6:45 Oleanna bumped the side, Off Roader was on it’s way. I peeked out the front windows and could see the light at the lock was red, as the big boat came past it turned to green. The bumping continued for about half an hour until calm waters returned. We seem to go bump a while before any boat is seen, either the lock above emptying or the one below filling. I made sure I tightened our ropes this morning, they had stretched a touch since we tied up.
Shaded in design for story board
I shaded in my ideas for the front cloth for panto. In past years I’ve hand drawn the basic design on all the sketches, but I think this year I may just scan the design and then stick it onto my sketches. Yes I could do all of this on the computer, but that would actually take me far longer and I’d be more concerned with how to do it than what I’d be using it for, designing panto. So I’ll use it as a short cut my way.
I checked in with Frank after his operation earlier this week. He was on pretty good form this morning, Great British Bake Off Black Forest Gateaux setting his gastric juices going. By the end of the day his mood had changed as he’d had news of his next medical journey. My PA duties will continue for a while. I’m beginnning to think I talk to Frank more now than I did when we worked together at the SJT.
The hedgrow being trimmed back
The roofers had said they’d be working all day today, but their van was booked in to be mended so they just turned up to check things were water tight and vanished again! Later on the scaffolders arrived to take the towers down. Mick told them that the roof wasn’t finished, infact it was hardly started! They didn’t believe him so wanted to see for themselves, maybe Mick hadn’t noticed them finishing! Their reaction was as expected, we don’t know who’d told them to take it down, maybe they’d got the wrong site and they should have been dismanteling the scaffoldng where our roofers had actually been working this week!
Sketch for a scene
More scenes of panto were worked through during the day until Mick arrived back. I had a walk up the towpath to stretch my legs and then we tucked into a Sainsbury’s curry with a glass or two of wine. Stocks are pretty low onboard at the moment, so a shopping trip will be required over the weekend.
The blue sky is back
The dry weather is affecting canal and river levels around the country. Last week there was advance notice from C&RT that the Leeds & Liverpool Canal was likely to be put on restricted hours or even be closed to navigation. Today notice was given that the lock flights between Skipton and the bottom of Wigan will be closing at the end of 22nd May, not quite a weeks time. Then the locks towards Leeds including Bingley will be open between Thursday and Monday with reduced opening hours to help support water conservation. Thankfully we’d not planned on crossing the Pennines this year as all routes will soon be closed. The Caldon Canal has also been closed from Hazelhurst Junction down to Froghall, therefore the water feeding into the canal can still head down to the Trent and Mersey.
Mum taking her ducklings for a swim in a rare puddle
Research into our planned main destination for the year, Beverley from the River Hull is bringing up obsticles too. More info on this on another post, but it’s looking like we’ll be postponing our plans to another year sadly.
0 locks, 0 miles, 12 sketches, 2 basic portal designs, 3 scenes still to do, 0 roofing done! 1 set of scaff still erected, 1 Nadia going to win, 1 stern washed down, 2 trains, 1 Mick, 2 beers, 4 glasses of wine.
I opted to walk ahead again today, covering the same route up to Bank Dole Junction that I’d walked a few days ago. Then onwards crossing over Trundles Lane Bridge turning left to walk along the towpath towards Ferrybridge. A lady walked her three dogs, all pretty strong. Other dogs made a beeline for them, smaller dogs barking and straining on their leads for blood! Just what was it about these woofers to cause such a fuss?
Freda’s garden is an immaculate length of the towpath. Roses, Lilies, shrubs all very pretty and cared for by the community in Freda’s memory Freda used to live in a cottage by the canal and she treated the stretch of towpath between Cow Lane Bridge and Shepherds Bridge as if it were her own garden, it is now tended by volunteers in her memory.
Hello!
As I approached the flour mill Oleanna was catching me up, Mick knocked back the revs to accompany my pace. Boats were moored by the amphitheatre, rope added to old mooring ring fixings to make this possible.
The path up high
The path then moves to on top of the bank, a narrow strip of land separating the canal from the River Aire with it’s weir. The flood lock would be open today, so I’d arranged to be picked up just before it, my brisk minutes done for the day.
Ferry Bridge
Out onto the River Aire, under Ferry Bridge designed by John Carr in 1797. This reach of the river used to be interesting, but since the cooling towers of Ferrybridge Power Station were demolished it’s just another river with willow trees exploding their seeds everywhere, the air thick with them.
Someone has tried to add a bit of interest by building a wooden structure, possibly for a tree house or just a good place to launch oneself into the river. Under the A1M, the railway bridge. Then Bulholme Railway Bridge came into view, the lock off the river just beyond it.
Key of Power in hand I emptied the lock, a cruiser was getting ready to come down, so the lady pressed the buttons at the top end for us. Now to find a mooring.
The bank is high here
We didn’t want to be too far along and be near the permanent moorings as the boats there tend to run their gennies late, very late at night. So we were pleased to see plenty of space nearer the lock to tie up to. Tilly got to have an explore, her second outside of the day, before we headed out to do a bit of shopping in Cas (Castleford).
The nearby Premier shop didn’t have anything for my lunches, todays special had been a foot long hot dog, so we had to carry on into town to the supermarkets. Morrisons did it’s best for us and a red onion was purchased off a green grocer. We made sure we crossed the river on the curvy bridge so we’d get some respite from the cars.
Curvy
On our way back to the boat we called in at what we’ve always thought was a garden centre. They had a Thyme plant, my old one bought from a boat had finally died last year. There was also a big bag of kindling which Mick picked up. They also sell a LOT of booze, kegs of beer and bottles of all sorts of flavoured spirits.
This afternoon I went through CV’s of potential props makers and put the top six in order of preference. Then I started to collect reference pictures for Panto. Set in 1890’s France I had a lot to look through on Pinterest and set up a board to look at later.
Just by the dry dock a pretty car
2 locks, 1 open, 8.2 miles, 1 left, 0 cooling towers, 1 lovely garden, 2 outsides, 1 pooped cat, 1 sunny day again, 1 thyme plant, £6 bag of kindling, 1 heat wave now guaranteed to continue, 1 PA catch up, 6 possibles, 6.43 miles walked, 53 minutes briskly, 1 warm chicken salad.
Alarms set both in York and Scarborough. When I woke up I wondered if I’d survive the day! My cold now a touch chesty, should I really be beathing in peoples faces at the hospital? I tried ringing for advice, but when I’d only moved one place in the queue I decided I should head for the hospital before ran out of time, if I was turned away so be it.
Bluebell workshop
In Scarborough Mick greeted a chap who’d come to clean the oven, it’s now all sparkling and gleaming for our next lodgers. We’ve decided to get someone in to do this every year rather than Mick spending a whole day doing it. There was also a chap who came to replace the glazing in one of our recently double glazed windows. We’d noticed it was going cloudy when the sun hit it on very cold days. He made himself a workshop in amongst the bluebells of the front garden, I suspect his touch up paint went off quickly. The lean too out the back also needed clearing out, Tilly’s tree and our barbeque were moved and Mick worked his way through washing the towels and bed linen from our last lot of lodgers, an hour on the line and they were dry.
An empty waiting room
At the hospital I wore a mask and awaited my turn in the Ophthalmology Department. Area B, to A, to C, then back to B for a very long wait. In fact I was the last person sat in the waiting room before lunch. The doctor looked deep into my eyes, then added stinging yellow drops. Her comments were that I had no signs of glaucoma and maybe it’s just the way my eyes are that things aren’t totally visible. But my vision is good, very good, even though I know I miss quite a lot on the periphery vision test. I’ve not been discharged, but will have a recall in ten to twelve months, so I’m happy with that.
A Japanese tourist posing in front of the Minster with hat and glasses on she could have been anyone.
In Scarborough today it’s polling day for our new Town Council. Mick went to put crosses in boxes for the both of us. We must remember to reapply for our postal votes next time.
The river was busy with day boats pootling up and down in the sunshine. Tilly was chased by a couple of woofers, one who wanted to follow her onto the boat, so they got short shrift from me.
An hour of engine to charge the batteries up, I suspect if we’d been sat in direct sunlight all day the solar would have done it for us, but I’d rather have a cool boat.
Sunny tree gobos on the New Walk
Thursday. An earlier start for me to beat Frank to the hospital where he had another appointment today, I really didn’t want to miss this one and arrived before most of the staff. My cold was still loitering so it was another morning wearing a mask. There was lots to absorb and questions to ask, then lots to talk about over a cuppa afterwards. We then walked into town where Frank headed off to peruse the vinyl in HMV and I managed to tick off the start to some secret shopping, it’s May and there’s quite a lot of birthdays coming up.
He’s out sailing again
I returned to Oleanna. My PA role for Frank needed to be handed over to the Scarborough PA. Then some knitting in front of a film which kept on being interrupted by the amount of traffic on the river, you could tell it was a Friday of a Bank Holiday weekend, lots of cruisers heading into town.
I think I’ve had enough of this outside now
In Scarborough today our lean to was dismantled (it would have done it itself before too long), and the now exterior walls have all been covered in black plastic to protect them from the elements for a while. It doesn’t half make the back of the house dark! Mick was back a little after 6pm, so tomorrow we can make a move again.
In flotilla news, all the boats are now in London. Those that hadn’t made it through Maida Tunnel are settling themselves in at Little Venice for Cavalcade this weekend. This did mean they had to get the bus round to St Pancras Cruising Club for a Fund Britain’s Waterways do. Two boats had already made it there, the tunnel is still closed, so they may stay there until they head down to Limehouse to muster for the cruise to the Houses of Parliament next week. Other boats will be heading to Brentford to cruise down the Thames, through the barrier then back to Limehouse when the tide suites. Link to petition, please sign it if you haven’t already.
Blue Bridge over the entrance to the River Foss
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 sparkling oven, 1 newly glazed window, 1 clear lean to, 2 appointments, 2 yellow eyes, 10 months, 2 annoying woofers, 37 day boats, 1 M&S sandwich for lunch, 1 dismantled lean to, 6 loads washing dried, 2 PAs, 1 afternoon knitting, 9.31 miles walk over 2 days, 96 minutes briskly over 2 days, 128 pages, 2 boaters ready to move on.
Showers. Tilly was offered some shore leave, which she took up for a while before retreating inside. I’m a fair weather cat and I like it like that in my older years. Thankfully the showers petered off, not that they’d been very soggy.
We’d toyed with staying put for the day, but our options for shopping were just about none existent and if we left it too long before heading into Selby then it would be Easter Sunday with just about all shops closed. Mick spotted a Tesco Express near to Burn Bridge so that was our aim for today.
Pushing off at West Haddlesey
I opted to walk, at about 3 miles it would be a good way of ticking off the brisk minutes. We both suspected that I’d beat Oleanna as the Selby Canal is really quite shallow, so slow cruising. It also gave me chance to check out the footpath along the first stretch.
Footpaths and towpaths
A big sign showed lots of local walks and that the towpath continued to Tankards Bridge, information already passed on to Paul at Waterway Routes. The footpath was good and obviously well used. I kept my pace up and kept just in front of Oleanna with enough time to pause to take photos.
Paperhouse Bridge with the tunnels/culverts/aqueducts either side
Yesterday I’d crossed Paperhouse Bridge where two round areas sit alongside the canal. Our maps suggest that the canal passes over these on aqueducts, even though they look just a bit like fancy side ponds. But information from the big notice says they have a tunnel, culvert between the two of them. These were designed by William Jessop to collect water and help stop the canal from getting flooded. There were originally four such tunnels/culverts/aqueducts, one has since been filled in.
They won’t budge!
I paused by the high wall mooring. Mick rang. As it was available, should we stop here for the day? Plan changed, he reversed Oleanna back to attempt to moor. There seemed to be quite a few branches in the way. He got the stern in and then with the boat hook managed to pick a branch out. However there were more branches and these were stubborn to shift. Back onboard to try from there, it wasn’t easy. I helped by staring at the branches. But that didn’t even help. After quite a bit of revving we decided to give up and continue to our original mooring.
On we plodded to Burn Bridge. Mick pulled in at the end furthest away from the busy road, under the willow tree. We’ve been here before several times and despite the road it’s a nice mooring. Had something changed? There seemed to be more grass on the bank. The stern came in, but when trying to pull Oleanna in she stopped just that little bit too far out to be able to comfortably step across. The bottom was far too close to the top! We tried again, nope! Not wanting to go any further, or to try mooring nearer the bridge we opted to bring the stern in and have the bow sticking out, after all we’ve not seen a moving boat for a couple of days and we’d still not be blocking the navigation.
Burn Bridge Willow tree
Some mixing and stirring was required by Tilly, some festive baking needed despite watching what is eaten at the moment. This was left to rise whilst we walked to Tescos for a few essentials, we’ll do a bigger shop in Selby tomorrow.
Whilst I added spices and fruit to the mix, Mick chaperoned Tilly’s shore leave. We knew she’d be far more interested in the friendly cover at our end of the mooring, but every now and again she’ll do something unexpected, if that involved the road that would be very bad indeed. I took over once the buns were proving again.
Tree!!!
Mick checked the stoppage notices. The moorings at Burn Bridge have been closed since June last year.
Please be advised that some moorings at Burn are currently unavailable due to ongoing safety renovations. The original footboards, planks, and structure had deteriorated beyond repair and are being replaced along the original banking. Alternative moorings are available at Haddlesey, and Gateforth landing. The notice stopped on 14th April.
The mooring is a quarter of what it used to be
Looking back at old photos, it looks as if they have removed and not replaced the original footboards. This extra few feet may have meant having enough water to get into the side and now it is far too shallow. We’ll have a go at pulling in further along in the morning to see if it’s all too shallow for us.
Hot paw buns with their marzipan prints
All was baked and ready to be a pudding after our main course this evening. We can’t have Easter without Hot Paw Buns! The boat smells all nice and spicy now.
The real thing
The flotilla to London has had quite a few problems today, failing hydraulics on one boat and a second morse control cable has broken. RCR are on their way to fix it tomorrow. Petition Link.
More socks
0 locks, 2.8 miles, 3 tunnels, 1 towpath, 2 attempts to moor, 2 many branches, 1 willow tree trimmed, 1 very jaunty angle, 5 bananas, 1 pot humous, 130 grams cranberries, 12 Hot Paw Buns, 1 willow climbed three times, 2 pairs of socks wrapped and ready to send.
Shore leave was granted whilst we had breakfast. Just outside our hatch and along this stretch of bank were these plants, a little like asparagus. My plant app suggested that they are Common Horsetail.
Common Horsetail?
A boat that had been moored on the off side yesterday came past, a cruiser with an outboard motor. Would we catch them up to play leap frog at the swing bridges? In the distance was Medge Hall Swing Bridge I could just about make out that the cruiser worked it’s way through and then vanished round a rare bend. We pushed off to follow and I walked the bank to get the bridge ready for us.
Medge Hall Swing Bridge
I caught a lift to Mauds Swing Bridge where we caught the boat ahead up. I hopped off to walk to the next bridge and offered to work the road barrier on my side for the chap, but he wanted the practice so I walked on.
The Oleanna crew back in Yorkshire
Another sunny day, no need for coats or thermals by midday. I pushed the buttons at Moores Swing Bridge after waiting for the cruiser to catch us up, then walked on again. He arrived at Wykewell Lift Bridge first, but was mooring miles away from the bridge, which can be quite a busy one, so I offered to press the buttons again, holding up 5 as the two boats came through.
There are a few of these along the railway, does anyone know what they are?
Mick suggested I got back onboard and not to walk to Princess Royals Bridge, it would have helped me clock up a few more brisk minutes, but I hopped back on board, knowing I’d be needed at the bridge.
The cruiser chap pulled in on the wrong side to operate it, we pointed out where the bridge landing was, he moved up as I hopped off to get the process of elimination going on getting the bridge to work for us.
That’s a touch too fast chaps!
I turned the key, an audible click! Blimey someone had actually closed the bridge fully. Three barriers clicked into their closed position, the nearest was reluctant, but after some wiggling from cruiser chap and myself it eventually made a noise. Sat watching were three men and a lady in a wheel chair. I asked if this was their usual Friday afternoon entertainment, it seemed it was. I pressed the open bridge button, the siren started woopee! It then takes what feels like a few minutes for anything obvious to happen, Cruiser chap was about to wiggle gates again, I persuaded him to just be patient and actually it would be good to go and get his boat.
Through THAT bridge
He was after services, I pointed out where they were, it looked quite busy at the finger pontoons. He said he’d carry on to Bramwith for the next services and off he went ahead of Oleanna. Mick pulled us in against a narrowboat at Thorne Marine. Mooring up a little tricksy around the shorter boat. He’d estimated we’d need about 80 litres of diesel, the pump clicked off at 79.5, but then a top up from there added 14 more litres.
With the temperatures due to fall in a few days we wanted some more coal. They sold Newheat so we got a couple of bags to keep us going, maybe until the autumn. Then we asked if they might have a grub screw. We’d lost one from the front door handle and the catch seemed to be playing up a touch. The chap brought out a box and Mick and he rummaged through to find the right size (M6 for future reference), this was free with our purchase of coal and diesel £1 for domestic today.
Pulled in at Thorne Marine
The finger pontoons were full. The cruiser that had moored up when we were topping up with water two weeks ago was still there. The boat that had caused a lot of bother winding etc. We carried on, our preferred mooring above Thorne Lock. Here volunteers were on duty. The chap who doesn’t say much was on duty, he very gently fills the lock and another fella seemed to be on barrier duty for the swing bridge.
Helping with the barriers and bridge I chatted to this chap. The cruiser from the services was heading towards the lock now. Apparently they had been called to the boat a couple of days ago as someone was in difficulty, they performed CPR but sadly had no luck in reviving them whilst the emergency services arrived. A chap who’d been on the boat legged it when he heard that the ambulance and police were on their way. Later on this chaps body was found on the boat, the cruiser had become a crime scene. The volunteers had been asked if they could move it for the police, the chap I was with refused, not wanting to go back on the boat.
Thorne Lock
Reports in the local papers a few days latersuggest the first person had collapsed in the street, their death unrelated to the death later in the day. So some of what the volunteer told me was speculation. However the second death is being treated as murder and two people have been arrested, but released on bail pending further investigation.
Mick pootled Oleanna up to a free space opposite Staniland Marina, this would do for all of us. Tilly vanished off to play in the woods for quite sometime, another stamp of approval awarded. We needed a few things for breakfast so I headed up to Lidl, the rest of the shopping will be done another time. We also looked at the bow door handle to replace the grub screw. The bar inside the handle was too far one way, so required a bit of adjustment so that it wouldn’t keep slipping.
1 lock, 6 bridges, 7 held up plus numerous pedestrians, 1 boat leap frogged, 5638 trees to climb, 94 litres diesel, 40kg coal, 1 grub screw, 1 door handle fixed, 4.92 miles, 44 minutes briskly, 400grams blueberries, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.
With a few days before the next suitable tide for us to return downstream from Cromwell we have some spare time around Newark. Ten years ago we spent the winter months here so got to know it pretty well.
Town Lock newly painted
This morning there was a prescription to collect from Boots, grub screws to be hunted out as we’ve lost one from the handle of the front door. I’d come across mention of an artisan gluten free bakers, that had to be worth a visit and maybe even a suspension of my current avoidance of baked goods.
We set off individually, I headed to the bins by the flood lock trying to clock up brisk walking minutes and then into town crossing over Town Lock and up to near the castle where there is this house for sale.
Grade 2 with period charm!
Round the shops and the Friday market. No bakers in Chain Lane sadly, just cuddly toy pastries, pies and cakes in one window.
The market wasn’t half the size we remembered it to be and just where was that really good tool and hardware stall, nowhere to be seen. Maybe this was the wrong day for them. Some clothes, plants, a glutenfilled bakers and what seemed to be a cauliflower stall, the white heads piled up and very few other veg visible.
Guaranteed to be gluten free
Into Boyes, would they have grub screws, nope! A walk down the other end of town where Wilkos used to be, some new development going up there. With none of the smaller items on my list found I then walked up Barnby Gate to find Hills the art shop.
The market and Parish Church
But where was it? It’s always further than I think, but I was certain the shop front I stood in front of used to be the side with all the racks of paper and card. Next door thankfully showed signs of artist equipment. I went in.
I was after some heavy weight watercolour paper in an A3 pad and some mount board. I chatted to the assistant. They have had to let out part of the shop to keep going, their main business picture framing, the sale of the odd tube of white paint wouldn’t keep them going. We discussed watercolour paper pads, only one quite costly option, then mount board which was £10 a sheet! Flipping heck it’s been a while since I bought some. When the assistant returned with two very large sheets of mount I was told that they were £10 for A0, they could cut them in half, but half a sheet would still be £10. I chose to take all the sheet, but if they could cut them in half that would be far easier to store on Oleanna.
Cauliflowers and plants
Before I left with my big package under my arm I made sure I thanked them for still existing, finding a good art shop is getting harder and harder and certainly one with stock that you can look at and feel near impossible. I may even have said we’d come to Newark specifically for me to visit them, only half a lie.
Some pretty colours
Back at Oleanna we had lunch, Mick had succeeded in buying a pork pie. I wrote some more blog, quite a bit to catch up on and getting on for 700 photos from two days of the Fund Britain’s Waterways Cruise to edit.
Squeezed into the drawing board slot
The Brompton then accompanied us back into town, our chosen supermarket was to be Morrisons, here we hoped to find everything we’d want under one roof at a reasonable price. After an hour we headed back to Oleanna the Brompton earning it’s keep once again as a sherpa.
Mick also spent some of today trying to get tidal locks booked. The West Stockwith phone number was on answerphone and suggested to call the main CRT number, which he did. They said you should be able to book on the number he’d called, but try Keadby.
Loaded up
Times and dates were discussed with Mark at Keadby. Our original plan had been to head to Torksey, wait for the level to be right to go up the lock for Tilly to have some shore leave for a day, before making our way onto West Stockwith, then should the tides be right we’d carry on to Keadby the following day. However we’re now into neep tides and the likelihood of being able to get over the cill at Torksey was slim. Our message would be passed on to West Stockwith.
The Sonning no longer moored below the castle, now sold and possibly in Hull
Later the Lockie from West Stockwith called, he’d had a missed call. Times, dates and tides were discussed. We changed our plans. Up to Torksey, no point in waiting to see if there’d be enough water to go top side. Instead we’d head onwards to West Stockwith the following day and have a couple of days on the Chesterfield canal before carrying on to Yorkshire. We were booked in at all relevant locks, three more tidal days. However Mark at Keadby had mentioned that Vazon Sliding Bridge was currently out of action! This would mean we’d only be able to get to Keadby and not onwards to Thorne. We left our bookings as they were, there was no official stoppage notice from CRT. Should we need to find a different route in a weeks time then we’d look into going round Trent Falls/End as we have somewhere to be. Hopefully by then the bridge will be sorted and our original plan will still work.
The Palace Theatre panto cast
The Campaign Cruise made it to Nottingham County Hall steps yesterday, today they all cruised through Nottingham, some carrying on to the Soar, other stopping at Trent Lock where the Erewash, Soar and Trent all meet at one big cross roads.
Various photos and bits of footage have been gathering, so I thought I’d share them with you. Thank you to people who have taken photos of us on Oleanna, a rare thing as I’m usually the one behind the camera.
The original plan for today had been to wind, tie up again with the port side to the bank. Then I’d be able to wash down that side of Oleanna. Then we’d wind again and start making our way along the Stainforth and Keadby Canal to Thorne for a top up of diesel. However, it was way too windy to be winding so much. Was this just here where the canal is quite exposed? Or was it everywhere?
Looks okay to me!
We decided to push onwards and hope for a space on the otherside of the lock and swing bridge where it might be more sheltered. I walked on ahead leaving Mick to push off against the wind, having the lock ready might be a good thing if he had to crab his way towards the lock without getting too familiar with the moored boats.
First manual lock of the year
First manual lock of the year, windlass in hand, long extended beams. I was about to find out what my knee made of pushing gates. I lifted the paddles to fill the lock, unhooked one chain holding the gate in its closed position, waited until everything was equalised. Then pushed making sure my feet were straight ahead of me and pointing straight, this is one thing my physio had been insistent on for my stretches. The gate moved as requested and not a jot of pain in my knee! Hooray!!!
Hello David, we’ll have more time to say hello soon
I crossed over the bottom gates to open the other side of the lock giving Oleanna a bigger gap to aim for in the wind. It looked as if it was taking Mick quite a bit of doing getting off the bank, but he made it in the end. Oleanna dropped down the lock, I already had the key of power to work the swing bridge ahead so walked on after closing up the lock.
Press the button
The sun was out, but boy that wind was strong. I crossed the bridge, no traffic in sight or audible, I pressed the button, a car appeared from nowhere! I paused the operation then started it again. Swing done not one vehicle held up. Time to find a mooring. Mick tried a couple of times to bring Oleanna in and then found a stretch where she came into the bank, well until the wind caught her determined to have her moor on the off side. We got her tied up in the end.
You’ve missed a bit! I haven’t started yet!!!
Our new aim was to get the port side washed then move on up to Thorne to be able to fill with diesel. The buckets were filled with water and soap, roof emptied of planks and poles, Tilly let loose on the towpath. I worked from bow to stern, first the roof then the cabin side, the bank too high to do a good job on the side of the gunnels.
Pumping tyres
Mick pumped up our tyre fenders, went fishing for the spare club hammer that had fallen off the pram cover as he pulled them up. All the time the ‘Moderate’ wind (according to the BBC) blasted across the canal. A few boats came past. A narrowboat towing a cruiser zigzagged its way towards us, almost into the bank then into the offside trees.
Look what I caught!
With the washing done we decided to stay put for the day, the wind too string for us to battle with it, the forecast much better for tomorrow. All day we’d been listening in to BBC radio, today was Adam from NB Briar Rose last day with the BBC. One comment on Instagram was the usual Good Luck with your new life. I nearly replied, Looking forward to seeing you in your new life! I wonder how long it will be before our bows cross somewhere on the network.
A cat and her boat
Time to top up on the walking. Unfortunately my Active10 app hadn’t been working so far today, so I wasn’t sure how many brisk minutes I’d done, I hoped it would still be keeping track. I plotted out a route to include some of the Bramwith circular walk along the flood banks of the River Don then back from the next road bridge along the towpath.
Long shadow on a high bank
A sign at the first stile suggested my chosen route would not be possible, bank repairs were taking place. I decided to walk to see if there was a way round them to be able to loop back on myself. Lots of green and clouds skitting along the sky, wonderful.
Then sadly about a quarter of my way into my planned route I was aware of something a bit odd in my vision. Was this a migraine coming on? I looked this way and that, got my phone out of my pocket, the signs were pointing towards a migraine, only one thing for it but to turn round and head back. Thankfully the flood bank is straight but the location of the high stile wasn’t visible. I got home safely, found the box of pills in the cupboard and sat down for much of the remainder of the afternoon. An early night called for.
1 lock, 0.9 miles, 1 bridge, 0 held up, 2 waves to David, 0 eggs, 0.5 clean boat, 1 cat up a tree shouting about it, 3.18 miles walked, 40 minutes briskly, 1 headache, 2 blowy to do much.
Viking Marina to Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal
Maybe someone goes to work early, moving their car from beside our mooring, maybe it’s because Mother Nature is waking up extra early, maybe the docks were being that bit noisier, or maybe I’d just had enough sleep by 6am.
This morning I wanted to get quite a bit done, mostly to do with the aim of emptying the water tank. The immersion was switched on after boiling the kettle, cuppa enjoyed in bed with Tilly keeping my toes warm. Stretches done in front of the sofa and stove, almost enough room! Immersion turned off, shoes stowed in the shoe cupboard, boat hoovered through. Immersion back on.
On the sunny side
A shower, dishwasher loaded and turned on. Ahh but I’d forgotten to make myself a cuppa to go with breakfast! It’s not recommended to have the electric kettle on at the same time as the dishwasher. Yes I could have boiled the water the old fashioned way on the hob, but I couldn’t be bothered.
Mick had finished jobs at the house, he’d returned the van and was on his way back on the train. ETA 11am. I was running out of time to do all I’d wanted to tick off this morning. I managed to get half the floor washed before Mick arrived wanting to be let in the gate. As I finished with the mop the kitchen tap was turned on to drain what was left in the tank.
On Mick’s last visit to Oleanna, he’d started the process of disinfecting the water tank. We don’t normally do this, but as the water had been left for five months we felt it best. The water currently in the tank still had traces of the disinfectant, we’ve been using water from the outside tap for drinking and cooking since we arrived. Once the tank was empty we set the hose filling it up again and headed over to the office to hand back in our fob for the gate and say goodbye.
We enquired if ABP still did a booklet of tide times. Now that it’s all available on line they sadly don’t. Mick had wanted a paper copy at hand as we’ll be on tidal waters quite a bit this year, but he’ll happily make do with them online.
Goodbyes said, the last rubbish disposed of we were finally ready for the off. It being Red Nose Day, Oleanna’s faded nose was attached to the bow fender.
The switch on the Nebolink went on, we’ve still not fitted a voltage sensitive switch. A plan of action was made to extricate ourselves from the mooring. Reverse back to the big boats behind, then with blasts from the bow thruster bring the bow round past the other boats, hoping the wind would then catch the bow to help rather than hinder our manoeuvres. Job done we were facing the right direction.
Mick gave a blast of Oleanna’s horns just as we peeked out onto the canal. Two tones, red lipstick and red nose, if anyone had been there to witness it she’d have turned heads!
Goodbye Goole, Thank you again
The visitor moorings were full, a boat headed towards us. Sadly a grey overcast day, so not as picturesque as when we’d pulled away a couple of years ago, heading into the sunset. Yet it was good to be on the move again.
The little hut like boat seems to have made themselves at home, possibly pruning the trees on their mooring. Someone at the visitor moorings at Rawcliffe Bridge has added a 1 to the 2 day mooring sign. Our first update for Waterway Routes.
Quite a hazy day. The water getting choppier by the minute
A boat headed towards us from the other side of the M18 bridge. My new camera being tested out with it’s zoom. Wearing my reactive glasses outside, does mean it’s hard to actually see what’s on the screen of both my phone and camera. The phone I can adjust the brightness of the screen, I’ll have to see if I can do the same to the camera.
The log house looked to be in the same stage of completion as it was five months ago. It looks as though people are living there now and a big wave came from inside. Lots more Alpacas in the fields than I remembered.
Not sure what that look was for
Round the bend at the breach site. The breach here happened just before Christmas in 2020 and took until August or September to be open again. The breach on the Bridgewater is far bigger and could well take years before any boat traffic can navigate on the embankment again.
New Bridge Buoys
Five months ago CRT had started work on bank repairs on the Aire and Calder. This is where when the breach happened the piling along the sides of the canal started to cave in in places due to the lack of water helping to keep it upright. Buoys have marked the areas for years. A small section by New Bridge has had piling added to it to aid the original piling to stay upright, this means the bank isn’t flat, so buoys mark the pieces jutting out.
New animal escape ramps by new inviting piling
But after the first true bend in the canal there is a length that has had new piling and an animal escape ram added. The piling round here is chunky stuff, chains required to moor to it. We considered pulling in to see if this would make a good mooring, but then spotted signs asking not to walk on the bank whilst the grass establishes itself. Maybe we’ll try later in the year.
It doesn’t look as secure as windsurfing does
Someone was zooming along the reservoir with an inflatable sail. Not sure what this sport is called as it’s not windsurfing. We’d spotted WB Yorkshire Pud up ahead, a boat we look out for and usually see somewhere around here. Time to turn towards the south for us onto the New Junction Canal. No-one was moored on the posts so we pulled in and tied up.
Hurry UP!!!!
Tilly quickly got herself out from her hiding hole on the bed. Jumped onto the Houdini shelf to check the outside. STOP Phaffing! Let me out!!!! Don’t you know I’ve been waiting 10 tails, three paws and an ear for this moment!
But first things first, she’s never allowed straight out of the boat. We have to make a note of our location, using What3words and grid reference. Then the rules were recited, not that she was listening! Then and only then the doors were opened for our second mate to head off to explore. Time for a late lunch for us.
There she is by Went Aqueduct
I’d hoped to get my walk in this morning before leaving Goole, but had run out of time. So instead I walked along the New Junction, swapping sides at the next two bridges and walked up to Sykehouse Lock. Waterway Routes has different colours for towpaths. Red is cyclable, purple walkable, dashed purple is walkable where there is no towpath. I did all three. Well I can add to this that brisk walking is fine on red paths, not so good on purple as it has the potential for ankle twisting, better to walk at a slower speed. My challenge this year is going to be keeping up my brisk walking, at least 40 minutes a day, I may have to venture off the canal to achieve this and there may be days on rivers that it is impossible, but we’ll see.
Back at Oleanna a chicken was popped in the oven to celebrate being back out on the cut and to make use of the freshly cleaned oven! We had the same chap as last year back to give it a good clean as neither of us fancy getting on our hands and knees.
There’s a good view in both directions from here.
Tilly made use of shore leave and was fascinated by a mole hill that kept on expanding with no friend in view!
Still a few more things to stow away and a big box to cut down to a specific size, maybe that’s a job for tomorrow.
Springing
0 locks, 6.5 miles, 1 wind, 1 right, 1 left, 4 hours! 4.6 miles walked, 57 minutes briskly, 1 lucky mole, 1 roast chicken, 2 happy boaters and 1 happy cat being on the move again.
Our journey continued down to London Town, conversation regarding Oleanna’s boat paint as we headed southwards. We shouldn’t chose a painter just because his paint shop is in the shadows of cooling towers! This wasn’t the case but Tom was certainly in the lead.
The traffic was bad in places. Our satnav decided to take us on a short detour at one point, handy as it avoided standstill traffic and took us past Wansford Station where we’d moored a couple of years ago on the River Nene. Good Christmas lights were seen, no time to stop to see any of the trains though as we were directed back onto the A1 in time to see the field Tilly had gone AWOL in until well after dark.
Ziggy checking over the local news
It’s been sometime since we drove to my brothers in Hackney and we nearly always get the turn off wrong, but this time I’d remembered to look out for B&Q, then there’s a really tricksy junction to get on the right road. I think this is the first time we’ve done it without a single hitch and thankfully there was a parking space not far from Andrews front door.
Josh was home from University and we had a very pleasant evening catching up, eating a seriously chunky beef bourguignon and drinking maybe just a little bit too much wine. Good to see them all for an evening on our own.
Friday some of the morning was spent sending, or trying to send our email Christmas card. Why does it always have to be so hard? But we got there in the end. What to do with ourselves for the rest of the day?
Selfridges windows not as good as I remembered them being
We didn’t really want to spend any money on going to a museum or a special exhibition. For some reason the Wallace Collection came to mind. Mick checked out a route by bus and we were off heading into London. Three buses later we pulled up outside Selfridges, their Christmas windows were okay, but not quite as slick as I’d expected.
A Christmas staircase
Now it was lunch time, we ended up with an M&S sandwich each sat on a bench outside the Wallace Collection, their cafe menu a touch too expensive for us. Time for some culture. Hertford House in Manchester Square was the home of the Seymour family, it’s named after Sir Richard Wallace who built the extensive collection along with the Marquesses of Herford in the 18th and 19th Centuries.
I was expecting quite a good collection but nothing by any means as large as it turned out to be, 25 galleries housing arms and armour, furniture, porcelain and so many paintings from the 15th to 19th Century. Yes you will find The Swing by Fragonard, much smaller than I’d thought it would be, The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals to name just two of the very famous paintings in the collection.
There are Watteaus, Velazquezs, Rubens, Rembrandts, Gainsboroughs, Canellettos, Van Dycks all great stuff amongst lots of Francois Bouchers fluffy pink huge canvases which don’t really do anything for me. I walked round spotting paintings I’d learnt about in A Level art, but then pin pointed paintings that stood out to me.
What an elaborate ruff
My favourite was simply called A Dutch Lady, by M.J. Mierevelt. She was just at the right height to have a conversation with. Her 1628 ruff exquisitely painted. I wanted to ask her so many questions about life in the 17th Century and why she wasn’t named on the frame as many were.
Mick, Rob and Nick
Then we hopped on buses out to Camden, catching glimpses of the canal as we crossed over bridges. A quick call in to drop off a Christmas present with Christine and Paul before we met with my friend Nick and his Canadian friend Rob at a pub just round the corner. I’ve known Nick since we were babes in arms, for some years we went to school together, then did our Art Foundation course together too, we’ve never lost touch. The frequency meeting for drinks on Christmas Eve has dropped in recent years, parents no longer calling us back to York for Christmas. So it was very nice to be able to exchange presents face to face, have beer, food and conversation this close to Christmas.
Saturday was the main reason for our trip down to London. Regular readers will be excused for not remembering what we got up to 10 years ago on the 20th December. Back in 2014 we joined all the Geraghty family for a vintage bus tour around London to celebrate Marion (Mick’s sister) and John’s 40th Wedding Anniversary. Today was naturally their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Interesting buildings in the complex
Andrew and Jac joined all the generations of Geraghty family and friends for the day. Meeting up at Richards flat on the Isle of Dogs we had nibbles and a glass of fizz whilst every one gathered. Then a five or so minute walk to Masthouse Terrace Pier on the banks of the Thames. There waiting for us was an Uber Clipper hired for a trip on the Thames. Marion and John had originally booked a smaller boat, but the toilets weren’t working they’d had an upgrade to a much bigger boat.
Our boat for an hour or so
With about 40 of us onboard there was plenty of room, you could stand out on deck or stay inside with a window seat, where ever you fancied really. Soon we pushed off, two other boats were waiting to come in. Off upstream we headed. Downstream of Tower Bridge boats go fast, it was quite exhilarating stood out on deck at the stern.
The first 2km of our cruise was water we’ve not cruised on Oleanna, in fact I think I’ve only been further downstream on a Clipper for Kath’s 50th birthday when we headed to Greenwich. When Canary Wharf came into view we were now on water we’d cruised on the night time flotilla in 2022. Past Limehouse Lock, now landmarks were familiar.
Sadly the weather wasn’t on our side so many of the taller buildings were only just visible . As we approached Tower Bridge we were all called towards the bow, where John and Marion put on floral garlands to mark the occasion of their anniversary.
Tower Bridge
Under the right hand span of Tower Bridge. Landmarks were pointed out to the youngest of passengers. Places of work were pointed out to new victims and sisters by Mick.
We were moving quicker than we did on Oleanna, the bridges coming one after the other. It was handy to have Waterway Routes up to confirm the names as we passed underneath.
Occasionally John would go on the tannoy, pointing out places of interest in his and other passengers lives. The National Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, the Tattershall Castle that many a Geraghty had crossed the Humber on. The exclusion zone in front of the Houses of Parliament seemed to be smaller than I remembered it.
Houses of Parliament
We made it under Vauxhall Bridge but sadly not quite as far as Battersea Power Station. It was in view though and everyone got a good view as the clipper winded to return us back to Masthouse Terrace Pier.
Power Station in the distance
The first time we’ve been under the centre span with it down
Then it was back to the flat where a chap had been laying out a fantastic buffet from The Space Bar. Drinks, conversation, speeches, photographs and plenty, I mean plenty of food was enjoyed. Then there was cake! Not just one but three types of cake! What a grand way to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Congratulations to Marion and John and thank you for sharing it with us all.
Speeches
Back at the London Leckenby’s we fell into the sofa and didn’t do much for the remainder of the evening.
Cutting the cake
Presents were exchanged on Sunday morning, then we climbed back into our little car and headed back northwards. A pause near Cambridge to refuel and have a substandard breakfast before we carried on up the A1, M18, M62 and then back across the Wolds to Scarborough.
Knitting two together so as to not run out of yarn
Tilly was very pleased to see us. David our lodger had been feeding her whilst we were away, but he’d left food for our return, Tilly apparently hadn’t been impressed with not getting her dingding earlier than normal and she’d been quite noisy about it after not being spotted for three days.
Back in Scarborough before the sunset
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hire car to London, 3 London Leckenbys, 2 cats, 1 huge gallery, 1 oldest friend, 1 whiffy pub, 5 buses, 1 train, 1 clipper, 40 passengers, 50th anniversary, 50 golden balloons, 2 much yummy food, 3 cakes, 1 gluten free take away box of brownies, 1 lazy evening, 1 pleased Tilly to see us, 1 poorly baddy!
When I installed the new LiFePO4 lithium batteries back in the spring of this year, I had ordered cables that were too long. Better too long than too short! At the time, I didn’t have the right tool for cutting the big chunky cables (35mm²) nor a tool to crimp new terminals onto shortened cables. In my 40 year career in telecoms and IT, I didn’t work with thick wires, the wires I normally dealt with were only 0.2mm². So I left the battery cables long and tucked the surplus away in a corner of the engine bay.
Monitoring the charging of the batteries over the summer I noticed that the batteries rarely get above 27.3 volts while charging from the alternator and the current, whilst it starts off high at 80 amps or so, quickly drops to 30 amps and stays there for hours. The domestic alternator on Oleanna is a Beta original 24 volt 100 amp. Here is an example from a long day (for us) cruising. Ignore the big downward spikes, they are where we put the kettle on.
My suspicion is that the charging specification of the alternator doesn’t get up to the 28.4 volts that are required to quickly fully charge LiFePO4 batteries. But that is more complicated to deal with so as a first step I thought I’d shorten the cables. I purchased a pair of cutters and a crimping tool as well as some terminals. Tools (and pictures) from https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/
Equipped with these tools I took a train ride down to Goole. I turned off the inverter and disconnected the incoming 230v supply. I turned off all the DC systems at the isolators. Both domestic batteries got disconnected at the terminals and from the positive bus bar. I pulled back the spare cables from the engine bay to the inside battery that is located in a cupboard just through the bulkhead, measured how much I needed to connect, took the plunge and cut the cables. I took just under a metre or so off each cable.
Cables before cuttingInsulation cut back and heat shrink sleeving attachedCopper terminalReady to crimpCrimping tool ready to be bashed with 4lb club hammerCrimpedHeat shrink sleeve heated
Time to repeat for the negative cable.
It was then on to the battery in the engine bay. The same length of each cable was cut off, stripped back, terminal applied, crimped, and heat shrunk.
I reconnected all the cables, thought about things for a while and turned everything on. No smoke or sparks so that was good.
The engine was started while I monitored the current going into the batteries.
The values were slightly higher than before but not hugely. Time will tell but for now that will do. I am going to investigate external alternator regulators to try to boost the charging voltage. A Mastervolt Alpha Pro III is top of the list but further investigation is required. I’m also wondering if I shouldn’t get a marine electrician to look at it and do the job.
Time to pack up and go home.
Oleanna tucked up in the marina
Since last posting we have enjoyed bonfire night in Scarborough. I, Pip now, have spent many of the last six years being busy on panto, normally painting the floor. Only able to hear the occasional pop bang whizzzzzzz of fireworks from Chippy stage, so this year I was determined to see some.
Scarborough has a tradition that people light fires on the beaches and along with that come fireworks, no need to go to the organised display. So we caught the Coastliner bus to Peasholme Park and walked down to the Corner to see how much beach close to high tide had left in the North Bay.
Freddie on Bonfire Night
There were hundreds of people, several fires all huddled onto the 20ft of sand. Plenty of people had fireworks, just how much do they spend?! But it did mean we got quite a good display once we’d decided to move away to a safer distance. There seemed to be a bit of a duel going on between the bottom of the castle cliff and up by the beach huts, We stopped to say hello to Freddie and check he was alright, before walking around Marine Drive where fishermen sat on the accropodes with head torches and luminous lines on their rods.
The South Bay with the Grand Hotel in the background
Round in the South Bay there was more beach with a huge fire. People huddled round as others set up rockets facing out towards the sea, a bit more of a comfortable space and the road to be able to watch from. The beach was strewn with spent fireworks, just how much had gone up in glittering whizzing bangs? Certainly none of them had come from the sort of selection box I grew up with. The Scarborough seafront more than made up for the last few years.
Quotes have been coming in for house and boat jobs. Most of them twice what we thought they’d be. Some careful consideration will be needed before we make our minds up.
The cavolo nero has lasted us over a week
Veg boxes have started again.
Mick has been tidying up the garden and making use of some two year matured compost, we’ll see how the wild flowers like it.
A visit to the Stephen Joseph Theatre to see The Whitby Rebels, the true story of Captain Jack Lammiman who took a crew of unlikely misfits on a voyage to the Arctic. Three of the actors are old friends so it was great to see them, they had the better parts in a show that we weren’t too convinced about, it felt as though several ideas had been put together and none of them managed to take the lead. But it’s a local story and the audience seemed to enjoy it along with the huge set.
Just a few ingredients!
A day was spent in the kitchen, a second go at the chicken, leek, ham dauphinoise pie. This was tasty but as I’d used soya cream it was nowhere near as tasty as when I’d used double cream. I’ll write the recipe up if anyone fancies a go at this self indulgent pie!
Left to Right. Mary Berry crunchy top, yummy pie, River Cottage GF super nice lemon drizzle cake
There was to be a Leckenby get together and my job was to do pudding. A request was made that there should be a takeaway version for Josh to take back to University. So one gluten free posh lemon drizzle cake and a gluten filled lemon crunchy topped cake for Josh were made.
We caught the Coastliner across to York where we got a full tour of the London Leckenby’s holiday let that they have invested in this year. Andrew and I grew up in York and it’s been 11 years since we sold our family home, so it’s rather nice to be able to meet up in the city once again. Andrew and Jac have been taking advantage of gaps in bookings to have a few days in York and putting their mark on the flat. Standard pictures of York have been replaced with pencil sketches Dad did of the bar walls, I may even sneak in a painting of my own.
Set to work!
The letting agents had advised them to deck the flat with Christmas cheer as guests expect such things from now until Christmas, so illuminated trees were already in position. Left over baubles were handed over to me to make a wreath for the flat door, good job I’d taken my glue gun with me expecting I’d be given a making job.
Lovely Salad
A leg of lamb was enjoyed along with lots of wine to celebrate us all being together in York. Plans are afoot for a special get together next year, we may bring our own accommodation on Oleanna, though. The sofa bed was okay but has been put higher up the list of things to be replaced in the flat, we’d been guinea pigs. A lovely evening with the London Leckenbys and a very early start to Christmas. I hate to think what Granny would have thought!
Hello!
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains, 4 shorter cables, 2 bays of fireworks, 3 buses, 1 very wide boat, 2 boxes of things for Oleanna, 1 wreath, 2 lemony cakes, 1 special pie, 1 Leckenby get together, 1 river view, just.
