Mick headed to see Oleanna today. When we ‘d left last week there were a few things that we’d left on board due to only one of us carrying things due to my bad back, so these needed collecting. There also hadn’t been enough time to chat with Alastair about some jobs Mick was wanting him to do.
Then there was also the matter of the old alternator that had gone faulty on us in Shardlow. It had moved to Scarborough with us with the thought that a chandlers here might be able to get it refurbished for us. However Alastair said he could sort it, so that needed returning to Goole. With a bike used as a sherpa Mick set off, hoping that he’d fixed a stubborn puncture, Oh for both bikes to have solid tyres!
Hello!
Mick and Alastair talked about the jobs we’d like him to do.
Stern nav light fitting, Mick will do the wiring on another visit.
Alternator refurbished.
Check the engine mounts and give the engine a general check over. Mick does Oleanna’s servicing but it’s always nice to have someone totally au fait to give her the once over. When we had RCR gold membership we got an engine check each year, but we’ve now cut back on our membership to save some pennies.
Fix a coolant leak. Mick thought this might be from a hose connected to the skin tank, but Alastair thought it was the connection rather than the hose. He’ll tighten it up and sort it which ever.
Tighten the stern glad.
They also chatted about the tappets in the engine. Mick ran the engine and they decided they sounded fine, so that will be left for another year.
Mick’s Christmas present keeping a watchful eye when we’re not about
Mick had also wanted to top up with diesel. Manoeuvring around the marina would have been tricksy today due to strong winds, so that can wait for next time. If we had jerry cans he could fill the tank that way. But as we tend to cruise and not sit about for too long in one place we have never really felt the need to own jerry cans, they take up space. Maybe the price of diesel will have dropped again when we next fill up, Domestic rate in Goole last week was £1.09.
In need of a tidy
The stove was cleared out, not enough time to sweep the chimney today.
A list of things to return with had been put together. The washing drawer was emptied, contents washed and hung up to dry. The interior of Oleanna still needs a good tidy, the floor certainly needs a good wash, maybe even a sand in places followed by a coat of oil before we are back on board full time.
Meanwhile back on land. Tilly has been meeting the new neighbours. The cats who used to live in the area have all moved away, now there are new felines to get to know…..or not!
She hadn’t done any packing for a few days, so I thought I’d give her a helping paw. Thank you Tilly, everything had to wait for Mick to put them away as stooping is still a thing I’m avoiding.
#unit21 rehearsals have been going well. I had a postponed visit to watch a run this week and managed to do a few jobs whilst I was there. Next week is production week and the first shows that kick off the tour. Some last minute knitting has kept me busy in front of the TV. Getting my fingers into training for this years sockathon, there will be more news about this once my show has opened.
Curtain lining has arrived and hopefully this coming week Dulux will deliver everything I need to give a bedroom a makeover in the next few weeks before a lodger moves in. It’s a room that has been decorated by tenants through the years and not very well. But having said that it wasn’t too good before they even started! Here’s hoping my back is fully mended.
Mick and Frank have been dishwasher installers and kitchen adjusters. The old dishwasher had given up the ghost. A damp problem in the last few years and the fact that I think the kitchen had been built around it made it a challenging job. Thank you Frank once again.
Sadly we’ve not had chance as yet to go for one of our walks around Scarborough, my back and work getting in the way so far. Hopefully we’ll put that right soon as we’ve not even been to the beach yet!
0 locks, 0 miles, 0 winds due to the wind, 1 jobs list, 3 new cats, 1 woofer, 1 dead sewing machine, 3 varieties pancakes, 1 hat, 30 badges, 1 alternator, 2 much money being spent, 1 quote, 0 funding, 1 McCarthy visit, 1 vanity project, 1 new PM, 1 salt and pepper reunited with us.
Bramwith Junction to Viking Marina, Goole, Aire and Calder Navigation
Good Morning
Sunrise on this mooring is wonderful, the windows needed a touch of decondensationing before we could really appreciate it with a cuppa in bed. It was another chilly morning, a breeze had got going which would help with winding when we set off.
Mick’s Christmas present
The VHF radio was turned on in case we could hear Exol Pride or one of the gravel barges radioing the bridges. It crackled a few times, but nothing was audible we decided that we were unlikely to meet a big barge mid channel today, anyway we’d likely see them miles off as most of the canal we’d cover today have very very long straight stretches.
Left straight on not right straight on
Sadly my back hadn’t improved overnight, so Mick was on duty for anything low down, but I’d see how I did operating the bridges along the New Junction. We winded and headed left. The Don doors open and waiting to let us across the aqueduct.
Don Doors
The step up from Oleanna to work the first bridge was a touch high, but I managed it without too much of a problem. Key of Power in and the bridge turned.
Next Top Lane Lift Bridge nobody held up here. The road surface had big chunks out of it waiting to be resurfaced. Then Kirkhouse Lift Bridge where I managed to hold up two cars, one a C&RT van.
Now the long long length with little to break it up. A zoom in with the camera wasn’t clear enough to make out what colour light there was at Sykehouse Lock. The house that had been for sale last year now has two big barges moored outside it, both in need of a bit of money spending on them, wonderful shapes though.
Sykehouse Lock with Sykehouse Lift Bridge partially open in the background
As we got closer to the lock we could see that the volunteer who must just about live in the control tower had spotted us, the light was green, but the swing bridge was still closed. We pootled on up closer.
A Great Egret
On one of the banks was what looked like a Heron, but it was far too white. When it took off we agreed that it was the size of a heron, held it’s legs and neck like a heron. So it must be a heron. Now I’ve been able to look at the photo closer I believe it to be Great Egret. According to the RSPB website they believe there to be 8 to 12 breading pairs in the country and around 72 birds that winter in the UK.
Lock open but not the swing bridge
The chap came out from the tower with his dogs, crossed the bridge to close the barriers and then pushed the bridge clear for us. Another C&RT chap walked past, a number checker, and asked if we’d seen a big barge moored by the house. We had, along with a second boat. He set off to walk the near 2 km to take down their numbers, then walk back again. That job must keep him fit around these parts.
Thank you
Down the lock we went. We spied people at the next swing bridge who looked like they would operate it for us, which they did. The chap in high-vis was taking photos of the bridge, it was having an inspection.
Up ahead at Sykehouse Lift Bridge there were three C&RT vans and four chaps. The hut by the bridge suddenly sprang into life as we arrived a cloud of black smoke coming from an exhaust in the wall. There must be a generator in there for emergency power. They left us to work the bridge, taking notes of things as it raised and lowered. It’s apparently the time of year when all the bridges are inspected. They all headed over to check a barrier after I closed the bridge and didn’t seem too phased by the huge biff the bridge made when it finally made contact with the ground! It certainly made both Mick and myself jump.
Norf ahead
Straight on to the junction with the Aire and Calder where we turned back towards the east. This stretch, well all of today’s waters are so very familiar, yet things have changed since last March. Drax was churning out power and the breach site still looks in good order.
The giant log cabin by the Alpacas has windows now and an almost completed roof. Then the building nearer to Rawcliffe has new windows and it’s roof is finished, it also has some new render and looks quite smart.
Goole ahead
The last slight bend and we were on the three mile straight to Goole.
Back through the gates of Goole we were back where we’d spent so much of 2020 and 2021, stuck due to the breach and lockdowns. Hopefully the gates won’t close on us this time! The visitor moorings were full, but across on the 14 day moorings there was plenty of space. The big grey boat that has been moored outside the Auction place is now for sale, if you’ve got £350,000!
Left by the black and white boat please
Mick swung Oleanna to the left into Viking Marina and we made our way into the corner where we’d moored before. On our pontoon a big cruiser, but to the other side of it a new pontoon. We pulled in, meeting our new neighbour, tied up and headed to the office to check in.
Hello Viking, Hello Lisa!
It was good to see Laird again and Alastair who did some work for us last year. Mick has a short jobs list for Alasdair whilst we’re at Viking. Once we’d paid our mooring fees and got a fob it was time for lunch, do the chores and pack our bags. Due to my bad back we actually left with less than we’d arrived with, Mick carrying everything.
Goole Station
There was just under half an hour before the next train, so we power walked it along Albert Street, through the docks to the station. We had five minutes to spare, unfortunately not enough for us to get Advance tickets. The ticket machine wanted us to pay for the route to Scarborough via York! Thankfully the train guard would allow us to buy tickets from her instead at half the price.
Dusk over the Humber
It was a pleasant journey back to Scarborough, no need to change trains, just sides so that we’d get a view of the Humber Bridge followed by the sea at Bridlington.
As we walked up the steps to the house the new security light was triggered. This also triggered a reaction from Tilly. As soon as she realised it was us there was SO much shouting, the whole street could hear her! Many cuddles and chin rubs later things calmed down to a very loud purr.
About time!
Claire She had been nice, kept offering me Dreamies, but she hadn’t let me out so I wasn’t entitled to any! I felt I had to turn my nose up at them. That’s the longest She and Tom have deserted me for. They should have been back soon after the second flap on the magic food bowl opened! And when they did come back they smelt of Bramwith Junction outside. How dare they!
At least it meant I got lots of head nudges and cuddles.
With our mission accomplished and Oleanna now tucked up in Goole we have our own winter maintenance to do in the house. So blog posts will be as and when we visit Oleanna for the next few weeks. We have cruising plans, but not a definite date to set off yet. So the blog will be tucked up for a while too. See you soon.
1 lock, 11.8 miles, 5 bridges, 4 held up, 2 bridge inspections, 1 volunteer, 2 woofers, 1 mooring, 0 Joan’s Chinese! 1 boat plugged in, 1 train, 1 very VERY pleased cat, 1 hour of cuddles, 1 feline shadow.
Another early start or us today. We pushed off at 8:50, Vazon Sliding Bridge has two slots a day when it can be opened, one being 9am. As we approached Mick knocked the throttle back into tick over thinking we’d have to wait a while for a train coming from Scunthorpe to pass. But then the bridge started to slide open, time to push up the revs, we’d need to be out of the way before the train arrived. We were through safe and sound. Time to start operating bridges ourselves.
In between the Vazon Bridges
Each of the bridges on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal are different to each other. The first one Vazon Bridge is quite simple. Turn your key of power in the box, you hear a clunk, lift the handle and push the bridge to open it. It moved like a dream, no twinges from my back either, marvellous.
Looking back to Keadby
A hazy morning, lots of dog walkers chatting to each other. Wind turbines every way you looked. We’re back in the flat lands with masses of bright blue sky. It felt so still, it’s a wonder the turbines were turning at all.
Godnow Swing Bridge next. Here there used to be a big panel with 1970’s calculator instructions on a screen that was really hard to read. This was interlinked with the railway crossing which is manned. The chap came out of his little hut and swung the level crossing gates closed to road traffic which would allow me to operate the swing bridge. A modern panel with Open and Close buttons has replaced the old huge box. Push and hold is all you have to do to close barriers and swing the bridge. Not one vehicle held up today, not even one visible on the long straight stretch of road.
Medge Hall Swing Bridge is not that much further on. I think this is my favourite with the signal box, level crossing gates (which always seem to be closed to road traffic) and then the red post box. Here one manual barrier needs closing before lifting the handle and pushing the bridge open.
The border between Yorkshire and Lincolnshire isn’t a big affair. A group of trees and a dyke heading off on both sides of the canal. We think it should have a sign to mark it. Ahead of us was blue sky, behind vapour trails heading off to the east.
Next Maud’s Bridge. As expected it was left open to boat traffic, bollards and signs on either side stopping road traffic. The dints in the handrails suggest it has been hit with quite a bit of force, the main upright at the end is at quite an unusual angle. There was also no sign of the box you use to unlock the mechanism.
Chuntering cyclists
As we pulled through the opening a group of road cyclists arrived. They seemed to be puzzled that we were continuing on our way without closing the bridge behind us. We said the bridge was broken, by a car not us! They conferred and then cycled back the way they’d come, soon to be seen heading down the road to the next bridge, Moores Bridge.
Pulling in to make a cuppa
Here we had to wait, a planned stoppage at this bridge is ongoing. Eight people in high vis could be counted, four having a cuppa by the welfare van. A chap walked towards us, if we could give them twenty minutes they’d open the bridge for us. Time to pop the kettle on.
Lots of activity
Moore’s Bridge used to have a big control panel, manual barriers, but the bridge moved with the press of a button. Now there are wigwag lights, automatic barriers that drop down and a new modern two button pedestal was spotted. Chaps were busy bending hydraulic piping, trays for it to lay in were in position below where the bridge deck swivels. Here the road was also closed, barriers part way down the lane, hopefully the cyclists managed to get through.
A delivery of new cabinets arrived, it was driven over the bridge and they were about to start unloading it when they changed their minds. Five chaps put their shoulders to the bridge and gave it a big heave, thank goodness it was relatively easy to move. We thanked them as we passed through but they were far too busy looking at the new cabinets.
Not far to the Wykewell Bridge, a lift bridge. Key of power operated this one. Well except we didn’t need to open it as it was already lifted with a couple of chaps inspecting the underside from a cherry picker! We were asked to wait a couple of minutes which was fine. The inspectors retracted themselves and asked for the bridge to be lowered. Someone suggested we should be let through first, we were waved on. So that was the third bridge in a row on the east side of Thorne closed to road traffic.
Blue Water Marina, Oleanna’s winter mooring last year
Past Blue Water Marina, we tried to work out where Oleanna had been moored last winter and who was in her space.
Princess Royal Swing Bridge was next, how would it be today?! I hopped off crossed the bridge and opened the panel. A clunk could be heard as the gates either side were released ready to be closed to pedestrians. I headed across closed one gate, click. Closed the other one, waggled it as suggested in the instructions, did so again! Nothing. Walked back across, closed the near side gates both clicking. Pressed the open button, nothing.
Bloomin Bridge!
Mick came up to try to assist. He waggled the problematic gate until it wouldn’t move. Button pressed, nothing! By now we both had locals offering advice which actually wasn’t helping any. ‘It won’t have been closed properly’ ‘The gates aren’t closed’ ‘Try pressing open and close at the same time’ etc. Nothing was working and now I couldn’t even reverse the process and open the gates to try again, or at least let those waiting across. Time to make a phone call.
The lady at the council apologised, she’d send someone down. I expected to be doing crowd management for a good half hour maybe longer before anyone arrived, but thankfully a chap turned up within five minutes. He waggled gates, leaped over them, checked the panel and wondered if it had done what it did yesterday!
We will do
With his Key of all Council Power he opened a big cabinet across the way brought out a remote and proceeded to open the bridge a bit, then close it again. Then he swung the bridge open for us to get through. As we headed off he could be seen closing the bridge, opening one set of gates but the normally cooperative side were stuck! Oh well that was an SEP.
A very new charity boat
Thorne Lock, a volunteer was on duty and a boat was about to come down. This was Pearl a new boat for the Ethel Trust a hybrid that the crew were being trained on. Walkie talkies were everywhere guiding them into the lock. They’ve only had the boat a couple of months and it will soon head up to Sheffield where it will be officially launched by Princess Anne.
The volunteer helped us up the lock with great care. He let me step back on board and he’d work the barriers and the swing bridge just above the lock. Thank you!
Cruising with the back doors open, a novelty
Now we had quite a distance to travel before the next bridge. Time to have lunch on the move. As we came through Stainforth I sent a message ahead, we’d be about half an hour. Approaching Bramwith Swing Bridge we could see a car crossing and then the barriers were lowered and the bridge started to swing. We sailed straight through, perfectly timed and pulled up on the bridge landing to pick up our friend David.
Teaming up with NB Bob we shared the lock, David and I assisted with the gates and paddles whilst having a bit of a catch up. The owners of Bob were heading up towards Sheffield and asked about mooring there. Four years ago you could moor outside the basin for 2 days, any longer you paid in the basin.
Bramwith Lock with Bob
We headed for our favourite mooring at the junction. Stepping off the bow with a rope jarred my back again, even though today I’d been doing really well, all the ropes and mooring was left to Mick to sort.
This afternoon we’ve had a really good catch up with David. Last time we saw him was in Newark last April. The last year has had it’s ups and downs for him but he has turned a corner and things are far far better. He is content with life, wakes up looking forward to what the day has in store for him. We even got to see a broad smile across his face. It was so good to see him well again.
2 locks, 14.9 miles, 9 swing bridges, 1 slid open, 1 open, 1 obstinate, 3 swung for us, 1 lift bridge, 2 cars held up, 0.25 tank of diesel since filling up in Newark, 1 lunch on the go, 1 more sunny sunny day, 1 happy smiling David.
Another morning with the alarm clock going off, at least this morning there wasn’t much of a view to miss out on. One side of the cutting looked to be above freezing, our side was all frosted over. Brrrr, an extra layer required today. As I got up and started to move around my back felt remarkably improved from yesterday, thank goodness. I still refrained from leaning down or lifting anything heavy so as not to aggravate the improving situation.
Brrr!
Four years ago yesterday we did exactly the same journey. Then it had also been an early start and a very cold one too. We’d had to wait for the Stainforth and Keadby Canal to thaw and for the entrance to the lock to be dredged. I was ready to pull the balaclavas out today but thankfully even though the day had started off with a good layer of frost on Oleanna we didn’t need to keep our cheeks cosy.
Torksey Viaduct
We needed to push off a while after the tide had started to come in. Yes we were heading down stream, so we’d need to punch the tide for some time, but this was needed for us to reach Keadby when there would still be enough water to get into the lock. At 9am Mick reversed us out onto the main river, an EA rib had just come past us from Torksey Lock but it headed upstream.
The hazy Norf
We winded to face down stream and the tide. Engine revs increased and we were on our way.
Wow
Another wonderful day to be out on the river. Blue blue skies. Trails high above us in the sky, plenty of people jetting of on their holidays. Looking behind us the sun low glinted on the water and our wake. Gorgeous.
Taking off
I checked the charts, our course kept in the channel. This next stretch had been reported as being shallow last year.
Hawks just finishing their loop
A glimpse over Mick’s shoulder, a loop of vapour trail. The Red Arrows must have been out training. The V formation of planes scooped round and out of view. They were at such a distance to us to be silent, you had to scour the sky to hunt them out. One wave of vapour, then another loop the loop. Around this area and along the Fossdyke and Witham you quite often see them practicing. Your own private airshow. Time to concentrate on the charts again.
Busy with something
A man sat in a bright red rib coming towards us. His boat looked to be filled with equipment, maybe he was charting the river bed?
The Chateau at Gate Burton came into view. You can stay here with the Landmark Trust. It makes for a pretty view, I bet the view back towards the river today was a much warmer one. We waved in case anyone was watching as we passed.
Power ahead
West Burton Power Station came in and out of view. The large cooling towers dormant but the gas fired end churning steam out by the bucketful.
The tide had turned by the time we reached Gainsborough. The same revs were now giving us 2 to 3 more miles an hour heading down stream. The sharp bends speed the flow up through Gainsborough, not the fastest we’ve been under the bridge there though.
Earlier this year when we’d planned on doing this journey, we had to cancel our lock bookings due to being stuck in Shardlow as the river was in flood. When Mick called Keadby Lock to cancel our booking, the lock keeper said that we weren’t in the book! Yesterday afternoon Mick had tried calling the lock to check they knew we would be arriving today, he’d got no answer. He then tried calling a couple of times this morning. Thankfully he got through and Tracey was expecting us. Mick checked that the river level would be enough for us to get into the lock. It would be and she was expecting us from around 12:30.
The charts now dispense with the red line for stretches. My back wanted a sit down in the warm so I retired inside for a while, making sure I was watching as we passed West Stockwith Lock. Mick slowed us down and waved to a chap then picked up our pace again.
With a map suggesting we still had 2 hours to go before reaching Keadby we decided to up the revs a touch, it was now getting on towards midday and Tracey was expecting us pretty soon. We really didn’t want to run out of water. As we were now off C&RT waters there are few markers. Instead you rely on landmarks. Will the new build with big windows (still to be fitted) appear on new charts. Owston Ferry with it’s two pubs. Mooring Dolphins where owls are positioned to deter pigeons! Another mill.
The river now wide, sprawling out in front and to our sides. The M180 bridge. Time to call Tracey with our location, she’d expect us in twenty minutes, we were still good to get into the lock.
The span on the right used to open up
Keadby Bridge, under the bascule span. Up ahead Keadby Lock tower with it’s look out. The light was red. Would it be ready for us?
Keadby surrounded by wind turbines
Mick brought us over to the west side of the river as our red line suggested. Then as we were just about level with the lock he started to turn. Not into the lock, that would be foolish with the tide still heading out towards the Humber. He turned Oleanna round to face upstream, this enables you to have more control to enter the lock.
In we go!
On the downstream side of the lock we could see the start of the silt build up above the water. Mick faced Oleanna’s bow towards the upstream side of the lock forcing her against the tide. As we got closer, we both wondered if we’d have enough power to turn the stern away from the silt and enter the lock. An extra bit of umph at the right moment and into the lock Oleanna slid. Phew!! She’d made it. Always a relief.
Leaving the lock
I walked up to the bow to pass a rope around a chain as Tracey closed the lock gates behind us, then the outer lock gates got closed too. The amount of water coming over the top gates started to slowly rise us. Then a touch of a paddle was added, gently does it. Then a bit more which caught the bow a touch before I managed to pull her back in.
Stainforth and Keadby Canal ahead
Once at canal level the top gates opened and we waited for Tracey to open the swing bridge. We pulled in just past a couple of boats on the visitor moorings at the far end. Ahead of us is Vazon Sliding Bridge. This is operated by Network Rail and following the high temperatures last summer it is now only opened to boat traffic twice a day, we’d already missed the second opening. Time for lunch and a well deserved warm up.
1 lock, 27.8 miles, 2 winds, 1 reverse, 2 why nots, 1 cheeky pigeon, 2 ribs, 1 beautiful day on the river, 1 air show, 1 day adrift from 4 years ago, does this mean we’ll have another February heatwave?
No time for tea in bed this morning, there was the tide to catch. The sun rose opposite our mooring, what a beautiful sight, shame there wasn’t time to enjoy it.
I realised we’d not moved the hose and other bits and bobs out from the cratch, this makes access to the anchor easier should we need to lower it in an emergency. I picked up the hose and brought it into the boat. Then mooring spikes were popped away into a bow locker, as I did this my back gave a slight twinge. Lifting the bucket of other stuff gave me another twinge. The cratch was now a lot clearer but my back was a lot sorer! Stooping under the cratch cover was not a thing I wanted to do, so Mick rolled the covers up as I managed to walk up the ramp from the mooring to see if that would help.
Mick radioed the lock keeper, the lights at the lock turned green, he was ready for us. We untied, winded and headed for the lock. Our plans were checked with the lock keeper, time of departure tomorrow from Torksey. He’d call ahead to let the other locks know we were out on the river.
At 9am the paddles lifted to empty the massive lock, gradually Oleanna descended to the current level of the tidal River Trent. We were off, the fast route north, heading downstream with the tide.
Wiggly river navigation
We’ve done this route several times now. The Boating Association charts are always with us at the stern. The red line well worth following. If you stray from the marked channel you can end up grounding on sand banks. This could mean you having to wait for the next flood to float you again. If the tides are heading towards neap tides you may have to wait several days before you can move again, so it’s well worth following that red line, it’s easy.
Go before you fish!
New red signs stand high on the east bank. The camera zoomed in to take a photo so we could see what they said. Ahhh! Yes! There were rather a lot of fishermen out on the banks!
We joined the Geraghty zoom for a short while. Our reception not quite good enough on a phone to join in properly today. There was an update on sofa covers, sadly we couldn’t see the results as everyone was too small.
Us all wrapped up
What a beautiful day. Blue skies, high clouds of many varieties. But blimey it was chilly!
A runner making the most of a beautiful day
Navigational markers on the sides of the river help you to know where you are. Km markers noting the distance from Nottingham. Red and green markers, although quite a few now have lost their tops.
The charts show you what landmarks to line up to, old mills, pylons and white posts. Submerged islands to avoid. Notes on which span of bridges to pass under noted by the graffiti on them. Someone however does need to refresh the graffiti as on Fledborough Viaduct it is now just about rusted out of view.
Fledborough Viaduct
At around the 64km marker we were following the channel round a steep bend when the one and only other boat we’d see today came towards us. There was just enough time for the chap to warn us of a tree in the channel, somewhere! We’re not sure we got to see the tree, maybe that is something to look out for tomorrow.
A boat!
The cold was starting to penetrate the thermals. Hand warmers required. My back gradually making it harder and harder to move about.
Cottam Power Station, not at work today
Ahead Cottam Power Station could be seen, we were nearly there. A warm up inside might do me good, but we’d be in Torksey soon.
Cormorants
A flight of Cormorants sat in trees. The river side of the trees white, was this from a liberal spraying of cormorant guano?
Torksey Junction ahead
Round the next bend the familiar building just before Torksey Junction, then the large sign announced our arrival at todays destination. We turned into the cut, a boost of power to make the move was needed as the pull from the out going tide was still evident.
Mick pulled us up at the end of the pontoon. We’d not be heading up the lock onto the canal this time as we need to head off early in the morning a little before the tide turns. At least today we wouldn’t be shouted at by Tilly wanting to be out.
Coming in to moor
My back was now causing problems, I had to wait for Mick to moor up and then come to open the back doors, the steps at the stern a touch of a challenge. I really hope this improves as I’ve the #unit21 floor to finish painting at the end of next week!
An early lunch and then nothing much for the remainder of the day. Time spent sat down has been followed by time standing, trying to find comfortable positions to ease my lower back. Fingers crossed this is short lived.
1 lock, 16.3 miles, 1 right, 1 boat, 1 twinge that lasted all day, 5 layers to be increased tomorrow, 1 cosy boat, 1 quiet boat, 1 thumbs up thankfully, 2 boaters ready for 9pm.
Since arriving back in Scarborough it’s taken Tilly a while to settle down. She knows where she is, but the house makes odd noises, different from those on Oleanna. Add into the mix our lodger Claire making noises in the morning and singing in the evening, it all makes for a nervous cat. Over the last couple of days Tilly has ventured outside into the static world the house is surrounded by. She obviously remembers the local cats and is constantly looking out for Alan, Betty and Shoes. I have tried to explain to her that none of them live here anymore! But still she looks. The annoying thing for us humans though is that we thought the runny cat pooh would have ceased since Shoes moved away, however it is still lurking in the grass!
I managed to borrow a sewing machine from my friends Dawn and Lee at Animated Objects, so all the costume alterations have been finished. A few small house jobs have been done and I’ve been baking.
I made some fresh curd cheese and a batch of Yorkshire Curd Tarts to use up the pastry left over from mince pies. The slightly orange pastry was rather nice with the curds. Then yesterday I made a loaf of cheese and spring onion gluten free soda bread using up half the buttermilk I’d been left with from the curd cheese. We had to try a bit with our dinner last night as it smelt so good. Very very tasty. A definite recipe I’ll be doing again, there is still enough buttermilk left (now in the freezer) for another loaf.
Snowdrops everywhere in Scarbados
Now that Maud’s Swing Bridge on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal is left open to boat traffic we needed to identify a window of opportunity to move Oleanna up to Goole. I have work commitments over the next few weeks and we wanted to give Tilly a chance to settle down in the house before we’d be leaving her for several days. We estimated the journey would take us a minimum of four days.
Mick checked the tide times, then the weather. Our first window looked good. A couple of days ago he called Cromwell to check on tide times for Sunday. Then a call to Keadby to check times there too. Both locks were booked.
Time to work out how to get back to Newark. The railway line out of Scarborough has been closed for much of this week due to engineering works, strikes and the poor service on Transpennine Express made us look at the buses to York, The Coastliner. These run every hour and currently a single fare being £2, it would be a bargain.
Going over Ouse Bridge in York
So this morning we were up early, breakfasted, a few items packed, soda bread and my work things in case we are held up on route. We caught the 9:10 which was pretty busy already and by the time it arrived in Malton it was chocka, I think we even passed hopeful passengers at a bus stop on our way into York. We hopped off at the station and had a half hour wait for the next train to Newark Northgate arriving a little after midday.
Pontoon B at King’s Marina
We headed straight to the marina as the office would soon be closing. When we’d arrived, we’d imagined Oleanna would be stuck for several weeks, maybe even months, in the end it was only nine nights. Two bags of coal were bought and popped on the roof.
I then headed to buy supplies whilst Mick topped up the water tank and made ready for our departure. I hunted round Waitrose for yellow labels. We’d brought a few days worth of food with us, but needed another couple of days supplies along with milk and cereal. Two heavy bags later, including two boxes of wine, I could drop the gate fob back at the office.
Click photo for recipe
Lunch was had, soda bread, still pretty good even when cold. Then it was time to put our life jackets on and push off, reverse out from the pontoon and say goodbye to King’s Marina. Paula the marina manager came out to wave us goodbye and wish us a good journey. Thank you for accommodating us in your friendly marina.
Goodbye Pretty neighbours
Left. We headed towards Nether Lock where I climbed up a ladder to head to work the lock. The paddles were half raised, it was refilling itself. I turned the key of power and encouraged it to fill quicker, which worked, except the panel still had to work it’s way through all the button presses! It took quite a while before eventually the button moved the gates. Getting my phone out to take a photo of Oleanna coming into the lock, I lost grip and it bounced across the concrete, each time getting closer to the lock edge! Thankfully it stopped a foot short of me having to replace it, a shame the screen is now cracked.
Nether Lock
Back in April last year the levels had taken forEVER to equalise when emptying the lock to come in, I did it twice in one day, so today I was prepared for a long wait again. The lock did not disappoint! I had to press the button several times when it did nothing at all for it to get itself ready to open the gates. But we got there in the end. A helpful couple walking their dogs offered to finish working the lock for me, so that I could get back on. I turned them down, no way would I be climbing down the 12ft or so of lock ladder when below at the lock landing it would only be three foot of ladder.
We passed North Muskham, Muskham Ferry where a group from King’s Marina were enjoying a few pints having come down in ribs. They all waved us on our way.
Fishermen lined the banks. One young lad had caught a fish worthy of a photo, his mate catching one a quarter the size was still eager to have the photographic proof. Then a group of men in waders stood round weighing up the days catch, there must have been a match on by Cromwell Lock.
Muskham Ferry
Mick winded Oleanna to face upstream and bought us into the pontoon. Time to head to the bow to tie up. We don’t often cruise without Tilly on board. When opening a door it is automatic to check to see if she is waiting on the step inside. Don’t let the cat out! She’s never allowed out until we are moored up, yet she is so excited to be somewhere new, she charges to the other door before you can get there. Gentle persuasion is required to keep her away from an opening door, sometimes a ‘Grrrrr!’ is required to keep her eagerness in check, it works quite well. Doors are rarely left open, they always get closed behind you. At times trying to keep Tilly in is a pain, but today there was certainly one big hole without her on board. Hope her magic food bowl has opened up and that she’s cosy on our bed.
1 lock, 4.9 miles, £2 coastliner, 1 train, 1 Lincoln Cathedral in view, 0.5 loaf of soda bread gone, 2 boxes wine, 3 yellow stickers, 2 boaters back afloat, 1 feline boater stuck on dry land, 2 pork chops and 2 jacket potatoes.
It’s amazing how much stuff you think you might need! I said the other day that we wouldn’t be taking as much back to the house as normal, well I think what we’ve left would equate to a small holdall! If it wasn’t for my work things the van would have been half empty.
How much stuff!!!!
Pictures of boats waiting to go through Maud’s Bridge during the hour window this morning appeared on the Trentlink facebook group. Eight boats in all, one that had been waiting at Keadby for almost two months! Later in the day there were more pictures from those who’d escaped and made it out onto the Tidal Trent.
Then late morning a C&RT notice came through.
Update on 31/01/2023:
The bridge has successfully been opened as planned this morning.
An emergency road closure has been secured, therefore the bridge will remain in a open position for navigation traffic whilst repairs are undertaken.
Oh blimey, if we’d known that we’d have carried on downstream, saving an extra long road journey for Tilly. Well at least it’s open and we can start to plan.
Mustn’t forget Tilly!
By lunchtime just about everything was packed into the van. The dishwasher was set going for the last time, fridge and freezer were emptied. We’d made a list and checked it more than twice.
Gas off
Water pump off
Shower head laid in shower tray
Stop cock from water tank off (to stop the water tank syphoning into the shower tray)
Fridge and freezer left open
Duvet in vacuum bag
Yellow water tank emptied
Mini solar panel connected to starter battery
Central heating set to 2C
Tilly.
You’ve forgotten to pack these, I’ll get them out for you!
Ideally Tilly would have visited her litter tray shortly before she was to be packed put in her caravan for the journey. She’d been showing signs of needing to use the facilities, but had turned her nose up at the litter box. Well it was stinky! So I cleaned it out and put a light layer of clean litter in it for her. One sniff and still no visit!
Cat caravan at the ready
Everything was done, just Tilly now. Still no visit. We gave her until 3pm, still no visit! We both walked up to use the shore based facilities, still no visit. Time was up, time for the tussle into the caravan. I so wish it wasn’t a tussle. So do I!
Trucking
Tilly was positioned between Mick and myself in the cab. How long would it be before we needed to stop? Five minutes and into the first layby on the A1. Another three stops were required. Tilly was saying lots, mumbling something about compensation from C&RT for her extended hell of a journey. Poor thing, if our original plan had happened then the journey would have been an hour shorter!
Thankfully there was a space on the street close to the house big enough for a van. Tilly was first out and closed into the utility room for a check over before she got free run of the house. Stop fussing! I need to check everything over!
Stairs and carpets, I like them
It took a good half hour to ferry everything into the house, it’ll take longer to move things to where they should be.
On our journey I’d placed an order for fish and chips from Capplemans, very nice they were too. Tomorrow an online shop will arrive, then I’ll need to sus out how to get a veg box again as Tree Top Press are not delivering for the next couple of months and Mick doesn’t fancy the bike ride out to Suffield to collect one, they are on the top of a very big hill!
Chippy tea
Christmas post was opened. I think I’ll allow myself to keep the cards on the mantle piece for a while, it’s after twelfth night after all!
Claire arrived back from a days work at the SJT. The Comedy of Errors (more or less) has been re-written by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane. It’s now an 80’s musical farce and I believe if Claire isn’t lying there may just be a giant lobster in it, well if you know anything of Nick Lane’s work, that really isn’t a surprise! It sounds like the actors have got their work cut out and that we’ll be hearing lots of 80’s songs over the next few weeks from Claires side of the house.
Christmas time!
Attention turned to tide times on the River Trent. Now knowing that Maud’s Bridge will be open to boat traffic we can start to plan moving Oleanna further up the country. This may be sooner than we’d originally thought. We just need tide times, lock opening times and weather to coincide with windows of opportunity between my work.
Tilly will not be joining us for the few days, as that would be very unfair on her. But we do wonder if she’d prefer travelling by train?!
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 full van, 1 escape pod flattened, 1 seriously miffed cat, 4 comfort breaks, 5 puppy pads, 1 cat refusing to lie down, 1 bumpy road across the wolds, 2 of each, 2 glasses wine, 1 more ball of yarn, 1 lodger, 1 bridge now OPEN!1 cat needing to settle down, 1 blog having a short break, which might be shorter than we imagined.
PS. The email situation seems to have resolved itself. On Wednesday we were informed that the blog was being unresponsive and possibly not loading for some people. Mick was just starting to look into it when we received a second message saying Oleanna was back on line. We suspect that this may have corrected whatever had gone wrong with the emails. Thank you for your comments and glad everyone seems to be back.
A day of more packing. Clothes had a serious edit. Enough pants and socks, pyjamas, a change of clothes should do for a weeks boating. Winter waterproofs left too.
Tilly did her best to assist me. This shelf is empty now, I claim it as mine.
This printer is always in the way!
You need to take this, it’s too big and stops me from getting in here!
This box and this one too. That will make me a nice little den. There must be something in the secret passageway too! You need to open that up. And the other way into it too! Brilliant!!!
Second attempt worked
Unfortunately with all the packing I’d omitted to put enough coal on the fire to keep it going. Kindling on the old coals didn’t work, so I had to start from scratch again. The chimney must be due a sweep.
Bags filled the bed, sofa and much of the floor. It’s amazing now much stuff goes back and forth from the ‘Just in case’ category. I may get a design job, so all my work kit needs to go. Decorating means brushes will be needed. The blankets I had on sale in my Redlocksmakes shop will go to the house and stay there this time for the use of lodgers, better there than under the sofa on the boat. Yarn, some that can stay on dry land, other that might just come in handy knitting socks.
Flat things in here
Thankfully Mick arrived with the van mid afternoon. A trolley then spent the next hour or so moving bags and boxes from Oleanna to the van, no wonder it normally takes three car loads. Crates had come from the house, now all the food drawers could be packed. Minimal bits and bobs and tins left on board.
More packing to do in the morning, we could at least sit down and go to bed again.
Todays left over extras
Bits and bobs needed finishing from the fridge. Time to make a Macaroni cheese to use as much up as possible. 2 rashers of bacon, 3 mushrooms, some beans and broccoli, half a haloumi cheese and some cabbage. These all got heated up and put in the middle of the cheesy pasta. Have to say the beans and haloumi were a very nice added extra.
0 locks, 0 miles, 8 loads to the van, 1 assistant, 2 crates of food, 4 plants and a cat to pack, 1 weeks worth of clothes left, 1 salt and pepper pot, 2 big tins of baked beans, 3rd and 4th balls wound and knitted, 1 Alison!
PS The missing blog emails thing is a mystery. Some people are no longer getting the blog via email, but still appear on the list. Bridget for some reason your email address has vanished off the list, you may need to re follow the blog. Mick’s email was still on the list, but no email, he had to delete himself and then refollow the blog before it would work again. Sorry.
Geraghty zoom topics this morning ranged from travel pillows to loaves of bread, Dr Who effects and there now being a world deficit of Smoke Grey dye. Unfortunately someone, who shall remain nameless, asked if Tilly was aware of our move back to the house. A second later Tilly’s little disturbed face popped up from behind the laptop screenI do now!
Breakfast was blueberry pancakes. I didn’t need lunch today! As I won’t be able to join in on normal Shrove Tuesday pancake making, I’ll be at work, so I need to make up for it over the next few weeks.
Tilly hates car journeys, the stress of them makes her ill for the whole journey. Each time we travel with her we try something new to see if it helps. A vet in Scarborough gave us some happy pills a few years ago, we were to sprinkle the contents onto her food each day for a week before any car journey. We’ve used it a few times now, a natural product which this time seems to have been putting Tilly more and more on edge. Yesterday morning as Mick folded some jeans she turned to him and hissed, ears flat back. This was not our Tilly! And most certainly is not a happy relaxed Tilly! Sprinkles will no longer be added to her food. The bottle of Pet Remedy came out and a spray on a tissue seemed to calm the situation down. Tilly spending much of the remainder of the day asleep on the sofa.
Mick has headed up to Scarborough to welcome a new lodger into the house. Thankfully someone I’ve known for years and she was happy to share with us. We’d hoped to be already settled back in before Claire arrived. Any major winter maintenance, redecorating, will wait for a gap between lodgers. Mick will be returning in a van. We’re hoping we can move in one trip to save on petrol. Hopefully the stress of packing won’t affect Tilly too much. We’ll try to keep things as calm as possible. More sprays of Pet Remedy and playing the fishing rod game to keep her occupied. Whistling Tom please can I book my scratch pole in for a service?It’s got very wobbly!
Ready for the move
There is only so much stuff you can pack to move and still be able to live on a narrowboat. Because our intention is to return to move Oleanna further north when we can, we won’t be taking as much back to the house as we have done in the past. What we need for a weeks cruise needs to be left so that all we have to do is arrive by train, stock up the fridge and go.
I’ve started to pack kitchen things and work related items. Paint brushes, model making kit, herbs and spices. Tilly’s food has filled a big bag, she actually has quite a stock of pink food of the meaty and poultry variety, just a shame she seems to now be preferring fish!
Almost spotless!
As I sorted the galley out I decided to give it all a good clean, a ‘winter clean’ if you like. The hob got a serious going over as did the kettle I bought twelve years ago in New York. That kettle sat on a kitchen shelf in the house for years unused until it moved onto NB Lillyanne nearly nine years ago.
A beef and beetroot curry had been defrosted to eat, leaving only some bread, a few herbs and some sweet pasty in the freezer. I’m thinking I may make some small Yorkshire Curd Tarts to use the pastry up when we’re back in the house. We’ll see, it may just end up in the bin!
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hod of coal, 0.5 ashpan of ash in 24hrs! 1 little thug getting wound up, 0 sprinkles, 2 new smoke alarms, 2 shoe boxes packed, 1 stern deck full, 2nd ball of yarn wound and knitted.
After breakfast it was Mick’s turn to catch trains and head for Yorkshire, leaving Tilly and myself onboard. Since we heard the news a week or so ago that Maud’s Bridge could be closed for a couple of months we’d made plans. Take a mooring here at King’s Marina, move back to the house for it’s winter maintenance when we’re less likely to have lodgers. The move having to happen around my work.
Town Hall designed by John Carr
I walked up towards the station with Mick then headed to Boyes to pick up a knitting needle gauge. My collection of needles is normally well ordered, but having so many circular needles which have very very small writing on them and some being left out of their packs I didn’t know which was which.
The Corn Exchange, when will it have a new life?
I then had a walk around town. We wintered here on Lillyanne seven years ago and grew quite fond of the place. An enforced marina stay for medical reasons had us moored in King’s for a few months, we spent Bonfore night, Christmas and New Year here. Both of us having operations.
Band stand and castle
Since then we have passed through Newark using the fast route from north to south on the River Trent. Being here in the summer hasn’t felt right, coats hats and scarves should be worn in Newark. Then on our last visit we were preoccupied helping our friend David get the help he needed to get well. So on todays walk I had the intention of returning Newark to a place in my memory of Maltings, Brewers, Nicholsons, John Carr, the market, auction houses, Emily Blagg, Polish War graves, the castle, the civil war, all the things we discovered and enjoyed about the town.
The facade of a Nicholsons building
I think I succeeded.
Returning to the boat I stopped off at Waitrose (closer to the marina by a few paces than Aldi) to see what might have been yellow stickered. I came away with a gluten free Calzone and some green veg which I stir fried with lemon juice and garlic. A very nice meal.
Calzone and green
With my knitting needle gauge I worked out which needles I would need to use my birthday present of Riverknits yarn. A showtime cowl, all the yarn with names associated with pantomimes. I settled down in front of the tv and then realised I still had more to do before I could start. Yarn always looks so lovely wound round in skeins, just a shame before you start to use it it needs winding into a ball! With a calm cat on my knee that I really didn’t want to disturb I managed to make a ball of the first yarn I would require. The rest will be wound in turn as needed.
Yarn porn
It’s nice having knitting on the go again. Maybe I should do another sockathon this year. Still plenty of sock yarn to use up, maybe I could get some donated too. I’ve been putting some thought into which charity I would raise money for, there are a couple that are possible. Some more thought needed and which month to do it in?
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains for Mick, 0 sprinkles for Tilly, 3 yellow stickers, 1 calzone, 6 yarns, 1 ball wound, 144 stitches cast on, 4 rounds.
