Thursday 18 August 2011

The Commute from York

Friday 1st July

Following a few days rest moored at the Museum Gardens in York I departed at 12:20 in the tropical weather arriving at Naburn Marina 13:00.  Do check ahead to make sure there's space as there isn't a lot of space here for narrowboats. There are maybe 8 spaces on short finger pontoons, and due to lack of turning space I couldn't park nose first - this meant balancing on the gunwale with the shopping/laptop to get out!     £66 for 4 nights berth.  17:00 it was time for the commute to Leeds for work - Night shifts - oh joy!

Sat 2nd
Sleep 10am through to 4pm.  It's sickeningly hot - really nice day out there but I've gone nocturnal so it hurts!

Back to work 17:15. Haye v Klitschko on tonight - great atmosphere at work but disappointing fight.

Sun/Mon 3rd/4th
Sleep Day - Work night - yawn.

Naburn Geese (there are a lot!!)


Tues 5th
Left the marina today and back to the Museum Gardens.  

Had a visit from Katy's parents and I got the feeling they thought I was living in squalor - but it's not like that at all except on the days I 'forget' to do the washing up!  I think they left relatively impressed!

Thursday 11 August 2011

York to Ripon

Tues 28th June 2011

York to Ripon
Departed 10:20  Single Handed today
Both parents bailed out on my trip up to Ripon - good chance to practice some solo cruising!  Bit grey but pleasant enough and more importantly no wind.  About on hour up to Beningbrough, past the Nid (nice spot)



and Dawnay Arms in Newton on Ouse (Recommended but no time to visit), and two hrs up to Linton Lock.
Looks rather imposing and deep for my first solo attempt.  Parked on pontoon and went to see what the crack was.  Cruiser in the lock coming down so asked if they could leave gates open.  In and parked against the wall - great!  But it's a long slimy climb with the centre rope up the ladder - nearly lost footing in front of the gongoozlers.  That would have been embarrassing!  But all went well and chatted to a couple of interested cafe goers (there's one at the lock)

Above the lock - very busy - no space at visitor moorings -crammed full of cruisers.  Banks now a little lower but still no view over the willows on the bank.  Nice Ouse/Ure sign - made the customary urghhh noise!  The fence is to stop the sheep eating the sign seeds, meaning other new signs can grow too.



Memories at Aldwark - this is where i learnt to canoe - or capsize properly.  Never really enjoyed
going over on purpose and of course the rickety toll bridge.  Used to cycle out this way and pay 1p to take the bike over!

Waved at the swale.  Wouldn't it be nice to get all the way to Richmond - rather optimistic i think as i could see trees right across within yards!


Annie in Milby Lock nr Bouroughbridge (3.30). 


Nice quiet location and cut through BB nicely maintained - pleasant relief from the monotony of the river.  Changed facilities at the immaculate BB sanitary station and before i know it under the A1 (which apparantly used to have one of the 1st iron bridges in the country - now gone). 

Westwick Lock - i think it was here that going was rather slow with just one top gate paddle operative.  Another nice short cut before joining the river once more.


Fantastic view up a tree lined avenue to Newby Hall - no time to stop though. Due to meet Katy in ripon at 6!!  Well pleased to reach the Ripon Canal - quite well hidden even though there is a sign - somehow I thought it was referring to something further upstream. 

Made it to oxclose lock 5.40pm.

Def the nicest lock i've seen so far with tidy shrubs and flowers.

I now realise 6pm meet in ripon is not likely to happen so decide to take advantage of a great mooring beyond Nicholsons bridge (strangely not marked in Nicholson's guide!) Picture from the next morning.
Within minutes i get a call from Katy - she's lost in Ripon somewhere.  Thanks to google i work out where and walk/run into Littlethorpe village to intercept.  Now about 6.30-7pm.



Wed 29th
08:15 to Ripon Basin Tim / Mum

Last few miles into Ripon - no way i'm getting this far without going to the end!  Also good to have mum onboard too.  Another long day ahead.

Through Bell Furrows lock we see a BW lady - mum starts chatting and we find out how knowledgable and valuable these staff are.  Unfortunately with the change in BW their jobs are insecure as they can no longer even cut the grass, plant flowers and sort everything themselves.  Work is now apparantly contracted out - and completed to a much lower standard - and no doubt at higher cost.
Why is someone that's worked the same 5 mile stretch for 15 years having their experience ignored??



Rhodes Field Lock is the last one - and as we approach the basin (09.30) I can smell bacon - I must find out where it comes from - so i run off to locate the source and find the old forge - yummy!  Moored beside an Australian Gent (upside-down) who comes over every year to cruise the waterways.  Nice one!! 
Oh and i like his fake dog on the cabin - much easier than the real thing.


And now all the way back again.  Left basin about 10.00 i think
BW lady has set the locks for us so make good time back to the Ure.  And going with the current helps us along too.

Lunch on a small pontoon just upstream of Aldwark 2.15pm. 

And impressively back to York for 17:30.

Leeds to York

Prior to the below journey we'd only been out to Thwaite Mills in Stourton for the day - Well worth a visit - loads of giant cogs / pulleys and wheels if you like that kind of thing!

Sat 25th June 2011
Clarence Dock 08:30 to ...West Haddlesey 17:00 Tim / Katy / Dad / Pete
Stopped below leeds lock for facilities and once again vandalism means the nearest are at lemonroyd.  Oh dear!

No troubles navigating through to Knottingly - getting used to this stretch now.  No Kingfishers today though.  Dad pleased to see boat that used to be moored in York (Reklaw) which he painted still in use as a houseboat in Knottingly.

Now onto new territory down the Aire & Calder to West Haddlesey.  We met water-skiers head on - fortunately theie handling was somewhat better than can be achieved by a 57' NB!  Moored up for evening at WH 48hr mooring along with one other boat just through the lock at West Haddlesey.



We were prevented from leaving the boat by several million randy flies.  Disturbingly all were dead by the following morning which meant a horrid clean-up operation (I hate flies!).

Sun 26th Tim / Katy

Nice sleep in today as not due through Selby Lock until 3. 



Set off about 9am anyway - and slowly cruised along through crystal clear waters, and a little weed and lilies.  Wow i've never seen so many fish in a canal!
5 miles into Selby via Selby Boat Centre where we filled with 70L £85 40/60.

We moored infront of the swing bridge and headed into town for lunch.  Tasty bacon and brie panini from cafe sat out in sunshine.  Quick visit to cathedral - but we couldn't find the stars and stripes window allegedly on the south side!  Also had a chat with a couple who had just been to York and Ripon - must start recording boat names!

Through Selby Lock at 15:00 - quite a long way down to the ouse but navigated out into the channel without any issues.  Mucky water with tonnes of wood drifting down!  Rather un-eventful couple of hours up the tidal Ouse.  Points of interest being the swing bridges which cross at Selby and Cawood - and then
the confluence of the river wharfe (wish we could go up there to Tadcaster).  Overtaken in cawood by a speeding cruiser.  Arrived at Naburn Lock at 17:00 - Haha the cruiser must have been waiting here for at least an hour in the lock!!  Locked with 2 other cruisers - who kept a close eye on us as we were buffeted by the gate paddles!

Familiar ground now up from Naburn lock (I'm from Bishopthorpe originally) - Mum on slipway at Naburn sailing club waving frantically!  We yelled we'd meet at Bishopthorpe on Ferry Lane.

Unfortunately a lack of any mooring meant we bombed on into York City centre arriving at the Museum Gardens 18:00.

Mon 27th Tim
Oh no - somehow i've ran out of Gas!  Only replaced last week - something's not right

So back off to Naburn/York marina for Gas x 2 6KG £20 each.  Took about 45 mins to get there.  Still sounds like there's a leak so turning off when not in use.

The Journey Up North - They Said it Couldn't be Done!!


Bit late but here I'll be adding the records from the epic 2 1/2 week journey back up to Leeds from the backwater of Ramsey in Cambridgeshire.  Highlights include running over baby moorhens, a near capsize on the Nene and a trip to Leicester A&E !  Highlights of a more positive manner include the AMAZING weather, the hunt for navigation lights in Nottingham, and the tension approaching Keadby!

Ok here's the rough journal that's been kicking around since we came back.  Apologies for the poor grammar, and distorted perpective - All has been kindly recorded by my trusty crew, some of which have better language skills than others!  I'll endeavour to tidy things up and add further points of interest and photos in due course.


21 April 2011 : Thursday 
Tom and Penny drove down to Ramsey and took stores on board Annie.   Filled up with water, and chatted to owner of “Shambles”, the neighbouring narrow boat.   Tom collected Tim and Katy from Peterborough just after 9.00 p.m. and they arrived weary after work and journey.   Turned in fairly early.

22 April 2011 : Good Friday   Day 1  
Crew :  Tim, Katy, Penny
Refreshed and ready to fill up with diesel at 9.30 a.m.  Lovely morning.


Bill Fen Marina, Ramsey 


Took on 60L  (£79.00)and Tom waved us off at 10.15 a.m.



& met us as we went through Benwick (1.30 p.m.) and waved us on our way onto Stanground Lock where we were booked in for 4.00 p.m.

Arrived on the dot, having had a wonderful start to our voyage.  Herons, swans, cormorant (!) spotted, and a family of moorhens who got washed by our wash (the Mid-level dykes being very narrow) – I assured Tim that they were designed to swim, and they scurried back together as a family straight away.   Recommended to take on  cheaper diesel at Stuart Holmes Chandlery, and bought a life ring and line there.     Filled up to capacity with another 55L (£52).  Then we really were on our way.
Went on to Peterborough town moorings for sandwich lunch Tim is an excellent driver.  Crew ravenous.   On to Orton Lock.



Only opened yesterday after refurbishment – electronic sluice with pointy gates at top end.   Finally moored up at Peterborough Sailing Club where everyone most helpful and Annie much admired.  V. persistent cuckoo!!
8 hours cruising and no mutiny on first day!

23 April 2011 : Saturday            Day 2
Good night’s sleep – cuckoo woke first at 6.10 a.m.!!!  Hearty breakfast at 8.30 and cast off at 9.15 a.m.  Wide river Nene, and an hour or so to Alton Lock with 2 narrow boats following.    We had the advantage of sharing 2 locks on the way up, once with a cruiser and once with another narrow boat.

Met Thomas the Tank Engine at Wansford and exchanged Whistles!



Wonderful weather, Canada and Greylag geese,  a great crested grebe diving, lunch south of Fotheringay at 1.45 p.m.



(Fotheringay where King Richard III was born in 1452  and  Mary, Queen of Scots, was tried and executed in 1587).   Katy and Tim went for a walk to the village.  So hot we decided on a decent break, and didn’t set off again till 4.30 p.m. to Ashline Lock.
Once through took the first opportunity to find an unofficial mooring - where a herd of young bullocks took much interest!   I was left by my crew to face securing the mooring pins, and they just kept on pressing up against us!  I'm generally not scared of your average cow but this was slighlty disconcerting!



Restful evening.  “Cows on grass”  Ha ha!!                                                                                                                            
8 hours cruising and 9 locks

24 April 2011 : Easter Sunday  :          Day 3            Happy Easter one and all!!!
Another beautiful morning after a peaceful night.  2 narrow boats already ahead of us, and we cast off by 9.45 a.m.  Next stop Oundle Marine for “facilities”.  Bit of a breeze today which could alter approach to moorings!  Sharp right turn into Oundle Marina at 11.30 a.m.  filled up with water, called at chandlery,   and used disposal – not kept clean!    People came to admire Annie, and very sociable.  Moved off the water point and moored up across the Marina – Tim and Katy walked to Tesco’s.



Great crested grebe fishing by the mooring.  Left Oundle 1.30 p.m. and chugged past Lilford Hall.  Saw a pair of “Cattle Egrets” – a first.  Through Islip at 5.40 p.m.




We passed some rather chavvy private moorings with awful old pop music blaring, but people friendly enough and rang owner of new and empty Marina who said we could use his pontoons, so moored at Lower Ringstead at 7.00 p.m.  Huge expanse of water, half a dozen boats, no facilities, but safe haven for the night.  Terns, herons, grebes.                                                
6.5 hours cruising and 9 locks

25 April 2011 : Easter Monday   Day 4
Beautiful sunny still morning – Grebes close to the mooring.  Until this week not seen these for many years and they're all over the place.  Amazing!



Breakfasted by 8.15, and away by 8.40 a.m.  First lock Upper Ringstead.



Rivals Rushden and Diamonds Football Ground (The site of  York's 5-1 victory against Kettering!  Shame Rushden are no longer with us - good luck to them)



Wellingborough at 12.00 noon.  Tim and Katy shopped and we had lunch.  Away by 1.45 p.m. and moored up above Cogenhoe Lock at 5.15 p.m.  Tim and Katy walked back to caravan park and for disposal.                                                                        
6.5 hours cruising and 9 locks  More super curious cows!



26 April 2011 : Tuesday             Day 5
Grey day, much cooler, and a bit of a breeze.  Breakfasted and away by 9.00 a.m. with the plan to meet Tom at Becket’s Park around lunch time.  Arrived at noon, but Marina fully booked for a big BW meet next weekend, so cruised on to Town Moorings.  Tim tested the central heating – v efficient, and then Tim and Katy went 2 minutes into town for supplies.  We could go no further without a BW key, 3 miles away at Gayton.  Tim contemplated jogging, but we decided it was best to get Tom to call for one.  He was with us by 2.30 p.m. with a key, and we unloaded car.   Pen exchanged for Tom, so fresh crew on board!!!  Cast off by 4.00 p.m. and went on between lock 14 & 13 alongside  a now unavigable River Nene to break new crew in gently and leave main lock flight for the morning.

27 April 2011 : Wednesday        Day 6
It rained overnight but towpath dry by morning!



Cast off 8.30am and found all the 13 locks (narrow, thank goodness) set for us with most bottom gates open.



Made Gayton Marina for 11am where we watered and emptied toilet.
Tim purchased the Bk1 Nicholson (only one he didn’t have) to cover the Grand Union Main Line to Norton Junction.
12.30 set off to find lunch  ...... Bugbrooke by 1pm and The Old Wharf for an open air lunch with Annie moored by the pub garden.   Mussels, Lamb shank and fish and chips enjoyed!

2.30 off into the Buckby Flight .... oh woe! ....  back onto heavy broad locks ... such hard work often hard for Tom to shift, never mind Katy.  No complaints however with scenery like this.



Mooring at 7pm about a mile onto the Leicester Arm of GU near Norton Junction.

28 April 2011: Thursday      Day 7
Cloudy and cool breeze with a 9.10am departure
Into rolling hill country with the canal contouring as long as possible.   Ascend Watford Flight 7 locks, including two 3 lock staircases.   Friendly lock keeper checking understanding of the system  (red paddle first,  white paddle second)  getting busy  but minimum delay in the queue.   Lunched c.12.20  near Crick.



Tom started drive pm, though Tim did Crick tunnel, good thing as we met another narrow boat mid-tunnel (nearly 1 ml long).



Gusty wind pushing us about somewhat and Tim lit the fire at lunchtime ... very cosy.
Yelvertoft BW depot watered and toilet emptied.
Welford Junction .... moored by 6.20pm to south of North Kilworth Wharf.
Made big bacon and things omelette for supper.  Sunny day, cool in the shade.

15 miles and 7 locks covered


29 April 2011 Friday     Day 8
Royal Wedding Day!  Radio battery is dead but at least we've got the bunting up on the cratch.  It's not tacky at all!



Rained early this morning around 5.30am which caught Tom out (can't think what he was doing on the towpath at that time!).  Grey Day but steadily brightening.
Departed 8.45 for the Foxton Flight.  No chance to stop at North Kilworth Wharf due to lack of available mooring.



Through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel, 7 miles to Foxton by 11.20, to start our descent towards the Soar and the Trent.  Wonderful rolling hills with copses and spinneys and the canal winding along hillsides as the land began to fall away to the North.  The cut is shallow here with many overhanging trees - busy and tricky going.  We ran aground just the once, taking emergency avoiding action, requiring some reverse gear and encouragement from the pole.

Queued for almost 2 hours waiting for our turn through to Foxton Locks (two sets of 5 lock staircase).  Down to the bottom for 2pm.



Really impressive and tidy feature - with plenty of folks watching us go through.  Kids more than happy to help push the locks open!  Watered, and used facilities at BW station.  Tasty sausage and bacon baps from the little shop!  Bottom of the flight:



Departed at 3pm and moored up by 7.30 near lock 26 after another 7 miles and 9 locks.  Hard work, but now approaching Leicester (lovely!).

Total:  19 Locks  including the 2X 5 lock staircases  & 15 miles

30 April 2011  Saturday     Day 9
Tom up 7am and bedroom converted back to living room and breakfast fruit chopped.  As Tim and Katy got out onto the towpath for their morning cigarette Katy twisted/sprained her ankle .... great pain, horrible crunch!   Used cold compress and elastic bandage from Tim’s mountain first aid kit.   Must rest it and cannot bear weight.
Penny notified to sort out possible A&E facilities if needed.
Tom drives and Tim locks today with strong head/cross wind ... very frustrating/ troublesome waiting for locks.  Still managed 20 locks (all double again after Foxton,)  bottom gates usually open increasing work for Tim.  Missing Katy as second locking crew.
Decided to run through Leicester today aiming for Birstall  at minimum.
Canal skirts the southern fringe of suburbs, running past the bottom of gardens and industrial sites and joining the R.Sence, then the R.Soar  with annoyingly spaced locks  and the wind blowing gates open and the boat about too.
Scraped a lot of paint today!
The weirs through city have no warning signs or protection for the boats ... have to rely on warnings/maps in the guide.
Moor briefly mid city for drinks   where canal side well landscaped ... noted secure moorings by city centre on pontoon with locked gates.
The Canal north down Soar valley was very dirty with many derelict and active industrial sites.  Thought we were stymied by Limekiln lock where BW maintainence boats had blown free blocking the canal.   Luckily we nudged past.  Water below lock covered with plastic bottles .... worst rubbish of the route ..... but several very fine city herons!



















Birstall riverside moorings look good but Tim wanted to get further and we found a visitor mooring in Raynway marina in old gravel workings about a mile further on at Thurmaston, above Thurmaston lock 7pm.  Tim and Annie performed an interesting waltz in a strong wind to get into our mooring.
Boat notes: going well, automatic bilge pump not working properly, needs checking and hooking up.  Prop shaft gland dripping  steadily and does need the pump system working properly.  Found something to free the rear deck hatch and the weed hatch.  Checked prop, bit of rope and plastic ... pretty good after such dirty section of canal.
Chatted to many residents of the marina who explained that they mainly cruise down the Soar to the Trent.  Getting into cruiser land.
13 Miles 20 Locks    £6.00 visitor mooring fee

1st May 2011 Sunday    Day 10

Aiming for Loughborough today to meet support car and to swap Tom for James.  Katy unable to bear weight on ankle,  sitting on sofa or front deck.
Sunny with wind easing.  More herons!!



Depart by 10am onto a widening and deepening River Soar, past busy riverside pubs.  Managed to share the locks  a number of times which reduces the effort of locking through as well as being sociable chatting to other crews.   Some of the narrow boats on the move were very finely set up  in contrast to many of the long term moored boats piled high with wood and gardens of all sorts on their roofs.
Met a dangerous assortment of day hire boats as the day went on .... family occupied ones reasonable, but one full of young men, already drunk and with no idea what they were doing .... did they ever reach the pub they were heading for or did they capsize? ....  most were sitting on the roof!!!
Fuelled and watered  at Sileby Wharfe .....  111 litres diesel to fill  (all used since Stanground)   (68 hours running over 10 days.  )
Able to make really good time on the river despite traffic ....  passing small towns Mountsorrel and Barrow on Soar  with open water-meadows often with overhanging willows.

Advised that there is a major waterways festival at Loughborough  and that the canal is lined with double-moored boats.   Arrange to meet Penny and James at the wharf after the centre above lock ........
Arrive by  3.30 ??    and luckily find a mooring next to Staples car park.



Decided to take Katy to A&E at Leicester ..... Penny has maps and instructions and they head off ...... Tom, Tim and James  head for the festival which was over for the day.  Katy’s ankle x-rayed but nothing broken (old chips showed up!!!), however, as it was so swollen they put plaster of Paris pot on, and gave her crutches!  P and K back by 9 with Chinese takeaway.
T & P  drive home
11 Miles      7 Locks  easy day?   5 ½ hours cruising.

2 May 2011 Monday    Day 11       
New crew – Tim, Katy and James
Set off by 8.40 a.m., and shared 2 locks with nice green boat.  Ducklings and goslings galore.  Lock 4 shared with “Barn Owl”, and Lock 5 open as it was a flood control lock.  Stopped at Kegby and got replacement gas cylinder (£21.99).
Arranged to meet Pete, Michele and little James at Trent Lock for lunch.



James jr happy running up and down the boat, pressing radio buttons before falling over.  Lunch at the posh but busy pub.  Left at 3.15 for Sawley Marine in the hope of finding magnetic navigation lights required for the stretch of the Trent at Newark.  Through Sawley Lock  at 3.45 p.m. – mechanised!  Tim and James emptied toilet, and set off to look for navigation lights.  Nothing doing.  Tim rang cousin Liz & Dave, and they popped over from their mooring on the Erewash. Lovely to see them both (but no photo).  May well need Dave's mechanical expertise further down the line. Stayed at Sawley for the night in rough conditions.
8 locks         4 ½ hours cruising.

3 May   Tuesday      Day 12
Cast off 9.50 a.m.,   tricky turn at Sawley, slight bump to pirate boat!  But nicely done.
Castle Lock at 12.50 and moored.  James and Tim back at 3.30 after Sainsbury supplies trip, but still no suitable lights, plenty of food for the trip down the trent though.  Pasties for lunch at 4.00 p.m.  Tim set off on foot to a bike shop and back by 4.25 with 2 sets of lights.   On our way by 4.40 p.m.
Just short of Stoke Lock 7.20 p.m.

Leaving the Nottingham Canal onto the Trent - eek!

Huge River Locks on the Trent


Think I saw a kingfisher, and definitely sand martins.
5 locks         5 hours 40 mins cruising.  Onto proper big beefy locks now.  On google the river looks really treacherous.  Not quite as much white water in real life as google fortunately!

4 May   Wednesday                    Day 13
Set off 9.10 a.m.  Informed by lady lock keep at Gunnesthorpe Lock that a gravel barge is grounded at the morrings at Cromwell Lock, which could hold us up as we had hoped to get there tonight and catch the tide in the morning.

Pontoon above Stoke Lock where we moored last night - Katy tethered to the cratch!


Need to paint one set of lights green, and get the anchor set up before setting off in the morning.
Heading to Newark for lunch, and moored up near beautiful Newark Castle 1.30ish.


On our way again by 2.40 p.m. to Cromwell Lock – need to empty the toilet.
Tim called ahead to Cromwell Lock, and we heard that the barge was cleared, but we won’t be able to make it through tidal section in one go.  Will set off from Cromwell Lock at 12 noon for 3 hour run to Torksey tomorrow, then plan to leave Torksey at 11.15 for Keadby 3 ¾ hours.
3.15 p.m. stopped at Nether Lock to empty toilet and have a cuppa.  Arrived at Cromwell Lock 4.50 p.m.  Tea = BBQ.  Now we're stopped at the head of the tidal trent - a little frustrating that we can't bomb on but that would obviously be stupid!  Plenty of tips from other boaters regards the tides.  More horror stories than good but I believe the good stories much more.
5 locks         5 hours 45 mins cruising

5 May   Thursday      Day 14
Cast off at 11.15 a.m.  Tim and James secured the navigational bike lights and sorted anchor.
Tidal stretch of Trent between Cromwell and Torksey.  Spotted several cormorants, both flying and perching atop poles,  oyster catchers, kestrels, grey lags and lots of bullocks.
Torksey at 2.30 p.m.  Apart from a couple of sunken islands / sand banks that was pretty straight forward. We followed one other narrowboat down to Torksey.  Barely noticed the tide until making the turn into Torksey itself!

At Torksey Lock




1 lock           3 ¼ hours cruising
7.30 p.m. = 5 minutes of rain – first of the trip!

6 May  Friday     Day 15
Change of crew :  Tim, Katy, Penny – Cheers James!
Tom and Penny down to Torksey lock in James’s car, and James and Tom saw us off at 11.00 with lock keeper’s permission to go on to the Trent.  Tim made an expert turn onto the River, and once going realised that the camera needed fixing for the day!  Gainsborough sadly v. uninspiring 12.50 p.m.  Lunch on the move, and past West Stockwith Lock at 1.20 p.m.  Fairly stormed down river with the tide and made Keadby Lock by 3.15.

Keadby Swing Bridge


Tim advised to go past, do a wide turn and make the right turn into the deep lock going upstream.  It felt as though he’d owned the boat for years, and all went v. smoothly.  The lock keeper dropped hooks down so we could get fastened to the capstans above, and dropped the ends back down to us.

Keadby Lock (Just behind the lock keepers tower)




Immediately out of the lock into the road swing bridge, which the lock keeper kindly sorted for us,  immediately followed by a pedestrian swing bridge, and immediately followed by rail swing bridge at Keadby Canal Bridge.  We had to wait for a train, which came straight at us!!!



All bridges cleared by 4.25 p.m. The canal ran alongside the railway for long stretches.  Pen then steered while Tim did the next 3 swing bridges, and we moored at 6.30 p.m. just after Maud’s Swing Bridge.
1 lock   6 bridges   8 hours travelling  37.5 miles downstream with a following tide!!!

7 May  Saturday    Day 16            Happy Birthday Pete
Felt a long night for Pen last night,  as she slept with her head pointing down and didn’t sleep well!  Set off by 10.15 a.m.  Wyke Mill Lift Bridge interesting.



Took on 66L diesel 75% domestic/25% travelling to fill her up (£65.54, at Blue Water Marina, Thorne.  On the way again by 11.20 a.m.
Pedestrian Swing Bridge out of Thorne Centre jammed half open – so had to wait 20 minutes for the engineer.  A busy bridge as there were plenty of people waiting to get across.

Safely through with plenty of swing bridges and traditional locks,  no wind, dull, and we were treated to a small shower.  First day time rain.  Pretty area.
Lunch at 1.00 p.m. at The New Inn, Stainforth.  Excellent fish and chips and Tim had Trippers Mixed Grill – about as much as he could manage and that was the small version (the Mixed Grill proper was on a plate about 75cm diameter!!!).  Katy managed her crutches well up the slope to the Inn.  Set of at 2.30 p.m. to service point where another narrow boat already berthed and taking on water.  Tim did an amazing sweeping turn to get to the water point.  It took over an hour and a half to complete watering and facilities stop!   Never fill up at Bramwith Lock Sanitary Station – slowest tap in the world!  Then Pen took us through v. long Sykehouse Lock (no pictures as I was busy running up and down!) and over the Don Viaduct which was quite interesting, and Tim took care of complicated bridges and locking – Pen completed first lock of this trip!





Tim took us over the Went Viaduct, and we moored up at 7.00 p.m. between Syke House Bridge and Great Heck – junction of Aire and Calder and new canal.

Moored on the right for the evening.  Aire & Calder ahead.


5 hours cruising,  10 bridges,  3 locks    13 miles

8 May  Sunday    Day 17
Watched Alice in Wonderland.  Heavy rain all night, but a good sleep and a refreshed sunny a.m. with no wind.  Cast off at 10.05, and went through Ferrybridge at 1.00 p.m.,  past Kellingly Colliery to Knottingley.   Pretty canal.  Saw Reklaw of York – subject of oil painting done by Tom at Foss Islands back in 1970 when living in St Saviourgate!

Ferrybridge


Tim saw a kingfisher, and there were several herons on their perches.  Moored at Lemonroyd at 4.45 p.m. after a very long and very deep lock (Lemonroyd Lock Below!).




Tom came over for supper, and Tim and Katy produced a fine chilli con carne.   I must admit the prospect of arriving back in Leeds is slightly depressing.
5 ½ hours cruising   6 locks

9 May  Monday    Day 18
Set off 10.00 a.m. with sunshine and warmth, on the home straight.

Thwaite Mills


Safely berthed at visitors’ moorings at Clarence dock at 12.30 p.m. and Tom came over the bridge to meet us.



Tim due to move to permanent mooring Tuesday p.m. after talking with the Docks Manager.  We all went for celebratory lunch at Mumtaz on the dockside – excellent food.

Off to Mumtaz with the crew!


Katy and Tom and Pen set off home to York around 3.00 p.m.