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.

Yesterday we worried Jonathan at the boat yard. Once we’d winded we were returning to the basin for a couple more nights, he thought we were heading back to the yard as something was wrong. But no, all was fine. You have to book your passage down the Tinsley flight giving 24 hrs notice and we’d rather moor where we have electric than at the top of the locks for a couple more nights.

Today Mick had arranged his annual eye test and I wanted to head back to The Moor to buy some fish for this evening. We both headed off in different directions on another sunny day. 

I could have been more adventurous in my choice of fish, but decided on some sea bass and picked up various veg to go with it whilst at the market. 

Mick still has two eyes which was good news. He could do with new glasses, he’s come away with a new prescription to get elsewhere. The optician said it was a good job he hadn’t replaced his glasses last year as an extra digit had been added to one of his eyes axis, they would have been sent straight back as he wouldn’t have been able to see!

During the afternoon we’ve been and paid for our mooring, we’ll be pushing off before the office opens tomorrow. A supermarket delivery  has been booked for when we pass through Mexborough and we’ve been to Tesco to top up on a few bits to keep us going until then.

Sheffield has been good again. Being here for the bicentenary wasn’t planned but was an added bonus. Our snagging list on Oleanna has finally been crossed through. Bringing Oleanna here has meant that we got a few extras thrown in as they hadn’t had to send people out to us, so we’ve only had to pay for the new window. The chaps at Finesse were as efficient as ever and it’s always nice to see them and Jonathan. 

Everything apart from water proofs and curtains have been washed. So in the morning it’ll be time to unplug, push back and swing that bridge for the last time, leaving Sheffield and head to the top of the locks.

The last few days of wonderful spring like weather had given us a false idea of what to put on this morning, an early start and the boat covers were crisp with frost. I quickly headed back inside to find a pair of gloves, it is of course still February.

Spring springing

We made our way back to Finesse and Jonathan Wilson, a couple of things still needing to be done. The space was still vacant for us on the permanent moorings and even a lady who enquired if we were lost last week said hello. There on the bank side were my two pots of herbs, disguised by the vegetation at the bottom of a hook up point. The chap sorting the anchor storage must have popped them out of the way. Then the idiot doing the idiot check when we came to leave had missed them! Maybe I need new glasses!!

The main reason we were back was to get the gas locker lid hinges replaced. Jonathan wasn’t about but we left the lid in the metal shop. Then headed back to the boat for breakfast.

Sneaky peek at the Brigantine, see it at Crick this year

Ricky had been looking into the voltage sensitive relay (VSR) for us. This is the split charge system between the lithium leisure bank of batteries and the lead acid bow thruster bank. The VSR operates only when the engine is running and the domestic alternator is charging the leisure batteries and also when they have reached a certain voltage thereby then charging the bow thruster bank at the same time. When the engine stops the voltage drops and the VSR disconnects the two battery banks. However, ever since the lithiums have been installed the VSR has not been disconnecting because the voltage of the lithium batteries never drops below 26 volts, the VSR is set to disconnect at about 25.5 volts. We have been turning off the bow thruster charging circuit at night using the isolator switch in the electric cupboard. There was talk of replacing the VSR with a high current relay that would operate when the engine ignition was turned on. But it was thought that this would use too much continuous power from the starter battery for the whole time the ignition was on. After much discussion we have decided to leave things as they are switching the isolator off manually. Ricky was of the opinion that there wouldn’t be any damage done if either we forgot to turn it off after cruising or forgot to turn it on the next day.

Preparing to grind

New hinge on the lid

Mick popped out to Tesco to pick up a few bits, whilst I got on with a bit of follow up work from last week. I felt the boat dip, checked out the front and a large welder (Jonathan) was kneeling on the bow, cordless angle grinder in hand. Various sounds came from him as he stood back up, these reminded me of my Dad in his latter years, he’d forgotten something! If you’ve ever tried to balance yourself on the bow of a boat with a cratch board you will understand the annoyance of not having everything to hand having just struggled to get yourself in position, the thought of doing it all over again a pain in the b..side.

Chris soon appeared with a sheet of wood to cover the cratch  and asked if all the electrics could be turned off on board. My printing was put on hold, switches and breakers all turned off. I checked with Mick, the only thing left on was the solar which couldn’t be switched off, it would need a touch more to disconnect it. Once back he fiddled in the electrics cupboard and we were ready for Jonathan to weld.

Sparks

Ready for welding

 Sparks flew as the old hinges were ground off, then the new ones were welded on. These ones have grease nipples so that we can keep them lubricated no matter what. With Jonathan’s bits and bobs removed from the bow two chaps from the paint shed came up to see what was needed. First a good clean down then some quick drying primer.

Welding done

Paintwork touched up

The painter checked what RAL number the red was. I got my tin of touch up out from a locker (3004), he was sure it wasn’t the right colour. Have to say when I touched up the grab rail last year I had been surprised at how much the red had faded despite red being prone to do such things. He came back with a tin of 3003 not 3004 and touched in the hinges. You couldn’t tell the difference in colour from the original.

Us patiently waiting

Later on I checked in our black book that came with Oleanna. Here the red is noted as 3004 a more burgundy red, which of course is what I ordered for touch ups. I’ll need to delve deeper into our files and emails to check which shade of red was actually specked nearly three years ago. Either the black book is wrong, or the wrong shade of red was used. However, I’m quite happy with the shade we have, just a shame I now have a tin of 3004 which is incorrect.

Me and my shadow

We were good to go, so said our farewells, pushed off and headed for the winding hole. Mick made a quick call to book our passage down the locks on Wednesday. Mission accomplished, just the bill to pay now.

Commemorative plaque

Back on our mooring we spotted the C&RT chaps in the office, so we popped over to see if we could get a commemorative plaque. We don’t tend to collect plaques, but when it is a historical one, they are worth getting. This one will join the one we got in Hebden Bridge for the Tour de France, safely kept in a file in the office cupboard.

Ready for the top layer

Cooked and about to be devoured

The pasta dough I’d made was rolled out this evening, I didn’t hold out too much hope for it as it crumbled to start with, but then as it got thinner it started to look like a sheet. Edges were cut straight and fitted into the dish, sauces made and everything layered up. Baked in the oven for 40 minutes and we had a very tasty gf lasagne, far better than the shop bought stuff. Just a shame it has to rest for so long.

0 locks, 1.1 miles, 2 swings of the bridge, 2 winds, 12 sheets printed, 2 hinges ground off, 2 hinges welded, 4 nipples, 0 VSR, 0 left on the snagging list, 1 booking, 1 plaque, 2 balls of yarn left, 100% homemade gluten free lasagne, 100% tasty, 1 boat cat rule broken!

That is someone elses boat!

Tea in bed with the Saturday papers as the sun shone across the basin another lovely day ahead, so as soon as we were up the washing machine was put to use again.

A walk into town to get some new jeans and have a look around. More pouches of free dry cat food were obtained, then Mick purchased a pair of water repellent jeans from M&S. If they are good I might get myself a pair too.

Sheffield Cathedral is one place we’ve not visited before, or even taken much notice of. For such a large city I’d expected a larger building, as in height, but instead it seems to have expanded side ways rather than upwards through the years.

To the west end there has been added a 20th Century extension, before we went inside we wondered if this was due to bomb damage in WW2, but inside we learnt the history of the building.

Originally a Parish Church it was elevated to Cathedral status in 1914. With this in mind Charles Nicholson drafted plans to extend the church and re-orientate it on it’s axis, but WW2  got in the way and the plans were greatly scaled down.

The extensions to the church have resulted in numerous chapels all wonderfully lit, but making you wonder where the main alter is situated. The Chapel of St George commemorates the York and Lancaster Regiment with its screen of swords and bayonets. The Chapel of the Holy Spirit has a wonderful painted screen and is where the Sheffield Nativity lives made of course from steel.

A large organ console sits to the side of the nave, but we couldn’t see many pipes, where were they all, only the smallest were visible. In 1998 the organ was decommissioned, this has been temporarily replaced with a digital organ which has large speakers hidden behind wooden shrouds.

As we left the cathedral a pair of doors caught my eye, the Cutlers Hall. They are of course made from stainless steel, polished with elephants on the door knobs. In 1638 the first Cutlers Hall was built on this site, demolished in 1725. A new location was sought for the hall, but ground rents were too high so the second hall was built in the same place. By 1827 the state of the second hall was causing concern, it wasn’t suitable for the standing of the cutlers. So in 1832 the present Cutlers Hall was built. it is a Grade 2 listed building and considered to be one of the finest Livery Halls in the country. A shame that the front doors were closed, as looking at their website those doors hide quite a sight. Tours can be booked, but sadly you can’t just turn up.

The Co-op didn’t have quite what we wanted so we walked over the River Don to Tescos and back over Spider Bridge which weaves it’s way through the arches of the old railway viaduct.

Back at Oleanna we decided to stow the spare glass form the galley window. Using some spare towels we wrapped it up for protection and found space for it on top of the steel ballast under our bed. There is quite a bit of space in the false bottom, I might try to find other things to go in there. Now should we ever need a spare window we have one.

Sheffield

A much quieter day. We took our time getting up this morning. Boats could be heard starting to move off, in fact all the visiting boats from yesterdays festivities had moved off before we’d finished our breakfast.

Just about everything had gone when we started to roll up the covers to move. The extra toilets had gone and the only elements of the igloo were generators and piles of sand bags. 

Another warm day a little hazy, but no breeze. This meant Mick was happy just to back us back into the basin. I swung the bridge and he backed us through to the water point to top up before starting to do washing.

The tank took forever to fill and we got chatting with the nearest boat a small 30fter. Back on our mooring we hooked back up to the electric and put a load in the washing machine.

I’m on the hunt for a couple of meters of red fabric and I hoped that The Moor Market would come up trumps for me. So I left Mick and Tilly and headed into town.

The Moor is about a mile walk across town, plenty of empty shops about on my way there, but the market was heaving. Several fabric and haberdashery stalls, but nobody had what I was after, I should have ordered some on line when we first got here. I’ll just have to hope that a charity shop can provide me with a red duvet cover in the next two weeks.

I had a good look round and on my return I picked up some sachets of free cat food for Tilly. She may well not be interested in it, but who knows it may be the next fantastic food.

This afternoon I’ve started to make my first batch of gluten free pasta with the flours I bought in Doncaster. I say started as the flours need to have time to absorb moisture and let flavour develop, according to my recipe book. So some Buckwheat and Rice flour have been mixed with some yoghurt and will be left overnight in the fridge. Tomorrow I will add other ingredients, then leave it to rest again in the fridge for a further 24 hours. I’m really hoping that it comes out tastier than the shop bought lasagne as that is really quite boring.

Fly by

Dressed and out on deck for the fly past this morning for the 75th anniversary of a US bomber that came down in Endcliffe Park, killing all 10 crew. We could see the planes at a distance and plenty of people had come out to witness the sight too.

Push Back

Push back was at 10am this morning, time for us to vacate our mooring with hook up so that we’d be out of the way for the festivities. Plenty of people were milling about and there were many people wearing blue high-vis with Events Team on their backs. No body came to usher us away, we just quietly moved ourselves out of the basin and up to the visitor moorings behind NB Cuba, no other boats had turned up for the weekend. 

Either I am now accustomed to the workings of the swing bridge or someone had been to grease it as it moved far easier this morning.

Last night there had been a meeting about the festivities and the flotilla, we hadn’t been aware of this, but the chap from the trip boat came and told us there would be a commemorative plaque  available for boats here on the anniversary. 

Around 11am boats started to head out of the basin towards the top of the Tinsley flight. Several boats looked like they very rarely move but had festooned bunting on their roofs and balloons bobbed about in the wind.

Hmmm…. I’m not so sure about here

We popped off to pick up post and get something in for dinner, returning as crowds were starting to build up around the basin. Story tellers were trying to drum up an audience in the igloo, kids were colouring in pirate hats, crepes were being cooked and goody bags being handed out (the contents weren’t of interest to us). 

Crowds gathering

The benches alongside Oleanna were full and a couple of lads with Grandad were having a good nosy at our pram cover. Here we had become part of the Theme Park, added extras. We’re quite happy to answer questions about life on the water and listen to the usual comments back. Rob and Sue were out too everyone enjoying the sunshine, no need for coats or even jumpers today.

Thousands packed the paths and bridge

After a spot of lunch the crowds had gathered and lined both sides of the canal, the swing bridge was full, a few thousand in the crowd. We dropped our pram cover to improve our view and waited for the first sight of the flotilla.

We considered keeping it for a tender

First boat to arrive…. a canoe. The chap got a round of applause from the crowd. He turned round and came to find somewhere to tie his boat up, we were handily positioned so he used us to wedge his canoe against the bank, tied up and headed off for a cuppa.

The head of the flotilla

An old C&RT boat NB Industry led the way of the flotilla, brass band in full blow as they came round the bend at Jonathan Wilson’s. They slowly pootled towards us and the crowd, the bridge was cleared and swung out of the way, a length of bunting lowered to be raised just as the boat came through playing Happy Birthday.

The bunting lifted over the boat

The trip boats came next, followed by a hotel boat, a charity boat from Swinton, boats returning to the basin and a few that had come up from a couple of locks down the Tinsley flight. In all twenty boats made up the flotilla, we could have tagged on the end but we were happy just sitting and watching.

Don’t look!

The trip boats managed to pull into their moorings without crushing any of the crowd, other boats headed back to their moorings and those few visiting boats winded and came back to find a space near us. Plenty of room for everyone, no need to breast up.

Paul on NB Northumbria with Alfie his dog on the roof

Festivities around the basin continued through the day, the crowds thinning out and congregating around the Dorothy Pax pub.

Best dressed boat we reckon

Early evening we were joined by Fran, Mick’s niece who lives in Sheffield. We had a very nice roast chicken followed by some special chilled medication, then headed out to see what was happening.

Inferno Ash and friend were performing close to the pub. Trickling water sound effects slightly drowned out their singing and poetry. Fire dancing was what we’d come to see and we weren’t disappointed. Flames swirled as Inferno Ash danced on the cobbles. Hoola Hoops of fire were ignited and spun round. When she got three hoops going at once it was quite a spectacle, just a shame the music wasn’t audible, or did she need it anyway.

The silent disco hadn’t started up so we headed back to Oleanna, saving our £5 for another day.