Goole to Doncaster and Cromwell

Back in October we returned to Viking Marina where Sue and John provided us with a winter mooring.  It's always good to return to our boating home but there was plenty of work to do over winter.  First on the list of maintenance work was a lift out at Goole Boathouse to check our bow-thruster which had lost its propulsion.  A piece of plastic wrapping caught around the propeller was the culprit and easily removed.  We've owned Brent III for 10 years but only recently noticed she had no rubbing strakes (boat bumpers) around her back deck so Kev donned his welding gear and rectified the omission.  

The welder had to come out again to modify our fire flue for a stainless steel chimney and Gaz came up to cut the boards for a replacement floor in the wheelhouse.   Kev worked his way through a list of maintenance tasks and smaller modifications but it wasn't all work.   Sarah and I went to the excellent Knitting & Stitching show in Harrogate and I've enjoyed working on a decorative wall hanging called the Icy Realm. 

The Icy Realm depicts a slice of the arctic with fish, whales, arctic foxes and a polar bear.

Kev joined Park Lodge Shooting School and disappeared with his new air rifle for target practice and the opportunity to put the world to rights with the Thursday morning geriatric club.  

Kev will miss the Thursday morning banter

All in position

This year we have purchased, at great expense, a gold boat license which allows us to navigate on Environment Agency waters as well as the Canal & River Trust network.  Keen to make the most of this license we made an earlier start than usual and waved goodbye to Viking Marina on 24 February.  For the start of our trip we are going to be accompanied by Chris, Geoff and their long haired white alsatian on their narrowboat Geordie Spirit.

We travelled west on the Aire and Calder and as we turned onto the New Junction canal we had a good view of the Park Lodge Shooting School.  

Park Lodge Shooting School from the canal

 Our first stop was Doncaster and the next morning I was interested to hear the Flying Scotsman would be running up the East Coast Mainline.  A quick check on the internet gave me the time it was due to pass through Doncaster station so off I went with my camera to join a crowd of enthusiastic train spotters.  We lined up on opposite platforms and peered down the track until a plume of smoke heralded the engine's arrival.  The Flying Scotsman hurtled towards us at full speed and roared through the station billowing smoke and blowing its whistle.  In less than a minute it was all over.  Luckily I had my camera on sports setting but judging by the conversations around me, some weren't so fortunate.  

The Flying Scotsman roaring through Doncaster station

While we were at Doncaster Shaun and Paul kindly came over to sort out the connectivity from Kev's smartphone to the television so we can download and watch films.  All this clever technology is beginning to leave us behind.  From Doncaster we sailed to Thorne for a night.

Geordie Spirit pulling off the moorings at Doncaster

The next stop was Keadby which is now home to Pickle, a schooner complete with masts and rigging.  Unfortunately it also has a very noisy generator.  

Working on Pickle's rigging, think I'll stick to Brent III

Mark the Lock-keeper had an early start to let us out of Keadby Lock onto the Trent at 8am on Sunday.

Geordie Spirit pulling out of Keadby Lock

Shortly after leaving Keadby I spotted the dark sleek head of a seal breaking the surface of the water; it stopped briefly before gracefully diving out of sight.  

We had a good run to Torksey and the next day completed our journey on the tidal Trent as we sailed into Cromwell Lock.

Our journey from Goole to Doncaster and then Cromwell.