Tag Archives: Thursday

(Actually) 12th June

A Doctors Walk. 5th June

Aire and Calder Navigation.

This morning I had a telephone appointment with a GP in Scarborough, I’ve some wonky levels in my blood, which they are keeping an eye on. I checked phone coverage throughout the boat. Pretty poor, not unexpected. I tried out the stern, bad. Out the bow, that was much better, ahh no it dropped to only one bar! Would I have enough signal for the call?

I worked through my panto model notes, then decided that I’d take a walk up to Woodlesford where the signal is far better, there was still an hour left of my appointment window, perfect to do both things together. I had to bully Tilly off of her throne so that I could go out, then I strode on up the cut towards the lock.

Past the road bridge signal improved greatly. Onwards past the lock and along the track heading for Fishpond Lock. I was surprised at the number of boats still moored on the towpath that had arrived when we were there. No phone call so I crossed over the lock gates and started to head back. More wooden birds seem to be on the roof of one boat, think it’s my favourite with it’s swan neck.

Then it started to rain. I took shelter under trees, my walk would soon have me leaving good signal if I kept up the pace anyway. Gosh the level was down. By the lock the bywash usually thunders away was just a mere trickle today, maybe C&RT were expecting a lot of rain so were compensating ready for it’s arrival. Looking at the river level over the bank, that had certainly gone up, less gravel visible.

I crossed back over the lock and sat on a bench for ten minutes, still no phone call. After a while I decided to give up and risk the doctor calling when I was back at the boat, I’d done all I could, but couldn’t afford any more time away from work.

An hour later my phone rang, sticking my head out of the side hatch I managed to get sufficient signal for my call. Still wonky levels, I’m booked in for another blood test with extras in 3 months time, nothing to be alarmed about. You have to take them at their word really.

The roofer had been! He’d looked out of The Shed window from a ladder and said what we thought he’d say, the leading needed replacing, he’d be back tomorrow to do it. Great, if he turns up. Mick had just about got the house ready for lodgers by now, but decided he’d stay one more night to be around for the roofer.

The white card model was worked through again, all done and dusted. Did I really need the second (or first) pair of sliders? We’ll see. I then had a go at making paper roses. We need a way of making them, that is simple but effective, for volunteers to make, we want quite a lot of them. I tried origami versions from the internet, some good, some so hard to follow I gave up quickly, others just ended up in a mess if you weren’t concentrating, so not ideal.

I then tried one where you cut rings of petals then glue them together. Bingo! That’s the way to go. I made several sizes and one that will go on the proscenium so it had to be at 1:25 scale. It was quite fiddly, but I got there. Wonder if I’ll be as sucessful with paper that starts off as 2ft squares?!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 roofer Hooray!!! 1 white card model completed, 3.22 miles walked, 47 minutes briskly, 1hour 10 minutes late, 1 borderline, 1 rising, 3 months, 4 lovely roses, 1 diddy one for the model.

Lock Stuff. 29th, 30th, 31st May

2 Replies

Aire and Calder Navigation

Thursday I spent working on the storyboard for Panto again. Editing out options, adding in the basic set to all the drawings and working on the one scene that’s still not quite right took most of the day.

**The Christmas present felt catnip balls have been requested recently**

I walked down one side of the river passing one bridge and crossing the next, opting to take the path inside RSPB St Aidens. The path occasionally gives you a view across the lakes that once were an open cast mine, the river lurks behind many trees on the other side.

Soon I came across what looked very much like a disused lock. A gate recess first giving it away, then curved walls at what had been the entrance to the lock. A mooring bollard and a couple of now bent lock ladders peeked out from the earth that now fills the chamber. I checked Waterway Routes, locations of old locks are marked and we quite often try to imagine what places would have been like.

In 1988 the river bank near the Lemonroyd Lock collapsed into St Aiden’s open cast mine which then of course flooded, lower seams of coal that had been mined collapsed in too, to a depth of 230 ft! An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1992 to create a new 1.9 mile waterway. Kipax and Lemonroyd Locks were replaced with one big lock, the new Lemonroyd Lock. It took ten years before mining could continue at St Aiden’s after the site had been pumped out. The coal reserves are now exhausted and the land is once again flooded and is an RSPB reserve covering 740 acres.

I tried to find where the top gates had been, but had no luck as the land levels out and covers any evidence.

Friday. I forwarded the new storyboard to John at Chippy. There had been a staff read through of the latest draft during the week, footage posted on social media, my storyboard sat in the middle of the table. Time to crack on with the model, lots of propy set pieces this year, so my bead tray is coming in handy. I spent much of the day inventing things panto style.

Late afternoon a familiar voice saying Hello could be heard, Mick had returned from Scarborough having picked up a hire car. Well it was meant to have been a van, £20 a day rather than £60 for a car, but the only van they had was a transit which would be an inch taller than the car park Mick would be heading to in the morning, so he got an upgrade to a car. An evening off work for me and a vat of Yaxni made, which will last us for a couple of meals.

Saturday. A very early start for Mick, off the boat by 6am. He was heading to park in the centre of Liverpool and to then meet up with Marion and John for a trip on the Waverley out to Angelsey and back. A van, petrol and parking were far cheaper than a hotel for the night. If you are lucky he might come along and tell you about his voyage. If I’m lucky I might be able to upload a photo from the trip, but the internet here seems to be getting worse!

There was one egg left that needed eating so the start of my working day was delayed by some blueberry pancakes, well Mick was going off for a treat so I could have one too! Then Tilly and I got on with what is now just a normal day for us. She sites on the roof hatch whilst I work. Then she gets ushered indoors for me to go out for a walk, just around the block today including a trip to the bins. Just gone 11pm, I’d just tidied upmy work when Mick stepped onboard, he’d had a good day if a bit breezy and I’d managed to finish of the model for Act 1.

0 locks, 0 miles by narrowboat, 1 Paddle Steamer to Angelsey and back, 1 car not van, 3 days model making, 1 storyboard finished and sent, 1 gafforing read through, 1 Queen of Oleanna, I wonder if we could trust Tilly to lie on her bed as we cruise? Nope, she’d be off hunting as soon as the oportunity arrived!

The Power Of Kate. 22nd May

Aire and Calder Navigation

Hang on what was that on the windows? Rain! We’d had rain!! However the towpath was dry. Brrrr! Chilly! I actually lit the stove this morning. I knew that by mid afternoon it would be warm inside, but that would have meant sitting in the cold working for hours. Today I wanted to be productive so being comfortable was more important than saving on coal useage.

A couple of emails went back and forth between Chippy and myself, then it was time to get the mood right.

A couple of years ago a friend said how inspirational listening to Kate Bush felt. I have to agree, I’ve listened to her in the past and found to work better. Today I sorted through the CD’s onboard, a limited number. For some reason we rarely listen to music, maybe because on NB Lillyanne we had no means to do so. Cricket, podcasts are the occasional norm, but today I needed the boost that Kate would hopefully bring with her. Maybe it’s because I know all the lyrics, so she doesn’t take up brain power, her quirky songs keeping you on your toes, the atmospheres conjured up. I don’t know, but it seems to work. Today was going to be long, so I added in some Kate Rusby, maybe she’d give a different inspiration.

In Scarborough, the roofers finished by late morning, an invoice landing in our inbox. We now need to get a decorator to call by to finish off the guttering he’d not been able to reach 18 months ago, then we’ll be ready for the next phase of works. Months ago I’d pulled out the paint, put it so I thought in the shed so it would be easy to find. However, No matter how much he looked Mick could not find it. 15 minutes of him going through the tins of paint in the understairs cupboard via Whatsapp, no I’d definitly put them somewhere else. I held off asking if he’d done a boy look in the shed, now I had to ask. Have you looked behind the door in the shed? The answer, NO! There they were!!!

**Finished! Well they want to play golf tomorrow**

Mick bought himself a new electric saw to make use of the old roof battens, chopping them up for kindling, one side of the coal bunker filling up quickly.

***This outside hasn’t changed in years!!!***

Sketches were quickly done, ideas drawn, some erased, others kept. I think Kate was helping lift my mood, far better than listening to depressing podcasts about crime and WW2. There was time to walk to the bins and around the block, not the full number of steps or brisk minutes, but enough to get some air.

A quick stop for some food and a chat with Mick, then back to it. Propelling pencil put down at 10:30pm. A good day, hopefully! I want to see if I come up with any more ideas tomorrow then send them off again and await the verdict.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 round the block, 16 sketches, 2 lists, 10 hours, 0.5 new roof, 1 boy look! 1 very bored cat, 1 toilet roll who’s days are numbered!

Minutes Not Hours! 8th May

Sykehouse Junction, New Junction Canal to Stubbs Bridge, Aire and Calder Navigation

Shore leave was granted this morning for 90 minutes. 90 BRILLIANT!!! As we finished breakfast Tilly got a call from the hatch, this was shortly followed by me putting on my shoes to do the mad cat woman up and down the towpath. Yesterday we’d been joined by NB Ampere so I even had witnesses to my calling into the friendly cover.

**We’re seeing lots of big broods this year**

After five minutes or so I thought I heard Tilly’s bell. It gradually worked towards me and she popped out from between the nettles. You said 90! It’s no where near 90 hours yet!! She reluctantly headed towards Oleanna, her moves suggesting that if I didn’t grab hold of her soon then we’d be waiting for quite sometime whilst she decided whether to use shore based facilities or not! Thankfully I managed to pick her up quickly without too much of a Rugby tackle, the onboard facilities used quite promptly and would have ended up being her choice anyway.

**Lots of egg shells and skeletal remains on the towpath**

I clicked the Nebo link to on and then headed off to walk ahead with the key of power in my pocket. Along the New Junction to the bridge over the Went Aqueduct then along the towpath towards Pollington Lock. Back in December 2020 or January 2021 Mick and I walked the last stretch of this trying to get to see the slipped banking that happened after the big breach on the Aire and Calder. A pleasant walk with only a couple of slight bends, no sign of Oleanna following me though until I’d got quite close to the lock.

Two boats were just coming into the lock, three people wearing life jackets walked from one end of the lock to the other, there were volunteers on duty. The area around the lock always looks smart so I suspect they spend most of their time cutting the grass etc, but today they were being kept busy with boats.

The bywash pushed the exiting boats towards the towpath, not enough umph applied, where as Mick knew what was coming so upped the revs and zoomed through into the lock.

I’d achieved my brisk walking for the day, but was short on steps, however over the last couple of days my right calf has been complaining, I think after trying to open Beal Lock, so I decided that that would be it for today, leaving some stretches of the Aire and Calder yet to be walked.

**Different surfaces and textures around lock gates**

No volunteers at Whitley Lock, Mick hovered in the lock so the paddle held him to the side, it’s a side filler and if you stay on the left hand side going up it’s easy. On past Eggborough moorings, the same boat still moored here. We are getting to recognise the local boats that nudge up and down the Aire and Calder and wonder if we’ll be considered to be one of them in the coming weeks.

We pulled in a little earlier than we had done the other day, managing to find rods in the chunky armco to use chains to moor up. Tilly was given 4 HOURS shore leave. The roof here was a very good vantage point, but before I could make the most of it I had to make sure everything on the roof was still mine. Strange noises of cat scratching came from the roof as Tilly made sure that pesky grey cat’s scent was eradicated from everything.

Work wise I worked through my annotated script adding my notes to a list, from this I now know where each scene is set, what it requires set pieces wise and whether it is a front cloth scene or full stage scene. Some of the scenes may reuse the setting from an earlier scene, but they also may require different bits and bobs of dressing.

**Yesterday outside the Houses of Parliament**

The campaign cruise left West India Dock this morning and most probably split three ways, some back in at Limehouse, others Brentford and the rest up to Teddington to head up stream on the Thames. Petition if you still haven’t signed it.

2 locks, 8.2 miles, 2.98 miles walked, 48 minutes briskly, 2 outsides, 1 cat who only works in hours, 1 mad cat woman, 5 pages notes, 2 scenic breakdown, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://what3words.com/newly.springing.gladiators

Empty Waiting Rooms. 1st/2nd May

New Walk, York

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Arrivals. 24th April

New Walk, York

Awake again at 7am with the University rowers. A while later a couple of sculls came down from York Rowing club, the lady asking her friend about boats moored along this stretch. There are only two of us, the other up by the Foss which we’ve seen elsewhere , it does have the look as if it might be staying for a while. Her friend said boats moor up for a couple of days and then move on. She said something about how there obviously wasn’t any enforcement. Well there are no signs to say we can’t moor here or back by the Foss, we’re not exactly in anyones way. Well maybe the trip boats are winding a little bit sooner than they were a week ago, but only by a hundred yards. So we don’t have a problem with it and she shouldn’t either.

A slow morning. I wanted to print off some things , so Mick left me to it and he went to have a look at the station works. Once I’d finished off what I was doing I took a walk along New Walk to Millenium Bridge, crossed over and walked back up the other side of the river past Rowntrees Park. There is a caravan site here and motorhomes were arriving in a steady stream.

Some preparation for tomorrows party, I’m in charge of pudding so made a batch of sweat pastry from a new recipe book I got at Christmas. I’d got so far with it when there were Hellos from outside. Andrew and Josh had arrived for the weekend, having driven up from London in a small van bringing the old family dining table with them for the flat in Fishergate. They’d been thinking of swapping the flats existing table for a while as it wasn’t really large enough for six. So a return to York for the table Dad had made and that we grew up with was perfect especially for this weekend. We had chats and a cuppa, then they headed off to await a Tesco delivery followed by Jac who’d be arriving later by train.

Pastry finished and a batch of what looked like nice rosemary crackers, however they turned out to be a little disappointing, a river bank hair cut for Mick.

Time to finish my walking for the day, up a snicket between houses that I hadn’t noticed before, checked the opening times at Alligator, a wholefood shop that’s been there since the 70’s, then walked down streets where school friends used to live back towards the river bank. Sadly a great fish and chip shop has gone, time your arrival close to closing and you’d get double helpings. The Wellington Pub is awaiting new management to run it, a lovely little pub. I was tempted but I couldn’t spot the bar billiards table that used to reside in the side room, so that was a deal breaker.

***This outside is getting boring now!***

In flotilla news, word is that Denham Deep Lock should be open again on Saturday afternoon. We’ve got our fingers crossed for all the boats heading to Cavalcade and the Campaign Cruise to the Houses of Parliament.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 mardy rower, 3.2 miles walked, 56 minutes briskly, 1 batch pastry, 24 crackers, 5 tinged, 1 brother, 1 nephew, 11 pictures, pair 65 cast on.

Nothing To See Here, Or Here, Or There. 17th April

Whitley Lock to West Haddlesey, Selby Canal

Sunshine!!! Not much wind, a much better day for cruising.

We pushed over to the other side to fill with water and empty the wee tank. Jobs done I headed to the lock with the key of power to empty it ready for Oleanna. Today no glitches in the system, last year there had been a power cut so the panel hadn’t worked for quite sometime and the lock had been temperamental too.

A little chat with Richard from NB Isabella who were now moored above the lock. I wonder where we’ll see them next?

Today we wanted to make up for not moving yesterday, so at least 2 hours cruising required. We passed quite a few familiar boats from these parts. A pylon caught our eye as it has three sets of arms. Then a Leeds Liverpool Short Boat Mersey, looked like it had recently been blacked.

Past the huge slag heap to the south, a new distribution centre to the north, the solar farm and then the rubble which is still Kellingley Colliery, one day it will show signs of progress, one day.

At Bank Dole Junction we turned the tight right towards the lock. It’s been five years since we’ve cruised this way, would Bank Dole Lock work without problem. In the past it’s been an extreamly slow filler, in fact we once had to go away and come back the following day after C&RT had to remove silt from around the bottom gates so that the lock could make a level.

As I started to fill the lock a car drove up, a gongoozler ready to lend a hand with the gates. He’d never seen a boat come through the lock before and because there were a few weeds in the top gates he’s assumed it wasn’t used anymore. If he saw some lock gates around the system with their fully grown gardens he’d have quite a shock!

**An interesting level marker, possibly EA**

The gates are heavy, the paddles endlessly turn, but it all worked fine and we were down onto the River Aire with it’s twists and turns.

I used to enjoy the river, meandering back and forth, three power stations to spot, Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough. The first of Eggborough’s cooling towers were demolished in August 2021. Ferrybridge started to be demolished in 2019, the last of the cooling towers detonated in March 2022. Now only the most distant power station still stands, Drax, only occasionally visible above the banks. So there’s nothing to see here, or here, or there! The river is now just brown, green banks and sky.

As we were getting close to Beal Lock Mick had a phone call from his friend Chris from The Pink Narrowboat. Chris is currently walking from Lands End to John O’Groats raising funds for Hope and Homes for Children. It’s his 70th birthday this year and he’s hoping to raise £70,000. But being Chris he’s not only walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats but back again too! He’s currently posting a video on his channel every day, today being Day 15 on the Somerset Levels and along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

At Beal Lock we paused for lunch. This is where Houdini our first second mate discovered she could swim! Tilly wasn’t allowed shore leave, we wanted to carry on and we’re not too keen on her going out on pontoons. The lock cut has recently been given a tidy up, very little growth between the pontoon and the bank, I wonder if all the Himalayan Balsam will return later in the year?

The lock only has a small drop. Today I didn’t even bother checking the level boards as back at Bank Dole the river wasn’t even in the green! Below back on the river there was quite a bit of noise. This next stretch can sometimes have speed boats with water skiers in tow. Today however the boat that was speeding around was a touch too small to pull a skier along, it just went round and round in circles far quicker than Oleanna ever could! The chap came up to lend a hand with the heavy gates, he then said he’d race us to the next lock.

Tighter twists and turns. One day, will a flood end up creating more Oxbow lakes or do we now manage water too much to allow such things to happen? Still no power stations, oh well!

We’d heard of a boat having been in trouble along this stretch in some floods this winter. Alistair from Goole had been called out to the boat, but there was nothing he could do to help in the conditions. We thought it had been a widebeam, but today the only boat out of the water was a narrowboat.

**Through the flood lock that protects the Selby Canal**

West Haddlesey Flood Lock was open to us, no need to operate paddles or the very big gates today, we just sailed straight through and pulled up on the mooring.

Our location noted, I took a quick look at the OS map, plotted a route to see the weir and back through some fields and headed off so that five minutes later Tilly could have her shore leave without following me.

Along the river bank, I kept my eyes open in case I could see a widebeam on the bank. Nothing to be seen. Then into Chapel Haddlesey with the hope of crossing the river on the A19 to then join a footpath to the weir. But there was no footpath along the road, it’s a busy road, so I wasn’t going to risk it. Instead I carried on walking towards St John’s The Baptist, it had caught my eye because of it’s Rapunzel like tower. Rebuilt completely in 1836 and extended a couple of times, with tower and spire erected in 1891. Sadly the door was locked, a quick check in the graveyard for any access to the river bank, none obvious but I did spot George Best’s grave stone, from 1934.

**George, wonder if he was a good footballer**

Back the way I’d come, then across fields towards Paper House Farm where a track crosses the canal. No footpath shown on my OS map and no towpath shown on Waterway Routes, I chose to carry on along the footpath, across fields of Rapeseed and down into the village. An interesting looking Indian Restaurant where there was once a pub. On reaching Tankards Bridge I noticed that there was a path alongside the canal towards Selby. When we come back I may investigate further.

**Footpath through a hedge near Paperhouse Bridge**

Tilly had had shore leave, but wasn’t impressed by the young lads fishing Can’t they read the signs! Even I’m not allowed to fish! A pot of chilli was put on to cook.

Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla news. Some boats had a day exploring Bletchley Park, we can highly recommend it too. Others stocked up at Tesco and Aldi in Leighton Buzzard continuing on southwards. Link to petition

4 locks, 1 a flood lock, 10.6 miles, 3 waterways, 1 right, 1 left, 15th Day, 1 speeding boat, 2 donkeys, 1 tower, 4.49 miles walked, 63 minutes briskly, 2 outsides, 1 vat of chilli.

https://what3words.com/seasick.appealing.cowering

Too Keen. 10th April

West Stockwith to between Godnow and Medge Hall Swing Bridges, Stainforth and Keadby Canal

Today we gave ourselves longer to get ready. We’d been told 7:45 in West Stockwith lock to then wait for the tide to turn. Of course today we were quicker than on other mornings of late and arrived into the lock 15 minutes early. Mick went to chat to the Lock Keeper whilst I watched the incoming tide whizzing past on the river.

We were far far too keen and early, we had to reverse out of the lock again as they were expecting a boat from Keadby to come up first. Oleanna was brought out of the lock and we tied on the lock waiting mooring, no land access so we couldn’t go and watch the boat come in.

The lock was emptied, ropes attached to bollards ready to hand down to the boat, then the keepers disappeared inside. Nothing was heard on our radio but then I spotted a cruiser go past the closed lock gates. Was it heading on to Torksey?

A few minutes later the keepers were back the two chaps who’d seen us up a few days ago. The gates were opened, the cruiser could be seen nosing up towards them. Obviously their approach wasn’t as it should be, so round they went again, that current whizzing along. This time they lined up better and in they came and were penned up.

Now we moved into the lock. But there was to be quite a wait for the tide to slow to slack water at high tide. The tables suggested this would be at 8:20, but the lockies know it could be 20 minutes or so later. Sure enough at 8:40 the river stopped moving, time for us to hang onto our ropes and descend to its level. Mick popped Oleanna’s nose out of the lock, I could see both ways, all clear, thumbs up, we turned to the left and headed down stream.

It being a touch later in the morning and that we’d had cloud overnight meant we’d have no fog on the river today, instead it was just grey!

The charts only have a few places where there is a channel shown in red for this stretch to Keadby. I noticed a couple of anomalies where landmarks are marked on the charts, but in the wrong places. Thankfully not too critical, but a church is quite a good landmark if it’s in the right place.

Lots of pipe line signs, pubs to pass as we started to catch the out going tide up. Our speed increasing the further down stream we got. On reaching the M180 bridge Mick radioed ahead to Keadby, the lock would be ready and waiting for us.

Under Keadby Bridge. I moved up to the bow ready for the lock. Oleanna was brought over to the west side of the river, the light at the lock red! I could spy the Lockie, the light turned green.

Once nearing the lock Mick turned Oleanna to face the out going tide. Was he too close? Had the sand bar just outside the lock been dredged? Would he turn the bow at the right time and give her plenty of wellie to get into the lock without touching?

Yes! Thank goodness as DC Lincs, the Lockie was filming us.

**One man and his boat safely off the river**

Once clear of the swing bridge we pulled in for water and breakfast, the tap quite slow so we didn’t need to rush things. Then on to see if Vazon Sliding Bridge would work today. We’d been warned a few days ago that there had been a problem, but heard on the grape vine that it had been sorted the same day. We still had our fingers crossed.

We had quite a wait hovering mid stream. This turned out to be for a couple of pedestrians to cross the railway, then the warning was sounded and the bridge slid out of our way.

**We were through just in time for a train**

Vazon Swing Bridge however was obstinate. It did as it had done ten days ago, moving a foot and then jamming. Bumping it, trying to close it, bumping it again eventually worked. Maybe the weight I’ve lost this year isn’t helping! Or maybe the fact that there is just gravel under your feet so no grip available.

I got it open in the end, but had to call Mick back as it did the same when I tried to close it, stopping short. I had planned on walking to Crowle so Oleanna was already on the way. Mick reversed her and came to lend his bottom to the beam. I suspect I’d eventually got it closed, but I’m also aware of my knee and not wanting to put too much strain on it and end up back where I was a few months ago.

**The fish painted by members of the community**

Now to walk to Crowle. Plenty of fishermen to keep Oleanna slowed down behind me for a while. There is a sculpture with painted fish on it, quite apt for all the rods in the canal.

The towpath is a track, a good surface to keep your pace brisk on, but the canal is straight, very straight! Mick caught me up close to a bend.

I then had a pause to look at the metal flower sculptures on the bank. Five varieties of flowers, the flag iris is obvious, but the others? Purple Loostrife, Cow Parsley maybe. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Mick picked me up under the high bridge at Crowle, then we continued. Through Godnow Swing Bridge the level crossing keeper busy chatting away to another person in bright orange. We opted to moor up where the railway line goes away from the canal, there’s a drainage ditch between the canal and some houses and a road. We also could get right into the bank which had no holes for unsuspecting feet to fall into.

Four hours Tilly! She made use of many of them. A stamp rewarded again today.

The Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla lead boats made it close to the top of the Watford Locks today, the remainder of the boats headed into Market Harborough. I suspect a touch of shopping required and maybe some services.

2 locks, 18.6 miles, 2 lefts, 2 keen to be away, 1 perfect entry, 1 full water tank, 2 late breakfasts, 4 moveable bridges, 8 held up at the 1st, 10 days on a 3 day mooring, 0 working engine excuse, 3.07 miles walked, 50 minutes briskly, 1 warm afternoon, 4 hours, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://what3words.com/cabin.clouding.stereos

Penning Them Up. 3rd April

Hazelford Lock to Kiln Pontoon, Newark

A lie in, Tilly wasn’t impressed by the morning view, ah but I remember what lies at the top of those huge steps! Once we were up and dressed shore leave was granted for two hours. On previous visits to Hazelford Lock Tilly has been a little reluctant to go up the big steps to see what laid above, but once she’d got up there she was kept busy. Today she charged up to the top, claimed some wooden railings for herself and was gone out of view for quite some time. Well I remember outsides just like you do, but from different heights. This one has a lot of friendly cover and could keep me going for days!

A shame that at 10am when Tilly came in we decided to go out, the VHF radio needed to be on higher ground for us to hear any activity from the Campaign Cruisers, they now seem to be known at Waterways Warriors! We walked up to be by the lock, the radio crackled after a while a few times. Then there was Alan from NB Aladin radioing someone.

Mick replied, saying that so far there was no sign of a Lock Keeper at Hazelford, but we were here with our key and ready to pen them all up. Alan replied and relayed the message to the following boats. They would be about 40 minutes, we were early.

**Radio in hand listening to channel 6**

Alan radioed again whilst passing Fiskerton, this is where we’d radio a Lockie from, hoping they’d have the lock ready for us. The flotilla had stretched out somewhat and he’d underestimated their cruising time. We decided to get the lock ready for them as using the boaters pedestal you can’t just lift the bottom paddles and it be done in a jiffy. No, you have to wait for that flippin flashing light to stop before lifting the paddles a couple more inches with another button press and it always seems to take forever for the level to be acknowledged before the gates will open. I checked above the lock before we started to empty it, no sign of anyone approaching the top side.

Then eventually NB Aladin appeared round the bend, he slowed on his approach, he’d touched the bottom whilst coming past Oleanna. The others followed with quite big gaps between them and pulled up to line up with the blue risers in the lock. The natural inclination is to stay as far back as possible in these big locks, but if we were to get everyone in one lock they would have to nudge up a bit.

Four abreast with quite a gap at the rear of the final three narrowboats, Mick managed to get Cruiser Amourouse tucked in at the back with plenty of space for us to close the gates behind them.

Our space on the flotilla now taken by NB Kallisto who will be with them until Nottingham. We penned them up and then wished them all a final farewell. Our plans take us back northwards this summer, so we’ve come on a bit of a detour to take part in getting things rolling on the cruise. We’ve really enjoyed our time with them, but now it’s time for us to turn round and head back the way we’ve come. Hopefully in the future our bows will cross with them all at some point, somewhere.

Above the lock a narrowboat appeared, it winded and then held it’s position. It looked very much like they would be joining the flotilla too. How great would it be if as the flotilla passes boaters join in for a mile or two to show their support for the campaign. Of course at the moment it’s easy to join them with big stretches of river and huge locks, it’ll be harder once they get on the canal in Nottingham as only two, not eight boats will fit the locks.

Back at Oleanna we decided to give Tilly some more shore leave and have lunch before departing. A phone call was made to Cromwell to check on tide times to Torksey over the next few days. We need a bit of time in Newark to restock then we can be on the move again. We booked in for our second tidal lock. Mick then called Torksey to see if we’d be able to get up the lock the day we arrive and when would be best for us to carry on to West Stockwith, the chap couldn’t help much about times, best to talk to the Lockie at West Stockwith.

Tilly came back for Dreamies and a toilet break only to find the back doors now firmly shut, time to head down stream. I was not impressed!

Back down stream, passing the power station (nowhere near as impressive at the one’s we’d passed on the tidal river, I wonder how long the cooling towers will stay? Past Leicester Trader, the Parish Church spire came into view.

Mick radioed ahead to see if Town Lock had a Lockie, he got an answer but it was from Cromwell, the Lockie in Town had left an hour ago so it was on self service. The Key of Power would get some use, here you can whack the paddles up to fill the lock should you so wish, all whilst the lady keeps on repeating herself and you burn your fingers on the buttons whilst opening and closing gates.

**Newark Castle a touch quieter than yesterday**

There was space at the end of the pontoon a few more boats having arrived since yesterday. First thing after apologising to Tilly again that there’d be no more shore leave today was to fill the water tank and water the strawberries.

Time to go for a walk. I headed back to above Town Lock crossed the bridge where the flood gates are, further into town, once round the market square. The wonderful building opposite the church, with the tiled shop front is up for sale. I’ve always wanted to know more about this house. It’s Grade 2 listed and has three bedrooms! Far bigger than I’d imagined with a walled garden too!! The mirror and furniture in the drawing room are well worth a look.

I then carried on down past the Palace Theatre and on to Newark Northgate station, a quick check for any yellow stickers in the M&S foodhall before crossing the river to do the same in Waitrose, but nothing jumped out as a bargain so I left with two bananas and a pint of milk.

1 lock, 8.5 miles, 8 in a lock, 3 hours shore leave, 1 happy cat, 1 disappointed cat, 1 lock booked, 1 full water tank, 4.15 miles refresher walk around Newark, 50 minutes briskly, walk3 jackets baked in the stove with chicken coleslaw for tea.