RT chap was busy running water down, paddles open at both ends of the lock. He was surprised to hear that North Lock in Leicester was fully booked for Tuesday, he didn’t understand why they didn’t just get on and mend it. I suspect that will happen once the school holidays are over with and the height of the season has passed.

At Bridge House Barn it was the lull between ceremony and evening do at a wedding. New guests were arriving at the big teepee, Mick waved at the kids who soon would be busy on the dance floor or hiding under the buffet tables.

We dropped down the first four locks, one pound most definitely low, nowhere near the bywash. I walked ahead to set the fifth lock hoping to moor overlooking Wistow. But then a space with a view showed itself, half an hour short of where we’d planned to be, we pulled in. A good wide towpath, trees friendly cover for Tilly, the willow tree needed a touch of a prune before the pram cover could be lifted, but all good. We just needed the wind to die down now for a barbecue.

Sadly the wind kept coming and going, it would have fanned barbecue coals too well, so we abandoned that idea and had kedgeree instead.

Late evening, photos appeared on a facebook group of water flowing out of the side of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal near to the M18. The poster had reported it to C&RT at midday, no notice had been issued. Speculation of a breach started to spread through social media. We’re not due there for several weeks, but if there is a problem we’ll be needing to take a different route. First decision will be at Trent Lock, if we carry on up the Trent the next decision will be at Keadby whether to go round Trent Falls. For now we’ll watch and see how things progress and hope that our friend David and the other moorers on that pound are okay and don’t end up sitting on the bottom.

4 locks, 8.3 miles, 2 bridges, 1 held up, 1 right, 1 tunnel, 0 mysterons, 1 windswept bride, 1 low pound, 1 boat heading our way, 1 mooring with a view, 2 windy to sit out, 1 happy cat, 1 band playing 80’s 90’s hits into the night.

https://goo.gl/maps/cfZRtmawdAzKj61E9

The Gates Of Goole. 8th February

Bramwith Junction to Viking Marina, Goole, Aire and Calder Navigation

Sunrise on this mooring is wonderful, the windows needed a touch of decondensationing before we could really appreciate it with a cuppa in bed. It was another chilly morning, a breeze had got going which would help with winding when we set off.

The VHF radio was turned on in case we could hear Exol Pride or one of the gravel barges radioing the bridges. It crackled a few times, but nothing was audible we decided that we were unlikely to meet a big barge mid channel today, anyway we’d likely see them miles off as most of the canal we’d cover today have very very long straight stretches.

**Left straight on not right straight on**

Sadly my back hadn’t improved overnight, so Mick was on duty for anything low down, but I’d see how I did operating the bridges along the New Junction. We winded and headed left. The Don doors open and waiting to let us across the aqueduct.

The step up from Oleanna to work the first bridge was a touch high, but I managed it without too much of a problem. Key of Power in and the bridge turned.

Next Top Lane Lift Bridge nobody held up here. The road surface had big chunks out of it waiting to be resurfaced. Then Kirkhouse Lift Bridge where I managed to hold up two cars, one a C&RT van.

Now the long long length with little to break it up. A zoom in with the camera wasn’t clear enough to make out what colour light there was at Sykehouse Lock. The house that had been for sale last year now has two big barges moored outside it, both in need of a bit of money spending on them, wonderful shapes though.

**Sykehouse Lock with Sykehouse Lift Bridge partially open in the background**

As we got closer to the lock we could see that the volunteer who must just about live in the control tower had spotted us, the light was green, but the swing bridge was still closed. We pootled on up closer.

On one of the banks was what looked like a Heron, but it was far too white. When it took off we agreed that it was the size of a heron, held it’s legs and neck like a heron. So it must be a heron. Now I’ve been able to look at the photo closer I believe it to be Great Egret. According to the RSPB website they believe there to be 8 to 12 breading pairs in the country and around 72 birds that winter in the UK.

The chap came out from the tower with his dogs, crossed the bridge to close the barriers and then pushed the bridge clear for us. Another C&RT chap walked past, a number checker, and asked if we’d seen a big barge moored by the house. We had, along with a second boat. He set off to walk the near 2 km to take down their numbers, then walk back again. That job must keep him fit around these parts.

Down the lock we went. We spied people at the next swing bridge who looked like they would operate it for us, which they did. The chap in high-vis was taking photos of the bridge, it was having an inspection.

Up ahead at Sykehouse Lift Bridge there were three C&RT vans and four chaps. The hut by the bridge suddenly sprang into life as we arrived a cloud of black smoke coming from an exhaust in the wall. There must be a generator in there for emergency power. They left us to work the bridge, taking notes of things as it raised and lowered. It’s apparently the time of year when all the bridges are inspected. They all headed over to check a barrier after I closed the bridge and didn’t seem too phased by the huge biff the bridge made when it finally made contact with the ground! It certainly made both Mick and myself jump.

Straight on to the junction with the Aire and Calder where we turned back towards the east. This stretch, well all of today’s waters are so very familiar, yet things have changed since last March. Drax was churning out power and the breach site still looks in good order.

The giant log cabin by the Alpacas has windows now and an almost completed roof. Then the building nearer to Rawcliffe has new windows and it’s roof is finished, it also has some new render and looks quite smart.

The last slight bend and we were on the three mile straight to Goole.

Back through the gates of Goole we were back where we’d spent so much of 2020 and 2021, stuck due to the breach and lockdowns. Hopefully the gates won’t close on us this time! The visitor moorings were full, but across on the 14 day moorings there was plenty of space. The big grey boat that has been moored outside the Auction place is now for sale, if you’ve got £350,000!

**Left by the black and white boat please**

Mick swung Oleanna to the left into Viking Marina and we made our way into the corner where we’d moored before. On our pontoon a big cruiser, but to the other side of it a new pontoon. We pulled in, meeting our new neighbour, tied up and headed to the office to check in.

It was good to see Laird again and Alastair who did some work for us last year. Mick has a short jobs list for Alasdair whilst we’re at Viking. Once we’d paid our mooring fees and got a fob it was time for lunch, do the chores and pack our bags. Due to my bad back we actually left with less than we’d arrived with, Mick carrying everything.

There was just under half an hour before the next train, so we power walked it along Albert Street, through the docks to the station. We had five minutes to spare, unfortunately not enough for us to get Advance tickets. The ticket machine wanted us to pay for the route to Scarborough via York! Thankfully the train guard would allow us to buy tickets from her instead at half the price.

It was a pleasant journey back to Scarborough, no need to change trains, just sides so that we’d get a view of the Humber Bridge followed by the sea at Bridlington.

As we walked up the steps to the house the new security light was triggered. This also triggered a reaction from Tilly. As soon as she realised it was us there was SO much shouting, the whole street could hear her! Many cuddles and chin rubs later things calmed down to a very loud purr.

Claire She had been nice, kept offering me Dreamies, but she hadn’t let me out so I wasn’t entitled to any! I felt I had to turn my nose up at them. That’s the longest She and Tom have deserted me for. They should have been back soon after the second flap on the magic food bowl opened! And when they did come back they smelt of Bramwith Junction outside. How dare they!

At least it meant I got lots of head nudges and cuddles.

With our mission accomplished and Oleanna now tucked up in Goole we have our own winter maintenance to do in the house. So blog posts will be as and when we visit Oleanna for the next few weeks. We have cruising plans, but not a definite date to set off yet. So the blog will be tucked up for a while too. See you soon.

1 lock, 11.8 miles, 5 bridges, 4 held up, 2 bridge inspections, 1 volunteer, 2 woofers, 1 mooring, 0 Joan’s Chinese! 1 boat plugged in, 1 train, 1 very VERY pleased cat, 1 hour of cuddles, 1 feline shadow.

https://goo.gl/maps/BHg2XZfd3C1vGBCm7

One Bridge After Another. 7th February

Keadby Visitor Moorings to Bramwith Junction

Another early start or us today. We pushed off at 8:50, Vazon Sliding Bridge has two slots a day when it can be opened, one being 9am. As we approached Mick knocked the throttle back into tick over thinking we’d have to wait a while for a train coming from Scunthorpe to pass. But then the bridge started to slide open, time to push up the revs, we’d need to be out of the way before the train arrived. We were through safe and sound. Time to start operating bridges ourselves.

Each of the bridges on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal are different to each other. The first one Vazon Bridge is quite simple. Turn your key of power in the box, you hear a clunk, lift the handle and push the bridge to open it. It moved like a dream, no twinges from my back either, marvellous.

A hazy morning, lots of dog walkers chatting to each other. Wind turbines every way you looked. We’re back in the flat lands with masses of bright blue sky. It felt so still, it’s a wonder the turbines were turning at all.

Godnow Swing Bridge next. Here there used to be a big panel with 1970’s calculator instructions on a screen that was really hard to read. This was interlinked with the railway crossing which is manned. The chap came out of his little hut and swung the level crossing gates closed to road traffic which would allow me to operate the swing bridge. A modern panel with Open and Close buttons has replaced the old huge box. Push and hold is all you have to do to close barriers and swing the bridge. Not one vehicle held up today, not even one visible on the long straight stretch of road.

Medge Hall Swing Bridge is not that much further on. I think this is my favourite with the signal box, level crossing gates (which always seem to be closed to road traffic) and then the red post box. Here one manual barrier needs closing before lifting the handle and pushing the bridge open.

The border between Yorkshire and Lincolnshire isn’t a big affair. A group of trees and a dyke heading off on both sides of the canal. We think it should have a sign to mark it. Ahead of us was blue sky, behind vapour trails heading off to the east.

Next Maud’s Bridge. As expected it was left open to boat traffic, bollards and signs on either side stopping road traffic. The dints in the handrails suggest it has been hit with quite a bit of force, the main upright at the end is at quite an unusual angle. There was also no sign of the box you use to unlock the mechanism.

As we pulled through the opening a group of road cyclists arrived. They seemed to be puzzled that we were continuing on our way without closing the bridge behind us. We said the bridge was broken, by a car not us! They conferred and then cycled back the way they’d come, soon to be seen heading down the road to the next bridge, Moores Bridge.

Here we had to wait, a planned stoppage at this bridge is ongoing. Eight people in high vis could be counted, four having a cuppa by the welfare van. A chap walked towards us, if we could give them twenty minutes they’d open the bridge for us. Time to pop the kettle on.

Moore’s Bridge used to have a big control panel, manual barriers, but the bridge moved with the press of a button. Now there are wigwag lights, automatic barriers that drop down and a new modern two button pedestal was spotted. Chaps were busy bending hydraulic piping, trays for it to lay in were in position below where the bridge deck swivels. Here the road was also closed, barriers part way down the lane, hopefully the cyclists managed to get through.

A delivery of new cabinets arrived, it was driven over the bridge and they were about to start unloading it when they changed their minds. Five chaps put their shoulders to the bridge and gave it a big heave, thank goodness it was relatively easy to move. We thanked them as we passed through but they were far too busy looking at the new cabinets.

Not far to the Wykewell Bridge, a lift bridge. Key of power operated this one. Well except we didn’t need to open it as it was already lifted with a couple of chaps inspecting the underside from a cherry picker! We were asked to wait a couple of minutes which was fine. The inspectors retracted themselves and asked for the bridge to be lowered. Someone suggested we should be let through first, we were waved on. So that was the third bridge in a row on the east side of Thorne closed to road traffic.

**Blue Water Marina, Oleanna’s winter mooring last year**

Past Blue Water Marina, we tried to work out where Oleanna had been moored last winter and who was in her space.

Princess Royal Swing Bridge was next, how would it be today?! I hopped off crossed the bridge and opened the panel. A clunk could be heard as the gates either side were released ready to be closed to pedestrians. I headed across closed one gate, click. Closed the other one, waggled it as suggested in the instructions, did so again! Nothing. Walked back across, closed the near side gates both clicking. Pressed the open button, nothing.

Mick came up to try to assist. He waggled the problematic gate until it wouldn’t move. Button pressed, nothing! By now we both had locals offering advice which actually wasn’t helping any. ‘It won’t have been closed properly’ ‘The gates aren’t closed’ ‘Try pressing open and close at the same time’ etc. Nothing was working and now I couldn’t even reverse the process and open the gates to try again, or at least let those waiting across. Time to make a phone call.

The lady at the council apologised, she’d send someone down. I expected to be doing crowd management for a good half hour maybe longer before anyone arrived, but thankfully a chap turned up within five minutes. He waggled gates, leaped over them, checked the panel and wondered if it had done what it did yesterday!

With his Key of all Council Power he opened a big cabinet across the way brought out a remote and proceeded to open the bridge a bit, then close it again. Then he swung the bridge open for us to get through. As we headed off he could be seen closing the bridge, opening one set of gates but the normally cooperative side were stuck! Oh well that was an SEP.

Thorne Lock, a volunteer was on duty and a boat was about to come down. This was Pearl a new boat for the Ethel Trust a hybrid that the crew were being trained on. Walkie talkies were everywhere guiding them into the lock. They’ve only had the boat a couple of months and it will soon head up to Sheffield where it will be officially launched by Princess Anne.

The volunteer helped us up the lock with great care. He let me step back on board and he’d work the barriers and the swing bridge just above the lock. Thank you!

**Cruising with the back doors open, a novelty**

Now we had quite a distance to travel before the next bridge. Time to have lunch on the move. As we came through Stainforth I sent a message ahead, we’d be about half an hour. Approaching Bramwith Swing Bridge we could see a car crossing and then the barriers were lowered and the bridge started to swing. We sailed straight through, perfectly timed and pulled up on the bridge landing to pick up our friend David.

Teaming up with NB Bob we shared the lock, David and I assisted with the gates and paddles whilst having a bit of a catch up. The owners of Bob were heading up towards Sheffield and asked about mooring there. Four years ago you could moor outside the basin for 2 days, any longer you paid in the basin.

We headed for our favourite mooring at the junction. Stepping off the bow with a rope jarred my back again, even though today I’d been doing really well, all the ropes and mooring was left to Mick to sort.

This afternoon we’ve had a really good catch up with David. Last time we saw him was in Newark last April. The last year has had it’s ups and downs for him but he has turned a corner and things are far far better. He is content with life, wakes up looking forward to what the day has in store for him. We even got to see a broad smile across his face. It was so good to see him well again.

2 locks, 14.9 miles, 9 swing bridges, 1 slid open, 1 open, 1 obstinate, 3 swung for us, 1 lift bridge, 2 cars held up, 0.25 tank of diesel since filling up in Newark, 1 lunch on the go, 1 more sunny sunny day, 1 happy smiling David.

https://goo.gl/maps/BE6eREnpNEv3jvvXA

A Day Adrift. 6th February

Torksey Pontoon to Keadby Visitor Mooring

Another morning with the alarm clock going off, at least this morning there wasn’t much of a view to miss out on. One side of the cutting looked to be above freezing, our side was all frosted over. Brrrr, an extra layer required today. As I got up and started to move around my back felt remarkably improved from yesterday, thank goodness. I still refrained from leaning down or lifting anything heavy so as not to aggravate the improving situation.

Four years ago yesterday we did exactly the same journey. Then it had also been an early start and a very cold one too. We’d had to wait for the Stainforth and Keadby Canal to thaw and for the entrance to the lock to be dredged. I was ready to pull the balaclavas out today but thankfully even though the day had started off with a good layer of frost on Oleanna we didn’t need to keep our cheeks cosy.

We needed to push off a while after the tide had started to come in. Yes we were heading down stream, so we’d need to punch the tide for some time, but this was needed for us to reach Keadby when there would still be enough water to get into the lock. At 9am Mick reversed us out onto the main river, an EA rib had just come past us from Torksey Lock but it headed upstream.

We winded to face down stream and the tide. Engine revs increased and we were on our way.

Another wonderful day to be out on the river. Blue blue skies. Trails high above us in the sky, plenty of people jetting of on their holidays. Looking behind us the sun low glinted on the water and our wake. Gorgeous.

I checked the charts, our course kept in the channel. This next stretch had been reported as being shallow last year.

A glimpse over Mick’s shoulder, a loop of vapour trail. The Red Arrows must have been out training. The V formation of planes scooped round and out of view. They were at such a distance to us to be silent, you had to scour the sky to hunt them out. One wave of vapour, then another loop the loop. Around this area and along the Fossdyke and Witham you quite often see them practicing. Your own private airshow. Time to concentrate on the charts again.

A man sat in a bright red rib coming towards us. His boat looked to be filled with equipment, maybe he was charting the river bed?

The Chateau at Gate Burton came into view. You can stay here with the Landmark Trust. It makes for a pretty view, I bet the view back towards the river today was a much warmer one. We waved in case anyone was watching as we passed.

West Burton Power Station came in and out of view. The large cooling towers dormant but the gas fired end churning steam out by the bucketful.

The tide had turned by the time we reached Gainsborough. The same revs were now giving us 2 to 3 more miles an hour heading down stream. The sharp bends speed the flow up through Gainsborough, not the fastest we’ve been under the bridge there though.

Earlier this year when we’d planned on doing this journey, we had to cancel our lock bookings due to being stuck in Shardlow as the river was in flood. When Mick called Keadby Lock to cancel our booking, the lock keeper said that we weren’t in the book! Yesterday afternoon Mick had tried calling the lock to check they knew we would be arriving today, he’d got no answer. He then tried calling a couple of times this morning. Thankfully he got through and Tracey was expecting us. Mick checked that the river level would be enough for us to get into the lock. It would be and she was expecting us from around 12:30.

The charts now dispense with the red line for stretches. My back wanted a sit down in the warm so I retired inside for a while, making sure I was watching as we passed West Stockwith Lock. Mick slowed us down and waved to a chap then picked up our pace again.

With a map suggesting we still had 2 hours to go before reaching Keadby we decided to up the revs a touch, it was now getting on towards midday and Tracey was expecting us pretty soon. We really didn’t want to run out of water. As we were now off C&RT waters there are few markers. Instead you rely on landmarks. Will the new build with big windows (still to be fitted) appear on new charts. Owston Ferry with it’s two pubs. Mooring Dolphins where owls are positioned to deter pigeons! Another mill.

The river now wide, sprawling out in front and to our sides. The M180 bridge. Time to call Tracey with our location, she’d expect us in twenty minutes, we were still good to get into the lock.

**The span on the right used to open up**

Keadby Bridge, under the bascule span. Up ahead Keadby Lock tower with it’s look out. The light was red. Would it be ready for us?

Mick brought us over to the west side of the river as our red line suggested. Then as we were just about level with the lock he started to turn. Not into the lock, that would be foolish with the tide still heading out towards the Humber. He turned Oleanna round to face upstream, this enables you to have more control to enter the lock.

On the downstream side of the lock we could see the start of the silt build up above the water. Mick faced Oleanna’s bow towards the upstream side of the lock forcing her against the tide. As we got closer, we both wondered if we’d have enough power to turn the stern away from the silt and enter the lock. An extra bit of umph at the right moment and into the lock Oleanna slid. Phew!! She’d made it. Always a relief.

I walked up to the bow to pass a rope around a chain as Tracey closed the lock gates behind us, then the outer lock gates got closed too. The amount of water coming over the top gates started to slowly rise us. Then a touch of a paddle was added, gently does it. Then a bit more which caught the bow a touch before I managed to pull her back in.

Once at canal level the top gates opened and we waited for Tracey to open the swing bridge. We pulled in just past a couple of boats on the visitor moorings at the far end. Ahead of us is Vazon Sliding Bridge. This is operated by Network Rail and following the high temperatures last summer it is now only opened to boat traffic twice a day, we’d already missed the second opening. Time for lunch and a well deserved warm up.

1 lock, 27.8 miles, 2 winds, 1 reverse, 2 why nots, 1 cheeky pigeon, 2 ribs, 1 beautiful day on the river, 1 air show, 1 day adrift from 4 years ago, does this mean we’ll have another February heatwave?

https://goo.gl/maps/gFUcoDkNi8wqaaLk7

Don’t Let The Cat Out! 4th February

King’s Marina to Cromwell Lock

Since arriving back in Scarborough it’s taken Tilly a while to settle down. She knows where she is, but the house makes odd noises, different from those on Oleanna. Add into the mix our lodger Claire making noises in the morning and singing in the evening, it all makes for a nervous cat. Over the last couple of days Tilly has ventured outside into the static world the house is surrounded by. She obviously remembers the local cats and is constantly looking out for Alan, Betty and Shoes. I have tried to explain to her that none of them live here anymore! But still she looks. The annoying thing for us humans though is that we thought the runny cat pooh would have ceased since Shoes moved away, however it is still lurking in the grass!

I managed to borrow a sewing machine from my friends Dawn and Lee at Animated Objects, so all the costume alterations have been finished. A few small house jobs have been done and I’ve been baking.

I made some fresh curd cheese and a batch of Yorkshire Curd Tarts to use up the pastry left over from mince pies. The slightly orange pastry was rather nice with the curds. Then yesterday I made a loaf of cheese and spring onion gluten free soda bread using up half the buttermilk I’d been left with from the curd cheese. We had to try a bit with our dinner last night as it smelt so good. Very very tasty. A definite recipe I’ll be doing again, there is still enough buttermilk left (now in the freezer) for another loaf.

Now that Maud’s Swing Bridge on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal is left open to boat traffic we needed to identify a window of opportunity to move Oleanna up to Goole. I have work commitments over the next few weeks and we wanted to give Tilly a chance to settle down in the house before we’d be leaving her for several days. We estimated the journey would take us a minimum of four days.

Mick checked the tide times, then the weather. Our first window looked good. A couple of days ago he called Cromwell to check on tide times for Sunday. Then a call to Keadby to check times there too. Both locks were booked.

Time to work out how to get back to Newark. The railway line out of Scarborough has been closed for much of this week due to engineering works, strikes and the poor service on Transpennine Express made us look at the buses to York, The Coastliner. These run every hour and currently a single fare being £2, it would be a bargain.

So this morning we were up early, breakfasted, a few items packed, soda bread and my work things in case we are held up on route. We caught the 9:10 which was pretty busy already and by the time it arrived in Malton it was chocka, I think we even passed hopeful passengers at a bus stop on our way into York. We hopped off at the station and had a half hour wait for the next train to Newark Northgate arriving a little after midday.

We headed straight to the marina as the office would soon be closing. When we’d arrived, we’d imagined Oleanna would be stuck for several weeks, maybe even months, in the end it was only nine nights. Two bags of coal were bought and popped on the roof.

I then headed to buy supplies whilst Mick topped up the water tank and made ready for our departure. I hunted round Waitrose for yellow labels. We’d brought a few days worth of food with us, but needed another couple of days supplies along with milk and cereal. Two heavy bags later, including two boxes of wine, I could drop the gate fob back at the office.

Lunch was had, soda bread, still pretty good even when cold. Then it was time to put our life jackets on and push off, reverse out from the pontoon and say goodbye to King’s Marina. Paula the marina manager came out to wave us goodbye and wish us a good journey. Thank you for accommodating us in your friendly marina.

Left. We headed towards Nether Lock where I climbed up a ladder to head to work the lock. The paddles were half raised, it was refilling itself. I turned the key of power and encouraged it to fill quicker, which worked, except the panel still had to work it’s way through all the button presses! It took quite a while before eventually the button moved the gates. Getting my phone out to take a photo of Oleanna coming into the lock, I lost grip and it bounced across the concrete, each time getting closer to the lock edge! Thankfully it stopped a foot short of me having to replace it, a shame the screen is now cracked.

Back in April last year the levels had taken forEVER to equalise when emptying the lock to come in, I did it twice in one day, so today I was prepared for a long wait again. The lock did not disappoint! I had to press the button several times when it did nothing at all for it to get itself ready to open the gates. But we got there in the end. A helpful couple walking their dogs offered to finish working the lock for me, so that I could get back on. I turned them down, no way would I be climbing down the 12ft or so of lock ladder when below at the lock landing it would only be three foot of ladder.

We passed North Muskham, Muskham Ferry where a group from King’s Marina were enjoying a few pints having come down in ribs. They all waved us on our way.

Fishermen lined the banks. One young lad had caught a fish worthy of a photo, his mate catching one a quarter the size was still eager to have the photographic proof. Then a group of men in waders stood round weighing up the days catch, there must have been a match on by Cromwell Lock.

Mick winded Oleanna to face upstream and bought us into the pontoon. Time to head to the bow to tie up. We don’t often cruise without Tilly on board. When opening a door it is automatic to check to see if she is waiting on the step inside. Don’t let the cat out! She’s never allowed out until we are moored up, yet she is so excited to be somewhere new, she charges to the other door before you can get there. Gentle persuasion is required to keep her away from an opening door, sometimes a ‘Grrrrr!’ is required to keep her eagerness in check, it works quite well. Doors are rarely left open, they always get closed behind you. At times trying to keep Tilly in is a pain, but today there was certainly one big hole without her on board. Hope her magic food bowl has opened up and that she’s cosy on our bed.

1 lock, 4.9 miles, £2 coastliner, 1 train, 1 Lincoln Cathedral in view, 0.5 loaf of soda bread gone, 2 boxes wine, 3 yellow stickers, 2 boaters back afloat, 1 feline boater stuck on dry land, 2 pork chops and 2 jacket potatoes.

https://goo.gl/maps/re622ZJ5TsvVKdTq8

Checking It Twice. 31st January

King’s Marina

More packing, more trying to keep Tilly calm.

It’s amazing how much stuff you think you might need! I said the other day that we wouldn’t be taking as much back to the house as normal, well I think what we’ve left would equate to a small holdall! If it wasn’t for my work things the van would have been half empty.

Pictures of boats waiting to go through Maud’s Bridge during the hour window this morning appeared on the Trentlink facebook group. Eight boats in all, one that had been waiting at Keadby for almost two months! Later in the day there were more pictures from those who’d escaped and made it out onto the Tidal Trent.

Then late morning a C&RT notice came through.

Update on 31/01/2023:

The bridge has successfully been opened as planned this morning.

An emergency road closure has been secured, therefore the bridge will remain in a open position for navigation traffic whilst repairs are undertaken.

Oh blimey, if we’d known that we’d have carried on downstream, saving an extra long road journey for Tilly. Well at least it’s open and we can start to plan.

By lunchtime just about everything was packed into the van. The dishwasher was set going for the last time, fridge and freezer were emptied. We’d made a list and checked it more than twice.

Gas off

Water pump off

Shower head laid in shower tray

Stop cock from water tank off (to stop the water tank syphoning into the shower tray)

Fridge and freezer left open

Duvet in vacuum bag

Yellow water tank emptied

Mini solar panel connected to starter battery

Central heating set to 2C

Tilly.

***You’ve forgotten to pack these, I’ll get them out for you!***

Ideally Tilly would have visited her litter tray shortly before she was to be ~~packed~~ put in her caravan for the journey. She’d been showing signs of needing to use the facilities, but had turned her nose up at the litter box. Well it was stinky! So I cleaned it out and put a light layer of clean litter in it for her. One sniff and still no visit!

Everything was done, just Tilly now. Still no visit. We gave her until 3pm, still no visit! We both walked up to use the shore based facilities, still no visit. Time was up, time for the tussle into the caravan. I so wish it wasn’t a tussle. So do I!

Tilly was positioned between Mick and myself in the cab. How long would it be before we needed to stop? Five minutes and into the first layby on the A1. Another three stops were required. Tilly was saying lots, mumbling something about compensation from C&RT for her extended hell of a journey. Poor thing, if our original plan had happened then the journey would have been an hour shorter!

Thankfully there was a space on the street close to the house big enough for a van. Tilly was first out and closed into the utility room for a check over before she got free run of the house. Stop fussing! I need to check everything over!

It took a good half hour to ferry everything into the house, it’ll take longer to move things to where they should be.

On our journey I’d placed an order for fish and chips from Capplemans, very nice they were too. Tomorrow an online shop will arrive, then I’ll need to sus out how to get a veg box again as Tree Top Press are not delivering for the next couple of months and Mick doesn’t fancy the bike ride out to Suffield to collect one, they are on the top of a very big hill!

Christmas post was opened. I think I’ll allow myself to keep the cards on the mantle piece for a while, it’s after twelfth night after all!

Claire arrived back from a days work at the SJT. The Comedy of Errors (more or less) has been re-written by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane. It’s now an 80’s musical farce and I believe if Claire isn’t lying there may just be a giant lobster in it, well if you know anything of Nick Lane’s work, that really isn’t a surprise! It sounds like the actors have got their work cut out and that we’ll be hearing lots of 80’s songs over the next few weeks from Claires side of the house.

Attention turned to tide times on the River Trent. Now knowing that Maud’s Bridge will be open to boat traffic we can start to plan moving Oleanna further up the country. This may be sooner than we’d originally thought. We just need tide times, lock opening times and weather to coincide with windows of opportunity between my work.

Tilly will not be joining us for the few days, as that would be very unfair on her. But we do wonder if she’d prefer travelling by train?!

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 full van, 1 escape pod flattened, 1 seriously miffed cat, 4 comfort breaks, 5 puppy pads, 1 cat refusing to lie down, 1 bumpy road across the wolds, 2 of each, 2 glasses wine, 1 more ball of yarn, 1 lodger, 1 bridge now OPEN! 1 cat needing to settle down, 1 blog having a short break, which might be shorter than we imagined.

PS. The email situation seems to have resolved itself. On Wednesday we were informed that the blog was being unresponsive and possibly not loading for some people. Mick was just starting to look into it when we received a second message saying Oleanna was back on line. We suspect that this may have corrected whatever had gone wrong with the emails. Thank you for your comments and glad everyone seems to be back.

Shrunk or Grown. 26th 27th January.

King’s Marina

I was off to catch a train, well three that would get me to Huddersfield mid morning. The current track record of Transpennine Express is really quite poor, trains being cancelled here there and everywhere, so my last leg of the journey couldn’t be guaranteed. Thankfully all went to plan without too long standing on platforms in the cold. I even got to see Lincoln Cathedral from my first train way way off in the distance.

Mick was left to check in with Paula the marina manager at King’s. She was wanting to give us the best deal on mooring, cheaper to pay for three months than on a daily rate. However, as soon as we know that the way ahead is open, the tides are right and I’m not at work we will be moving downstream. So Mick opted to pay weekly.

Borrowing the directors sewing machine meant I could finish sewing one costume. Now all nine actors have overalls they can wear to rehearse in over the next few weeks. We got everyone into their costumes to check them over. Had anything changed? One chaps overall seemed a touch too tight, easy to undo a couple of darts in the back. Sadly someone else was in a situation where the zip wouldn’t do up, a case of shrinking and expanding going on in unison. Notes were taken for expansion, all those off cuts from arms and legs come in handy for waist lines.

Time to position the numbers I’d made. With everyone stood in a row they looked like mug shots of convicts.

Rehearsals continued elsewhere for the remainder of the day giving me use of the studio floor. Connor came to help roll out the new show flooring, cutting the big roll into three and then marking out the design. Base coats of white were applied, all ready for the green to go next time.

I’ve been quite astounded at the price the Premier Inn were wanting to charge me for production week, so on this trip I’d booked an AirBnB to try out for a night. With a bag of alterations to tack I headed to find my room and see if the access codes worked. The front door was easy, the one for my room a little bit more tricksy, but I got there in the end.

I checked around to see what I had, a small kitchen area with cooker fridge and microwave. No sharp knife and slightly heat affected cupboards the laminate edging having come away sometime ago. The cooker and fridge are a bonus, no storing breakfast on a window sill and a heater that actually works without a big fan going constantly.

**Chips were only for reference purposes**

With some supplies bought along with a portion of chips from the nearby takeaway I set to with alterations sat on my sofa with a huge TV mounted on the wall. TV signal here would certainly get a thumbs down as I couldn’t seem to get any terrestrial channels. I also didn’t want to interact with Alexa as so far I’ve managed to avoid having her in my life. Eventually I did manage to get something to have on in the back ground, early episodes of Silent Witness, the lab used to be next to Kings’ College in Cambridge.

Digs verdict. Well it would be nice if the gap under the door didn’t let light in constantly. The microwave clock is easily covered up with a sketch book or tea towel. The shower door was easily rehung. The romantic view from behind the blind of buildings three foot away did mean no noise from the ring road next door (quieter than the Premier Inn). The big strip light was useful for sewing, but gave an atmosphere similar to that found in a dentists chair. If I stay again I’ll try to fix the shower so that more water comes out of the head than dribbles down the pipe. Having a fridge and cooker though may outweigh other things and it is two minutes walk from the theatre and £200 cheaper than Premier Inn, A bit more cutlery wouldn’t go amiss though.

Back at Dark Horse I finished the alterations on costumes, helped with a mark up of the stage for full rehearsals next week. Then when I was left on my own it was time to don my mask and finish off the giant mug. Getting things lined up and stuck on straight took time. The outside was covered, then the handle. Thankfully my plan for this worked out and two tins of stinky glue later the mug was finished.

Still with time before my booked train, I worked my way through a few props that needed painting. Packed everything away and then removed my mask. Hopefully the aroma on spray paint and any stinky glue will dissipate over the weekend.

My return journey was slightly hampered by late running trains, but this actually meant I still arrived back in Newark on time.

During the day, posts on the Trentlink group had been going about regarding Maud’s Bridge on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. Then an official C&RT notice was put out.

Update on 27/01/2023:

We have now assessed the works required to the bridge following the damage caused by the road traffic accident and are now preparing for the comprehensive repair to be completed by our contractor.

In advance of this, following advice from our engineers, we will take a team to open the bridge to canal traffic on Tuesday 31^st January at 10:30 and then close it at 11:30, allowing all boats currently in the area to pass the bridge.

Following this we will consider further openings as required until a full repair is complete. We will also update this notice with details of the full repair when we have them.

Brilliant! Except we won’t be able to make the hour time slot.

Mick sent an email, to which he got the standard reply that he would get an answer within five working days. So he made a phone call.

The chap seemed fairly hopeful that another bridge swing would be possible for us on another day. He would know more in Monday and call us back. Lets hope we can find a window where everything fits together before too long, so we can move Oleanna up to Yorkshire.

0 locks, 0 miles, 6 trains, 1 rip, 4 inches, 2 tucks untucked, 2 x 9m, 12 white lines, 9 numbers, 36 pieces velcro, 2 tins stinky stink sticky stuff, 1 large mug, 2 caddies, 2 wands, 2 books, 1 giant spoon, 1 shower door, 0 view, 0 noise, 1 hour opening, 2 many commitments 2 make it, 4 meals with sprinkles, 2 pies, 2 jackets.

PS Do you normally receive blog posts by email? Have they stopped coming into your Inbox? Please let us know. Thank you

None Update. 26th January

Kings Marina, Newark

Over the last few days the towpath investigators have been out on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal where Maud’s Swing Bridge has sat closed to boat traffic for two months following a vehicle strike. Footage of the damage has appeared on social media pages.

The general consensus is ‘what’s the problem!?!’ as what is visible is only a bent railing and not a very dramatic one at that. On Oleanna we do our best to take a measured view of such things. The vehicle strike may not look that dramatic on the top but has it affected things below the road surface making the bridge harder to open and close.

Is there an element of the bridge being needed as a diversion route to avoid Moores Bridge whilst the works there have overrun. If you can’t get through one bridge there is no rush to mend the next one as the canal is closed to boats anyway. We know that there is an issue with C&RT claiming against the vehicles insurance and that may take time.

Rumours are that the IWA will be meeting with C&RT to discuss the problems at Mauds Bridge. But will there be an update about this? There has been no update notice since the bridge was first closed two months ago.

Mick decided to send an enquiry to C&RT.

Maud’s Swing Bridge on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal has been closed since 23rd November following a vehicle strike. Now I do understand that the vehicle strike is outside of your control. However since the original stoppage notice over two months ago there has been no further update with regard to the status of this stoppage. We were planning to come through this bridge early in January in order to get back to our booked mooring in Goole. Our plans have been seriously scuppered by this extended closure not helped by the total lack of any updates or information from yourselves. I did ring up to enquire about this closure and was informed that there is no update available and that the bridge might be closed for months. If this is the case why don’t you update the stoppage notice accordingly? If this stoppage is to carry on for much longer would C&RT consider paying for the cost of a pilot to take us round Trent Falls from Keadby to Goole so we can get back to our mooring?

Their reply this morning.

I am really sorry to hear that the closure of this bridge has affected your plans.

We have refrained from updating the notice further as nothing has changed since we last updated it. I really do understand how frustrating this is but we thought it would be best to wait on concrete news before we update any more, so for now we have left it as it is. We are doing our best to find out more information. However, This is a complicated closure and it was unforeseen, so it is taking a little longer than we’d all like to resolve this one.

Once we have new information regarding this we will update accordingly via our notices and stoppages.

In terms of paying for you to get back to the winter mooring I don’t think it’s something we can commit to, Which I am sorry to inform you. I can confirm that we will be happy to assist you with any requested over stays whilst you get back to your winter mooring. We’ll be happy to help you with this any time you request or need it.

Not updating the notice because there is no news, just fuels the towpath investigators, conspiracy theories etc. Yes it’s complex but we only know that because we’ve asked about it. It’s a bit like sitting on a train that has stopped in the middle of nowhere, maybe in the middle of a tunnel, and the guard coming on the tanoy to tell you the train has stopped. Then nothing, no reason given, just silence, for hours and hours. All you can do is sit in the dark with no view. Train passengers expect and usually get more information.

No news is not always good news!

We look forward to an update being issued.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna