Tag Archives: Tuesday

Portals. 23rd 24th June

Busy, But Empty At Goole. 17th June

Sykehouse Junction to Goole Visitor Moorings

No shore leave was granted this morning, we needed to reach Goole before Viking Marina shut up shop for the day. We’re used to their winter opening hours when they close at midday. Mick reversed us back to the junction, a touch of bow thruster had us turn beautifully to face the east and Goole.

I decided to opt out of the long stretches of canal this morning and headed back below to take over the dinette table and do some work. A look at what I’d done yesterday, a bit more of this, a look back at my Mucha reference. Most pantos have black lining, the scenery outlined in black paint. I’ve only done this once when actually I went into over-drive black lining with lots of hatching. Mucha uses a colour similar to that in the overall painting, different weights of line and not everything outlined either. Things are grouped together and selectively lined.

By the end of the hour and a quarter to Goole I’d made lots of decisions and started to paint up a sample of the cyc, backcloth which is very painterly this year. A few adjustments in tones and that should all work nicely.

Up top Mick spotted a Goole Escape boat WB Lullabelle. Martin and Wendy, moored at Rawcliffe. Back in 2021 Oleanna, Lullabelle and Sea Maiden all made a bid for freedom from Goole and headed up stream to Selby after the Aire and Calder breach. Tomorrow we’ll be doing the same cruise, but most probably on our own. Wendy waved, a shame not to be able to ask if they’d made it over to Liverpool a few years ago.

The shed moored close to Goole Caisson let me know we were close now, I bobbed out to the bow as we came in past the ever increasing number of big barges. Straight down to the service mooring at Viking for diesel. Two boats were breasted up there, we slowly pulled in and asked the lady on board the outside boat if we could breast up. It was fine, although I had nowhere to tie the bow line to as they were a very short boat and it was too far to throw a rope over to the next boats T stud. Centre line onto their grab rail and stern line.

As Mick walked down the gunnel to secure us his phone rang, Selby Lock confirming we’d be able to pen up with them tomorrow and he made a booking for the following day to head on up to York. Time for chats with next doors crew and Hannah whilst being three abreast and a boat was being brought round from the slipway to go onto a lorry. If we’d been a little bit later I’d have got a photo of three abreast and a double decker. Diesel 85p.

**One boat about to head for waters new**

On our way into Goole we’d noted the lack of boats. No-one on the visitor moorings and only one boat moored opposite the gravel place. We’d be fine for a mooring tonight….. except! A boat came from that way, a cruiser from over there, plonking themselves on the visitor moorings a gap between each of them. We had enough room to pull in for water, but that was it.

As our tank filled Mick walked up to the auction centre to see if we could moor there for an hour whilst we visited the Coffee Dock for lunch, this was fine. I phoned Frank for a catch up and to wish him well for this week. Then we nudged up and headed for lunch.

Jacket potato and a panini were enjoyed in the outside/undercover area. All the time we kept a watchful eye on the boats out front. One was moved away by the marina staff, but we weren’t quick enough to grab that space. Then the cruiser started to untie, we lunged at the opportunity to move, thankfully we’d just finished our lunch.

A quick wind and we squeezed ourselves into the new space which was only just long enough for us, nestled in next to the tug Little Kirkby. How to tie up when the bollards aren’t that tall and the other boat you need to share with has wrapped their rope round the bollard three or four times so there’s little room for your rope. They’d also tied off at the bollard. I passed the bow rope under theirs and did my best to tuck it in. If you follow Oleanna on Facebook you’ll have seen the discussions about ‘dipping the eye’ this week after I’d posted a photo of a bollard with four ropes round it. Here’s an explaination on how to do it and if everyone knew about it mooring up and leaving would be a whole lot easier.

More work required today, I set about scanning the drawn out pieces of model with the aim of then using carbon paper to trace them onto thick watercolour paper so I could paint them, then cut them out. I scanned them and then printed them out, try as I could I couldn’t get the image printed the same size as the original. I enlisted the IT department, eventually we managed to find a program that worked. So much for having everything drawn out by the end of the day!

**Try outs completed, now to do it for real!**

Off Roader arrived around 7pm, far higher in the water by about 6ft! They only paused for a short while before we heard our VHF jump into life, they were headed for Hull, due to arrive at 3am. A while later Little Kirkby chugged into life behind us. Mick had chance to chat to Karl who was headed out to help one of the big ships who’s bow thruster wasn’t working. He was back an hour and a half later. Little Kirkby is pretty noisy so we’re glad he didn’t be come back at 2am!

Mick did a shopping trip. He looked round Boyes to see if they might have an airbrush I could buy. No chance, neither did Argos! It’s looking as though I might have to buy one via Amazon and get it sent somewhere. Needs must unfortunately. He also gave Sean at SPL covers a call to see if he might be able to help with our pram cover side, we now have a rendez vous with him at Selby, being local we should be able to get a new side quite quickly.

This evening I cast off my 200th sock for Dementia UK, that’s 100 pairs in the last three years. Pair 101 is going to need some thinking about which I don’t really have time for at the moment with work, so they may get bumped down the line a touch.

0 locks, 6.6 miles, 3 winds, 100 litres diesel, 1 full water tank, 0 brisk walking, 1 calf getting a good rest with hopeful improvement by the weekend, 0 shore leave, 1 chat with Little Kirby, 1 jacket, 1 panini, 1 big pot of decaf tea, 2.5 hours to print the right size, 100 pairs, 1st episode of Traitors season 2 NZ!

https://what3words.com/overlaps.invite.plausible

STinky!!!! 3rd, 4th June

A Touch Wet Under Paw. 26th to 28th May

Aire and Calder Navigation

A refill of the water tank, we’d been using the washing machine and had had to top up on the electric too. A shower for me whilst the tank filled so that I’d not need to head to the water point this week. Then just as we were untying to leave it decided to rain, not much thankfully. Sarah waved as we pulled out and turned back towards the canal, maybe next time we meet we’ll be able to have a longer chin wag.

We pulled into the first available gap alongside the road that leads to the marina and awaited a supermarket delivery. Stocks were quite low and the wine cellar under the back steps nearly empty! With everything stowed we pulled away again and went to find a view for this week, away from badger holes. Mick added a spring line and we hoped that our chains would be strong enough should Off Roader come past heavily loaded.

Time for Tilly to stretch her legs again on the towpath after being cooped up for a few days. With boat chores done Mick packed his bag and headed off to catch a bus into Leeds and then the train back to Scarborough. The roofers are returning to the house to tidy up, Mick thinks he’s found a probelm on a different bit of the roof! Time to get the house ready for our next lodgers.

Late evening I recieved an email from John, he’d spent all of Bank Holiday Monday working on the script for panto. There were new ideas he wanted to pass on, one that should give us a wonderful end to Act 1. Time to amend the current storyboard.

A walk before the rain was due. I’ve changed the shoes I’m wearing to walk in to see if that might help with my calf. So far it is better, but it’s not a miraculous recovery. On the other side of the River Aire is the site of some open cast mining, now St Aidans Nature Reserve. Numerous lakes and reedbeds were busy with so many birds it was almost deafening as I strode my way through a central path.

Great Crested Grebe, numerous geese and Tufted ducks, a lapwing who was camera shy and then this duck. The size of a female Mallard but with far superior plumage. Could it have been a Gadwall?

As I walked back to the boat I could hear that something big was on the canal. Off Roader had just come up Lemonroyd Lock. Would our chains hold as it went past deep in the water. Thankfully it didn’t get up to full speed as the canal was also being used by rowers, so Oleanna just bobbed about a touch, the ribs with the rowers causing more wash than the multi tonned barge!

**New treads and flying bar supports and a spruced up prosc**

Back at Oleanna I edited the storyboard for panto and emailed it to John, hoping this version would have a better responce. The answer came back from an initial look, he was all smiley, thank goodness! He’d be in touch tomorrow after spending some time with it. Phew! I pulled the model box out of my clothes cupboard. It’s been used a few times since I last had it and was showing it’s age. I deceided to give it a make over, and new rests for the flying bars, whilst I waited for Johns verdict.

Tilly spent much of the afternoon avoiding getting her paws wet as the rain set it. She has taken to sitting on the stern hatch, so her bed was moved out there a week or so ago. Today it made for a very good DRY vantage point to watch the ducks and swans whilst listening to the rain.

6:30am we bumped the side, Off Roader was on it’s way towards us. I peeked out of the front curtains, there it was some distance away. But more worryingly there was a deer in the cut! Oh blimey! Could I mount a rescue mission? It swam away from Oleanna trying to find somewhere to get out. I thought of various ways I might be able to help, the highish bank wouldn’t help, should I end up in the canal too that would not be a good thing as other than Off Roader there was nobody about. I so hope it managed to swim up stream where the bank is lower and doesn’t have piling.

Tilly has now worn this outside out, she’s used it all up so she says. Sitting in her viewing area wasn’t even enjoyable today. I walked round the block taking the rubbish to the bins at the marina. Plenty of Recycling and General Waste bins, then two wheelie bins with no lables on them. I assumed one would be for glass, correct assumption. The other for food waste, well nobody else seemed to have made that assumption had they!

Back at Oleanna I returned to a great email from John. Just one scene to rework and his choices on options I’d given him for other scenes. I now just need to finish off the storyboard to make it pretty and get cracking with the white card model and sketch working drawings before a meeting that is looming. I decided to treat myself to getting the basic set made for the model with an outline design drawn onto it. By 10:30pm I’d achieved my goal for the day. By 10:30 I’d given up hoping for a lap to sit on! Come back Tom I need someone to pay me some attention! I would just like to point out that I am not ignoring Tilly and I’m more than happy to play the fishing rod game at bedtime. Too right, if that stopped I’d be looking for somewhere else to live!

0 locks, 0.5 miles, 1 full water tank, 0 response from Aquavista still, 1 wind, 1 left, 2 moorings, 1 empty wee tank, 4 boxes wine, 1 full fridge, 2 sausage days, 1 world wet under paw, 8.57 miles walked, 130 minutes briskly, 1 Frank PA phone call, 1 viewing position, 1 edging restuck, 1 actor squeezed in, 2nd WIP storyboard, 1 big thumbs up, 1 scene to amend, 2 portals, 1 front cloth, 1 cyc, 1 improved modelbox, 1 theatre designer needing some new things to listen to.

What Cake?! 20th May

Aire and Calder Navigation

The butter had been left out of the fridge overnight, but still wasn’t suitablely soft for baking. I sliced it thinly, put it in a mixing bowl, then moved it out onto the hatch at the stern, here it got suitably soft very quickly as the sun got going. Sugar, eggs, lemon zest then lots of ground almonds added, it was baked, browning a little too quickly but covered in foil it did it’s thing. Lemon juice added once out of the oven, it was left to cool in the tin. The easiest bit of secret baking I’ve done in years, helped enormously that Mick was in Scarborough.

The roofers started to tidy up, moving all the old slates off the roof by hand, their bucket and rope in the van which was still being mended. Later in the day I was sent a photo with fresh new tiles covering part of the roof, there had been three of them today so they were cracking on. Good job as rain is forecast for the weekend.

Here on Oleanna, I waited to hear back from John in Chippy. No news came through all day. Oh well, I decided to do a mock up of the cyc , this is a cloth that hangs up stage, normally covering where we store all the props and bits of scenery by the back wall. Once I’d put things together I realised that my horizon was far too high, I’ll need to add more sky, but at least it will give an idea in the white card model.

Up to Lidl for some asparagus for this evenings birthday barbecue. The roofers having finished for the day around 3pm meant Mick could be on a train back for the evening arriving at 6pm. On my walk back down the hill to the canal there was a lot of stationary traffic. The cause, a Luton van that had got itself squished by the curve of the railway bridge! I really hoped this wouldn’t cause problems with the trains and delay Mick’s return.

More stoppage notices regarding low levels on the canals. The Ripon Canal which is fed by the River Skell will be closing at the top end, this will hopefully help maintain levels at the top and without any rainfall the EA are likely to ask C&RT to stop abstraction from the river, so we suspect the canal will soon be closed from Oxclose Lock. We’d been wanting to head up the River Ouse and onto the Ripon Canal, but that is now likely to be another destination we’re unable to reach this year.

The very sunny afternoon sadly clouded over, but when Mick arrived back at Oleanna we decided to still go ahead with our planned birthday barbecue, the first barbecue of the year. The charcoal was lit and left to get itself ready as the presents came out.

Last week Mick had been so excited at the arrival of a parcel for me at the house that I decided to wrap up the contents and give them to him. Well what would he do with 100 10A scalpel blades, but give them to me! Next followed a familiar shaped present, this was a chocolate orange which has now been gifted at Christmas, Easter and now birthday. The proper presents followed. A Curlew t-shirt from Tilly and a smart new fleece from me, both went down well.

Asparagus for starters, followed by pork steaks and veg/halloumi kebabs, washed down with a couple of glasses of wine each whilst sat out on the towpath, jumpers required but not too chilly thankfully.

Once tidied up we retired indoors for cake and blowing out of candles. This took several attempts from Mick, it must be his great age! We’ve quite a bit left over to keep us going for a few more days.

A later start to his birthday celebrations than normal, but we got there in the end.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 trains, 0.3 roof re-tiled, 1000 old tiles carried down ladders, 1000 new tiles carried up, 1 sheet of insulation board to find a use for, 1 cyc, 1 ECG, 3.11 miles walked, 22 minutes briskly, 12 candles, 1 bored cat, 15 spears asparagus, 2 pork steaks, 4 kebabs, 4 glasses wine, 1 Happy Birthday to Mick.

370 Pins Later. 13th May

Aire and Calder Navigation

No need for an alarm clock this morning, Off Roader came past at 6:45, it was going slowly but still the size of it doesn’t half make Oleanna bump about a bit. When I next woke up I turned my phone off airplane mode only for it to ring immediatly! It was Frank asking me to do a bit of his medical PA work. Phone numbers were exchanged only for me to find out the number was incorrect, someone would have to wait a little while longer to hear the news from Frank. The day would be peppered with messages and phone calls on behalf of Frank who yesterday had keyhole surgery and by the end of today was tucking himself up in his own bed at home.

**I couldn’t see a cut on the back of the tyre**

Tilly was given shore leave and vanished for a few hours only to return when I’d just got going on my first Teams meeting with John in Chippy regarding panto. John and I caught up on news and how he felt last years panto had gone. The Chippy audience are a vocal lot and the local crowd had found Cinderella set in Columbia the year before a step too far. So John’s choice of twists to story lines are a little more traditional at the moment. Beauty and the Beast is still set in a foreign country though, closer to home in France in the 1890’s.

The meeting went well, we chatted through all the scenes, what was needed for each along with what wasn’t needed. My 335 photos were appreciated , favourites pulled out and taken note of. Two locations were altered requiring me to do a bit more research after our meeting, my pinterest board now having 370 images pinned to it.

I needed a walk to think things over, so opted to walk towards Leeds in the sunshine. Pacing and thinking is good along with looking at the scenery. Two ladies sped past me as I hobbled along, I suspect they were out doing the same thing but without an injured calf. I did better than I thought I would, just hope I haven’t pushed my calf too much today.

In Scarborough with no roofers due today, Mick opted to get on the bus up to Whitby. This was a very popular route and as it went through places like Goathland it even had a recorded commentary for the passengers. Then onto another bus to bring him back over the moors past Fylingdales where the giant golf balls used to be when I was a kid. He opted to hop off the bus in Thornton le Dale a very pretty village with a stream running through it, and caught a more direct bus back to Scarborough. He had a phone call confirming a booking at a marina we’d been waiting to hear about too. A jolly day out on the North Yorkshire Moors.

**Ready to start sketching in the morning**

I made contact with the costume designer for panto and had a bit of a chat with Paul the Technical Manager, he’s considering purchasing a narrowboat in the next few years, so I suspect there will be lots of boaty conversation when I’m in Chippy. The printer decided to have a wobble, but I got things to print out in the end. Blanks for sketch groundplans and a blank for the storyboard. With these done I decided to give myself the evening off rather than getting only so far into the next phase before bedtime.

0 locks, 0 miles, 4 hours shore leave for 1 cat, 90 minutes for 1 human, 2.94 miles walked, 52 minutes briskly, 7 hours at work, 370 pins, 2 new locations, 0 new flying bars, 0 roofers! 1 Frank at home 2 days earlier than suggested.

Cat Burglar. 6th May

Spicers Auctioneers, Goole

At around 2am I was woken by a noise. The sort of noise that Tilly occasionally creates when she pears out of the bathroom porthole and moves the glass a little and it clinks against the frame. There was no Tilly curled up on the bed with me, maybe she was peeking out of the porthole. I went to see what was happening asking her to keep the noise down.

She was curled up on the sofa, nowhere near the porthole.

The lights at the auctioneers are really quite bright, I’d considered putting a bung in the bathroom porthole but hadn’t got round to it. I could see the shadow of a figure sat outside. I peeked round the glass just how Tilly does.

Sat staring straight at me was a smoky grey cat. I said hello, it didn’t reply. It leant forward and tried to open the window again, no luck. It peered over it’s shoulder then back at me. I closed the window expecting it to run away, but no it just sat there.

“Sorry Tilly’s not coming out to play tonight, she doesn’t like cats“, I said. It still didn’t reply. I closed the porthole and put the bung in, that should stop it from trying to break in again.

A walk after breakfast for some supplies. Down to Ocean Lock, across the top gates then into town. A stop off at Boyes to see if they had a caddy for our food waste, they did. Then on to Morrisons for the rest of of the shopping and some suitable liners for the caddy. Goole has the first food waste bin we’ve seen, (CRT is introducing better recycling across the network) so we need to start doing our bit, not that we didn’t before. Just need to find somewhere in the small galley to keep the caddy!

An email came from John Terry at Chippy regarding a scene in panto with a link to show what was meant. When reading the script yesterday I’d got a little confused at a scene in Act 2, things seemed to jump, then jump back. A previous version of the scene had somehow got mixed into the pdf I’d been sent. By lunchtime I had a tidied up version of the script 10 pages shorter. John had been in a rush to get a script to me before last weekend. Time to sit down and re-read the script this time highlighting bits as I went on the computer, I’ll print it out later.

Mick arrived back from Scarborough, the next stage of works completed at the house and an annual check up at the doctors all done. He was told he needed to be quiet as I still had more to read, this time it making a lot more sense, well as much as a Panto ever does!

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 train, 1 new caddy, 1 rucksack not zipped up properly, 0 shopping lost, phew! 1 cat burglar, 1 sleeping guard cat, version 1.2 of panto read and noted, 2 ships, 4.12 miles walked, 65 minutes briskly.

A Much Needed Refill. 29th April

Museum Gardens to Naburn Lock

Tuesday and the world was that bit quieter. This morning the rowers were from the older end of the spectrum, grey haired and not quite so feisty with their strokes. I was also not so feisty about anything, a sore throat I’d hoped was hay fever was turning into a cold. This meant cancelling our morning coffee meet up with a friend.

Several boats left the moorings, Mick headed off to stock up on Lemsips for me and also pick up a fresh box of tissues. I then set off to pop two pairs of socks in the post. Being just across the river from the main sorting office in York should have made it easy to drop the parcel off, but I stuck to the river bank instead of walking down a path at the back of the building, so ended up walking all the way round under the bar walls, along the road that had been worked on last night to find the post box.

I then headed to have a look at the old station and The Grand Hotel with it’s fab weather vane on top. Round the corner seems to be a small Chinese area, several restaurants and supermarkets. We’d run out of rice paper to make spring rolls so I was keen to replace them. Job done I walked back round the other side of the river to get back to Oleanna.

A supermarket delivery arrived at the bottom of Marygate for us, items stowed a bite to eat for lunch. There was no reason to stay put in York for another day so we rolled up the covers, waited for day boats to pass, then pushed off, winding and heading down stream.

As we approached the University Rowing Club moorings we could see that Philli’s smaller boat was end out into the river. Had someone untied it? Well yes, Philli! She was turning it round , so another chance to say hello, have the boat pointed out that we should be able to breast up against when we’re next in York so that we can enjoy a glass or two of wine on Sabrina W.

Another pause to see our house then on past numerous young people who’d been swimming. Archbishops Palace where the flag had returned to the top of it’s flag pole. What a lovely day to be on the river cruising.

We pulled down the lock cut at Naburn, the floating pontoon by the weir was full. Straight to the water point to fill up and put a load of washing on. We’d survived a full week on one tank of water so really needed a refill.

Whilst at New Walk, Oleanna had got seriously dripped on by trees, she’d become so sticky. Then with all the silty sand that gets blown about along with bird deposits she needed a wash. Well she didn’t get the full works but a rinse off with river water, twice to get rid of the worst of it, the windows will need a touch more attention when the bank is at a better height.

We moved back along the moorings, other boats pulling up for water or to await the lock tomorrow. Time for some quality shore leave for Tilly.

0 locks, 6 miles, 2 winds, 1 pack of papers, 1 bottle soy sauce, 2 pairs socks posted, 1 pair ends woven in, 1 Earnest, 10 lemsips, 1 box tissues, 3.28 miles walked, 34 minutes briskly, 1 owl for company.

https://what3words.com/soups.scowls.caked

Still There. 22nd April

Naburn Lock to New Walk, River Ouse

Anyone who has ever visited York by boat will be aware of how bad the boaters facilities are in the city. So before we left Naburn we wanted to have a full water tank. After breakfast we got ready to reverse to the water point, but we’d just been beaten to it by the boat behind us. We pulled back anyway, they weren’t using the water point and our two hoses would reach our bow. They pulled off soon after we arrived so we tucked up closer to the tap.

Mick rang York Marina in Naburn this morning to see if they could accommodate us for a few days, this would make plan 6C work for us. However unless we were willing to sign up for a full year they weren’t interested, our three days not enough. Time to work out plan 7A. I walked over the lock island to check on the pontoon there, 48 hours and empty today, but would it be when we want it to be?!

Tank full and a booking to return to Selby made we were ready for the off, and thankfully the sun was shining.

The river is far more interesting lots of moored boats to look at. A pontoon we’d not seen before which is reserved for York Marina despite being quite a distance away. The River Bus has various stops along the way to pick up campers and take them into York.

Then the slightly more shanty town moorings, steep walkways to interesting boats, some of which archaeologists would have a field day on their roofs. A small cruiser with sails was slowly making it’s way upstream, we passed as did a day boat.

Archbishops Palace. The opposite bank was what at the age of six, was a long walk from our house, but a good landmark for turning around plus the dogs used to like swimming there.

The A64 bypass bridge. Fulford Hall on the bend. Is that where the bench seat was that my Dad Fatso used to walk Bramble his dog to? The undergrowth and possibly a fence blocking the view. Would that be the case a little further on?

**There she is! The pan tiles belong to next door.**

The willow trees are starting to get thick with leaves would there still be that gap in them that lines up with the grid on our map? It’s been five years since these sight lines were checked and the river then was that bit higher. We slowed as we approached the grid line. The big house just visible, then the roof of the house behind. Then the trees parted for a very good view of my family home, the house that Fatso built, the house where I was born. We know the new owner has done some building work and replaced the wood cladding to the front of the house, this used to be dark marrying in with the trees surrounding it. The new cladding thankfully isn’t as bright as it was in photos we’ve seen, it has silvered, a different wood from that it was clad with in the early 60s. But she is still there, the glimpse from the river the same.

**Might have to visit if they still go to near Millennium Bridge**

Now past the York Motor Club Moorings, would they be able to accommodate us? We suspected not. The University Rowing Club Moorings, I’ve still not quite finished off a pair of socks that need to be delivered here, the hope of being able to moor alongside obviously not possible, so a visit by land will need to be arranged. The Chilled Medication boats were followed by Millennium Bridge.

We now started to look for somewhere to moor up, a little bit further would suit our needs best, but with some solar a bonus. Chain swags line the river wall, would we be able to moor to those. We slowed and had a go as day boats came past, a trip boat winding up stream of us, at least they know their horn signals. Thin rope was used to tie through the eyes that hold the chain, an old soft shackle from our centre line was used too. There’s a ledge just catching Oleanna’s base plate, so we deployed the Shroppie Tyre fenders. Brilliant, we are moored somewhere Tilly can have some shore leave too. Maybe York will be York to her and not Yurk!!!

**This used to be Thomas C Godfrey’s a Blackwell’s Bookshop**

After lunch I set off with the intention of finding some Almond flour, finer than ground almonds and a touch harder to find. This gave me a reason to have a good walk around the city, spotting favourite old places including the old bookshop I used to sell maps in, currently selling things made by local artists.

I went here there and nearly everywhere. The obligatory visit to Barnitts. Today I wanted new rope for the stove door and some glue. Barnitts never disappoints, there is always a selection. Just how many shoe laces and flasks could anyone want!

I was also on the hunt for views of York to paint. I’d like to do a painting for my brothers holiday let in York. Not of the usual views. I love the Snickleways, maybe Lady Peckett’s Yard? We’ll see what else I find in the next few days.

Back at the boat our quiet evening was disturbed by the rowers from the University, they seem to start and end their training where we are moored. The boats are not too bad despite their wake, but their coach is very VERY LOUD!!!

In flotilla news all boats are back on the move continuing towards London. However tonight we’ve seen that there is a stoppage at Denham Deep Lock on the Grand Union Canal and the lock gates are padlocked shut! This stoppage stands between lots of boats and Cavalcade! Here’s hoping its not a lengthy fix. Petition link.

0 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 roof line, 1 new mooring to try out, 500grams almond flour, 2m stove rope, 1 bottle glue, 5.2 miles, 47 minutes briskly, 7 possible paintings, 1 man shouting 2 loudly!

https://what3words.com/valve.trap.line

Too Shallow For Speed. 8th April

Basin Bridge to Manor Farm Winding Hole to Coopers Bridge 80

No rush to go anywhere today really, so the back doors were opened for Tilly to explore as we had breakfast and waited for the mist to be burnt off.

By 11am we were ready to move off. Our average speed today would be about half of that we’ve made so far this year, the Chesterfield Canal is shallow, reedy and at times weedy. Having said that, take it slowly and then there is more time to enjoy this lovely canal, try to go fast and you’ll get exasperated. We know of several boats that have given up part way and missed the beautiful top end of the canal.

Having said that, this time we have no intention of going right to the end, but hopefully later in the year we’ll be back to take Oleanna to the navigable end for the first time. But where should we moor today?

I walked on ahead opening up the two Misterton Locks. Here you need a CRT Key of Power to undo the anti vandal locks on the paddles. Mick brought Oleanna into the bottom lock coasting through the bed of reeds that lay on the water. ‘Lovely Day’ was heard from numerous walkers, they were not wrong.

At Misterton Top Lock a couple were pruning their hedge, ‘CRT are meant to do it’ Well it’s great that you are helping them. Up by the top gates was a swan, I think a cob. On past experience of swans on the Chesterfield I made sure I kept an eye on him, we had one fly at us, trying to attack our stern fender on NB Lillyanne, thankfully today I couldn’t see any nest that he was protecting. He kept a keen eye on me too then did a very balletic stretch with one leg and a wing, a pas de swan.

**A moving boat, a hire boat returning to base**

I carried on walking, two moorings marked on our maps, but could we find another just that bit further out into the countryside and before the first winding hole. I was tempted to carry on to a 2 day mooring further on, but that would have meant more hours cruising and Mick reminded me that we have half a tank of diesel for the Tidal Trent and to get back to Thorne and since we last filled up we’ve done 120 miles. Diesel is none existant on the Chesterfield.

I spotted a few places where the reeds might have been thin enough to pull in, but as we’d passed a hire boat returning to base just above the locks the water was cloudy so I couldn’t work out the depth. Only a couple of possibles. I looked over my shoulder, my brisk walking meant I was leaving Oleanna well behind. I walked up to the winding hole, then onto the next bridge, then returned. I’d wait for Oleanna to wind and then point out where it might be possible to pull in. But each of the places the bottom was too close to the top, we returned to the next bit of armco thankfully far enough away from the road and with plenty of friendly cover too keep Tilly amused for a while.

Off she went, tail swishing with excitement. I’d done my walking for the day so got on with a couple of jobs. One was to mend the turny bit on a kitchen blind. The glue holding the wand and the turning piece had given up, so hopefully that was a quick fix with some Max UHU.

The other job was to replace a press stud on the blinds we have at the bow door. These fabric blinds roll up and get poppered in place. A week ago one of the poppers came apart so we’ve been a one blind up, one blind down kind of boat for a while. Ages ago I bought myself the means to attach poppers with the aid of a hammer. The floor much better to get the rivet part flattened out inside the popper. I then looked to see if I could use the same poppers on the pram cover as one has been missing on the straps that hold the rear flap open for quite a while. Despite the poppers looking the same size, I couldn’t get one to pop onto the other half, just a fraction too small. Oh well I’ll see if I can find a different brand that might be just that bit bigger.

I then got on with tracing out a profile of Oleanna from a photo. I want to do several different versions of her new paintwork before we commit ourselves to going for cream cabin sides. The first go was a bit wonky, so I ended up tracing the photo onto tracing paper and then straightening out the wonky lines. This will now get copied onto watercolour paper so I can paint the cabin sides and see what she’ll look like with the colours reversed.

On campaign cruise news, I believe some of them had a well deserved day off in Leicester with another giant cake provided by Claudia. Link to the Fund Britain’s Waterway Campaign petition

2 locks, 3.3 miles, 1 wind, 2 feline outsides, 2 moving boats, 3.83 miles walked, 52 minutes briskly, 1 popper, 1 wand, 1 actor turned away, 1 outline, 0.5 of a sock knitted.