Back Home

On Monday we retraced our route from Castleford back to Ferrybridge where we spent the night. 

Ferrybridge lock at night

The next day we sailed back to the Junction and from there we intended to stay at Doncaster. Unfortunately when we arrived on Wednesday the visitor moorings were full so we extended our journey to Sprotborough.  The next day we returned through Sprotborough and Doncaster locks and luckily this time there was space for us.

Coming through Sprotborough Lock

We wanted some shopping in Doncaster but had a surprise when we walked up to Tesco because it's now a b&m store.  We also had a set back in Debenhams when the emergency alarms started ringing and we were evacuated off the premises by 2 sales assistants.  It turned out to be a practice and we returned later to buy some shoes for Kev.  Our spending spree continued but one of our purchases required our sack barrow, a microwave oven which will be useful for porridge during the winter.  My final purchase was some attractive wool which had an attractive sale price on Nora's haberdashery stalls.  

On Saturday we set off in drizzle which quickly turned to rain.  I donned waterproofs and stepped off Brent III at Barnby Dun to operate the lift bridge.  I turned the key and pressed the raise bridge button; the traffic lights flashed and the alarm sounded then everything stopped.   The road barriers remained obstinately up and cars continued to stream across the bridge, time to call CRT.  Shortly afterwards Brian appeared and, as always, cheerfully sorted out the problem so we were soon on our way.  

We passed Bramwith Junction onto the New Junction Canal and through the first three bridges and thankfully all their electronic controls were working.   Sykehouse Lock is also electronically operated but has a manual swing bridge crossing it.

Sykehouse Lock and it's swing bridge

After the lock there is another swing bridge and a lift bridge before we reached the moorings at the top of the canal. 

3 of the New Junction bridges, a swing bridge in the foreground, the balance beam of a lift bridge and in the distance the white railings of a footbridge

On Sunday morning we turned onto the Aire and Calder heading east passed Southfield Reservoir. 

Boulders mark the division between the canal and Southfield Reservoir

We stopped to gather some firewood and then concluded this years travels by sailing back home to Viking Marina.  

Here's some statistics: since setting off in March we've travelled 1115 miles and come through 509 locks, our average stay on a mooring was 1.4 days and when we travelled our average distance was 6.7 miles.   The map shows the waterways we've sailed during this year.  

Castleford

As we left Naburn on Monday morning the river level was back to normal but the water cascading over the weir was stained brown from its origins on the Yorkshire moors.

Peat stained water cascading over Naburn Weir

At first we travelled at about 4 mph until the tide turned and then after Cawood Bridge we started to pick up speed. 

Cawood Bridge.  The bridge-keeper not only swings the bridge for tall boats but also rings the lock-keepers to advise when boats pass through.  

When we reached Selby Lock we were flying along at 8mph but had to turn across the flow into the lock.  Kev sailed passed the lock and turned Brent III so she was pushing against the tide which gives better control.  Then he had to stop; an enormous tree trunk was floating passed the lock entrance.  On low revs Brent III paused mid-stream until our way was clear and then Kev powered her into the lock entrance.  

Back on the Selby Canal there was no such excitement, we had a steady run and enjoyed the autumn colours flanking the waterway.  Taking it easy we had 2 overnight stops before pulling out onto the non-tidal River Aire at West Haddlesey.  Power lines are strung across the fields and as we passed we spotted some workmen on a pylon. 

The workmen looked tiny on the pylon

Bank Dole Lock took us on to the Aire and Calder Navigation and turning west we continued to Ferrybridge where we moored up.  

Ferrybridge Power Station dominates the view from the canal

The next day we sailed through Ferrybridge flood lock back on to the River Aire which took us up to Castleford where we stayed for a few days.   The short walk into town took me passed Morley Waste Traders unusual entrance. 

Unusual entrance with a little dog made from scrap

Castleford is always busy and has a good indoor market.  It also has an excellent Chinese take-away, Oriental Delight, which we can confirm is still the best we've had.   The old pit tops are now a nature reserve and although I didn't see much wildlife the paths make a good walk for Bess and Brinny.  

Looking back at Castleford from the pit-tops with the River Aire on the left

Our journey from Naburn to Castleford

High Waters

Nigel, the lock-keeper at Selby, had warned us there would be a spring high tide on Friday but once the tide had started to come in he could let us through the lock.  So on Friday morning a small group of us, including another narrow boater who was also going up the river, stood at the top of the lock peering through the mist waiting for the tide.  We heard it before we saw it; then the tide came roaring in on a small bore.  It broke against the mud-banks and left a series of ever decreasing waves in it's wake.  

The bore breaking against the mud-banks in front of the lock

Once the waves had settled we returned to our boats and Nigel dropped the lock.  On the river we picked up speed and hurtled round the Selby Bridges at 8mph and as we maintained this speed for most of the trip we arrived at Naburn in under 2 hours, a record time for us. 

As I pottered around Naburn Lock with my camera someone told me a balloon was preparing for take off in the field used by a local balloon club.  

The balloon just lifting from the ground

That evening Nic and Gaz, Shaun and Laura, and their families arrived to stay on Naburn Lock Caravan site.  We enjoyed an evening chatting and the next day everyone came on board for a day trip to York.  

Tied up On Kings Staith at York for our day trip

Wandering through the Shambles we were enticed by the sweet buttery aroma from Roly's Fudge Pantry.  Who could resist?  We certainly couldn't.  

The Shambles in York.  The buildings in the centre of the photo are reputed to be close enough for the occupants to shake hands through their top windows.

We also had a look round the Railway Museum.

Stephensons Rocket, a delicate looking engine compared to the enormous diesel locomotives in the museum

On our return to Naburn we enjoyed an excellent evening carvery at The Blacksmiths Arms. At Sunday lunchtime we said our goodbyes but Kev and I stayed on at Naburn until Tuesday morning when we sailed back to York.

On our second visit to the city I had a walk round the craft shops including the Viking Loom which has an interesting array of beads; I was some time making the selection for my pick and mix container.  

That night we had torrential rain but the water level had risen only slightly the next morning.   We decided to change our mode of transport and caught a train to Malton, a small market town, where we had a potter round and did some shopping.  

Back at York we noticed the water level was now rising and decided to sail back to Naburn where there are floating pontoons if we need them.  Initially we stopped on the moorings which are easier for the dogs but by 8 pm Kev though it would be prudent to move onto the pontoons.   The next morning we could see we'd made the right decision; the path at the side of our previous mooring was under a foot of water.

Moorings under water.  The submerged path is between the white hoops which are the top of the emergency ladder and the wall.

There was an advantage to being on the floating pontoon; it was nearer to the road for our deliveries from Coopers coal merchants and ASDA.  The water levels started to drop and Kev came across about 80 lamprey which had been stranded on a concrete slab.   He wasn't very keen to touch them because of their similarity to snakes so I mounted the rescue and tossed them back into the river.

Kev's photo of the stranded lamprey

By Friday tea-time the river level had dropped enough for us to return to the moorings where we stayed for the weekend.    

Our route from Selby to York

Selby

As we left Keadby we passed an amphibious vehicle being put to work against the invasive floating weed.   Scooping up the weed and depositing it on the bank had cleared an area in front of Vazon bridge but there was plenty more upstream.    

Scooping up the weed

Our next stop was Thorne, usually a busy spot but we were surprised to see only 2 boats on the moorings.   On Friday we continued on to an old favourite mooring at the top of the New Junction canal where Cath and John joined us on Saturday. 

Looking down at the Went Aqueduct and Junction moorings from the footbridge. Brent III is hidden between the cruisers on the right.  

We enjoyed the afternoon chatting in the sunshine while the youngest member of our group had fun with the dinghy. 

Fun on the dinghy

 The next day we all sailed up to Pollington, the adults on Brent III while the dinghy was the preferred transport for the more adventurous.   We enjoyed an excellent Sunday lunch at the King's Head before returning to the Junction.  

Later that night I stopped up to watch the eclipse.  The fog had started to creep in but I still had a reasonable view. 

Not as spectacular as some of the photos I've seen but this was my best photo of the eclipse 

During the following days we had foggy mornings but warm sunny afternoons.  We sailed up to West Haddlesey and on to the picturesque Selby Canal. 

Tankard Bridge at West Haddlesey

On Wednesday we arrived at Selby, a small market town which is dominated by its Abbey.  I took a walk around the outside of the Abbey to look at the Gargoyles and was surprised to see a carved stone boat with a little crusader protruding from the wall.  

The Selby Abbey crusader

Our journey from Keadby to Selby 

Back to Keadby

After a couple of days at Gunthorpe we sailed on to the next moorings which are at Hazelford Island.

On the moorings at Hazelford Island.   CRT's crane is on site because they have been working on the high wall and the boat heading downstream is the St John's trip boat Crusader. 

The island used to be home to a thriving population of rabbits but when we walked along the grassy paths it was obvious their numbers had dramatically diminished.   There were still plenty of smells to excite Bess and Brinny who enjoyed a good run round. 

Bess keeping an eye on Brinny from her spot in the shade

During one of our walks I spotted a bright butterfly which I haven't been able to identify.

The brightly coloured butterfly

On Sunday we moved on to Newark passing a variety of birds at Averham Weir. 

The posts at Averham Weir make a convenient place to preen

Newark is convenient for shopping with a good market and I couldn't resist some arts and crafts purchases from various shops.  Kev picked up an ebay delivery from Argos and of course called in at Just Beer.  Flocks of sparrows live in the bushes lining the river wall and some sat long enough for a photo.  

Fluffed up in the wind at the side of the Trent

On Thursday we pulled off the pontoons and over to the opposite bank which is conveniently near to Morrisons.  After shopping we left Newark heading north for Cromwell Lock.  

The pontoons at Newark

We stopped at Cromwell over the weekend and caught up with some maintenance jobs.  We also fitted some extra eyelets on the gunwhales to hang more fenders to protect our paintwork and bolted on some additional mooring cleats.  These will be useful as mooring bollards and rings aren't always conveniently spaced for the length of the boat.  

On Monday we went down through Cromwell Lock onto the tidal section of the Trent.  The water levels were very low exposing the shoals which extend into the river and can be a hazard to boaters. 

A gravel shoal which has built up on the inside of the bend in the river

We had a good run to Torksey where we stopped on the pontoons overnight.  The next day we had a 7 am start in order to make the most of the outgoing tide.  It was misty as we set off but shortly afterwards the mist turned to a thick fog which was alarming because we could barely see the banks.  Kev was able to keep on course and gradually the fog cleared.  

Sheep walking along the bank in the fog 

Despite the fog we had another good run and on arrival at Keadby turned into the lock to find the invasive floating weed is back.  Up on the canal we carved a path through the green carpet and pulled up for the day.  

Our journey from Gunthorpe to Keadby

Back to the Trent

We left Branston under blue skies but the clouds weren't far behind. 

Dark clouds follow us as we head towards Burton-on-Trent 

On our way out of Burton-on-Trent we came down Dallow Lock, our last narrow lock this year.  The next day we left Willington and soon found ourselves in a queue for Stenson Lock. 

We've moved Brent III up the queue ready to go in the lock with the boat in front.  The white building is a cafe whose customers sit out on the veranda watching the boats in the lock. 

Once through the lock we kept our fingers crossed for space on the moorings at the Ragley Boat Stop pub.  We were in luck and stayed a couple of days enabling us to enjoy their excellent meals.  

On Friday we resumed our journey and were joined by another narrowboat at the first lock which was lucky; Weston Lock is renowned for it's heavy bottom gates but it was easy with two of us.   We shared the next few locks and were both able to moor up at Shardlow which was surprisingly quiet when we arrived.  

Moored up at Shardlow, this was the last time we had to drop the wheelhouse for low bridges.

Sawley was our next stop as we travelled the now familiar route north. 

A vivid sunset at Sawley

Volunteer lock-keepers took us down through Sawley Lock onto the wide River Trent but this first stretch of the river is short; after a mile Cranfleet Cut bypasses Thrumpton Weir.    I also had an easy time at Cranfleet Lock as 3 more volunteers manned the lock and let us out back onto the Trent.   We stopped on Cranfleet pontoon and then my work began.  Brent III's paintwork needs some protection and Kev thoughtfully brought a gallon of polish which, with some elbow grease, had Brent III gleaming in the sunshine. 

Sailing into Nottingham we were surprised to see a line of empty moorings.  The boaters who had taken root on the visitor moorings had clearly been persuaded to move on.  We stopped overnight and restocked at Sainsburys before continuing through Nottingham with it's mix of old and new buildings flanking the canal.  

A Nottingham wharf filled with seats and flowers for the Canalhouse Bar.  The warehouse in the background once belonged to Fellows, Morton & Clayton, a well-known canal haulage company.

At Meadow Lane Lock we left Nottingham Canal and will be on the River Trent for the next 70 miles.  The Trent trip boats were lined up on their moorings as we passed.  

The Trent trip boats on their moorings.

Our first stop on the Trent was at Stoke Bardolph where I enjoyed a good walk with the girls who appreciated the smell of rabbit more than the view over the lagoons.   We then moved on to Gunthorpe and Kev, always an early riser, told me about the mist at dawn but I only saw it on the photo he took on our second day there.  

Kev's photo of boats in the mist on the Trent

Our journey from Branston to Gunthorpe 

August Bank Holiday

After Minworth the Birmingham & Fazeley became a quiet rural canal and we spent the next night alongside a large RSPB reserve at Kingsbury.  Our journey north then took us under Drayton Footbridge which has a tower at each end containing a spiral staircase for access to cross.

Drayton Footbridge with it's doorways into the towers

We stopped at Fazeley Hill Marina to top up with diesel, at 57p per litre + duty it was the cheapest we've seen for a long time.

At Fazeley Junction we turned north-west on the Coventry Canal and pulled over shortly afterwards for Sainsburys.  We'd noticed the canal was very busy and the next day boats were moving early.  As we set off we knew there were some boats ahead but then a boater coming in the opposite direction told us we were the 10th boat he'd seen in 1.5 miles.  Time to pull over and the next opportunity was near Hademore. We soon found we were also near to the high speed rail line.

High speed train coming under a road bridge

The low banks at Hademore were ideal for us to restart the long task of Brent III's paintwork.  During breaks in the rain we were able to rub down her starboard gunwhales exposing streaks of her previous colours.  She didn't look pretty when we left on Monday morning but we were pleased to have made a start.  We were heading for Fradley Junction and when we arrived we were surprised to see the moorings were almost empty but that didn't last long at this popular destination.

The Canal & River Trust buildings and yard opposite our mooring at Fradley

From Fradley we moved on to Branston Water Park moorings where the canal runs alongside a wildfowl reserve.  This was an excellent spot to stop for a few days to avoid moving during the busy bank holiday weekend.  The nearby Toby Carvery provided sustaining breakfasts before we resumed painting Brent III.  To paint the bow we dismantled the cratch and removed the front fender which sent a dozen surprised spiders scurrying away into the grass.  It's a shame the spiders living inside the boat don't scurry away, it's a bit unnerving when they suddenly abseil down from the ceiling.

Painting in progress.  Before we left Branston we completed a top coat to the bow to match the gunwhale 

Taking a break from painting we walked down the towpath to gather some sloes and then made up this year's sloe gin.

On the Bank Holiday Monday we awoke to heavy rain which persisted until lunchtime.  We decided to move on then, just a mile further down the canal so we were closer to Morrisons for a shop.

Our journey from Minworth to Branston