Tuesday 1 September - Friday 4 September 2009

From Buckby Top Lock Grand Union Canal to Fenny Compton, Oxford Canal

We have been bone idle over the last few days, and boated a very short distance, and been through just 15 locks. We decided to turn left at Braunston and proceed towards the Thames at Oxford via the pretty Oxford canal.

Before leaving Braunston we encountered a lady canal trader - see picture - who is moving along the waterways providing a range of boating essentials like coal, logs, diesel, gas, Brasso etc We also visited Braunston Marina and reserved the cute little historical dry dock for DIY hull blacking next month

Now we are well down the Oxford Canal looking at winter marina possibilities as we go. Enjoyed a good meal at The Bridge at Napton visiting on a Wednesday which is their pie night. We made ourselves walk into Napton village for supplies, and found a very neat and attractive village with excellent shop. The other picture shows the well known windmill landmark on Napton hill.

So now we are moored beside The Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton, and have high expectation of a good evening there - food and company as our springtime crew girls is able to join us!

Bank Holiday Monday 31 August 2009

From Nether Heyford to above Buckby Top Lock, Grand Union Canal Main Line

A dry bank holiday! We travelled up 7 locks mingling in with a slowish trail of boats in both directions. Everybody very pally and patient. We met a boater going the other way who we have encountered quite a few times this summer. Its a small world on the waterways!

Our picture shows some waterside topiary we brushed past, shaped to resemble an animal taking a drink. Bob reckoned an elephant?

We are not looking forward to tomorrow as we shall have to make a decision as to which direction to take, either towards Leicester or Braunston. May not move at all the weather is going to be awful.

7 locks; 7 miles

Sunday 30 August 2009

From Gayton Junction, Northampton Arm to Nether Heyford, Grand Union Canal

We finally made a decision, and turned right at Gayton Junction, and suddenly we were back into very busy canal waterway life, boats appearing from all directions. A fruitless stop at Bugbrooke village for a Sunday paper resulted in a beer in the pub garden opposite the boat! Then the rain started to fall steadily, and after lunch on board, we moved off for a very short way before we gave in to the dreary conditions.

Never mind, the weather people have promised a good day tomorrow!

No photos to-day due to weather conditions!!

Saturday 29 August 2009

Weston Favell Lock, River Nene to Gayton Junction Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal

Our picture taken before setting off today, shows the Northampton washlands, a flood defence area, along the river Nene, complete with early morning rowers. It also shows that the new camera that we had to buy does panoramic views.

A much less windy day today, and after a brief stop in Northampton, we retraced our steps back up the locks to Gayton Junction. Just as we reached the final lock we spotted a Vulcan flying in the distance - this must be one of the privately restored planes, probably visiting a nearyby air display. Unfortunately it had flown out of range to get a picture.

We were helped up the lock flight by a man and his hyper-active border collie, the only thing that the dog hadn't been trained to do was open the lock gates.

Moored back at Gayton marina and watched a few hireboat crews setting off on their holidays. It brought back memories of Saturday turn-arounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 28 August 2009

From Wellingborough back to Weston Favell Lock, River Nene

Yes, well spotted, we have turned round!

After doing last nights blog, we became aware of the Police having been called by another boater, as some local lads had apparently been carelessly casting their fishing lines into his boat. This inspired lots of inter-boater chatter which revealed that we were very likely to encounter intimidation and vandal problems a few locks ahead. Overnight we decided to avoid the chance of confrontation now and possibly again on our return, and so we have backtracked yesterdays journey. Extremely strong winds today, made it a very different experience and even the Environment Agency boys trying to cut river weed gave in to the elements. Our picture shows their very manoeverable machine - and why hasn't BW got something like this?

10 guillotine locks; 8.3 miles

Thursday 27 August 2009

Weston Favell Lock to Wellingborough, River Nene

What a different day - blue sky, warm sun, ALL day, just like summer.

We pressed buttons and wound paddle gear and managed to negotiate the forbidding guillotine locks. Only a couple of boats passed us in each direction, as we progressed along the crystal clear waters of the Nene, with spectacular countryside all around. Mooring places are few and far between on this route, and somehow we passed Billing Aquadrome without spotting the entrance, so we shall have to visiit on the way back.

Our picture shows some ponies at our first a lock, one of whom who became very interested in our flower box but he couldn't quite reach it!

We are moored this evening in the sunshine, in Wellingborough, beside a park, with masses of swans all overfed with naughty white bread from the 24 hour Tesco across the road. Unfortunately we have picked a spot adjacent to a flour mill which will probably be processing all night.

10 guillotine locks and 8.3 miles

Wednesday 26 August 2009

From Gayton on Grand Union Canal, Northampton Arm on to Weston Favell Lock, River Nene

We are back afloat again and plan to explore the Fens and drains and sluices in East Anglia this trip. Sounds delightful doesn't it!

We dithered at the start of the day as to what to do as hurricane Bill was expected today, but the sky didn't suggest he was imminent, so we set off with 17 locks ahead. It was dry and we struck up quite a pace with the use of the folding bike (with big wheels) between locks. Very narrow passage through the water reeds as you can see!
At lock 13 Bob did his good deed for the day by rescuing a small weasel that was shivering on the lockladder, having exhausted himself swimming frantically in the lock as we filled it. The weasel very trustingly got into the fishing net and then galloped away into the undergrowth.

As we moved down on to the River Nene, after a late lunch and a chance for the cycling legs to recover, we found ourselves on the outskirts of Northampton. As we are now in Environment Agency waters we have a different key to use at the locks . This is where hurricane Bill caught up with us, and after a few more locks we felt we had done enough battling against the wind and driving rain, so we are moored against a winter time emergency fens flood jetty, below Weston Favell lock, which looks as if it is push button operated - such power!

Grand Union 4.8 miles 17 narrow locks

River Nene 2.9 miles 3 wide manual locks

Tuesday 25th August 2009

Stoke Bruerne to Gayton (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

Following an early morning start to traverse the Blisworth tunnel in relative peace, it's time to hand back the boat and resume our normal lives. It's been a great couple of weeks, helped by excellent weather for boating.

5 miles and no locks today. Weather OK.

Monday 24th August 2009

Cosgrove to Stoke Bruerne (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

We stayed at Cosgrove for the night; it's a lovely village consisting of a pub, church, school, canal and a road that leads nowhere, so it is really quiet even in the 'centre'. All neat and tidy in a 'proper' sort of English village way, unlike the artificial Milton Keynes style. There is also a small foot tunnel under the canal that joins the pub to the towpath - very convenient!

After a prolonged wait for a much needed pump out (including turning the boat twice to get the correct side of the boat against the quay), we ascended the first five Stoke Bruerne locks, and stopped in the Navigation Inn (photo) for lunch. We then did the other two locks, complete with a large audience taking photos like they were going out of fashion.

We briefly visited the museum at Stoke Bruerne, which was interesting.

6 miles and 7 locks today. Much cooler than yesterday though still partially sunny, but no real rain.

Sunday 23rd August 2009

Water Eaton to Cosgrove (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

Yet another day of brilliant sunshine, though at times with what the nautical types call a "freshening wind".

An uneventful day; the usual chaos at the locks, not so much people not knowing what they were doing, more poor communication.

We've finally escaped from the clutches of Milton Keynes and its surroundings, and are now back in "normal" countryside.

We are currently moored up for the day looking at a beautiful bridge (probably) made of Cotswold stone.

11 miles and 2 locks today. Hot sun for most of the day.

Saturday 22nd August 2009

Water Eaton to Leighton Buzzard and back (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

We picked up some friends today and took them to Leighton Buzzard and back, stopping off in the town centre to have a good pub meal.

Leighton Buzzard marks the most southerly point of our journey; from now on we'll be traveling back up the Grand Union canal.

We passed Rosanne, the Bromley Youth Trust's boat, familiar from a trip many years ago! It was crewed by the Orpington Scout Fellowship and included several mutual acquaintances.

The photo shows some of the locks at Soulbury, showing also a very conveniently located pub on the right.

There seem to be many herons in this area; it's marvelous to watch them.

12 miles and 10 locks today. The weather was a nice mixture of sun and wind.

Friday 21st August 2009

Great Linford to Water Eaton (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

After a sunny start, it soon started to rain, and finally we had the sort of rain where everything gets wet. Still, the outside of the boat needed a wash, especially after some helpful people strimming along the towpath covered one side of the boat with grass while we were moored!

We did stop for a few geocaches throughout the day (see http://www.geocaching.com), but they were too well hidden for us to find.

The sun shone again in the afternoon and we had a gentle cruise along the manicured tidiness of Milton Keynes. We also passed the proposed start of the Milton Keynes and Bedford Waterway.

Our one lock today was at Fenny Stratford, only 1' 1" deep but notable for having a swing bridge inconveniently placed across it - the photo shows the open bridge just to the right of the lock itself. We also had some trouble with shutting the gates - something about pins and clogs; the details are hazy but the people in the pub garden seemed to know what was wrong.

This afternoon, we amused ourselves by playing a game of scrabble.

7.5 miles and one lock today. Weather was mixed; a wet morning but sunny and a bit windy in the afternoon.

Thursday 20th August 2009

Blisworth to Great Linford (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

An early start this morning; we went through 3057 yard Blisworth Tunnel at 7am... It was definitely worth it, though, as there were no diesel fumes and we met no other boats.

We stopped for breakfast at Stoke Bruerne (photo on right); the place seems to be the local canal tourist centre, so we quickly left to go down the seven Stoke Bruerne locks. At this point, we had the first daytime rain of our trip so far, but the sun was shining a few locks further on, so it wasn't too consequential.

Following the locks, the canal was flat to Cosgrove. As we move south, everything is becoming just that bit more neat and tidy.

After a single lock at Cosgrove, which was interesting due to a strong broadside wind, we crossed the Great Ouse aqueduct and then entered the Milton Keynes area.

13 miles and 8 Locks today. Weather was mixed.

Wednesday 19th August 2009

Welton to Blisworth (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

After a week of ascent, we are finally going downhill.

After a bit of chaos at Norton Junction (I still don't know what one boat was trying to do), we successfully descended the seven locks at Buckby. The photo shows an interesting trinket shop by one of the locks, where we acquired two buckets, a blanket badge and a pirate hat!

Toward the end, there were enough boats coming up to have the locks set for us, which saved a lot of time and effort. Going down with another boat and sharing crew also helped as one pair could go on to prepare the next lock.

Unfortunately, the bottom lock had a leak half way down, which just lined up with an open window in the boat. As my crew were busy elsewhere, there followed an interesting period maneuvering the boat so the leak was away from the windows!

After lunch at the bottom of the locks, we had a rather boring afternoon cruise to Blisworth itself, ready for the tunnel first thing tomorrow.

14 miles and 7 locks today. Weather was sunny all day and far too hot...

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore (Oxford Canal) to Welton (Grand Union Canal)

Another gentle day. We had a few locks straight after breakfast going up the Hillmorton flight, then a peaceful cruise along the Oxford Canal to Braunston. We'd expected Braunston to be very busy, but everyone must have been somewhere else as there was little traffic either way.

We had lunch in "The Admiral Nelson", which provided a nice break halfway up the Braunston lock flight.

After lunch, we ascended the remaining Braunston locks, and finally tackled the Braunston Tunnel, which was smokey as usual but thankfully not too busy. For any interested: the tunnel was opened in 1796 and is 2024 yards long.

We are now moored in a quiet cutting just east of the tunnel as further on, the canal joins the M1 and West Coast Main Line. Passing boaters have mentioned that the Grand Union Leicester Section is "heaving" with boats, so we will definately be heading south along the Grand Union Main Line tomorrow.

12 miles and 9 locks today. Weather was warm and dry, but with slightly less sun than previous days.

Monday 17th August 2009

Hawkesbury Junction to Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore (Oxford Canal)

Much to our surprise, it's been yet another lovely sunny day, albeit with a few spots of rain early in the morning.

The Oxford Canal has had a lot of northbound (and novice) traffic, which always seem to appear at the narrow places on the canal, so progress has been fairly slow. We also had to stop several times for supplies, so we haven't made it as far as we'd hoped.

We went through our first tunnel today; the 250 yard Newbold tunnel. I was amused by a sign right at the entrance with the notices and restrictions - by the time the helmsman has reached the sign, most of the boat is in the tunnel - far too late to do anything about it...

We noticed some ducks picking blackberries at the side of the canal today - a strange sight! We also had an opportunity to pick some of our own from the side of the towpath when we stopped for supplies in the mid afternoon. It's just the right season for blackberries - they're all perfect - fat, sweet and juicy.

We also saw a kingfisher.

The photo shows one of the many iron bridges constructed when the canal was 'streamlined' in the 1820's.

13 miles and no locks today.

Sunday 16th August 2009

Nuneaton - Coventry (Coventry Canal) - Hawkesbury (Oxford Canal)

In the end, we decided to miss out on the delights of the Ashby Canal and went to Coventry instead. It was a very pleasant detour, with a lovely modern canal basin at the end. We arrived to find some form of entertainment laid on at the quayside, though I suspect not specifically for us.

Instead, we gave the audience in the basin a good laugh whilst attempting to turn the boat. Thankfully, we didn't actually hit anything and in the end, a kindly local explained the way to do it and it all worked perfectly.

Coventry was nice and quiet, being a Sunday, but it's a shame about the Cathedral... The old, ruined Cathedral was moving, but the new one was a bit of a disappointment.

Our single lock today was at Hawkesbury; it was all of 4" deep - this may be the shallowest lock on the canal system.

Again, it's been a lovely sunny day. We have been lucky!

14 miles and one lock today.

Saturday 15th August 2009

Alvecote to South of Nuneaton (Coventry Canal)

We spent the bulk of the morning ascending the eleven locks in the Atherstone flight. Lovely boating weather, though occasionally, at a critical moment a cross wind would put the boat where we didn't want it.

Half way up the locks, boaters coming down were muttering about water shortages and closed locks, but as we continued, all seemed to be fine and we finished the staircase without a hitch.

The left photo shows a train on the Trent Valley main line - rail enthusiasts will know that this line has been upgraded recently.

This afternoon was a lock free meander along the canal; we've stopped just south of Nuneaton (which itself didn't look too inviting). The right hand photo shows our final mooring for the day, a lovely spot in the evening sunshine.

Tomorrow we must decide to either take a detour on the Ashby Canal or continue our route south.

14 miles and 11 locks today.

Friday 14th August 2009

Alrewas (Trent & Mersey Canal) to Alvecote (Coventry Canal)

The four locks on the Trent & Mersey Canal were very busy this morning; there wasn't a dull moment between locks. Then an extreme change as we went onto the Coventry Canal, where for the first half an hour, I thought we were the only boat there. It was all beautifully green and pleasant, winding through woodland and farmland for a long stretch of the journey.

We stopped at Hopwas for lunch - the village seemed to consist of two large pubs, a canal bridge, some suburban housing and not much else. The food was unremarkable but the beer was good!

The photos show the busy scene at Fradley Junction and our lunchtime pub. Look closely at the latter (click for a bigger image), and you just might see a familiar boat...

15.5 miles and 6 locks today.

Thursday 13th August 2009

Willington to Alrewas, Trent & Mersey Canal

Well, there goes another day of pleasant boating. No boat lifts, no lock flights, no tidal locks, only half a mile of peaceful river that crossed the canal.

This bit of the Trent & Mersey is really nice, mostly wide enough to navigate with ease, but with one or two interesting "squeezes" to keep the attention in place. The first few locks were double ones, but now we are in the single lock section. Now we know that the "broad beam" boat can't be following us!

On the subject of following boats, we ended up meeting another boat several times at a couple of consecutive locks, which gave us a little amusement whilst we waited our turn. We also got to grips with the walkie talkies - or "banana phones" as we have taken to calling them. They've been extremely useful for everything ranging from avoiding trees to synchronising working the locks.

Since we brought the sat nav with us, we've been able to find a couple of geocaches near the canal as we passed them, which has been an added bonus. We plan to do more!

The weather has been lovely! Knowing English summers, we're enjoying it while we can.

8 locks, 15.5 miles.

(PS - We saw the Mon & Brec boat from Sawley Marina again!)

Wednesday 12th August 2009

Sawley Marina to just outside Willington

Backup crew here!

We've borrowed the boat for a while to give Bob & Nicola a well earned rest.
We have had a gentle meander along the Trent & Mersey canal; at times, it seemed very similar to the wooded sections of the Mon & Brec, which was unexpected.

It was quite busy at the locks, but the rest of the journal was very peaceful. At one lock, we passed what looked (in our ignorance of boating terms) like a double width narrowboat. Given the trouble the crew were having navigating along the canal, we were very glad that they let us past to share the lock with another narrowboat.

We had a nice pub lunch with Bob & Nicola in the New Inn at Shardlow, before leaving them to brave the canal by ourselves.

Time for a well earned beer!

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Sawley Marina

Today, we returned to Ripon by rail to retrieve our car - which took 4 hours and the car journey back to Sawley Marina took 2.5 hours, whereas it had taken us 2 weeks by boat to do the same distance (but much more exciting!) All the trains were on time, in fact the train from Derby was going too fast and had to wait outside each station for the platform to clear.

At York Station platform 5 showed the arrival of a charter train to Scarborough which turned out to be the Hogwarts Express hauled by a steam engine and full of people with their buckets and spades and champagne glasses.

So, no pics today other than this sign at the end of our jetty - big brother certainly watches everything!.

From tomorrow you may detect a slightly different blog style! Watch this space.

Monday 10 August 2009

Holme Pierrepont Lock to Sawley Marina

Having heard that there was a stoppage at the next lock up the Trent that meant that boats could only go through from 10-11am and 3-4pm, we set off early to make sure that we were first in the queue. There was only a short pontoon for boats waiting to use the lock, and by the time the lock opened there were four boats hanging on.

After a brief canal section through Nottingham, through a very nicely reconstructed centre, we headed back down on to the wide fast flowing Trent for the final section to Sawley.

As we approached Sawley Marina we were amazed to spot a boat from the Mon and Brec Canal that used to more at Cambrian Marina. As we passed the occupants came out and it was the same owner as before. Readers who know the boat will remember who the owners daughter is ( and what she was famous for!!!!)

Sunday 9 August 2009

Fiskerton to Holme Pierrepont Lock, River Trent

Another perfect boating morning with a cloudless blue sky, but our first sight of the river was like looking out on meringues floating by, as our pic shows. As we moved off from our highly sort after mooring at The Bromley Arms, at Fiskerton, it was akin to driving through a sea of foam, which seems to be mysteriously generated from weirs further upstream. At our first lock at Hazelford, which we operated ourselves as the lockkeeper hadn't arrived, other boaters seemed very reluctant to operate the equipment themselves, so we moved on through the lock alone, no problems. We were treated to some impressive RAF glider pilot training overhead as we made our way ever onwards upstream.

Along the way, we spied a large group of swans enjoying the white water falling out of a side stream.

This evening we are moored adjacent to the National Water Sports Centre, where there is a 2km long rowing length and a challenging canoe slalom course - thank goodness we haven't encountered conditions like the canoeists were, here today!

Saturday 8 August 2009

Muskham Ferry to Fiskerton

Todays journey took us through more great big river locks, through Newark and past an enormous unprotected weir.

The flow on the river was very fast when we set off but above Newark it was even faster and a strong head wind made life even more difficult.

Newark really seems to appreciate its position on the river with lots of new developments.

Upstream from Newark we really struggled against the wind and flow, barely making 1 mph. As we approached Fiskerton where we planned to moor we could see a gap on the jetty through the binoculars. Three plastic boats over took us as we approached but fortunately none of them stopped. However, just as we got there a very powerful boat overtook us and took the spot that we had earmarked. As we passed slowly, looking very fed up, the crew said they would move out so we could moor inside them. It meant that both boats had to make a very choppy turn in the turbulent water!! They had a white poodle he was left in charge while they were in the pub.

The mooring is outside a very pleasant pub that makes up for the afternoons struggle.

Friday 7 August 2009

Torksey to Muskham Ferry, River Trent

We left the shelter of the Torksey lock approach and ventured out onto the river again. 12 hours heavy rain last night managed to stop as we set off but it was so murky we almost needed navigation lights on. At times there were so many narrow boats and cruisers going in the same direction, it was akin to a flotilla. The waves created by some of the gin-palaces that over-took us were about 2 feet high which made for a very exciting white knuckle ride.

No sand barges today, but we had to keep an eye out and listen to the VHF. After about 3.5 hours we reached Cromwell Lock and the comfort zone of a non tidal part of the river Trent. Still fast moving water, and life jackets, but somehow a safer feel to it. We moored on a floating jetty built solely for patrons of The Muskham Ferry Inn, which was so idyillic at lunch time we have decided to stay overnight! The HOT sun came out, the real ale was good, and the garden overlooked the river, what more could we want.

The pub got its name in the thirties when the licensee was the ferry man who took the school children across the river from the village on the other side.

Thursday 6 August 2009

From Keadby Lock up the River Trent to Torksey

At exactly 6am the Keadby lockeeper released us onto the River Trent and for the next 4 hours we averaged about 7mph, as we made our way to the shelter of Torksey Lock approach. Our first picture shows the gloomy start to the day, and it was difficult making out bridge navigation lights. Lots of attractive properties along the way, including rebuilt windmills, but all looking very near the Trent despite the flood defences.

The journey was quite pleasant and a second breakfast during the morning was most welcome. We encountered only one sandbarge, who came at us from behind at great speed as our picture shows.

Very little floating debris made for a more relaxed time today, than we recalled en route from Selby to Naborne.

Our arrival at Torksey was marked with an aerial display from the Red Arrows, with red, white and blue smoke trails.

So this afternoon we have explored Torksey and its environs (and pubs) and watched boats going through the lock, and we are moored on a floating pontoon, and await the tide tomorrow to move again. If we have seen one cooling tower this trip, we have seen dozens - they are everywhere!

Wednesday 5 August 2009

From Thorne to above Keadby Lock, Stainforth and Keadby Canal

We have traversed the whole of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal now and we are moored ready to move at 5.45am into the lock, ready to be released onto the River Trent below at low water. Our dawn patrol will take us to Torksey Lock for a pub lunch hopefully.

Today's little jaunt was not without interest and adventure, as we had several electric swing bridges to deal with, each with its own slightly different procedure and some with dodgy contact points, that brought out workers from garages, and house windows opened and pedestrians all shouting advice, and help! The canal passed alongside some rail track where repairs were ongoing, utilising floating cranes, and we counted at least a dozen Network Rail personnnel wasting time beside the canal, watching the world go by. Nearer to Keadby we encountered a skewed sliding railway bridge only 2 feet above the canal, which was moved aside for us by a Network Rail man in a signal box. Apparently, there are only 3 of these bridges in Europe. it all seemed a little toytown to us!

We then passed a gas fired power station which Bob says was very interesting!

No problem about falling to sleep tonight, then!

Monday 3 August 2009

Pollington Lock , Aire and Calder Navigation to Thorne, Stainforth and Keadby Navigation, South Yorkshire

Today we have travelled on 3 waterways, including the New Junction Canal (built 1905) which is 5.5 miles long and follows a completely straight line, broken only by swing and lift bridges and one lock, with a swing bridge in the middle of it. Tall foreboding guillotine gates over aqueducts at each end, isolate the canal in times of flood. At the end of the 'new' canal, we turned sharp left and moved down the Stainforth and Keadby Canal, again wide water passing through ex coal mining areas, and on to Thorne where we are currently moored within Stanilands Marina for the next 2 nights.

Our passage down on to the river Trent from Keadby Lock is booked for 6am on Thursday!

Sunday 2 August 2009

From Selby Canal, along river Aire to Knottingley and onto Aire and Calder Navigation and down to Pollington Lock

A much better day, everyone was keen to make an early start - not us at 6am but some did! Perfect boating weather though and out onto the River Aire where the water level marker at orange meant that levels were high and navigable with care, but not in the dangerous red zone. Fortunately we didn't encounter any water skiers along the way, we saw them getting ready, with beer bottles in hand! Progress into the wind was tricky, but we battled on, consequently we feel quite weatherbeaten this evening.

We are covering new ground as we go down more of the Aire and Calder navigation, moving south from Knottingley towards Thorne and Doncaster. We passed several Tom Pudding boats, sadly disused now, just rusting alongside the colliery sites, they previously served. Not overly attractive countryside, but different none the less, and a good chance that we will meet commercial boats along the way, mixed in with the huge powerful cruisers, with aerials and masts and sonar and vhf and tinted windows, and and and........

Saturday 1 August 2009

Selby lock, Selby Canal


Wet, wet, wet = no boating today!

Friday 31 July 2009

York to Selby ( via Tidal Ouse )

We spent the morning looking around York again ( including M & S ) and went back to the boat for lunch. The trip boats plodding up and down the river every few minutes all giving the same commentary, apparently before the great fire of London houses in York were built without foundations so you could turn them upside down and still use them!!

Lunch brought about a small panic as Bob tried to cut his thumb off with the bread knife, but it turned out to be more shock than blood.

The daytime tide today meant that we had to be at Naburn Lock ready to go down about 4.30pm, to arrive at Selby about 7pm. Five narrowboats went down in the first penning and we were first out onto the river. We were soon overtaken by two narrowboats, one steered by a grandmother and her grandson, who were out to break records! The other two boats were much slower.

After about an hour and a half we realised we were catching up rapidly on the first two boats, they had slowed considerably and it was soon obvious that the first had a problem. We all came to a virtual stand still, then an enormous lump of wood floated away from the bows of the first boat. They had been pushing it for sometime hence the reduced speed.

Selby lock is only big enough for two narrowboats at a time so after radioing the lock to let him know we were ten minutes away we trod water for 15 minutes to let the two boats ahead get through the awkward bridges and make their turn into the lock.

Our turn eventually came and the turn into the lock was quite staight forward ( didn't even touch the lock walls on entering). We then had to wait about 15 mins for the arrival of the next boat to lock up with us.