A white van at 10:30pm isn’t what you would normally expect on a grassy canal side. We’d seen the tyre tracks and thought it might be from fishermen. Our chosen spot was where the bank is lower, so therefore more view and the flat area is wider. This turned out to be where vehicles could turn and did so. I suspect it was either a fisherman and we’d got his chosen spot, or someone coming to add their Christmas tree to the pile of them that had been fly tipped.

It’s down there somewhere!

Another sunny morning, unfortunately a cruiser came past churning up the silt as we had breakfast, so somewhere down there was my phone, no chance of seeing it now. Time to move on, the stoppages ahead of us should now be open. We wondered how long my phone will sit at the bottom? Will it gradually get moved along by Exol Pride when it starts doing it’s runs to Rotherham again? Will a dredger pick it up in years to come and add it to a mound of silt?

Twisty

Quite a chunk there

A mile to Mexbrough Top Lock having passed the cruiser, we’d be first through the stoppages. The first was Mexbrough Station Road Bridge, all clear. Apparently Exol Pride hadn’t got it’s wheel house down in time when it came through the bridge a while ago and collided with the arch. This has now been re-bricked and pointed. 

Waddington Barges

Swinton Lock or Waddington Lock sat ahead. There is a low wall quite a distance away from the lock where a couple of charity boats moor, or you can climb ladders to get off your boat to operate the lock. Not being a fan of ladders we opted for the low wall. This involves walking across the back deck of the boats. Here railings are locked across the access points, so I had to duck  under the bars to get across.

NB Lillian

We’re just so small around here

Big Waddington barges surround the lock, two below and plenty more above. Here Vic Waddington brought commercial transport back to the canals and built up a fleet of 80 barges capable of holding up to 700 tonnes of cargo. Now the boats and cranes sit idle, filling the entrance to what was the Dearne and Dove Canal which once connected up to Wakefield.

Might have been a touch noisy here

We were glad we’d not opted to head on further up towards Kilnhurst. The first mooring is right alongside a large housing development, the second by a road, both unsuitable for Tilly. 

New plaque

The Flood Lock at Kilnhurst was the second stoppage ahead of us. We’d already passed the old lock gates below Swinton Lock. Here new oak greeted us, a new plaque on the gates with new C&RT logo boasting that they were hand made in Stanley Ferry. Here the levels were equal, sluices open at both ends, but I still went through the instructions, closing sluices and opening gates.

Silhouettes of industry

Now back out onto the river, rural but with industry starting to tower above us.

Lock left, weir right

At Aldwarke Lock the drop off point isn’t too handy being in the weir cut, so Mick dropped me off, then reversed back into the river and waited for me to empty the lock. Here the aroma in the air was chips from Asda, back in Swinton it had been of Hot Cross Buns, what would be next. Fried Onions.

Very old sign no new logo there

The lock landing at Eastwood Lock is a distance away and means that you have to walk along side the permanent moorings above the lock. Two chaps were enjoying the sunny afternoon, drinking at one of the picnic tables, another was clipping his dog, a wheelhouse was getting a coat of paint and soon we discovered a volunteer having a bit of a tidy up.

Last big lock until we come back

This lock leaks and something to do with the paddles means that it doesn’t refill itself. The volunteer was a bit disappointed not to have spotted us sooner, he’s been here most weekends and there have been no boats moving due to the stoppages. Then we turn up, the first boat in weeks and he misses the opportunity to do the lock for us.

A sunny sit on a bench

We loitered in the lock to fill with water and had a good chat with him. He’d been expecting to see boats today heading to the party in Sheffield, but we were the first. Maybe others will head up tomorrow or during the week.

Once full we pulled up on the visitor moorings, sussed out that the nearest electric bollard was working, so hooked up. We might have enough credit on our card for a couple of loads of washing and to have the heating on so that the stove can be given a good clear out.

Next it was time to sort out my phone. Argos had the same phone in stock and I’d reserved it last night all I needed now was a new Sim card. EE was full of staff, no customers unusually so service was swift. With driving licence in hand my ID was checked, he had a look at my account, put me on a new deal 2GB instead of 1GB for the same price and handed me a new Sim. Simple.

Phone!

Back at the boat I turned my new phone on, clicked various settings, saw that my drowned phone had backed itself up at 8am yesterday. So within about three quarters of an hour my new phone had downloaded all my settings, Tilly’s face appeared on the screen and it’s as if my previous phone had not gone for an unsuccessful swim! Just a shame it has cost what I’ll get paid for a days work next week. Oh well, I’ll have £10 left over.

After breakfast we trundled up the cut a short distance and pulled in outside the Pastures Hotel. Here the bank is a touch lower and I’d hoped this would mean I’d get chance to wash the starboard cabin side, but the bank was on a slope, so this would be hard. Instead I finished off Oleanna’s roof, all nice and cream again. I suspect I’ll get complaints when Mick has the sun bouncing off it, but she’s at least a third clean now.

There was just time to sort out the space under the back steps before the Sainsbury’s van arrived, pulling into the car park. Mick went to meet him and brought back a couple of crates that wouldn’t fit on the trolley. It took a little time to stow everything and I was a little dismayed that the cartons of chopped tomatoes had been replaced by tins. The cartons pack away much better taking up much less space, at least the tins don’t cost any more.

Shopping done we winded, pootled back a short way, winded and came into moor where the trees and bank were slightly lower, giving our solar panels a little boost. Here Tilly was allowed out again to find friends and annoy the Magpies!

During the afternoon I worked my way around the windows. Taking each glazed panel out laying it on a towel on the sofa, clean the glass, then gutters and drain holes in the frame. It’s amazing how much crud gets into such a small space. Tilly made use of the new openings and used them to come in for a visit before heading back out again.

I had one of those phone calls (currently from a fictitious Leeds number), ‘I’m calling about the car accident you were in that wasn’t your fault’. I gave the usual answer that as I don’t have a car that would be difficult. Don’t know why I talk to a recorded voice, but it’s interesting to see how it reacts to your answer, they certainly don’t remove your number from their list!

Tidying up when all but the bedroom porthole had been cleaned out I picked up the towel I’d been using to protect the sofa to give it a shake out of the hatch. It felt a little bit heavier than expected and the reason soon showed itself as the slightly blue screen of my mobile drifted down through the water out of sight!

If we’d been on an average canal we think we’d have been able to retrieve it, if only for the sim card. But here on the South Yorkshire Navigations the canals are deep, able to take big wide deep draughted work boats. The big torch came out and pushing Oleanna away from the bank meant that we could see my phone. The water was too deep for the grabber, Mick suggested the sea magnet, but phones are not magnetic and all it did was help to dislodge my phone from where it was sitting and slide deeper under the boat. 

Landing net was tried next, but no matter how far we pushed the boat out we still couldn’t see the phone. Bloomin heck it’s deep here. Our landing net handle must be at least five foot long and I could only just touch the bottom of the canal with a couple of inches left to hold onto it. No chance of retrieving my phone. We may be able to see it in the morning glinting in the settled water, but we won’t be able to reach it.

Sadly phones are not covered by our insurance and our excess is higher than the value of a new one. Comparing a new phone on contract to buying a phone and keeping a sim only contract  worked out the same for the first year, but then I’d start saving again, so long as I don’t throw the phone into the canal this time! So tomorrow we’ll head into the retail park above Eastwood Lock and hopefully replace everything, otherwise it’ll be Sheffield before I can have a phone again.

0 locks, 0.46 miles, 2 winds, 6 boxes wine, 8 tins tomatoes, 0 cartons, 1 very big joint of pork, 1 fully cleaned roof, 6 cleaned out windows, 1 spotless galley blind, 5ft deep, 1 phone in five years, 0 photos, as they are all at the bottom of the canal! 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

The morning started off in a none standard way. Mick got up to put the kettle on and make the tea, all normal. When he returned he spotted that a card and some chocolates had appeared on his pillow. ‘Ooo!’ He put down the cups of tea and disappeared back though to the main cabin. There was a cupboard opened followed by the sound of cellophane being removed. A short while later he then opened the back doors, closed them, then came through to the bedroom again. A cupboard opened and a box of Lindt chocolates produced, ‘Someone left these on the back deck’. What a surprise!  What a romantic! It did make me laugh the fact that he’d opened the back door to back up his claim that he had no idea where they’d come from.

The bank on this side of the canal is quite high and made of large corrugated piling. Then behind this there is a bank which somewhat obscures our view whilst having our morning cuppa in bed. We could have winded for a better view but then the side hatch would be on the canal side, so when Tilly wants to come in she’d have to use the back door which involves more effort on our part. Having the side hatch on the towpath side is always good especially when emergency dog avoidance is required.

The day was sunny and soon warmed up whilst we had a cooked breakfast, time to give Oleanna a bit of TLC outside. The rust spots I’d rubbed back and treated in Cropredy back in October had another sand and another coat of Fertan. I’m hoping this warmer weather will mean I can get the bow looking a touch better than it has done for a few months.

As we seem to be heading towards a Birthday Party, the Bi-Centenary for the Tinsley-Sheffield Canal, Oleanna needs a bit of a spruce up. Well you wouldn’t go to a birthday party without having a shower and putting clean clothes on! 

With everything removed from the bank side of the roof I swept it down and then gave it a good scrub and rinse. It’s been quite sometime since the roof was last washed and it was really rather horrible. I did the near side and had planned to do the cabin side too, but the height of the bank would mean a lot of bending down which might lead to a bad back, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to do it somewhere else. 

The well deck also had a good clean and wash down, the drains around the lockers getting extra attention to clear them of mud and dust.

Tilly spent the day being VERY busy. On several occasions I called for her, but no sign. Then she leapt out of the friendly cover and came trotting towards us bringing a friend with her. A little distraction was required, assessment made and the friend was put somewhere for safe keeping!

It’s hard to think that only a week ago we were wearing balaclavas on the Trent and today I wished I’d put a t-shirt on instead of a long sleeved top.

During the day several C&RT people were at the lock, mostly clearing all the debris that had collected around the gates. One person stayed and seemed to be running checks for much of the afternoon. The tug and hopper that we’d followed from Barnby Dun came past and headed up stream, suspect it is going to be filled with equipment at one of the stoppages up ahead.

We had a walk round to Pastures Lodge and the Hotel there to check on access to the canal for a Sainsbury’s delivery. All good, so a big order was put together to make use of one of our triple points vouchers.

Last night it was time for us to declare ourselves homeless again. This is so that we can vote in Scarborough at elections. Because our house is rented out we have to fill out a No Fixed Address Declaration to register as having a local connection. To do this you have to fall into one of three categories. 

Strangely enough we always choose to be homeless.

Mick headed off to the bus station this morning to head out to Harworth Heating. This is the company who make Bubble Stoves, we have a multifuel corner version of theirs. Living aboard full time means the stove is in constant use for several months. As we all know using things is a mistake as they start to show wear and tear.

When we specked our stove we asked for it not to have a fiddle rail, this is a decorative top edge which would get in the way of using the top to cook on, or I’d have had to buy new smaller cast iron pots that fitted. We have also been wondering if a couple of other bits were missing from it too. Mick went armed with photos of our stove and a list of spares that we were after, a new piece of glass for the door being the main one as the existing one is quite scratched now.

He chatted with the lady in the show room and then went through into the workshop. A chap here was putting the next batch of Bubble stoves together, a long line of multi-fuel and diesel versions on the bench.

One piece we thought we were missing from the inside the stove had been superseded three years ago and we have the modern version, a spare needed to be taken from one of the stoves being put together. Then the chap confirmed that we should have another piece around the base of our stove, purely for aesthetics. It would need moving every time we wanted to adjust the air flow or deal with the ash pan. It looks like we didn’t get one of these because it wouldn’t fit on the hearth that had been made for the stove. This doesn’t bother us that much as it would be a faff.

So Mick got a new glass, vermiculite brick with holes in for the front of the stove, some rope for the door and glass and a new riddle plate. Most of these are spares to be kept safe for when the time comes as few chandlers stock them.

Whilst Mick was on buses  and looking at the vintage car currently being cared for in their workshop I ventured into Doncaster to look at the markets.

The Wool Market is currently being refurbished, but there was still a lot to look at. The outdoor market had plenty of fruit and veg, slippers one haberdashery stall, but sadly no red sheeting I’m after for a project.

Then down a little snicket you are led into the Fish Market. Not quite the range we’d seen in Oxford, but still a good quantity, two whole stalls just selling seafood, the vapour of vinegar a touch off putting. Then a food hall, more fruit and veg and plenty of butchers with meats and pies galore.

Plenty to see and smell, I did really well and only bought 3 punnets of blueberries for £1!

Next was a good nosy around Scicluna Deli. Originally a stall on the market selling Mediterranean foods the lady decided to expand her range and got a shop near to the market. If you love food from just about anywhere in the world and find yourself in Doncaster you have to visit this shop.

Piled high only goes someway to describing it. Sacks of flour, rice, pulses fill the floor. A large cheese counter, cured meats, olives, fruit, vegetables, spices, breads, sweets, a wall of flavoured oils, jars, tins, packets of all sorts of ingredients. I have made a long list of all the flours recommended in my River Cottage gluten free cook book for making bread and pasta and shall return tomorrow to see how many they have in small bags, or to weigh. If I get chance before we come back this way I’ll test out some of the recipes and stock up on those that are worth having.

Ahead of us the route to Sheffield, behind to Goole and Keadby

With only 5 hours cruising to do before Saturday morning (this is when the stoppages up ahead are due to open) then another three hours to be in position for Monday morning when we will climb the locks into Sheffield, we are not in a rush. Tilly was allowed to go and find some friends whilst we had breakfast. Some crows weren’t too enamoured with her being about and had started circling, a call from me encouraged her back inside, we could push off.

Being followed

No wind but blue skies, it was still chilly and worth us putting padded trousers on. Looking behind us as we pushed off I could make out a boat coming through the Don Doors (the guillotine gates on the aqueduct over the River Don) at the end of the New Junction Canal. Which way were they going to go?

We slowed our pace to see if they would turn at the junction and head towards Thorne but they continued straight towards us. Ahead was Barnby Dun Lift Bridge, it’s a big one with two way traffic, no sitting on bridge beams to keep this one open, just the key of power.

A boat was on the service mooring which also doubles as the bridge landing, so we pulled in a distance away and I headed up to operate the bridge. We’d wait for the boat behind us to get closer before I set the flashing lights and barriers going.

Barnby Dun Lift Bridge

I’d been beaten to the bridge by a C&RT chap, the boat behind was a C&RT tug and hopper boat now rounding the bend behind us. So I returned to Oleanna and Mick waved the tug past as the bridge lifted stopping the stream of traffic. Mick nudged Oleanna’s bow out and we followed through under the bridge counting stopped vehicles in three directions. 35, it’s nearly as good as Plank Lane on the Leeds Liverpool!

St Oswalds being surrounded by building works

From here we followed the boat ahead. Where the large Pilkingtons factory used to stand at Kirk Sandall new houses are being built. The small quirky St Oswalds Church, which once sat alone by the canal will soon have plenty of friends around it.

Going up

Soon Long Sandall Lock came into view, the C&RT chap had driven round to operate it and the gates had been left open for us. The tug and hopper in front and us behind there was still plenty of room for several others.

Strawberry Island and Doncaster Minster

Onwards past Strawberry Island on the outskirts of Doncaster still following the tug. Would there be enough room for us on the pontoon? With water and the proximity to the city centre we thought it would be popular with the local continuous cruisers. The tug pulled up just past the water point, other than that not one boat, so we could choose which end to be at, the road bridge end or the east Coast Main Line end, we chose the road.

There’s a critic in everyone

1 lock, 5.71 miles, 1 lift bridge holding up 35, 0 need for the key of power, 1 empty wee tank, 1 friend, 5 noisy black swooper birds spoiling my fun, 5th ball of yarn on track for length, 3 sketches, 1 feline critic, 1 Nick Lane stew heated up on the stove all afternoon, very tasty indeed.

Thorne Lock and Swing Bridge

Yesterday we’d run out of time to do any shopping so had an Indian Takeaway from The Spice Hut, a nice curry it was too. Just wish the portions were about 2/3 rds the size so I don’t have to lie in bed being reminded that I’ve eaten too much. Yes I could stop before everything is finished, but that would be a waste of tasty food.

Tilly was allowed out to say goodbye to her trees whilst we had breakfast, then when she returned we headed out to Lidl and Sainsbury’s. We wanted a shop to keep us going for a few days until we find a suitable spot for a big delivery to use our triple points voucher. Maybe Sainsbury’s has won though as we got another identical voucher today! 

Our route to the shops and back took us past the old cinema that was featured in Grand Designs a few years ago.

2011

2013

2015

2019

What had been left to decay after being a cinema, nightclub etc had been bought by a couple in 2011. The facade was kept and the rear of the building replaced with a modern building with an aircraft hanger type door leading into the large garden. We watched the programme the other day. 

I took a photo back in 2015 when we passed through, today I took another to compare it. It could do with a bit of TLC on the original facade, might only need a good clean.

Once our purchases were stowed we put on our layers and pushed off. Whilst we’d had our cuppa in bed this morning eight fishermen had passed us with their heavily laden trolleys. They were all set up just around the bend, a ‘Grumble’ of Fishermen. At least some of them acknowledged our existence as we passed.

Scarborough is of course in the opposite direction

Under the M18, just over an hours drive from Scarborough on our preferred route over the Wolds to the south. We always look down as we pass over the bridge just in case a boat is passing.

New houses at Stainforth

The only visible hills in this flat landscape are mounds of slag, the remnants of the mining industry that once used to dominate this part of Yorkshire. Hatfield Main Colliery was at Stainforth’s centre for around 80 years. It was in full operation from 1921 to 2001. It reopened in 2006 but finally closed in July 2015 when the shafts were filled. New houses are now being built, expanding the village as a commuter settlement.

An odd house

Along the canal near Bramwith Swing Bridge there were a couple of houses for sale. One looked like there might be enough room to moor a 58ft boat at the bottom of the garden. Looking it up later we were surprised at the price for a five bedroom house. The photos were a touch confusing as there seemed to be several kitchens. The floor plans gave us a clue, the original house has had extension after extension. Two staircases, one leading to an upstairs lounge and kitchen, with no access to any of the rest of the floor. One bedroom on the ground floor would take you half an hour to reach from the front door and the ground floor kitchen would need sorting as the fridge cooker sink triangle had a wall in the way! It is a lot of a house for £300,000!

River to the left, then canal and swing bridge

Bramwith Swing Bridge gave me the opportunity to hold plenty of cars up and to see just how close the diverted River Don is to the canal. We paused to fill with water, the tap being slow we had lunch as the tank filled before carrying on to the lock. 

Bramwith Lock

The lock is the last manually operated small lock until we reach Rotherham. A fisherman kindly helped me with the gates, the beams have had extensions added to them as they are so heavy.

Not many trees but a bank of friendly cover

Once up the lock we battled against the lowering sun for a short while turning left at Bramwith Junction and pulling in where the water is wide and there are good views all round. We didn’t really pull in, the last puffs from Storm  Eric pushed us to the side and pinned us there. All Mick had to do was put Oleanna into neutral and let her drift to the side. Eric carried on buffeting us about for a while, but gave up during the evening.

1 lock, 4.71 miles, 1 swing bridge holding up 5, 5 nonsensical bedrooms, M18, 1 river 10ft away, 1 full water tank, 1.5 hours of good quality friendly cover, 3 friends. 

Eric had waited for nightfall, but really wasn’t all that impressive. Maybe our mooring was sheltered, but we’d been expecting much worse. Sideways rain and being buffeted about had been our expectations, but it passed over with a few huffs and puffs and a couple of small showers.

Time for a haircut. Mick got a set of new clippers at Christmas. The attachments are numerous, ears, noses, beards and hair. The shortest one for hair is a little bit longer than I used to use so Mick isn’t quite such a skinhead as normal. It was nice to have sharp clippers again, those awkward thin bits (yes he has a few left on top) were a lot easier to cope with today. As the clippers buzzed away Tilly kept an eye on us and the towpath from up high.

This afternoon we had Nick Lane to visit. Nick is a writer, director, actor and a jolly lovely man who I know from my days working at Hull Truck. He arrived early, well he only lives around the corner! For those who know Nick this is a rarity but it meant we got to spend more time with him. We had a lovely catch up talking boats, plays, friends, windows, knights and Thorne. 

Nick is being kept busy with various projects up and down the country. His kids Christmas plays have been going down a storm in Scarborough the last few years and he’s been commissioned to do an adaptation of Treasure Island this year.

I designed a few of his Christmas shows at Hull Truck when there used to be an adult show playing in the evening with a kids show on the same set during the day. An Italian restaurant became a town square for an actors troupe to tell the story of Pinocchio. A modern  warehouse office became various locations to tell A Christmas Carol. All good bonkers fun. 

It was so lovely to see him and be able to spend some time catching up.

I’m so glad I don’t have to clean a house anymore. Our house is actually two knocked together, so twice the surface area to dust, sweep and hoover. Not that we did it that often, imminent visitors would spur us on, sometimes we’d hope for family to come and stay so that we’d get round to having a good tidy up!

Living in limited space does however mean we have to be better at putting things away on a regular basis, otherwise there would be nowhere to sit down or work surface in the galley to cook on. I do wish there were more recycling bins on the network so cardboard, glass etc didn’t build up around us. But we seem to be in a more sensible part of the world at the moment, Thorne now has recycling bins.

All the windows got a good clean inside, floors swept through, bathroom cleaned and even some of the woodwork got a bit of a polish. I have some almond oil to do this with (I hate the smell of honey) but even this can be a touch too much, so I do an area at a time. Whilst I was busy polishing Mick gave the cooker a good going over. We have some oven cleaner, but that needs to be done and left overnight. So instead he cleaned the glass doors with a selection of products, Pink Stuff being one of them. The end result is pretty good, you can now see through the door again. We’ll save the oven cleaner for a few months time.

Going into every corner of the boat with a brush means all of Tilly’s toys get found. We have a toy box for them, which also doubles for me to put my feet on at the dinette. Behind Tilly’s food bowls  I pulled out six balls, down the side of the toilet the mouse she got from Joa at Christmas and her big fish was taking up quite a bit of space under a radiator. All of them were put back into her toy box, but the lid would not go back on.

Our mooring is either very sheltered or we have missed out on the worst effects from storm Eric today. No rain and hardly any buffeting from the wind. We are glad we got off the rivers as the flood gates on the Upper Trent have been closed today at Sawley and Cranfleet.

Tilly was allowed to come and go as she liked this morning, disappearing for lengths of time, then returning for a few treats. 

Late morning we took advantage when she returned and headed out ourselves. We had some parcels to post which meant walking past a friends house, so I popped a note through his door hoping that we’ll get chance to catch up. Despite thinking that I’d backed up my phone when I got a new one, I have lost quite a few phone numbers so a note through Nick’s door would be better than a text.

At the Post Office we dropped off three parcels, including my latest sales from my Etsy shop. We called into Clarke’s to buy Mick a pork pie for lunch and then carried on to do some shopping first at the new Lidl and then Sainsbury’s. As we checked out with just a few things Sainsbury’s gave us a voucher, triple points! So in the end we have won, we just need to find a suitable place to have a delivery to do a big shop in the next two weeks.

A few boats were moving today, most probably ahead of the bad weather forecast for the next few days. We certainly plan on staying put until Storm Eric has passed through.

Tilly spent much of the rest of the day up trees. There are a couple of big trees that take quite a bit of climbing, but the rest of them are quite young and easy to scamper up. Watching her makes me quite nervous. Alongside the boat she managed to climb one tree then scale it’s heights, gingerly pass from tree to tree to tree, at least 20ft from the ground. The diameter of branches only just enough to take her slight weight. If we stay here too long she’ll be trying to fly from branch to branch like a squirrel.

This afternoon we have confirmed a visit to Finesse our boat builders in a couple of weeks time. There are still a few winter stoppages in our way, but they should be finished by the end of next week clearing our way. 

I’ve also made a start on my next knitting commission. With the tension square done I worked out my pattern and that I had just about enough yarn. However by the end of the evening I’d just about used up one ball of yarn, this suggests that I may well need a few more balls to obtain the right size. I’ll wait till I’ve used a second ball before I revise my calculations.