Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation cruise

Friday 29 April Keadby to Thorne
Cool and cloudy, we left that lovely sailing ship Pickle behind.

approaching the sliding Keadby rail bridge

we had to wait for a pause in the train timetable

six trains passed in ten minutes!

Annie passing through. The sliding bridge is the green object on the left, operated from the signal box

Expecting a long, straight, boring trip, we were both surprised by the views and lovely scenery as we moved along. After passing the Keadby Combined Cycle Power Station, now mothballed, I remembered Chis Cooke and the team there welcoming Norman Palmer and  me with A Physics sixth formers from De Aston School, working out efficiency as part of the course. The number of wind turbines surprised us, too.

Vazons Swing Bridge, one of several

looking back at Keadby Power Station on a very windy day

John estimated that the ends of the blades were moving at about 100mph, at 2 sec for 1 revolution in the strong wind

wind farm beneath stormy skies

Lowering skies, stormy weather, but surprisingly scenic without high banks

Liana operating Godstow Swing Bridge. Some of these bridges would not operate until a signalman had closed the railway level crossing gates a few yards away

Liana refitting the Coolie Hat

waiting for the cantilever lift bridge

Blue WaterMarina

services?

arriving in Thorne. new housing on right, opposite the old Louis and Joshua boatyard, now used by Tyler Wilson (?)

passing through the pedestrian swing bridge. We had to make sure all four pedestrian gates were closed before the bridge would operate.

Liana enjoyed operating all the various bridges. It was not possible to moor outside the Canal Tavern or on a pontoon at the services, so we found a less secure but pleasant mooring in the evening sunshine. A decent pint of Bombardier and Corned Beef Pie (John had to try it after friendly folk recommended it, and he enjoyed it!), in the Canal Tavern followed! Liana enjoyed her meal, too.

..... so much for mooring outside the Canal Tavern!

four boats moored at the services

room for several boats just after the services, close to the town and pubs.

Thursday 28 April Down the Trent from West Stockwith to Keadby

Smoky start to the day ....

Cold, sunny morning at West Stockwith Basin

 Morning started cool but sunny, with blue skies. John drilled holes and fitted our new folding cleats near the front, to help Liana keep control of ropes in deep river locks, using those vertical wires. Lock keeper Jim got Mick Ogden to fill Annie up with diesel (85p) before we left. Accelerating out of the lock, the ebbing tide swept us down the wider river, past Owston Ferry and later West Butterwick.

passing the Crooked Billet at Owston Ferry

Dolphins are not always mammals

Renovated mill and M180 bridge

Big bridge over big river

something to avoid

Passing under the M180, contacting the lock to warn them as we passed Allthorpe church, we soon spotted that wonderful Victorian lift bridge, operated originally by filling a huge bucket with river water. Passing Keadby Lock, John turned Annie and headed upstream against the strong flow, using her powerful engine to power into the lock, turning at the last moment and only powering down as Annie entered the lock entrance (similar to West Stockwith).

Keadby Bridge, now fixed

Little and Large!

As we passed Keadby Lock, they were lifting out a boat

approaching Keadby Lock against the current (no time to wipe lens!)

safe in Keadby Lock.

Liana enjoying the moment!

Keadby Lock filling, watched by the lock keeper above

we had to wait in the lock until the lock keeper had opened the road swing bridge. Mooring is just beyond, on the left.

The helpful lock keeper operated the road bridge so we could exit the lock, and pointed out moorings on the left, after the CRT services, where we stayed overnight peacefully, opposite the historic Humber keel and sailing ship Pickle.

Keadby moorings

Annie without cratch, with Iron Oxide paint and new folding cleats and highback seats

the good ship Pickle, with Humber Keel behind

Keadby services

There is a good chippy close by, he said. We ate a healthy meal on board!


Wed 27 April Clayworth to West Stockwith Basin

At least the breeze was straight down the canal as John reversed Annie down to the clubhouse. Three Braunston boats came past as he did so, however! Good to see visitors on the Chessie. After loading up, sorting the Elsan, etc, off we went. John was dressed for warmth, which helped him enjoy the scenic trip to Drakeholes, where several trees have been removed at the moorings near the tunnel.

Drakeholes moorings

Drakeholes Tunnel

We both enjoyed the panorama over the Idle valley through the locks to West Stockwith.
Bluebells, wild garlic, aconites, primroses were in abundance in woodland, while a few cowslips littered the waterside, here and there.

The rain actually held off until 10 minutes before we moored

Reaching West Stockwith, we moored in a sudden shower of rain, reversing in. Liana made a tasty tea as we settled in for the night.

Liana at Misterton Locks

Renovating the Cratch area

Friday 15 April Work day at Clayworth. There's always a job when you've got a boat!

After dropping off Liana in Lincoln to visit a friend, it was over to Clayworth to check out paintwork and the cratch on Annie. After chatting with Ian Lawford and Nick Elliott, I got cracking. Removing the cratch cover left me wondering if the material had weakened too much to be repaired, so inspection by a cratch cover maker/repairer looks essential. The mortice and tenon joint at the bottom of the vertical front cratch support had let in water to make the wood wet and soft, so the woodwork was unbolted and taken away, too. I suspect that I will need to fabricate a hardwood replacement. Out with the angle grinder and fibre discs to remove rust spots down to shiny steel, followed by a coat of iron oxide paint before the rain came down. Removing the headlamp stand showed bad pitting underneath, so it was a good job I did take time to unscrew it. There's always a job when you've got a boat!

Without a cratch, the 6 feet long front cockpit looks very roomy, as our neighbour noted.

There were so many little chips that it looked better to paint all the top surround.

The hatch was cream with a red diamond, originally, with red hinges: Maybe it will be, again.

The lovely bow is hull builder G Reeves' take on a josher type design, looking broader than the Steve Hudson bow. Phill and Sue Abbott of Wharf Narrowboats, who won Most Popular Boat of Show at Crick with Annie in 2005, have just fitted out Steve's last boat beautifully, after his untimely death.

I still need to sort out front fender chains: The new button fender sits well on the original fender, as there isn't a place above to secure a shackle, for some reason. The low fender (which I may raise a few inches) protects Annie from lock top gate sills when going uphill - at least, that is the idea!

Downhill all the way! Returning from Kiveton Park back to Clayworth. Cuckoo Boats (or not?)

Friday 1 April Homeward bound

John amused himself by cutting the overhanging weeping willow branches as we passed on our way to the four Forest Locks, once surrounded by Sherwood Forest. After using the Elsan facility, we continued into Retford, moored above Town Lock and visited the market and Costa. Apparently, the market is best on Thursday and Saturday, but is more of a junk / jumble market on Fridays, according to a local. John bought a small axe and spanners, as did Min.

The pleasant journey through Town Lock, past the Hop Pole pub, through the wide WhitSundayPie Lock and five miles to Clayworth was new to Min and Angela. After unloading at the RWBC clubhouse, John moored Annie and "put her to bed", while the others sorted out cars. Tomorrow is moving day for all the boats at RWBC, so we should be a few boat lengths nearer the clubhouse, which will make filling with water easier.


Thur 31 March Shireoaks through Worksop to Ranby


A beautiful sunny morning! Before we set off, John showed Min and Angela the Chesterfield Canal working boat moored at Shireoaks Marina. Mr Bounds was busy restoring the Chesterfield Canal Trust's reconstructed working narrow boat, Dawn Rose, as he cheerily welcomed us into the marina. We were invited to see the tiny cabin, complete with stove and shelves/boards, stowed ready for laying on the floor for sleeping.

Dawn Rose and Mr Bounds at Shireoak Marina

Mr Bounds with Min and Angela

Dawn Rose. You can see the CRT facilities and entrance bridge in the background.

Health and Safety - Pulling out the wood releases the" bow yanker" from the tow rope .... but see the wooden chimney!!

John in the front cabin. yes, he did bang his head!

notice stove, horn, windlass, etc

small cupboard / table

Mr B had spent much of his life working on the canals in this area and he was very happy to share canal stories from his past...all starting with our question about "cuckoo" boats. He said the canal historians had got it wrong - the boatmen just called them "booats", although there were several types, eg Pompey lengthman's boat. He was eager to explain that it was in fact the people who went on the rivers with insufficient power or unsuitable loads who were thought to be "cuckoo" , one example was of a chap who decided to take a cow on board, on the Trent !

Further tales emerged:

Three youngsters, the eldest 17, were instructed by their father to bring a cargo from the far side of the Kiveton Tunnel. On reaching the Kiveton side, they met a friend of their father, who said "that horse is in a filthy state, you had better clean it up before I tell your father". The boys set to with the cleaning using some paraffin they had. Sadly, they still had the flare used in the tunnel lit! Next minute the horse was alight. They pushed the horse into the canal to put out the fire, resulting in a burned and drowned horse! They then had to "bow yank" (bow haul) the loaded boat to their destination .... and presumably explain everything to their father.

The Shireoaks water mill owner's son came back from Oxford University, but lost his teaching job through drunkenness, followed by losing his job working as mill overseer for the same reason. Later in life he lived in a cabin at Cabin Pond (one of the lock pounds above Shireoaks) and visited a different local lady each night, weekly, for his meal!

His great grandfather was blacksmith for Shireoaks colliery, and the terrace was built for the skilled men. Dawn Rose is now moored feet from the original colliery wharf, at Shireoaks Marina.

The devil was purported to live in the Shireoaks woods. a chap wanted to be buried at midnight in the woods. This funeral request was refused by several vicars until the vicar of Wales (the nearby village!) agreed to bury him at midnight, but only in his own churchyard...sadly, on the way to Wales with the coffin, it was dropped. The bearers ran away for fear of the devil. Next morning the coffin was found broken AND empty.

Eventually we started off in the sun, down the locks to Worksop, where we chatted with CRT staff trying to increase membership from 44,000 to 100,000.

We moored, had a coffee and shopped at the Priory Centre, so Min could visit Wilco's and the BHF shop. A boat actually passed Annie, heading uphill!
John took us out of town in the breezy sunshine, past Osberton Hall and Lock, amid pretty scenery. We moored a few hundred yards before the occupied new Ranby moorings we usually use. Liana won at Settlers of Catan, after another good meal.

Worksop Straddle Warehouse. They were reroofing the outbuildings to the right as we passed

leaving Worksop. the ornate pump house chimney top is visible aboive the bridge.

We seemed to spook the herd - all the beast rushed ahead of us

Osberton Lock

moored using G-clips before the A1 near Ranby. The boat ahead is on the 48 hour mooring bollards.

Wed 30 March Down 23 locks to Shireoaks

Min and Angela Palmer joined us for this trip, so we left our car at Clayworth and  all came to the boat in theirs. John backed Annie up to the bridge for loading, then went up to the tunnel to get a picture of Annie at the head of navigation.

Min and Angela Palmer. The blocked tunnel East portal is in front of Annie

The winding hole / feeder

Min enjoyed backing Annie to the winding hole. The canal here and above the locks is well kept and pretty, with lots of wild garlic.

Umnyama's home mooring?

Min steering, leaving Kiveton Park

The triple staircase top locks

The locks are in good order, but quite a few gates are a little stiff to move because of silt, etc: We thought dredging would help, as is the case along much of this lovely but shallow canal.

This low arch nearly took the coolie hat off the chimney on the way up

The staircase lock gates do not have the usual beams to walk across on, apart from the top gates, for some reason, causing more work.

... some people clamber across the bottom gates, despite the risk ...

Liana hitching a lift across the lock!

... guess who was losing at Settlers1

... that old perennial - converting the dinette into a bed. It's very comfortable , though.

Harebell and Annie both mooring overnight outside Shireoaks Marina. Laura's friendly café is at the bridge behind.

Shireoaks Marina is now fenced securely and populated: You can access the separate CRT water, wc and elsan facilities with a CRT key from the towpath, or moor inside for up to two hours. Friendly local boaters let us in the marina to dump some rubbish and have a chat in the evening sunshine.

Angela won at Settlers of Catan (Star Trek version!), well deserved after treating us to her excellent lasagne!