Newark to Nottingham

We sailed from Newark on Sunday morning and had an interested audience as we went through Town Lock.  The river was still high and we pushed against a strong current to Hazelford where we were surprised to see our usual moorings underwater.  So for the first time we moored against the high wall which was now not so high.  

The mooring bollards showing through the water at Hazelford

That evening a glowing sunset lit up the sky and reflected off the river. 

Sunset at Hazelford

On Tuesday morning we decided to move on and Geoff who is a joiner, gave us a small shelf with a carved out depression to stop cups sliding off.  It will be very useful next to our bookcase.  Chris operated the lock for us and Geoff took some photos. 

Geoff's photo of Brent III in Hazelford Lock

The pontoons at Gunthorpe were empty when we arrived but while we were there other boats came and went.  The fine weather was ideal for walking with the girls and we enjoyed an excellent meal in The Unicorn which is conveniently just opposite the moorings.  On Friday morning we were preparing to set off when a black swan came over.  

Kev's photo of the black swan

As we approached Holme Lock I rang CRT to check when Meadow Lane Lock would be re-opened after the repairs.  The office staff said Saturday morning so we moored up for the day. During the afternoon CRT staff checking the jetties told us Meadow Lane was now open and offered to take us through Holme Lock.  So onto Nottingham we went and stocked up at Sainsburys, pleased to be ready to set off south the next day.  It was only as we came through a lock on Saturday that we realised someone had taken a rope off our roof at Nottingham, then we weren't so pleased.  


Our journey from Newark to Nottingham

  

Newark

We stopped on the pontoons at Cromwell for another day making good use of the electric points.  When Chris and Geoff tried to retrieve their card, with its unused credits, the machine kept the card; a common occurrence at Cromwell.  The lock-keeper came down and arranged for the card to be returned.   

We sailed upstream to Newark Nether Lock which we operated ourselves because the locks aren't manned during CRT's winter hours.  From there it was a short distance to the floating pontoons which had plenty of space and an electric point. 

Newark pontoons

  
Our stay at Newark was going to be extended due to a stoppage for a sluice repair at the entrance to Nottingham canal.  I made good use of the fine weather by polishing Brent III's paintwork to give it some protection; Brinny made the most of the good weather by becoming best friends with Ziggy. 

Playing in the sunshine

Kev and I enjoyed browsing around the various markets in the town centre and were pleased to spot an Onedin Line DVD  on the bric-a-brac stalls.  As always Kev  enjoyed visiting Just Beer to catch up with the locals and sample the excellent beer.  

Just Beer

We had intended to move on Wednesday but heavy rain kept us on the moorings.  During the night the floating pontoons rose with the increasing water level and CRT closed Newark flood gates stopping all boat movement.  

Rising water levels swamped the little footbridge we use to cross under the main road. 

The delay enabled Sarah to come over to see us at the weekend bringing my post with her.  We enjoyed strolling along the passage through the old wharf buildings with their cobbled yards before heading into town.  Curiosity tempted us when we spotted Newark Antique Centre housed in an old church.  The large interior had been divided into 'rooms' which were filled with an enormous range of objects, mainly bric-a-brac but very interesting to browse through.  

The cobbled passage through the old wharf buildings at Duke of Wellingtons Yard

On Sunday morning Sarah headed for home and we took Brent III onto the opposite bank which was more convenient for shopping.  The river levels were down and the floodgates were open so we'd decided to end our stay in Newark. 

Our short journey from Cromwell to Newark

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.

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