The forecast for the next few days spurred us on to make a move today. Strong winds and more rain are coming. Todays weather might be the only decent day to cruise for a while. We’d been planning on reaching Selby by Sunday night, a big push to get there today would have meant leaving the marina early and keeping going to get onto the Selby Canal and off the Aire. Looking at river levels they may have dropped enough to be in the amber, but then tomorrows outlook was not good. Decision made, we’d move to give Tilly some shore leave, but not too far so that we’ll be near shops and the station. 

The dirty linen drawer was emptied into the machine and a final wash put on, followed by the tumble dryer. Our gate key was handed back in at the office and the water tank topped up. By midday we had finished with shore power and unplugged, pushed back and left the confines of the marina.

On the mooring with the stupid deaf dog another boat had moored with it’s own dog peeking out of the wheelhouse. They could keep each other company. Dutch Barge Linton had been mentioned on the radio last evening and been told to stem the tide whilst two commercial boats came down the lock onto the river. We’d not heard anymore about them before we turned the radio off, they’d obviously made it up off the river.

We pootled up past all the big moored boats and the museum. The stretch of moorings opposite by the railway were free, so we pulled in. It took a while for us to tie up, there are bollards intended for much much larger vessels than ours which are placed a long way back from the cut. No chance of getting a rope back to the boat to tie off here. The length between the bollards were just a touch too close together, our lines being innies but nearly straight. If anything big were to come by we’d be all over the shop. So Mick got creative with his macrame skills and put a couple of spring lines out. We had just enough spare rope to get to the bollards from the fender eyes on the side of the gunnel. 

We wondered if they would be heading out to Hull today as the antennas were being put back up, but they slowed and pulled in alongside the other big boats on the permanent moorings.

Now that we knew we were secure on the bollards we headed to the shops. At almost a mile and a half we wouldn’t be doing a big shop, just enough to keep us going for the next few days until hopefully the weather has passed.

The crew from Exol Pride had locked up the boat ad were clambering over the others to get to dry land. They had been delayed by a day as the River Don had been in flood. As they brought their car out they offered us a lift to the end of Albert Street, but we were happy to walk.

The magic food bowl came out this morning and was filled with tasty morsels that our second mate could smell but not reach until 6pm. This meant one thing, we’d be away for the night.

Our personal taxi arrived late morning with Bridget (of NB Blackbird) at the wheel. We were being whisked away for a night on dry land at their now not so new house. Tilly was left in charge with the boiler running off the electric to keep the chill off.

Now dry land, sadly for all of us it wasn’t. Following Storm Freya the weather has been decidedly wet. Not good for us due to rivers rising and not good for Bridget and Storm as they are needing to get a wall built in their garden to hold back the rest of it. The trench that had been dug for concrete has now turned into a moat.

Plenty of catching up to do as we’ve not seen them since they put NB Blackbird on the market back in August at Crick. A guided tour of their house which has had major works done to it and is a lovely home. We can see why they love it so much. 

The afternoon disappeared quickly then it was time to head out to the theatre to ERT. East Riding Theatre is in Beverley, a professional theatre run by volunteers. We were here to see the preview performance of ‘I Want That Hair’ by Jane Thornton, directed by John Godber (John Godber Company). I designed the premiere production for Hull Truck back in 2006 which then went on tour, Bridget booked the tour which included finding digs for an actress who insisted on touring with her dog, not an easy feet.

The evening felt very much like we were back in our Trucking days. John and Jane in an old building re-purposed into a theatre. Minimum staff, two actors I’ve worked with on various occasions at Hull Truck. The set ( designed and built by my friend Graham Kirk) was one that if you’d taken the top two foot off would have fitted onto the old stage at Spring Street. Two very good performances from Jackie and Pippa. The only difference was the number in the audience, sadly not many. However at the weekend it looks like the seats will be full of people laughing away the evening. 

We got chance to catch up with John and Jane after the show. They start rehearsals next week for ‘Scary Bikers’ which will be playing at Trafalgar Studios in London for most of April. We saw the show last year in Bromsgrove and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope they have a good run, just a shame it means they are too busy to come to visit us on the boat whilst we’re close by.

Thursday morning we woke up to a different view whilst we enjoyed our cuppa in bed. Just out of sight behind a small hill is the A1079 which leads to York or Hull. Bird song and countryside with good road connections. 

After a very good cooked breakfast, Bridget gave us a ride into Beverley and we spent some time looking around the Minster. I’ve driven past numerous times but never been inside and it was a suitable place to avoid the constant rain. 

John, Bishop of York first founded a christian community in Beverley. A Norman church was built on the site followed by the present Gothic church, the former being dismantled as the new church was being built. The Minster was reduced to the status of a parish church after 1548 when it ceased to be a Roman Catholic church. 

Maintenance of the building was neglected for many years, but its collapse has been prevented by numerous restorations since the 18th century.  At one point the north transept wall was leaning outwards by 4ft. This was carefully moved back to the vertical by using a wooden cradle on both sides of it. The bottom was cut and it’s connection to ceilings and internal walls were severed. This meant that the wall could be see-sawed back into position. A column still shows the angle to which the building had reached.

After lunch it was time for us to return to check on Tilly. We’d planned on moving out of the marina in the afternoon, but it was peeing it down and the wind was blowing a hoolie so we decided to stump up another £10 to stay another night, the weather should be better tomorrow.

With all this rain and the forecast not improving much for the next few days our trip to York may not be possible. At the moment just getting to Selby would be hard enough with the River Aire having risen.  Water levels and web cams are being watched, if the level in the centre of York remains high then our booking for the tidal Ouse next week will be cancelled. 

Pancake Day has to start with breakfast pancakes. When I was little Mum always used to make Scotch Pancakes and we’d cover them with butter and Raspberry Jam, the butter melting so it ran down your arm. Over the years scotch pancakes have been superseded by American pancakes, similar but with sugar in the batter and a bit of added raising agent.

Recipe.

These were considered to be a success, I’ll be making them again. Thank you Jaq for the flour.

The air inside the cabin was steaming! Tilly was not going to give up and I was getting a touch concerned that if both of them hit the window at the same time then we’d be getting the spare out from under the bed a bit too soon. Tilly was removed to the bedroom. Here I could still see him, but he had no idea where I’d gone. Stupid thing kept looking at it’s own reflection in the cabin side!

This was not going to stop unless we intervened. We would have to move Oleanna. Good job that was the plan anyway.

We managed to keep the dog off Oleanna as we prepared to move. Tilly could be seen sticking her tongue out as we reversed up to the diesel pump. The bollards here are very awkwardly spaced to tie up to, especially on a windy day. The tank was filled and five bags of coal put on the roof. We now had to find our berth in the marina. 

Planning a night away we were reluctant to leave Oleanna just on pins. Luckily there was one space in the marina which isn’t normally let as it blocks a wide beam in. But for a couple of nights we’d be fine. Hooked up again we settled in and did a touch of washing.

First port of call was the Post Office followed by Tescos and then Boyes. In the fabric department I managed to find a roll of bright red fabric and bought a couple of meters for my next project. Hopefully in a few days time I’ll be able to show what this is.

Our meal this evening also consisted of pancakes, but these were Galettes de Sarrasin. French crepes made with buckwheat flour. These are filled with ham and grated cheese and baked so the cheese melts.

My pancakes didn’t want to be folded into squares, but rolled up they worked just as well and tasted very good. There was just enough batter left for pudding pancakes too. Both gluten free recipes today were spot on and not just a make do alternative.

Staying awake till late possibly helped us sleep through Freya biffing us around, or maybe she just lulled us to sleep as we both slept well. This morning we decided that we’d like to move on today, but the wind was still a touch too strong for us to push off. In fact it might have been impossible at times to push off even using a reverse Andy due to the strong gusts. So we just waited and let Tilly out into the wind instead of us.

After lunch we decided to brave the elements and managed to push off. Instead of turning left towards Leeds we turned right to Goole. A top up of diesel and more bags of coal were needed and in the past Goole’s prices have been worth the extra miles. 

Nobody was out on the reservoir today, not surprising really. A few bends in the canal gave us a good view of Drax Power Station before it straightened off. Far in the distance, almost three miles away we could see boats in Goole. 

Zooming in with my camera it looked like there was a blue bow facing us. Exol Pride according to the C&RT chap at Mexborough is due up to Rotherham tomorrow, could it be on it’s way already? The blue stayed in view, but seemed to be staying put. However what was getting closer was a very big black sky that was hunting us down. The last mile Mick cranked the engine up a touch more, hoping we’d arrive in Goole in the dry.

As you come into Goole there are moorings on the off side, a narrowboat was tied up here and there was space should we want or need to join them. The Yorkshire Waterways Museum follows on the towpath side, which has numerous of it’s collection of old boats moored up outside. Several Tom Puddings amongst them, these used to link together in long lines to transport coal from the mines to ships at the docks. Then there is a short length of Visitor Moorings just before the water point.

No luck today they were all taken, but  a space alongside the Goole Boathouse Marina showed itself. We’d be on pins, not ideal but it would do for today. Up ahead on the other side were two large old boats, both with blue bows, these were what I could see from three miles away. Quite glad it wasn’t Exol Pride.

With pins in and ropes tied the first hard cold balls of rain started to fall. A cold front directly overhead bringing with it hail. We’d made it just in time.

Our arrival was a couple of hours before high tide at Goole. Mick turned the VHF radio onto channel 14 to listen in to see if any boats would be coming off the river. Looking at Vessel Tracker we also spotted that Exol Pride was heading up stream on the Humber from Hull.

Every now and then the radio would come alive, the Lock Keeper talking to boats still too far away for us to hear. Little Shuva (a tug that shuvs) was on it’s way from Howden to help with Prima Ballerina when it arrived and Exol Pride was at the apex (by this we assumed they meant Trent Falls). Water levels were given frequently at Blacktoft and at Goole high tide was due at 6.30pm.

A low rumbling noise gradually grew. Was this Exol Pride? A large white light shone from the direction of the docks, gradually we could make out that the bow was blue. Here she was slowing to moor up for the night. Each gentle touch on her throttle sent a huge wave in our direction as she slowly glided alongside another boat. Once tied up the wheel house was lowered, lights turned off and Exol Pride went to sleep.

By the time we went to bed last night the pre Freya storm had passed over us and we all managed a very good nights sleep. Once we were up and dressed the rules were read, then back door opened and Tilly was allowed to come and go as she liked all day.

With no plans of going anywhere due to Freya’s imminent arrival we had a leisurely cooked breakfast and then settled down for the day.

I wove the ends in on my knitting commission whilst we watched the second half of Prime Suspect 1. Mick had never seen it before. Other than it’s 1990’s style (with everyone talking in and out of shot) and slight graininess we enjoyed it. I’d remembered the ending from when it was originally broadcast, but had forgotten all the build up to Helen Mirren solving the case. Just about every face in it was familiar from TV, even Gareth Tudor Price, the old Artistic Director of Hull Truck, had a small part as a forensic chap, he had his long hair back then too! We’re now looking forward to the other cases.

As the day progressed a constant drizzle started, gradually building to proper rain by the evening. We still wondered where the full force of Freya was. 

I stripped down our bed to pin out my knitting so as to be able to block it. This evens out the stitches and gives a more professional look. My only worry was would it be dry by the time we wanted to go to bed! 

A tension square I’d knitted yesterday was used to work out a new sock pattern for wool I’ve not used before. I’m going to knit myself a pair to check I’ve got it right before playing around with patterns and colours for my Etsy shop.

The lamb shanks were seared and put on the stove top to gradually simmer away the afternoon in a tomato and red wine sauce. If I do them again they’ll go on the stove in the morning, they were cooked, but could have done with a little while longer to get the meat to fall off the bones.

From facebook boating groups we could see that Freya was on her way by the comments and by 8pm she made sure we knew that she had arrived. Our mooring certainly couldn’t be classed as sheltered, but very few places around here are. Tied up as best we could with fenders out to cushion the biffing we still bobbed around, at least there are no trees to worry us. The sound on the TV needed turning up so that we could hear Endeavor. Here’s hoping Freya doesn’t hang about all night.

0 locks, 0 miles, 24 steps, 1 quiet night, 8 hours! 0 friends, 2 blowy, 4 wet paws, 1 blanket completed, 1 Prime Suspect, 127 pins, 2 irons, 2 shanks, 29sts, 39rows, 1 delayed start, 1 noisy puffy blowy Freya, 1 TV re-tuned to East Yorkshire.

For those wishing to see more than just a breakfast from yesterdays post here are the photos.

The Wasp in 2014

Houdini 13 and hungry for flesh!

Next, I uploaded a photo to a draft blogger post, right clicked the photo and copied the link, this was then put into OLW.

Hopefully you can see a photo of a breakfast we enjoyed back in 2014. Breakfast standards have not altered through the last five years.

Then I uploaded a photo to Google photos, the album was shared (which I’m not sure made any difference), right clicked the photo and copied the link, this was then put into OLW.

Hopefully you can see The Wasp. NB Lillyanne (Lillian) and NB Blackbird working our way down Braunston Locks for the first time together when we set off on our life afloat in June 2014.

Done the same way as the photo above.

Hopefully this is Houdini. Our first second mate. She was my 13 year old black cat who was allergic to life, and some would say people, although she found them quite tasty!

I’ve tested this post as best I can and it appears to work. But then others have tested fine before and then the photos went AWOL.

We’ll see if you can see the photos.

This of course does mean that at the moment nobody has taken the time to sort the problem with OLW out. I’ll hang on for a bit longer, but if no kind sole manages to sort things out then we’ll be heading to wordpress.

Tasty looking giant gooseberries

A quick pop into town for a few bits and a newspaper. Sadly the deli hadn’t managed to get some chestnut flour in stock and I couldn’t find any mochi flour (a different name for sweet rice flour made from glutinous rice). But I still had a good look round, no idea what half of the things are.

More pork pies

We disposed of rubbish and recycling and made ready to leave. Two chaps were loading supplies onto their widebeam, 48 cans of Carling. The main chap said they were heading to Selby today. It was just before 11am. Canal plan has the journey at 12.5 hours, Waterway Routes at 11.5 hours. Quite a distance to cover and quite a lot of it would end up being in the dark. They were still getting sorted so we pushed off on our own.

Boats!!!

Heading out of Doncaster we wondered when we would see our next moving boat. Maybe at Bramwith Junction, but two boats soon rounded a bend coming towards us, suspect they were returning to Strawberry Island.

Frank’s boat

The lock light was on amber as we approached Long Sandall Lock, but a volunteer waved at us and headed up into the tower to operate the gates. It was set in our favour and we were soon on our way down. At Banby Dun Lift Bridge I pressed the buttons after waiting for a gap in traffic, these are infrequent and very short even on a Saturday. A boat was heading towards us, a touch too far away to hold the bridge, just as well as they were wanting water and pulled in.

Barnby Dun Farm Shop

I left Mick filling with water and walked up to the Farm Shop, I’d forgotten to get a carrot for our lamb shanks. We’ve tried visiting the shop before but they were closed, luckily open today. 2 carrots and a nosy for future reference, they had some nice looking sausages in the freezer.

A very chatty crew

When I got back Mick had made friends with the crew of WB Adam’s Ark a charity boat that we’ve seen about. Our tank was full so we could head off, pulling in after the next bridge for a quick lunch. This outside looked good. I knew they were wanting to get on, so I thought I’d make my exit as quick as possible and timed a jump up at the back doors for when the hatch opened. A quick get away would mean a quick return! But she had her hand in the way and my leap all of a sudden went into reverse thrust, I’d have to wait ages to go out.

Smiling to be on new water

The Don Doors

 At Bramwith Junction we veered left, we’ve been this way several times but it’s all new water for Oleanna now for quite sometime, until Manchester most probably. The Don Doors hung in the air above the Don Aqueduct. Looking down to the river, it’s hard to imagine the river in flood and coming up to meet the level of the canal. It does at times and that is when the guillotine doors are shut preventing the canal from flooding.

Now on the New Junction Canal, very straight but with plenty to keep you occupied. There are swing bridges, lift bridges and a lock to keep you busy. Our aim was to reach the far end of the canal today where we could sit out the weather, 5.5 miles of straightness.

Ideally you want another boat with you to do the canal, taking it in turns to do the bridges, each boat leapfrogging the other to the next , speeding up your journey. We looked back and could see a boat following, would they turn right at Bramwith, no they kept coming towards us. Hooray we had a bridge buddy.

Swing

I hopped off at the first bridge and with my key of power swung it out of the way, Mick brought Oleanna through and then we waited for the boat to catch up to let it through. The boat turned out to be the widebeam from Doncaster. The main chap said he’d do the next bridge and ahead they went.

Lift

More lifting

 His mate hopped off and went to lift the next bridge. Nothing happened, other than the main chap fought to keep hold of his boat on the bridge landing. In the end he tied her up and went to see what was wrong. It was his mates first ever bridge and he’d had difficulty, maybe not keeping his finger on the open button until it was fully opened. The bridge rose and we went ahead to do the next bridge.

Sykehouse Lock ahead

This of course meant that we were following as we approached Sykehouse Lock. The widebeam slowed down, the light on amber, they slowed down some more, still on amber. We pulled in before the lock and I went ahead knowing that the light would not suddenly change for us, there was nobody on duty. Admittedly we’ve been through here several times and there has always been a lock keeper but today we were on our own, or should I say I was on my own. Thankfully!

Sykehouse Lock has a swing bridge over the middle of it, so I knew it wouldn’t just be a case of putting my key into a panel, opening sluices and gates then walking to the other end  to get us through. Time to read the instructions, which I tend to do anyway, apart from when I forget!

No place for the Key of Power

With nowhere to put a key on the panel at the top of the lock, the instructions told me to insert my key in a white box by the swing bridge and follow the instructions there. Mick waited to bring Oleanna into the lock as did both the chaps on the wide beam which was only tethered at it’s bow and swinging in the increasing wind across the cut. 

Heading into the lock

The bridge operates pretty much like a manual swing bridge with barriers on both sides, each movement unlocking the next bit of the process. With bridge swung out of the way I could open gates. The two chaps moved the wide beam into the lock, third or fourth can consumed from the 48. Main man asked with a slight slur what they had to do on their return journey. ‘Put your key in the white box and read the instructions’. 

Good job there was plenty of room

The chap who was learning hopped off the widebeam and asked what I’d like him to do. Well nothing really, get back on your boat would be a good thing to do. He crossed the gates and was instructed to hold onto a rope whilst main man put his boat in and out of gear as the water level dropped and his mate held the rope with no purpose. As I opened the gates rope holder was shouted at to drop the rope on the roof and climb down the ladder, whilst main man manoeuvred his boat towards the open gates and the side of the lock. This whole process made Mick and myself wince. Gunnels on a widebeam are not much wider than those on a narrowboat, climbing down a ladder with a heavy boat moving towards you is risky at the best of times, add into that a few cans of lager, well.

A bar at the side of the canal

Only this chap serving today

Back on board safely (thankfully) they headed to the next bridge whilst I closed up behind us all. Sluices, gates, bridge, barriers etc. The following and final bridge I operated and we both waved at the chaps as they passed through, nothing in return. Anytime!

Went Aqueduct

With them ahead of us we pootled on to our planned mooring. The wind now getting quite strong and cold. Eventually the widebeam turned left and disappeared out of view.

Decision time, which side of the cut to moor on, which way round, hatch to the towpath? With the wind blowing at an angle behind us we pulled in on the starboard side where we could tie up well. Any waves would hit the stern and hopefully our bedroom would be quieter. Hopefully here we will also be out of the way of Exol Pride when it next comes past Monday or Tuesday.

The official NORF with windsurfer zooming past Eggborough

As the afternoon progressed the winds grew. Windsurfers on Southfield Reservoir zoomed from side to side. We were being buffeted against the side, so Mick added another line which helped. Tilly had an hour or so outside and then we all settled down for the storm to pass over. Just wonder how the widebeam fared and what time they managed to get to Selby!

With breakfast out of the way we pushed over to near the hotel, ready to pick up our triple points shop. Being an hour early, I made use of the time to have a catch up with my brother on the phone. They have been busy, Josh has been on a school ski-ing trip and Andrew and Jac took advantage (of not having a 12 year old son in tow) and had an adult few days in Paris. They all enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

The Easter Bunny made a delivery too

Our delivery slot was between midday and 1pm, so we were a little surprised to see a chap off loading our shopping onto the towpath at 11.45am. First he suggested that the plastic crates would be picked up on our next delivery, first time we’ve heard this one. He seemed to be in a rush to get to his next address in Barnsley. What would we do with four crates? Mick suggested that he should wait and take them away with him, he was early after all.

We wanted to move on today. The thought of fishermen turning up in their vans for some night fishing was not appealing and with bad weather on it’s way we want to be further on.

No need for my key of power

Everything was stowed then we could push off. I walked ahead to go and open the lock gates, but as we got close the amber light turned to red and green. There were people up in the tower, so once Oleanna was in the lock I hopped back on board. 

We either keep meeting the same C&RT chaps or they all know that we’ve been to Sheffield for the Bi-centenary. This was the conclusion they came up with when we said we were headed to Sheffield a few weeks ago. It’s always nice to have a chat as your boat lowers in a lock. We found out that Exol Pride is due back in Rotherham on Tuesday and that the weather forecast is bad for Sunday and Monday. Once the chaps were done here they were heading to Sprotbrough Lock so could see us through there if we arrived before 3pm.

I can’t resist taking a photo

Thanking them we motored on arriving at Sprotbrough in time for lunch. We also wanted to see what all the fuss was with the butcher there. The ladies from NB Large Marge had sung it’s praises  a few years ago, yet on the same trip we’d not come across it.

The hill up into Sprotbrough is quite steep and the road very busy. Small blue flowers were fighting their way through the autumn leaves to show their starry heads in the verges. The Old Rectory looks clean and newly rendered. At the top of the hill we found Thorpe Lane and carried on until we got to The Pantry, Butchers Bakers Deli. It looked good from outside, however a touch disappointing inside.

Sadly not quite what we expected

Maybe it’s the time of year or week, but there wasn’t much to choose from on the meat counter. We’d saved buying a Sunday joint to get one here. Some Sirloin roasting joints for £20 plus were out of our budget, then there were two lamb shanks. These would do us, but not leave us with any left overs, part of the reason for having a roast in the first place. We bought the shanks and headed back to the boat. 

Going down

With weather on it’s way and a Saturday newspaper to get along with some more supplies (!) we decided to carry on and head into Doncaster. We’d just missed the 3pm cut off point for the C&RT chaps at the lock by a minute, when we arrived their van had vanished. No problem, except the top gates didn’t register as being closed on the panel and my key of power was retained! A few more button presses and everything must have lined up at last, I got my key back but the top gates creaked their complaints at me.

Under the East Coast Main Line

From Doncaster Lock we could see there were boats on the visitor moorings, a narrowboat and a couple of cruisers. Luckily there was space for us, but no chance of filling with water as the cruisers were obstructing the water point. With the forecast in mind we are likely to stay put for a couple of days somewhere ahead, so will want to top up tomorrow. 

Our choices of which Pennine crossing to take in a few weeks time has been narrowed down for us. The Leeds Liverpool will be closed near Burnley until May as a de-watered stretch has come up with more problems than at first thought. Our current thought is to maybe cross on the Rochdale Canal, we’ve not been that way since 2014.

Last of my sketches were done ready to scan tomorrow and the last ball of yarn used on my latest knitting commission. This just needs the ends weaving in and somehow blocking, at 40 x 40 inches I may have to commandeer the mattress for a day and hope I have enough pins for the job.

3 locks, 6.85 miles, 1 wind, 1 assisted lock, 6 boxes wine, 1 disappointing butcher, 2 shanks, 1 gap in our meal plan, 1 bored cat, 1 don’t see what the problem is with pontoons, 3 sketches, 12 portraits, 1 commission cast off, 1 skein wound, 1 tension square started.

Bang on time Exol Pride woke us up. Mick last night had added a spring line to our mooring ropes so it wasn’t until she was alongside that we noticed her. A shame as I’d wanted to see what draught she was on her bow now that she was empty.

As we had breakfast a C&RT crane boat that had joined us yesterday pulled away heading for the lock. Then late morning it was our turn to refill the lock, fill with water (She must have been empty when we got her!) and then make our way down onto the river.

The local cat did it’s rounds whilst we waited for our water tank to fill. I wonder if she gets the same rules that Tilly gets when she goes out?

After Eastwood Lock all the locks are set to refill themselves so on arrival all you have to do is open the gates, much quicker than going up. 

Quite a few river sections today and on one bend we found the crane boat. Luckily the boat was big, blue and yellow and we could see it from quite a distance. Tied only at the bow the boat was across the river. It looked like they were removing large trees that had been damaged in a storm and craning them to the other bank. We bipped our horn to gain their attention and the chap at the helm swung the boat round giving us enough space to pass round their stern.

Kilnhurst Lock was level through, we just had to open and close the gates at both ends. I wasn’t quick enough to beat Oleanna to the bottom gates so she had too tread water for a while.

Weather wise we were back to normal temperatures and greyness for the end of February. Layers had been added this morning and at times as we cruised we wondered if we should have put waterproof trousers on as the sky started to leak a touch, luckily it didn’t come to much.

Mexborough Top Lock was empty, which was a bit of a surprise. The top sluices were closed and one at the bottom was partly up, it didn’t move when I turned the panel on. As we were exiting the lock a couple of C&RT chaps turned up. First they were looking at a light above the lock then at the stuck sluice. Chatting to one of them he hoped it was just that the panel (not knowing the correct term) that covers the opening under water had come off. This would require the divers to come out and reattach it. If it proved to be something else then stop planks would be needed to isolate the sluice, drain it and then he’d get to walk in to see what was up. He isn’t keen on doing such things.

We left them still looking at the light and pootled on to above Low Lock where we winded and moored where we’d been two weeks ago. Tilly got the run of the Meadows and brought back friends to introduce to us. We finalised our shopping delivery for the morning and I got on with some more sketches for Separate Doors 3 whilst warming up in front of the stove.

Whilst in Sheffield we’d let the stove go out and when we needed heat we’d put the Alde boiler on. Being hooked up, with electric included with our mooring fees, we could run it off the electric saving coal. But the stove is so much nicer, it also means we can have jacket potatoes too.

Push back was at 8am, breakfast in our bellies and we were ready for the descent out of Sheffield. Only one thing stood in our way, the swing bridge.

At 8 in the morning the bridge is used by quite a few people heading to work, so naturally not wanting to hold anyone up I wait for a a good gap. Today I chose well as the last two people to cross were boaters who offered to give the bridge a push, this makes it far easier to swing. This was the ninth time I’ve swung that bridge in as many days.

Bye bye Finesse

The hazy sunshine took it’s time to warm us up on the back of the boat. Haze isn’t really the right term for it, with the unseasonable warm weather Sheffield has had a layer of smog clinging to it for the last few days. 

Leaving

April 2017 we came this way I beeped Oleanna’s horn as we passed Finesse and several of the chaps came out to wave, that was our maiden voyage on her. Today we refrained from making a noise, instead waved goodbye to our old leaky window frame (wonder if it’ll still be on the picnic bench when we next visit?) and Andy the plumber who was about to step on the Brigantine.

Blackthorn in blossom

Plenty of flowers were out on our way and even the Blackthorn blossom was giving a good show every now and then.

Top of the flight

Oleanna’s first ever lock, again

As we approached the top of the Tinsley flight the lock gates were open and waiting for us. We pulled into the lock and started to descend. Oleanna’s first ever lock, again, this time with Mick at the helm. When we reached lock 2 the Lockie appeared said good morning and headed down the flight to prepare the locks for us, leaving a top gate open on all but one.

By Lock 4 we were joined by a second Lockie who helped with the occasional paddle and troublesome gate and then headed back to lock up or reset the previous lock. As we came down lock 6 he went ahead and then started to fill Lock 7/8. This is the deep one, they keep it empty until you arrive. This is for two reasons. Firstly if the lock was full as you emptied the lock above there would be too much water in the pound below for you to be able to open the gates at the next lock. Secondly if they leave filling the deep lock until the one above is empty then there will be a lot less water in the pound above. On most of these locks the water cascades down over the gates as it is, so they try to keep the level as low as possible to avoid a serious soaking for the person at the helm.

Water water everywhere

The bottom of the flight, a few more locks to go

Here we said goodbye to one Lockie and at Lock 9 to the next. Both Dave and Derek were now heading off to do other things after locking up the locks behind us. Up ahead Nigel took over, the next locks already unlocked, he travelled between them by van. Jordans Lock, a flood lock proved a touch hard to open the bottom gates, likely to be silted up a touch.

 At Holmes Lock we had to wait for the nearby level crossing to do it’s job before Nigel could join us and unlock the padlocks. This was the end of our assisted passage out from Sheffield. From here we were on our own again.

Straight on

A new look to Rotherham

Rotherham Lock gates were hard to close, possibly down to silt again. Hoardings around the towpath suggest that next time we pass the area may well have changed. Either it will be a big building site or a new development will have sprung up with houses, shops a cinema and the bus station will have had a make over. Maybe next time we’ll come and have a look around instead of just heading straight through.

They are always washing on Dolly Earl

We joined Dutch Barge Dolly Earle on the visitor moorings. We’ve come across them several times before, both at Torksey and on the South Yorkshire Navigations. We checked that their dog was on a lead before the back doors were opened for Tilly.

Here she comes!

A couple of hours after we arrived the traffic light at the lock turned to red, something was coming up the lock. Exol Pride. We’d tried looking to see where it was on the vessel tracker but it’s last location had been outside Goole last night.

Three times as long as us and three times as wide

Big and blue is the only way to describe her. She certainly fills the locks from here to Goole. Glad we hadn’t dawdled this morning and had got tied up before she came past. Mick checked with the chaps on board as to when they would be coming back, 7am tomorrow, we won’t be getting in their way. Off they headed on up to Rotherham where they would go in bow first to offload their oily cargo at the bulk blending plant, then they reverse back past all the moored boats to wind when they are a lot lighter.