To the end of the line.

We walked the mile or so into Crowle for a look see. And found quite a nice little town. The regeneration scheme had tidied up the market place, and I liked the fact that it wasn't just one main street but quite a warren off little back roads and lots of old buildings, and at least three pubs.

Nice building on the Crowle Market Square, next to Parkin the Butcher. The pork pies and sausages are well worth a visit.

St Oswald's Church, Crowle

Lovely plaque on an old building remodeled to houses.

We spoke to the crossing guard at the Godnow Bridge rail crossing and he said that he would let them know at Keadby rail bridge as they had to get the engineers to be present as they are having problems with it. We had a cup of tea and whilst Helen got her self dressed for the bitter wind I went off to collect some kindling for the fire. The wind was cold and blowing straight down the cut. We put a load of washing on as we knew it would dry quickly once we got to Keadby and tied up.

Helen writing up the log as we travel in the sunshine.

This part of the canal has the railway running next to it and there are very many wind turbines, some nearer than others. I can again report that the vast majority of train drivers, freight or passenger, waved back at us. We even had a few toots and passenger responses.

Just before the railway bridge is Vazon road bridge that is a manual swing bridge. Helen couldn't budge it at all, and even when I lent my weight it took ages to get it started. It is gravel under foot so it was very difficult. I reported it at the lock and Martin the keeper had already put a 'near miss' report in about it so hopefully something will happen quite quickly. We waited between the rail bridge and the road bridge. There seemed to be a problem as the alarm went several times and nothing happened. We finally passed through. The bridge was built in 1915 so has a birthday coming. It is said to be one of only three in Europe. It looks like it doesn't really slide but moves sideways and then back on a eccentric pivot (or something).

The moving part of the 'sliding bridge' is too the right.

We were soon at the end of the line and turned by 'Spider T' to take water at the services.

The Keabdy Gas Power Station that was converted from coal in 1994.

Spider T was built in 1926 and is one of three surviving Humber Sloops. She is sailing for the Humber this Monday.

We had a nice chat to Mark the Lock Keeper and he invited us to watch a cruiser penning out on that tide. to see what happened for when we left in the morning.

The Keadby Lock control tower. I promise I wasn't pushing any buttons. This tower wasn't there when I worked on the Trent and the lock was worked by capstan and wires.

I instantly recognised this launch as the sounding boat from Goole that used to take the soundings in the Ouse reaches and was called the 'Ouse Patrol'. Still the same colours and a very handsome launch.

We will be in bed early tonight as we will be in the lock by 0730 in the morning.

A bridge too far?

We had a late start as we decided to listen to the Archers Omnibus before leaving. I went in to town to buy the paper and post some cards. It was quiet and in the sunshine some of the buildings looked at their best. It is obvious that Thorne at some stage has been very wealthy as there are some nice places. It is a shame the main road runs through what would have been the main square as otherwise it would have made a good central point.

 White Hart from 1737 in Thorne Market Place. (For sale).

Substantial house in Silver Street, Thorne. At the worst road junction I have come across.

The band stand and lake in a very Victorian Memorial Park in Thorne.

The Princess Royal swing bridge behaved it's self and we were soon through. It seems that there may be no fuel available at West Stockwith when we get there so we decided to pick some up at Bluewater Marina. There were more boats moving today than we had seen for the past two weeks up the Don and Tinsley Navigations.

Princess Royal swing bridge with a wide beam at Thorne Boat Services. Holderness is in the distance.

The futuristic water tower in Thorne.

We were soon off again and girding our loins for the 6 or 7 bridges we had to come. The cut runs east/west and the wind is just blowing straight form behind us. In the sailing keel days they would have made a good passage down to Keadby, but would have needed two horses to tow up from there. The land is so flat that it reminds us of home and was the multi tributary exit of the River Don before Vermuyden straightened it to merge with the Ouse at Goole. It is so flat that it is an ideal place for wind farms.

Just some of the turbines in the area west of Crowle.

Several of the bridges are so close to the railway line that the railway crossing gates have to be closed as well as those for the canal bridge. These have their own little signal box and attendant. I wonder how long that will last in the days of mechanisation.

Medge Hall Canal and Rail crossing. Also called Crook o' Moor Bridge. This may refer to to the kink in the canal that was once the boundary marker for the Lincolnshire/Yorkshire boarder. The engine was hauling steel slabs from Scunthorpe, and yes, the driver waved back!

We then went through the next bridge, Godnow Swing Bridge (another with the rail crossing attached) and tied up as we had a clear view for the solar panels and it was very convenient to receive our visitor. Stephanie had been brought up in the area and was back visiting her Dad. She stopped in for tea and cake and her first view of the boat.

Second visitor of the season, Steph!!

Oh yes, I nearly forgot. After a great game 5-3, 

HULL CITY are in the FA CUP FINAL!!!

Watch out Arsenal your season is just about to get even worse!

First swallow of the year, yesterday.

Yes we saw our first swallow yesterday and i forgot to report it. Somewhere near Doncaster it swooped over the canal. I wonder if they got a boost up from Africa by the Saharan sand wind of earlier. It think it must be two or three weeks early for them in this part of the world. We have now seen another today. Not massive numbers perhaps but the fore runners. We have even seen our first ducklings on the River Don in Sheffield. David the Lockie at Tinsley told us that there are no ducklings on the Don navigation as there are too many mink, and we haven't seen any so it must be true!

After setting off we weren't long until we came to the Junction at Bramwith and retraced our steps by turning right from the River Don navigation on to the Stainforth and Keadby Canal rather than heading north on the New Junction Canal and over the Don Aqueduct.

The fork in the road with Goole and the New Junction Canal straight on over the Don Aqueduct and our route to the right to Keadby on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

Soon Bramwith Lock came up, the first use of the windlass for a while. The moorings seem quite nice, especially after the lock as there is a nice facilities block there. We stopped there to do the business and fill up with water. Whilst filling up I had a look out of the compound and the River Don is still running next to us. It is a little more confined than when we were actually on it recently but north of Doncaster it is tidal.

The Don Aqueduct with the guillotine gates at each end. Water can be seen flowing over the edge of the canal into the river. As the river can flood up to higher than the canal the gates have to be closed to prevent the waters breaching the banks.

Bramwith Services. The swing bridge is just where I am standing.

After passing through the swing bridge we pootled along, passing through Stainforth and arriving at Thorne Lock and were fortunate enough to have a boat coming out of the lock. The swing bridge at the head of the lock is very difficult to open on your own but half the job was done. The visitor moorings are at the facilities block just before the Pricess Royal Swing footbridge, on short pontoons. We tried but we stuck out far too much to be comfortable, even with the scarcity of boat movements, so we moved off and moored up next door on another berth.

We pooped into Thorne for some baking items and to see if they had any boots for me. I came away with a pair of Karrimore boots at less than half price. I hope they become as comfortable as the ones I have now. I spot painted my work on the fore deck after but then it started to spit and now means that I will have to rub it down and start again. Never mind, no rush, and it is sealed with rust converter.

Barnby Dun Roamin'.

We went to Doncaster Markets to get some more of the wool that Helen bought on the way up, and a look for a pair of boots as one of my soles has decided to part company with the upper. We got the wool but not the boots. We set off and passed Gas House Bight that was the remains of a wharf for a gas works. It looked like it would make a great marina but is just unused. A little further on was Strawberry Island Boat Club.

There are narrow boats and plenty of very expensive cruisers here.I spotted one with a bow thruster.

There is only Long Sandall Lock and we were able to go straight in as two boats had left Strawberry Island Boat Club ahead of us. We were then head of the pack so after passing the huge Pilkington Glass Factory that was built in 1920's and then Sandall Grove Church. It is now isolated as the building of the factory moved the village away.

Pilkington Glass Factory.

Sandall Grove Church. Not in use but well cared for and used for special days.

We just then had to pop through Barnby Dun Lift Bridge and settled on the mooring just the other side. The washing had finished and it was hung out in the sun. After lunch I set to sand down the fore deck. I only had a bit of sand paper and the bloke moored ahead of us took pity and lent me his sander. All it cost was about 45mins conversation, and the sander must have saved me much more than that. We noticed that C&RT arrived at the bridge so guessed that the 'Humber Princess' would be on her way down to Goole, and as it was daylight we hoped to get better photos.

A lot lighter in ballast and there looks to be lots of room through the bridge hole. I think she is about 6m wide and the locks/bridges are 20m.

This photograph gives a good comparison of the sizes of us and them. The helmsman has always given us a wave as he passes. 

Once through the bridge and past the moorings he sped up a little and swung to go up the straight and was very close to the other moored boat as the stern swung.

Pottering along.

We took our time setting off this morning. There were sunny periods and no wind and it just didn't seem right to rush. Just by the Sprotborough Lock was the Wyre Lady that normally undertakes trips with birthdays etc and it seems that they end up being quite loud when they get back. The boat seems to be having a fair bit of welding done so no trips for a little while.

Wyre Lady, Sprotbotough Lock. (A photo for old times for Heather!).

The trip down the Do and under the A1(M) was quite nice with a bit of sunshine. The towpath seemed to be busy with walkers and cyclist but no boats to be seen. Near Hexthorpe is Doncaster Rowing Club. It isn't quite Henley but this length of river is nice and wide for them.

Doncaster Rowing Club with the boarding steps showing high high the river can get. I bet it is fun on the river when at it's highest.

Just before Doncaster Lock is a prison that is on an island between the canal and the River Don.

We tied up on the visitor moorings in Doncaster. There were two other boats there. We filled up with water, had lunch and then went for a walk into Doncaster. The main item we were looking for was a teapot. Ours had developed a horizontal crack at mid height and half way round. I had fixed it with some super glue but needed a replacement. Got a bargin in Tesco's for £5. Once we got back we had a cup of tea and a rest before setting to and washing off the winter grime from the port side of the boat. Then it was tea. We were just finishing off when the ripples and movement meant that the 'Humber Princess' was approaching.

Humber Princess going slowly past the moorings.

Approaching the Doncaster railway bridges.

You can see the wheelhouse has lowered hydraulically to get under the bridge.

It is lovely to see her going past and it is good that we have been securely tied up each time it has passed. It maybe back at Barnby Dun where we are going to be tomorrow.

Better together.

Whilst we were getting ready an old Sheffield keel came past. I realised that he was single handed so went to help at the automatic lock. As were were ready we said that we would go with him and speed things up for him. He was trying to get to Goole by tonight as he wanted to get out into the Ouse and Humber to get to Beverley up the River Hull the next day. Tough trip on your own with about ten locks and about worse still around six lift bridges.

Valiant of Swinton. An ex Waddington's boat.

We got into a system where we landed Helen to work the lock. I would pull the boat clear so that Valiant could enter the lock directly. On opening Valiant went ahead and I picked up Helen and followed on once more, to land Helen as we arrived at the next lock together.

Dearne and Dove Canal. The first lock can just be seen. The canal is now closed but Waddington's use it as a base. This was the home of Valiant who we are assisting down the Don Navigation.

Valiant entering the lock.

We met up with another narrow boat that was just leaving her mooring just before Mexborough Top Lock. They were just going on a jaunt so were lucky to have three in a lock. They stopped before the Low lock so we were down to two again.

Two little ones at the end of the Mexborough Top Lock.

Valiant puts ion a fair lick of speed and we were pushed to catch up with her on the river section between Mexborough and Sprotborough.

Conisborough Viaduct that is now closed.

As it happens there was somebody to work the lock for him a Sprotbotough so we weren't needed. We had told him that we were stopping at the visitor moorings above the lock so said adieu to him. I was jealous of him passing down the Humber and up the Hull. One day we will also do the same journey.

Visitor moorings at Sprotbrough.

After making fast we walked up to the village for a look see. It seems that the area is quite 'well to do' with big houses and lots of Audis and Mercedes and a few shops. We would the rectory where Douglas Bader, the WWII pilot who had lost his legs lived as a lad. Later we also went to the Boat Inn where Sir Walter Scott wrote part of 'Ivanhoe'. For a little place there is a fair bit of history. The Boat was quite pricey and was summed up with a Lamborghini parked in a disabled space. The pint of Adnams Mosaic was okay though. 

Tinsley together.

We were all ready for the off at 0900 to share the locks down with another boat. This would make the lock work easier and save water and even electricity as they pump water back up to the summit pound. We had seen 'The Huntsman' at the basin in Sheffield. It seems that she was a Springer that had been replated and gutted. The new owners had taken her to Sheffield to have work done and once there had been told that no they couldn't have the work carried out. Nigel was our C&RT guide today for the full flight and all went well until Jordan's Lock where there was a full tree trunk stuck across both gates. We managed to move it out of the way enough and for long enough for us to get in the lock. As soon as we closed the gate the wind blew it across again.

Sharing the locks with 'The Huntsman'.

 I hope people take notice of the anti littering slogan here.

Just outside is a large Eon Biomass power station. It seems that these are now taking over from the 'normal' coal power stations with cooling towers. It is all good stuff but it depends on where the raw material comes from and how it arrives. All very good if it is a local supply or is brought by river/canal/rail, but if it is trucked in from distant parts it strikes me as a bit of a backward step.

As we cleared Ickles Lock I heard a splash and looked over the side to see a pole sticking up. I thought we had just run over a floating bit of wood. I then noticed the hole drilled in the end and on checking the roof realised that it was our boat hook. I had used it to move the tree trunk earlier and it had worked its way over the side unseen. It was sticking in the mud. Turning was easy as we were just about to pop out into the river section so the current took us round. After recovery we were off again.

Our boat hook recovery took place right outside the new New York Stadium of Rotherham United.

Rotherham lock has a busy route over it so we were scrutinised as we worked through. The only question we got asked was what flowers they were on the roof. I must say they do make a nice show and have survived well through the winter. The lock has to be left with a paddle up at each end as the river supplies the pound through the lock.

Gongozzlers watching our every move at Rotherham Lock.

I was hoping that we would pass the 'Humber Princess' on her discharge berth but she had sailed before we got there. It wasn't long after that we were back on the visitor moorings at Eastwood Lock and hanging out our remaining damp washing in the strong wind with the bright sun keeping the batteries well topped up.