Category Archives: Theatre

Buttercups And Daisy. 9th June

Dunchurch Pools Marina to Norton Junction, Grand Union Canal

Three miles to Braunston Turn and with each bridge and bend I kept my eyes open, waiting for the first glimpse of the Banger spire. As we came under Bridge 85 there it was just peeking above the hedges. As we got closer and closer the view improved.

Buttercups, cows and sheep now graze the ridge and furrow fields.

Tufts of wool clung onto the barbs on the off side, I wonder if I’d be able to collect enough of it for a hat?

Our hope was to be able to pull in outside Midland Chandlers at Braunston Turn if there was space to buy a few things, nothing urgently needed. The water point just before was occupied, so we couldn’t stop there, then there were two boats tied up outside the chandlers. Oh well, we might order what we want and get it sent somewhere, as I say nothing urgent.

A short distance on Mick spotted that the boat coming towards us was NB Kamili, stood at the stern were Andy and Irene, friends of ours from Crick. We missed each other a couple of years ago on the Thames when the level came up and before that we didn’t quite coincide for a New Years meal at the Red Lion.

Only chance for a very brief chat as our bows passed each other. Their summer will see them cruising to Stratford and onto the River Avon, I’m a little bit jealous, but then so was Irene with our trip.

The Gongoozers Rest was busy, seats on the towpath, their clientele enjoying the mornings sunshine along with a mug of tea and a bacon butty. We tried our best to peer through the hedge to see if we could spot NB Blackbird but it wasn’t that easy.

The bottom lock of the Braunston flight was full, I could see a boat waiting below the next lock, were they waiting for a boat to come down? I waited a little while, no water seemed to be coming down, so I set the lock for Oleanna. There was nobody coming from behind to join us, so I just hoped the boat ahead would wait for us, did they understand my wave?

The chap walked towards us, this meant one of two things. Either there was a problem up ahead or he quite liked a walk to tell us that they were waiting to share the locks. Thankfully he liked the walk and we teamed up with NB Red Kite for the remaining five locks.

We met two boats coming down, but the flight was really quite quiet. The bottom off side gate at Lock 4 really didn’t want to close fully. We emptied the lock before it got too full, despite it emptying at the same time and gave the gate a waggle, then closed the gates the otherway round. This improved things but it took quite a lot of umph to get the top gates open due to the leak.

Lock 5 was having repairs done to the gate surrounding brickwork. New bricks added and large sections replaced, you had to be careful where you put your feet. Mick mentioned about the gate at Lock 4 to one of the chaps who said he’d have a look, hopefully he’d have a long keb to clear what might be getting in the way.

The top lock cottage looking very smart today

We were soon at the top and waving goodbye to NB Red Kite, sorry we didn’t get your names, but the lady had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. Hope they enjoy the Leicester Ring.

They went ahead to the tunnel. Time to turn on the cabin lights, get the life jackets and big torch out. We followed, not quite sure how far ahead they were. A light pointed towards us from the far end of the tunnel.

Quick calculations were done. There is a kink in the tunnel between 500m and 400m from the eastern portal. The tunnel is 1873m long. If the boat we could see had entered the tunnel when we did then we should meet them in the middle, well away from the big kink. This was the case, just after the halfway mark our bows passed each other.

Another light! Where would we meet them? Calculations. Oh it was likely to be at the kink. Mick slowed us down and then when the kink was very obvious to us we stopped as the boat coming towards us was just on the other side of it. We reversed to give them more space. As they clung to their side of the tunnel it meant their bow ended up right in front of Oleanna, we reversed a touch more both of us willing them to swing round before impact. The boats did touch as did the tunnel sides, but at least it was only minor.

One more boat to pass and then we could motor on through to the end.

The newish piling before Norton Junction was where we were aiming for today. It’s a popular stretch, but we’d timed our arrival well, a gap our size just opposite the view. The edge was a touch overgrown, which became obvious as we pulled up, here there is a spring making the towpath a touch squelchy. With our bedroom away from the constant trickle of water we’d not have a problem sleeping so we tied up, let Tilly out and enjoyed the view.

An afternoon of research for me, whilst Mick sat out on the towpath listening to Tim Spector regarding the new covid variant. We’ve been logging in with the covid app for well over a year now, changing our location everyday as we move.

Once work was done for the day, a load of washing was just about dry on the whirligig, Tilly returned quite excited as it was nearly time for dingding. She was so excited that she missed her footing on the gunnel and ended up with two wet back legs! Silly Tilly. The grass made me do it!

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been heading up hill, ever since we left Trent Falls, with the exception of coming back down Torksey Lock. In that time we’ve cruised 182 miles and risen through 54 locks. Tomorrow we start going down again.

6 locks, 7.42 miles, 1 straight on, 1 tunnel, 2 mysterons, 1 damp spot with our name on it, 0.3 of a wet cat, 2 hours work, 2 space buns, 11pm still light in the sky.

https://goo.gl/maps/1KrrjnqpP6juNgJK6

Everyone’s Moving. 8th June

Hungerfield Bridge to Dunchurch Pools Towpath

Yet another lovely day with blue skies as far as they could reach, a red hot air balloon gently rose over the trees opposite our mooring, what a wonderful day for a flight, although I’m not sure you’d find me up there in a basket!

The old route shown by the dashed grey lines

A couple of boats had already gone past us this morning, heading towards Hawkesbury Junction so there was hope that we might get a mooring at Rugby. We pushed off and made our way along the straighter route of the Oxford Canal, numerous twists and turns, huge loops were bypassed in the 1820’s speeding up the travel time along the route. Some parts of the old loops remain and have been converted into Marinas, big arched bridges crossing the entrances.

Through Newbold Tunnel, plenty of boats coming towards us. Our tunnel light, not having been used this year (in fact not since going through Foulridge Tunnel), needed adjusting to favour the starboard side.

Across the Aqueducts that signal Rugby is below. Coming through Masters Bridge 58 we were pleasantly surprised to find that end of the moorings empty. We bagged the end mooring closest to the bridge collected together our shopping bags and walked down to Tescos.

Not one delivery van in the loading bay when we arrived. The number of pickers picking shopping for others, there was almost one in every isle! We did a reasonably big shop to keep us going and thought about getting a click and collect sorted for when we get to Leighton Buzzard. As we left the store every space in the loading bay was full with a van, all being restocked for the next set of deliveries.

A big push and we were over at the water point, this tap having much better pressure than the one at Hillmorton. Onwards to find a shady spot for lunch before we got to the locks.

It really is busy down here. So many moving boats, yet it seems that everyone is doing what we are and that is moving. As yet we’ve not really had a problem getting a mooring, now watch as I’ve most probably jinxed us!

Clifton Cruisers was easily passable most of their hire fleet out and about. Their café seemed to be popular with a good sized outside area. Houlton Bridge, is a new bridge linking the new town being built on this side of Rugby. It’s not an architectural masterpiece but I do like that they have cast it’s name into the concrete.

Along the moorings below Hillmorton Locks there were two interesting boats. Instead of standard windows the steel work had shapes cut out with glass behind. I quite liked the look of them, but Mick pointed out that the glass inside would be a bugger to clean. I have a feeling they were workshop boats, possibly a blacksmith.

Someone has created a willow niche dedicated to the NHS, it is starting to sprout so obviously the withies have taken root. Rather a nice living tribute.

A boat was just coming out of one of the bottom paired locks, the other already empty it just needed opening up. We rose as a boat came into the lock next to us, the lady having a bit of difficulty raising the paddles. On to the next pair.

We swapped with a boat that had just come down and started our ascent whilst another boat entered the other lock and started to empty it. Below the boat following us pulled up right in front of the gates waiting for it to be emptied, quite presumptuous, no wonder the down hill boat blasted it’s horn at them!

At the top lock we were assisted by a fellow from a boat moored just past the lock landing. He was spending his day helping boats up and down a chair sitting between the two locks so that he could sun himself as he waited.

Up ahead the new town of Houlton is taking shape. Houses a little away from the canal are already up, enough space between them to roll a wheelie bin. More foundations close to the canal were waiting for the next phase of construction.

The moorings along Barby Straight are something that makes me a touch jealous, a lovely garden to sit out in. The Tinman looks after one and someone has created a modesty screen with painted pallets. It is always slow going along here, passing the moored boats and when others are coming towards you too, it’s even slower.

4pm was fast approaching, we’d not far to go to reach our chosen mooring spot by Dunchurch Pools Marina but I had a zoom meeting, I just hoped that us moving wouldn’t cause problems with internet signal. Amy and I managed to connect and a few minutes later Mick pulled us in to a space for the night. I had to excuse myself from the meeting to let Tilly out, otherwise she’d have taken over totally!

Discussions on costume designs, what would be needed for the photo shoot in a few weeks time and we touched on the set design too. I could just sort the costumes for the photo shoot now, but as I’m in charge of the budget I also want to have an idea on everything else that is needed. Time to do some research into music festivals and neon hairdos. Quite different to panto!

3 locks, 10.4 miles, 1 tunnel, 0 mysterons, 2 boxes wine, 1 new pair trousers, 1 full water tank, 1 yellow water container emptied, 1 hot day, 2 pink arms, 4pm meeting, 9 but 7 actors, 2 days prep, 1 hotel to book.

https://goo.gl/maps/dSarXfALYpV7TQFD6

Pushing Through Frank Country. 7th June

Springwood Haven to Hungerfield Bridge 35, Oxford Canal

Up and ready to lend a hand with NB Burghley Girl if needed this morning. Bob was down in the engine bay tinkering, ready to move across the canal. Last night his plan had been to pull their boat along to be level with the online service mooring at the marina, then give her a great big push, hoping that she’d make it across the cut on push power alone. But this morning Bob decided to start the engine up to get them across the way.

So Mick held the centre line as they got ready, then gave the bow a small push as the engine was started. Across the way they went, around about five minutes of engine power before it cut out due to lack of fuel. They made it across and whilst tying up Burghley Girls engine started to chug slower and slower, dark puffs coming from the exhaust until the fuel was totally exhausted.

Springwood Haven has recently been bought by ABC Boat Hire, next year expect to see more hire boats around. So there was no engineer on site who might be able to help, but they certainly sold diesel and a delivery was waiting for staff to arrive.

We waved Bob, Sue and Amy goodbye, wishing them luck. Once filled up they pulled back away from the services to get the engine going, their aim to day was to push on as far as they could towards their home mooring before turning the engine off.

Today I needed to get some work done. A script needed reading for #unit 21 a Dark Horse Theatre Production that will be mounted next year but will require costumes very soon for some images that will be used to promote the production. So as we tootled along I read making notes, Nuneaton isn’t that inspiring anyway!

We considered pulling in at Star Line Boats for a top up of diesel, but a day boat was tied up on the service mooring, just as well really as the domestic rate was 90p a litre! We’d last a while longer thank you!

Gardens have added interest, narrow sheds and skeletons fishing along with Easter Island heads.

At Marston Junction where the Ashby meets the Coventry Canal work was on going. New piling going in with a very big rubber buffer to help protect the bank whilst helping numerous boats to retain their paintwork! As we passed, so did another boat heading northwards as one was coming out from the Ashby.

Charity Dock is still chocka block with things to look at, although the mannequins seem to be fewer than in previous visits. The Morris Minor still sits high up on top of the scrap and The Stig has been given some shade, pour chap has lost a hand.

Now we were seriously in Frank Country! Our friend Frank grew up around Coventry, his Dad actually being sent away from the city. We passed where Franks sister used to go to school. The house by Bulkington Bridge was for sale the last time we were here and the grey walls down to the canal have seen much better days, the garden also doesn’t seem to be a priority to the current owners.

The Newdegate Arm now overgrown followed, this is where the mineral rail used to end and when Frank was a young lad he used to play here.

We paused for a lunch break and also to make use of the towpath being on the portside so that we could empty the yellow water tank before the Oxford Canal made it that bit harder. As we ate a green boat came past, NB Burghley Girl. Bob must have got her going quite quickly after we left. We waved knowing that they would be pushing on for as long as they could today so our paths were very unlikely to cross again.

How come the grass has always just been cut near Hawkesbury Junction?

There was plenty of space to moor as we approached Hawkesbury Junction which was a surprise. But as we got towards the hand brake turn to the stop lock the number of boats increased. One boat dropping the foot to join the Coventry, another two behind, then one boat waiting to go up the foot onto the Oxford.

Not knowing which way the boat was going to go coming down the lock Mick held back before the narrows to keep out of their way. They came out, faced towards Oleanna and then reversed back to the moorings, the Greyhound Pub next on their agenda for the day.

Mick turned towards the lock to await our turn which wasn’t long and almost hands free for me as there were so many crews ready to help.

I now retired down below to get on with some work. This tends to be the case when we’re along this stretch as there are a couple of hours cruising when crew are a touch redundant. Whilst Mick navigated us along the new straighter version of the Oxford Canal I looked back at emails regarding the show.

Last year there had been hope that #unit 21 would happen this last February, so Amy and I had already had various conversations and ideas about it. She has been living with the show for some time, I on the other hand had put it away as I didn’t have a contract . Sifting back through emails I discovered that the script I’d read this morning wasn’t the latest version! So another reading was required with lots of note taking.

I’d just finished the script and popped back up as the little swing bridge at Rose Narrowboats came into view, perfect timing. I hopped off when the canal narrowed and swung the bridge open, closing it straight after us as someone was wanting to cross. A hire boat had just pulled out heading towards Rugby, meeting another boat coming out of the cutting, our progress was going to be quite slow!

Slow is good along the next cutting. Here the banks have eroded and slipped several times.

Gabions have been placed along the towpath to help keep things where they should be, but the slippage above appears to be pushing them as well.

Coming up to All Oaks Wood the moorings looked full and had a constant stream of boats coming towards us. The hire boat pulled in behind the moored boats and waved us on, we could face the masses coming the other way instead!

Boats just kept coming and coming, waiting for them all to pass would only mean more arriving. So we pulled out and slowly moved our way along, the hire boat following on behind.

Inside the wood we could see that an area had recently been cleared of trees. Was this to make way for HS2? Nothing showed up on our map so we don’t know what that is all about. Just round the next bend there was plenty of space, well so long as you can get into the side! Having moored here now several times we knew where to aim for and succeeded first time.

Tilly got to have a bit of towpath time but the friendly cover and sideways trees seemed to be a touch too dense for her to burrow her way through to the field behind. I finished off my working day by watching a film, 1984.

In 1984 I sold a lot of copies of the book as I was a book seller then, but I’ve never read it or seen the film. I did know sufficiently enough about certain scenes to warn Mick that he’d maybe prefer to be elsewhere before John Hurt got to see what was awaiting him in room 101! Some very useful references to aid my design. I’m now ready for a zoom meeting about the show tomorrow.

1 lock, 16.09 miles, 1 swing bridge, 1 handbrake turn, 4 waiting boats, 2 different scripts, 1984, 4 or 5, 2 longtails, 3 git gaps, 1 designer ready.

https://goo.gl/maps/ELrAGh36CmVMbCka8

If Only You Could Change The Sound Track. 3rd June

Branston Lock to Alrewas Lock

Today we managed to get going earlier. A limit has been imposed on the length of time we take to have a cuppa in bed and instead of having our second drink after breakfast we have it with it. We don’t want to be rushing things in the morning not unless we really have to, but so far we’ve saved a full hour.

Branston Lock was surrounded by Canadian geese this morning. Four adults looking after their creche, so I talked to them nicely and requested that they allow me to walk round the lock to open paddles and gates. By the time Oleanna had risen in the lock another boat had arrived to come down, the lady came to work the lock, but the geese were not quite so amenable to her. So we left so that they could enter the lock before having to get anywhere near the geese again.

In the last five years plenty of building work has been going on. A new estate to the west of the canal and quite a few houses appearing close to The Bridge Inn. This was where we’d planned to moor last night, but maybe despite the noise from the road our mooring had been better last night as we didn’t get disturbed by early building works.

Next up Tatenhill Lock. What a pretty lock it is with it’s cottage alongside Link.

Then we had to breath in to pass through bridge 36, hoping the spread we’ve seen to our waistlines lately hasn’t expanded Oleanna’s gunnels. She fitted no problem.

Just looking at the scene you’d never guess that on one side lorries carrying aggregate and concrete were hammering past to and from the works, on the other side the busy A38. If only someone could change the soundtrack this would be a wonderful stretch of canal. It’s places like this that we wonder what it was like in March last year when the country closed down.

The noise slightly dulled at Barton Lock with buildings between the canal and the road. Here a group of what I’m assuming were Duke of Edinburgh canoeists were pulling their boats out above the lock, which meant the towpath was quite congested just as I wanted to look at some plants that had been left with an honesty box. As Oleanna finished rising I spotted that there were some wild strawberry plants for sale, I requested some coinage from Mick and we left with a tray of flowering plants. I just need to find containers to plant them in.

The canal now sits alongside the A38, so busy with traffic. We played our game of waving at the lorry drivers to see who would respond. We had quite a few beep beeps but got more waves back. Glad we brought smiles to some faces today.

Ahead at Wychnor Lock a boat had come out from Barton Turns marina and was ascending. I went up to chat and help. The paintwork on the boat had seen better days but I soon spotted that it was a Narrowcraft boat, NB Lillyanne (Lillian) was a Narrowcraft. I mentioned that we’d had a bright yellow boat from the same builders. The chap wearing a suitably coloured polo shirt said he’d most probably driven Lillian. When they had been having their boat built he had been asked if he could move a bright yellow boat to be sign written, he’d been warned that the colour would attract attention.

Now the canal meets up with the River Trent for a while, the next pound having numerous bridges to keep the towpath dry. A warning to keep away from the weir means giving the engine some extra umph.

Alrewas Lock needing setting but that was soon done and Oleanna had reached her destination for the day, just slightly ahead of schedule. Well we’d rather stay here than back alongside the A38. There was also a butchers to visit.

A full on six hours for me today! Well that was until I was told off for breaking the first boat cat rule! She wasn’t too pleased with me bringing a friend home, popping it on our bed got a different reaction.

After a small top up shop at the Co-op and Coates the butchers I got on with adding some colour to my illustration. Then it was time for the Scarborough Chums zoom with a special guest this week, the lovely Susie Blake.

The evening was spent sat out doors chatting to our boat neighbours. We had another barbecue, well the butchers had some nice looking lamb steaks and asparagus which we couldn’t see go to waste.

5 locks, 5.54 miles, 1 hour quicker, 1 sunk boat removed from lock, 4 strawberry plants, 0 pots, 6 beeps, 8 waves, 1 wolf whistle, 1 yellow helmsman, 6 hours, 2 lamb steaks, 2 pork steaks, 1 pork pie, 1 bunch asparagus, 2 pints milk, 1 perfect mooring for a barbecue, 1 fender discussion, 1 friend, 1 illustration coming along, 1 Susie, 1st episode, 2nd series Line of Duty, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://goo.gl/maps/jcP5oTYZKc9dKVXi7

The Goole Escape, Danny, Willie and Sedgewick. 31st May

Sainsburys to Shardlow Visitor Moorings, Trent and Mersey Canal

Having missed out on a cooked breakfast this weekend, so far, we paused this morning for one. Not quite the full works, but suitable for a Bank Holiday Monday.

Next job writing a shopping list and then ticking the items off in Sainsburys. We decided that both of us would go as we knew neither of us would remember everything that would be needed despite having done a list. This was the first time the two of us have done a big shop together for over a year. Hopefully we got everything we were wanting.

Next job, fill up with diesel. We pootled into Castle Marina following another narrowboat, luckily they pulled up at their mooring so we could wind and reverse onto the service pontoon.

97 litres of diesel to fill the tank at 84p. A bag of Excell just in case and some fire lighters to help light the barbecue we planned to have. We also made use of the elsan to empty your wee tank. The water tank could wait a little while longer for a top up.

Then we were back on our way, turning left out of the marina. There are quite a lot of familiar boats around Nottingham, Blip being one of them sat at the end of the permanent moorings. More boats were moored up along the three miles than we’ve seen before and at Beeston there was little room to be had under the willow trees.

I hopped off with the recycling, disposed of it, then closed the bottom gates after Oleanna at the lock. This lock is meant to be left with a paddle up at both ends to help keep the level right through Nottingham, yesterday we’d noticed that the level was down a touch, paddles at both ends of the lock closed.

Back onto the river passing the drunken pirate in his look out and numerous people licking chilled medication. Oh for an ice cream!

This river section has houses on stilts and some lovely looking boats. A new property was being created with two shipping containers high up away from any flooding possibilities. Still a long way to go for those river side views.

As we neared Cranfleet Lock we could see a wide beam waiting to go up. Would there be any volunteers on duty? Guaranteed to be. Well we were surprised at there being four chaps all ready to help. The wide beam went up, a small cruiser came down then it was our turn.

We waited for an oncoming narrowboat to join us and up we went. It’s only the second time I’ve been up in this lock, the first just after I’d lost my little finger. The boat we shared with was heading home after a weekend out in Newark. They had delayed their return journey this morning due to the stranded boat at Stoke Lock, arriving there to drop crew off to work the lock wouldn’t be a wise thing at the moment. The boat was now floating again.

At the end of Cranfleet Cut we had three ways we could go. The River Soar to Foxton and the Leicester Section, the Erewash Canal or continue on the Trent to Sawley. We already knew which way we’d be going so turned right, but not right right, we headed up the Trent.

Our journey southwards would be a touch shorter if we went by the Soar, by about 15 minutes a day, but we’ve been that way quite frequently in the last few years and not touched this end of the Trent and Mersey Canal possibly for five years.

Trent Lock was busy, no space to be had on the pontoon, another favourite of ours. We pushed on upstream our partner boat following to Sawley Lock. Here another set of volunteers took ropes and pressed buttons at one of the locks, the other currently out of action.

Through the flood lock and on towards the junction of the River Derwent, The River Trent and where the Trent and Mersey Canal starts, Derwent Mouth.

Myself and the chap from our accompanying boat lifted the paddles. With every click water flooding into the lock. With every click Oleanna was lifting up off the river. With the top gates open we’d made it. We’d escaped Goole! 138 miles, 19 locks behind us.

This evening we’d planned to have a celebratory barbecue and thought we’d stop just above Derwent Mouth Lock. Well that just wasn’t going to be as the towpath past the lock landing was filled with boats. Should we tuck on the end overlapping the generous lock landing? Mick thought we should, I thought not. We carried on a touch disgruntled that our wished for mooring was taken.

Coming into Shardlow we passed the house with the model railway, my camera at the ready should it be running today. Two boats were moored in the little arm and another two out front on the canal. One of these was very familiar, Tyseley the Mikron Theatre Company boat. She has recently had a repaint and new windows at Northwich dry dock on the Weaver where she was built. She looked very fine indeed just ready for the start of the Mikron tour. Sadly we don’t think we’ll be coinciding with there waterways tour this summer and just turning up on speck won’t be possible as you have to have booked a ticket due to covid restrictions and limited numbers.

The first mooring in Shardlow after the pubs was free, so we pulled in, our barbecue could wait for tomorrow. Tilly was given an hour and set free to see what/who she could find.

Our covers were being put up as a couple cycled past chatting away. The chap following suddenly hit a mooring ring, his bike flipping up into the air. He managed to cling onto his bike which went into the canal, but had quite bad scrapes to his hand, elbow and leg. His girlfriend wisely suggested they shouldn’t just carry on and wait a few minutes whilst we hunted round our first aid kits for antiseptic wipes. Hope he is alright and not too bruised.

Instead of our barbecue we managed to rustle up a tuna and pasta salad, a roast chicken our other option would have been a touch too much. Tomorrow we’ll start to slow down, just under four hours a day needed to reach our destination.

4 locks, 2 flood locks, 11.08 miles, 97.21 litres diesel, 1 bag coal, 1 box firelighters, 1 chicken, 2 salmon steaks, 0 room, 1 hour not fully taken, 1 roast chicken a touch too hot, 1 escape complete, 1 Dannie, 1 Willie, 1 Sedgwick the 3 who escaped, may many more escape Goole.

https://goo.gl/maps/pnemHgicLMemC2kc9

The Goole Escape, Barn Refuge. 28th May

Torksey Low to Top to Low

A good sleep was had by all after all that fresh air and vitamin D yesterday. We decided that if we could get up the lock at Torksey today without having to come straight back down then we would so as to give Tilly some freedom. She’s been cooped up inside for ten days due to us being in the marina, then at Selby the road was too close to the boat for our peace of mind.

Mick called the lock at about 8:30 when we thought someone would be on duty. We were redirected to a mobile number where he got an answer phone, so he left a message.

A few minutes later as we relaxed with our cuppas in bed the phone rang. ‘Just emptying the lock, come in on the green’. Oh Blimey, like NOW! It was fine for us to take our time, if someone arrived on the top side of the lock before we got there they would turn the lock. With the amount of fresh on the river at the moment the lock could be used just about anytime within working hours. No need to wait for the tide to provide enough water to get over the cil.

We got dressed and were ascending the lock just after 9. One Lockie and two volunteers in civvies helped us up. Our return was discussed.

Tomorrow morning we’d be able to pen down before the tide started to come in, however Lincoln Cruising club were going on a Bank Holiday jolly to Newark, so there might be 14 or so cruisers all wanting to get down onto the river for the tide. We’ve been here before when above the lock has been rammed with boats from the cruising club waiting for the next mornings tide. We checked the lock closing time today and when the tide was due in the morning, 09:54. Tilly would make our decision for us.

The visitor moorings were quite busy but there was space for us without having to be on the bend. There was ample width for us to wind and then pull in to have breakfast.

The stern doors were opened along with the side hatch and Tilly set off to explore, which included checking out the cruiser behind us a couple of times until I reminded her of the rules! We however sat down and had breakfast.

Heather had a slightly convoluted journey back to Bleasdale, a bus from the retirement village to Gainsborough which passed behind The Folly and the interesting white house we’d passed yesterday at near dark. Then it was a couple of trains, a journey of a bit over two hours. Thank you Heather for your company over the last couple of days, it was lovely to share our wonderful cruise with you, good luck for your adventure.

Yesterday I’d had a call regarding my next show, just as we were approaching Howden Dyke Island, it hadn’t been a good time for an hour long conversation so I climbed the bank to see if my phone signal improved. EE not so good at Torksey but our emergency boat phone is on O2 and had full service, Lynda rang me back and we chatted away for an hour.

Dark Horse Theatre have been planning their next touring show for over a year now, it should have been out on the road this last February, but we all know what got in the way. So over the last year I’ve had various conversations with Amy their Artistic Lead about #unit 21. Next February they will mount scenes from the show to an invited audience, this then will hopefully lead to a tour in the future. My work (set and costume) would mostly need to be done for this, adjustments for the tour would follow. But the costumes would be required for a photo shoot in a few weeks.

Best get my designers hat back out of the cupboard.

Tilly came and went for quite a few hours. We pottered away the day, me mostly writing up our epic voyage and editing the photos!

We’d given Tilly a cut off point of 2:30pm, if she was home by then we’d go back down the lock this afternoon, if not it would wait for the morning. She came back in bang on time, so the pram hood was dropped, the lock keepers were radioed and we were on our way again. They were a touch surprised that we hadn’t even got as far as Saxilby, but that wouldn’t have been fair on Tilly.

Are there fewer tea pots than there used to be?

By the pontoon earth works are in progress. A sign at the top of the walkway off the pontoon boasts about Elms Moorings, a new shower block, pontoons and electric hookup. The earth works are however nothing to do with the sign, the flood banks are being improved with piling.

A few cruisers arrived from elsewhere and moored on the pontoon. We wondered how busy the river would be tomorrow, would we be in for a shock.

2 locks, 0.83 miles, 1 wind, 5 hours, 4 cheeses divvied up, 1 goodbye, 1 hour work call, 0 EE phone signal, 0.5 internet, 1 rest day.

The Goole Escape, Forged Papers. 25th May

Selby Basin

A quick check of all the apps and forecasts this morning whist lying in bed. It was actually too late to make a move when we were doing this as Nigel had already driven past to the lock and returned as I checked the wind speeds at Trent Falls.

A lovely morning here, just lunchtime and early afternoon further down stream would not be so clever. So time to sit out the day again in Selby. Maybe these posts will have a name change to The Selby Escape!

The drawing board came out again. Today the last couple of sheets of working drawings needed to be checked over and then it was groundplan time. This is a plan of what goes where. Normally in a play there aren’t too many scene changes, so there may only be need for one of two groundplans. But with Panto going all over the shop, although not to an actual shop, I needed to draw out seven of them. This took quite a while and took up just about all the space in the main cabin, I did manage to leave the sofa for Mick and Tilly to sit on.

Mick headed into town in search of a new pair of jeans. The only place selling mens clothing, other than trendy skinny spray on jeans, was Wetheralls a local department store that so far has managed to survive the pandemic.

Rain showers, torrential rain and even a touch of hail came and went through the day. We were very glad we weren’t down on the river battling our way through all the weather.

Mick called Keadby on the off chance that the shift times on the C&RT website were incorrect. He chatted through our plans for Thursday morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening. Not being able to get off the River Trent at Keadby means it will be a long day.

Our current plan is to lock down in Selby, head to Trent Falls where we will anchor rather than beach, then a little while after the flood we will head upstream on the Trent, pass Keadby to moor on the pontoon at Gainsborough. The following morning after the flood has come past we will follow it, hopefully all the way up to Cromwell.

Is that the flood barrier across the lock?

Mick asked about the Aegir on Friday morning. We have been told to tie up on the pontoon in Gainsborough very tightly, facing the north, no slack what so ever on the ropes and add long spring lines. Paul from Waterway Routes has tied up on here before using four ropes each tied off to different points on the boat and pontoon. Advice from the Lockie was that on Friday morning we should wait for things to calm down after the wave has been through, say ten/fifteen minutes and then turn to follow it.

A chat with David later in the day means that the flotilla will be splitting up. Sea Maiden and Lulabelle are looking at heading to York instead, biding their time for the bridge here in Selby to be open to boats, who knows when Tankards Bridge will be open for those higher then 7ft, good news is that Beal Lock on the River Aire is now open, the dredging there complete.

This does however mean we will be a lone boat at Trent Falls. There’s not that much a second boat would be able to do if you got into trouble, but just a bit reassuring.

A different van came past late afternoon, just as the heavens opened, the Environment Agency. Two chaps worked through the rain and closed the flood barrier at the lock. This can only be done by the EA and not by C&RT. The tides are getting higher every day at the moment and with the amount of fresh on the river we suspect it was a precautionary measure.

To celebrate finishing off my drawings we treated ourselves to fish and chips. Mister C’s in Micklegate does gluten free on Tuesdays, presumably when they clean the fryers out and have fresh oil or lard. Their website and bag boasts about their awards and we have to say they were very good. Mine were just as good as at Capplemans in Scarborough.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 flood barrier, 1 cruise plan coming together, 1 extra crew on standby, 1 missing river, 7 groundplans, 1 flotilla splitting up, 2 of each, 1 river found, 1 new pair of jeans.

The Goole Escape, Danny’s 17th. 24th May

Selby Basin

Today passage had not been possible due to staffing shortages. Nigel was at Naburn this morning to pen a cruiser down onto the river, this would mean there being nobody available to pen us at a suitable time of the tide, so today had not been an option. This did however mean everyone had their radios on to listen in.

Around about 9am we could hear one side of a conversation on Channel 9, the cruiser was approaching the bridges. We all gathered at the lock hoping to see what we could see.

The amount of trees not only inhibit an advanced view of the lock, but also there are only a couple of places you can stand to be able to see Selby Rail Bridge swing.

Air droughts were checked with the bridges. Yes they would need to swing. The cruiser was told to hang back whilst permission was sought for the Rail Bridge to swing. There was a gap in trains so the bridge keeper commenced the procedure. Selby Toll bridge followed suit, the traffic there a lot easier to stop.

Once the bridges were open the cruiser was allowed through, having to turn back round to go with the flow.

The skipper wasn’t aware that there was another bridge coming up, Selby Bypass Bridge, so we could hear conversations on the radio down there. Hope they made it to Grimsby okay.

Yesterday David had sent through a set of charts for Trent Falls, the Lower Ouse and the Lower Trent. Humber Charts. These lay out not only the depths of channel, but also the heights of the sand banks above the lowest tides, it is essential to understand these sections of the rivers. We printed them out, all the figures too small to read, ideally you’d want them on a computer so as to be able to zoom in at any given time. Under cover this would be possible, but we prefer to cruise with our pram hood down, giving better visibility all round, this does however have the drawback of things getting wet should it rain.

Mick headed off to chat with David about the charts as I set too hoping to make the most a spare day to get some work done. I put together a story board of panto with photographs of my model and emailed it off to keep others informed.

A blue van came past the chink in the curtains, Nigel was here, he pulled up alongside Sea Maiden. Time for the escape committee to convene.

David had been looking again at the weather at Trent Falls for tomorrow. The patches of sun were now replaced by rain and thunder, wind a touch more than we’d had on our journey up to Selby. He wasn’t too keen. The weather for Thursday looked much much better, sunshine and gentle winds. Tides would mean a later start, therefore a later finish. Another option would be to go to Barmby Barrage a day before and set off from there saving an hours cruise, giving us an extra hour in bed.

Martin and Wendy on Lulabelle are thinking of staying in Selby to wait for the swing bridge at the end of the basin to be mended. A notice a couple of days ago had suggested the bridge would be lifted out mid to late June, opening up the navigation again. At the other end of the Selby Canal there is currently a height restriction at Tankards Bridge. Nigel confirmed that this was set at 7ft, a scaffolding bar flattening off the arch of the bridge. With the current fluctuation of the canal level with water coming off the fields 7ft was a safe height. This of course means Sea Maiden wouldn’t be able to go that way until the bridge is mended. The dredging on the Aire is scheduled for around about now, so the rest of the way back onto the Aire and Calder Navigation should be fine.

Nigel called someone up to enquire if there was any more news of the basin swing bridge, there had been a big meeting last Friday with lots of pointing going on. Permission is still need for a road closure from the council, then works can begin. The official line still being around three weeks.

Maybe in a couple of days time passage up to York would be possible, the fresh water having decreased by then. Time waiting for suitable tides and weather could be done whilst bobbing back and forth between Naburn and York. The next morning tides not for a couple of weeks.

Conversation came back to Thursday. Low tide at Trent Falls would be 16:24. The cruise from there with the incoming tide would be around a couple of hours to reach Keadby Lock. So arrival would be around 18:30 maybe a touch later. All fine until the Keadby Lock Keepers hours were checked. Currently the shift finishes at 20:00, but Thursday 16:30! Oh B***er!!! We’d still be two hours away.

Maybe we could carry on to Gainsborough and moor on the pontoon there overnight and be up early for the next incoming tide? Maybe!

This would be further than David and Karl had planned and the conditions would need to be spot on for them to go, they may stay and pootle up to York for a bit waiting for the next set of suitable tides and lock opening hours.

Nigel would still be here at a suitable time to let us out tomorrow morning if the forecast improved and we decided to go for it.

We chatted through the charts with David. Learnt of another useful app called Anchor Watch. You can set the position of your phone (boat) on the app and should your phone move by more than 20m an alarm will sound. We then all went away to think things over.

I got the drawing board out. Time to update my technical drawings for panto. Not too much has changed so alterations and a tidy up adding title boxes to my plans. I worked through most of them before it was time to pack up for the day.

Mick busied himself in the engine bay. The new bilge pump he’d put in a little while ago hasn’t been working. It makes the right sort of noise, but no water has been pumped over board. Yesterday he’d had a look at it, maybe the bodge job he’d done fitting it had failed!

The new bilge pump has a wider diameter fitting than the old one did. This means that the pipe from the skin fitting is too narrow to fit onto it. Mick has added a short length of narrower pipe which fits inside both pipes. This is taped and jubilee clipped in position as a temporary fix until we can get some pipe of the correct diameter.

Now we watch the weather, river levels, and wind. What else could be added to our escape calculations?

Ah Yes! The Trent Aegir!

0 locks, 0 miles, 0 penning, 2 cruisers zooming by, 1 postponed cruise, 3 charts, 3 weeks, 1 very helpful Lockie, 4:30 clocking off, 3 to 2 to 1 possibly, 8 sheets, 3 pipes become 1, 3rd episode LOD, 1 cat who has given up all hope!

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

Selby Basin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beans on toast with a light dusting of cheddar

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

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

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

Secret Baking. 19th May

Viking Marina, Goole

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Update on 18/05/2021:

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

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

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

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

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

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna

Category Archives: Theatre

Buttercups And Daisy. 9th June

Everyone’s Moving. 8th June

Pushing Through Frank Country. 7th June

If Only You Could Change The Sound Track. 3rd June

The Goole Escape, Danny, Willie and Sedgewick. 31st May

The Goole Escape, Barn Refuge. 28th May

The Goole Escape, Forged Papers. 25th May

The Goole Escape, Danny’s 17th. 24th May

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

Secret Baking. 19th May

Update on 18/05/2021: