Big boats and little canals in April 2014.

It is now 83 days until we start cruising again, but whose counting!? I thought I would have a look back at some of the photos of last year just to get me through until then. We had started the year at Thorne on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. It would be rude not to explore the area further so we set off into the interior

Moored up at Barnby Dun lift bridge we could feel something was happening well before the Humber Princess approached us. I had seen these barges many time when working on the Humber but they take on a new scale when passing a 60' x 7' narrow boat. We were to meet them a further twice whilst on the South Yorkshire Navigations.

Doncaster's visitor moorings are very handy for the shops and the town centre and I would recommend the market there as bus trips from far and wide converge on it for bargains. After Doncaster you pen down into the first of the river sections of the Don Navigation. The river was benign for us and a pleasure to cruise on. Above are the two railway bridges at Balby, only one still in use, with the A1(M) motorway bridge in the distance.

The locks are large and automated to take the size of the Humber Princess, at least until Rotherham where they return to more normal sizes. The fuel depot for the Humber Princess is just to the east of Rotherham. We found the landings at the top and bottom of the locks easy to approach and we only had trouble with one lock, and then that submitted after a while. After Rotterham you need to book the locks through to Sheffield. The first six take you up to Tinsley Locks and then these are in two distinct flights. The C&RT lads are great to work with and ake the time pass quickly, plus there is a lot to see.

This is the Straddle Warehouse at the Sheffield basin. It is a facinating industrial site on a par with Bugsworth on the Peak Forest canal but with much more intact. It is handy for the city and there is plenty to see there too. We found plenty of good beers in the end and had a lovely long weekend there before heading back the way we had come.

After Rotherham we came across Valiant on the way down to Goole. As he was single handed we stayed with him and worked him through the locks. Valiant was built in 1959 by Blacktoft's at Stainforth and is Sheffield size and was working for Waddington's of Swinton. Waddington's still have plenty of boats in the area of the derelict bottom lock of the Dearne and Dove canal at Swinton. Valiant was off to Beverely Beck up the River Hull to have some work done. We want to make the same journey one day.

We retraced our route past Thorne and were then on now territory for us as we headed for Keadby for access to the Trent. Just short of the river lock is the sliding railway above. It seems to pivot from the line of the tracks and then recedes into the abutments. We had a couple of days at Keadby where I was able to spruce up the sides of the boat.

We were invited up to the control tower at the lock by the keeper to see how it all works. There was no control tower here when I used to bring ships up from sea to berth either side of the lock entrance. The one to the south locks as though it is still occasionally used. It always used to be timber imports. The berth to the north of the lock was called the railway berth so I assume that it has something to do with that. I never worked cargo here but it was a lay-by berth or a place to moor if you were too late on the tide from Top Gunness, by Keady Bridge.

We got away from Keadby the following day and we were able to watch a ship come past the lock and swing for berthing at the wharf at Top Gunness. It was a beautiful day and the journey up the Trent was un eventful. I was surprised at how good the views were as I had imagined from a small boat the willows etc at the waters edge would cut it out. Using the Boating Association chart I worked out roughly how fast we were going and adjusted our speed to arrive at West Stockwith lock just before high water to make it easier to enter. Watching the flow of the river we timed it just right and entered with no trouble. I tend to think that the onlookers above were hoping for more excitement though.

The Chesterfield Canal was different to the deep South Yorkshire Navigations and the Trent as it was narrow and shallow with not too many places to moor up. It was great to be back on 'normal' canals though and the weather and countryside was lovely. We had a few days at Retford that is a nice place for a wander about with a good range of pubs and shops. Worksop was not quite so welcoming for boats as everybody said not to stop there. We did stay a little outside town and found the place to be a good place to visit. We stayed a couple of nights at Shireoaks. The boat above is the New Dawn which a full sized replica of the old working boats of the canal that were nicknamed Cuckoos. There is no original left and it is being constructed by volunteers at Shireoaks. We caught the train to Chesterfield to walk the terminus of the canal and to go round the market at Chesterfield.

From Shireoaks there are 23 locks in a couple oif miles to get you you to the current limit of navigation at Norwood Tunnel. Most boats don't seem to go to the end but they are missing out on the most beautiful part of the canal. The tow path is well used so there is always somebody to chat with and as the locks come thick and fast the time passes quickly. There are two double and two triple staircase locks to add interest too.

Near the top of the flight were these beautiful bluebells woods. The photo doesn't really do it justice. There is also the historic wharf where the stone for the building of the Houses of Parliament was loaded on to narrow boats to take down to the Trent. We moored near the tunnel mouth at Kinverton Park and walked over the old boat horse path to see the other side. There are advanced plans to re-open the whole canal through to Chesterfield and we were keen to see what the problems may be. It all looks 'do-able' but not for a while!

After a few days we set off back down the hill to the Trent. Here we are just starting down at the Thorpe Top Treble locks in great weather. It almost seems to have stayed nice and warm through to October afterwards, but there must have been cold and rain for short periods. The end of the month saw us down past Worksop and moored near to Osberton Hall in the countryside.

Relaxed afloat for a day.

We left home at 1230 after having to sort out car insurance. I have never found it so difficult to obtain a good quote as this year. Every time I think I have found a good price and then called for confirmation of this or that the quote has changed, and always upwards. I am glad I only have one boat as organising two cars at the same time is a real test. Still all done for another year and fingers crossed we wont even need it!

The M62 was busy but not excessively so. They seem to be changing the motorways round here to 'Smart Motorways'. It seems that these are roads where the congestion is managed by overhead gantries that indicate speed limits and open the hard shoulder for use as a fourth lane and give out other information to maintain a smooth flow of traffic. The 50mph speed limits will go some way into using up the £2 billion that they reckon these 'new' roads will save in congestion.

I dropped Helen off just by the city centre 75 mins after leaving home as she wanted to check out the Saturday market. I continued the short way to Savile Town Wharf and the boat. The sun was trying to shine as I got to the boat and as I passed down the pontoon I was struck at how smart she looked. I soon had the hatch open and inside to find that there were no surprises at first glance. I then set to straight away in getting the loose fire cement out of the top of the stove and flue and replaced with a new so that it would cure. I then lit the stove to warm the boat through and soon had it roaring away.

Roaring stove soon had the damp out of the boat.

Our last visit to the boat found us with no Hurricane heating or hot water. I fairly quickly traced it to a fuse that had got water in it and burned out when turned on. I managed to get some new fuses and re routed the wiring so that there was no likelihood of water ingress again, but when I turned it all on nothing happened! I fiddled about but I was rushing as we had to leave. At home I have been reading up about it all and trying to work out what could have gone wrong and what to do about it. After lighting the stove I cracked on with sorting it out as we would need a bit of heat as it is to be below freezing tonight. I checked the fuse and all the settings and set it on and there was no demand for heat despite the thermostat being on 35 degs. It then dawned on me that the control unit was on timed and was not currently on. As soon as I pressed it for constant the Hurricane fired up and in short order the radiators were heating up. A quick check of the header tank saw me topping it up a little just in case. I then went round the radiators and gave one a bleed. I think there is a very slight weep in the pipework of the forward radiator so it needed topping up.

I left it to heat right through the boat and get the water hot and went to turn on the water from the tank and the pump. (remembering to shut all the taps and showers etc). I then brought some logs and coal in and went down the engine hole. There was a bit of water down there but not as bad as I thought after all the rain since we were last over here. It is something I have to sort out and that is a job for tomorrow. I mopped it out and dried it off as best I could and then set about about checking the oil and water of the engine. As all was well so I gave the glow plugs a 7 second burn and then she started first time and ran none smokey and smoothly. Hurray!!

I then left to get the rest of the stuff out of the car and met Helen coming back. She had bought so gewgaws of braid and cushions etc and managed to get our tea for less than £2-80. I was expecting to take her out to eat so that was a bargain. We both potted about doing this and that and relishing being back on the boat. It feels so easy to come back as we both think of it as home really. As tea was sorted we decided to pop to the Leggers pub by the moorings. It was lovely and warm and busy at 1800 on a Saturday night. They have a good selection of beer so I tried A Moorhouse Brewery Excalibur Ale and a Black Iris Brewery 'Rose of my Heart'. Both were very drinkable and the Rose, a dark ale, was my evenings favourite.

We had been talking about going down to London for a few days before we get back aboard full time and Helen had been rummaging through some hotels but found nothing that she liked that was a good enough quality for the money she wanted to pay. I was  feeling very mellow and relaxed so had a look whilst the tea was on. In the end we have booked three nights in London in a good hotel, with breakfast, for under £300. I then got a train booked for £50 return for the two of us, and whilst I was on a roll we chose to see The Commitments and got two middle stalls tickets for £80! That means that we have a good break for under £450 and a saving of £260. I'm not coming to the boat again as it cost me money, but I'm looking forward to it all ready.

Helen feeling the glow of the stove and looking like she has never left.

New Year Resolution.

Well here we are on the cusp of another year. Amazing isn't it! We have had some good weather here in Hull, not the snow or rain of further west. However it has been cold with a good frost overnight. That also means the clear skies make for beautifully clear and sunny day and good walking weather. We went the short distance to Hornsea on the coast and walked round all round the outside of the houses. We parked near the mere and circumnavigated the town. The beach was full of anglers as it appeared there was a match on. We had to make a tough decision as to whether to head off home or stop for a fish and chip lunch. The answer was stop for lunch. The next decision was Sullivan's or Whitehead's. We plumbed for Whitehead's. Hornsea is home to  two very good fish and chip restaurants. We just got in before the rush and on emerging with full bellies we resolved to extend our walk to help the digestion. Secretly I think it was all a ploy for the girls to visit Hornsea Pottery outlet village as our route went through it. It was remarkably busy and we did stop for a couple of purchases on the way through. We were back home by 1500 feeling better for being out and about.

Looking south towards Spurn Point from Hornsea promenade with the Marine Hotel in the centre. The anglers didn't seem too cold with all the standing about but then they do get well togged up.

Looking north towards Bridlington and Flamborough Head, (couldn't see them today though). Note the caravans perilously close to the cliff edge. The low cliffs on the Holderness coast are made up of boulder clay and it is easily eroded with 2 or 3 metres been lost, even on a good year.

We haven't managed a trip to the boat yet but must go next week to check her out. I have a few jobs to do so I am hoping for at least one night aboard rather than rushing over everything. I had started to look to booking a Ribble Link Crossing as it seems they get booked up very quickly on in the New Year, but after seeing some friends yesterday I will scratch that for this next year I think. Helen and daughter and friends have got tickets for a Take That concert that I thought was in mid June but is in actual fast mid May. It was a good thing that we got it straightened out in good time. I am not thinking of starting out at the end of March. We may head to Sheffield again, or certainly further east from Dewsbury as I am helping out at the Hull Beer Festival in mid April. After that we will cross the Pennines over the Rochdale to Manchester and then make our way steadily to Birmingham for mid May and the concert. From I have a thought to head down the Severn to Gloucester and Sharpness with a view to passing out into the Severn Estuary and making the trip to Avonmouth, Bristol and Bath and then the Kennet and Avon. I didn't fancy doing a there and back up the K&A and it should be fun! After that we will maybe just wend our way back north slowly. Nothing set in stone as yet so we will see what happens.

 

Chart with the route from Sharpness to Avonmouth. Doesn't look very difficult on paper does it?

All the very best to each and every one of you that may read this blog now, or in the future. I hope that 2015 will be all that you would wish it to be for you and your family. If you are reading this in the future I hope that all is going/went well for you.

New Year's resolution; to take more time to stop and enjoy places on which ever routes we end up following, and not just on the canals. Stay  safe everybody in 2015.

Christmas past.

Ten days since I have posted and I don't seem to have sat down since writing that past and until we sat down for our superb Christmas dinner. We haven't had time to get over to the boat but as the cold weather is set to descend we will have to go over next week to check it out and feed the meter at the least. There were ten of us at table and we had a lovely day, just enough food and not too much drink was enough to get us giggling with the quizzes and games we played and slept very well that night. I didn't see the space station go over though, so that was the only disappointment.

I was expect any present that I was given to have a high percentage being connected to the canals in some way. When folk know that you live on the canal for a lot of the year and are interested it makes there selection easier sometimes. How ever I only had two items, and one of them was a joint one.

We were given this by our daughter. We are not ones to have canal ware all round the boat but as you can see this is small enough to not take up too much space and even be useful. I will have to question her as to where it came from.

The other item was the autumn copy of the Narrow Boat magazine. I love the history of the canals and rivers and it is really interesting to read of how the work was undertaken and even better to see the old photographs. In this edition there were photos of Stoke Bruerne, Doncaster and Church Lock on the Grand Union where we had traveled this year. Other than the boats and the missing old buildings the thing that I notice the most is that the trees and hedges have grown up a lot. I often think that the views would have been much better in days gone by, but not so easy to navigate in a gale of wind. There was also an article about the cargo handling in days gone by. The boatman had to contend with very varied cargoes and knowing how to best stow them and to load them for trim and so not to overload the boat were very similar skills to what was needed on the general cargo ships I first went to sea on. The advantage for the narrow boat was they were almost always for one point of discharge and there was only one deck. On my old ships we had to load everything so that it didn't damage cargo above or below it and that it could be accessed to be discharged at the proper port. I remember having to stow sacks of pepper corns in 5 tonne lots in a tween deck so that they didn't touch anything else, especially the side of the ship to avoid sweat damage, and so that we could unload them at any one of eight ports. It was the entire season's cargo of  a small Indonesian island.

It seems that the Calder and Hebble has had the flood locks closed for navigation since 11th December which is over two weeks now. The last time we went to the boat I found that the back fender had been caught under the pontoon deck for a while. I moved the boat forward so it would clear if the water rose again. I hope that it isn't too bad there. Last night there was snow in Sheffield but I'm not sure about Dewsbury. Here in Hull we only had a little rain and not even a frost. I hope that even with the colder weather due the heaters will be able to cope with maintaining the heat in the boat above freezing.

This is at Leeds Lock on the Aire and Calder in 2007 and we may well be in trouble if it gets this bad on the Calder and Hebble!

I'd like to wish my four blog followers, Andy Healey of NB Centurion, Andy on Festina Lente, Marilyn and David in New Zealand and John R in Western Australia a very belated Happy Christmas and all that they would wish for for the New Year. I am very surprised at how many people read my blog offerings and even more about where they originate from. My top places are as follows:-

UK...............21000

USA..............8700

Ukraine.........1900

France...........1500

Germany.......1160

Turkey............970

Russia.............940

China..............740

Poland............535

Thanks to all of you for reading and I hope that there will be something of interest to you all in the future. Keep safe and well.

More boats required.

After reading all about the excess numbers of boats in London, and having seen that for ourselves (but found it not as bad as some would have you think) it was amazing to read of a canal where more boats are desired! I recently received my Pennine Link magazine, the organ of the Huddersfield Canal Society and it said that whilst the numbers of boats using the canal were about the normal so far they really wanted to increase the numbers. I can attest to the fact that the canal, or the tow path at least, is used extensively by cyclists and walkers but there are few boats moving along it's length. Especially the Narrow Canal. They say that is perhaps due to the fact that the transit of the tunnel is limited to three days a week and it needs to be booked at least three days in advance. I think the limitation is partly due to the provision of 'pilots', or chaperons as C&RT like to call them and them cost of this. I think the Canal Society are getting two of their volunteers trained up for this so that should ease somewhat. The other factor is that if it became very busy there could be a problem with water supply. I think this is being looked at in the water resources management structure for the region.

Stakes Aqueduct over the River Tame near Stalybridge, built by Benjamin Outram.

How ever I think the real reason that there are few people that want to use the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and pass through the longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel in the UK is that they have heard from other boaters that it is terrible! The boaters grapevine is a wonderful thing so long as you don't believe everything you hear. The bush telegraph seems to have a magnifier attached to it. What may be one incident in a place turns into a no go area after several tellings. How many times have we heard that you should never stop in Leicester as it is dangerous. There are safe and secure moorings provided on the offside. Admittedly these are limited in number but with sense you can use the towpath without more than the normal worries in a city. The local police patrol told me that they haven't had any incidents there for many years. It is the same with moorings in London as this is a very special case. There aren't many places on the rest of the system where you would have to consider mooring alongside a boat that may not have a couple of a certain age with at least one dog and a well polished side, but in London if you are willing to do it then there is no problem. It may not be a problem as there are places to moor on a first come first served basis at the basins etc. The apocryphal stories about the Huddersfield are many, no water, no moorings, heavy gates, boats stuck on sills etc etc, and all have been true at some time or another. It is also true of every other canal on the system.

Next time you here such a story ask the teller if it happened to them, or they have been and witnessed it. 99 time out of 100 I bet they say that it was at least third hand. Part of the idea of reopening the through route was to assist in the regeneration of the towns and villages along the canal. This wont really happen until boats come in greater numbers. Stalybridge is a case in point. The local council flattened an area to allow the canal to come through and the canal passes the resulting Armentieres Square was a focal point for the generation of the area. All it is lacking is boats passing through for the Gongoozlers and ice cream vans etc to congregate.

Armentieres Square, Stalybridge.

It must be somewhat disheartening for the Canal Society that after such a superhuman effort by many bodies and people, and vast sums of money, that the canal is under utilised and somehow devaluing their effort.  The Society are doing their part by lobbying for more work to be carried out on the infrastructure ( and doing plenty of it themselves too), increasing the number of moorings, and making a leaflet of the details of facilities for boaters etc . It is up to boaters to come and use the canal to show that their efforts were not appreciated by boaters. The old addage of 'use it or lose it' hold good here. The fact that many more boats will bring many more problems is just something that have to be addressed when it happens. For me it is a glorious trip and the sense of achievement of completing the trip is worth the effort. The scenery is fantastic and the locals are friendly. Try it for your selves.

Entrance to the Diggel, west end, of the Standedge Tunnel.

Huddersfield Canal Society Photography competition winner 2014.

The Standedge Tunnel, Nathan Reynolds, York.

Autumn in the Colne Valley.

Locomotive Bridge, Huddersfield.

Another hemisphere.

I wish the title went to explain why it has been a week since I put up a blog, and that it was because we had jetted off to leave the Christmas shopping behind in cold England as it seems to be what many boaters seem to do. But no, it meant that we traveled the 15 miles to the coast that is  actually east of the Greenwich meridian and so in another hemisphere. We love the Holderness coast and Spurn Point on a nice day in the winter. In the summer it can be very busy as it makes a great place for kids. Which ever the wind direction you can find a spot to sit on the sand, with the dunes etc etc. I used to travel up and down Spurn Point to the Pilot Station there and even then we would have occasional periods on a top spring tide with an added tidal surge that the water would wash over and  make the road impassable. Spurn Point is a long spit of land at the mouth of the Humber estuary caused by the movement of sand eroded from the coast south of Flamborough Head, moved by longshore drift, meeting the flow out of the river. There have been many Spurn Points and called many that have been eroded as the coast to the north has been consumed and then it has re-established it's self further to the west. There was a major port town on one of the spits called Ravenser in the 14th Century and in 1399 Henry Bolingbroke landed there and went on to become Henry IV when he deposed Richard II.

The timbers mark the seaward line of where the road and railway line once were. They are actually the Victorian sea defences that have delayed the loss of the point for many years.

The road was supplemented by a railway line when a gun battery was built in the First World War. This then had a garrison to man it and to assist construction a railway was laid from the north end of the point where it joins the mainland to the tip over three miles south. Various lighthouse have been built on the point and the remaining one does not have a light for navigation but still stands tall. In 1810 a lifeboat station was built on the point and as it was difficult to reach quickly a crew, and their families, lived on the point. After WWI the railway was utilised by the lifeboat crew and others by resting a bogey on the lines and using wind power.

A sailing railway bogey in 1933. They lock as thought they are in on of the bunkers that protected the large guns from the war. I think the hut on stilts was the look out house used by the lifeboatmen.

You can see the scale of the timbers by Helen and I

Out to sea could be seen the bases of very many wind towers. most were still awaiting their columns and sails and there was a jack up ship installing one as we watched. It was easily seen as the visibility was magnificent. The road has now been washed away and at just about any spring tide the point now gets washed over. At the point end is still the Lifeboat station but since last August the families live over in Grimsby and the crew live on the point six days at a time in a rota. The pilot station is still manned but all changes and boardings are carried out through Grimsby. There are no plans to build any defences to resist the sea as the Point is owned by the Wildlife Trust and they want nature to take it's course.

Walking back up the beach to the little village of Kilnsea to visit the Crown and Anchor and a lovely fish and chip lunch. I lovely day in a very under rated part of the world. And all at the request of my daughter on her birthday.

Time telescoped.

Where did that week go? I suppose this is what you get in the run up to Christmas so much to do and so little time to do it. Last Monday we went over to Dewsbury to check the boat out. The trip was only an hour and a quarter so it isn't too bad at all.

The route takes you up the Humber North Bank and then crosses over the Market Weighton Canal that is still navigable for a few miles from the Estuary. The next waterway is the River Ouse where the motorway crosses just by Howden Dyke Island. Occasionally you can see boats stranded on the mud that have gone the wrong side of the island. On the way back east on the Motorway you can see the Howdendyke wahrves and even a ship or two occasionally.

Howdendyke Wharves from the River Ouse.

You can see the old Boothferry Swing Bridge to the west and Goole Docks to the south. Iy isn't very often you see any ships in Goole Docks. This is partly as they are usually low air draft vessels so you don't see them over the warehouses. How ever there used to be some very tall ships we brought up that had to lower their masts, hydraulically to get under the Humber Bridge.

Ouse M62 Motorway Bridge with Howden Dyke Island upper right and the wharves are very top middle. Boothferry Bridge is just out of shot centre left.

Looking south west with the M62 Ouse Bridge dwarfing the old Boothferry Swing bridge. The arch on the right opens for ships. The power station top right is the largest in Northern Europe, Drax and is now turning to burning biomass that is mostly brought into the country from abroad. In the distance beyoond it is Eggborough power station. The small river running through the centre of the photo is the Aire that meets the Aire and Calder Canal at Knottingly where it forms part of the route to Selby.

The next navigation crossed is the Aire and Calder where you can look down on Whitley mechanised lock. There are moorings there and I suppose that you will quickly get used to the noise of the motorway. We crossed the Aire and Calder again near to Woodnook Lock west of Castleford and the next navigation is the basin at Savile Town and the Calder and Hebble.

Whitley Lock from our passage in 2013.

We got there to just check over everything and to pick up several things. I checked the engine hole to find it had plenty of water down there. The swim of the stern is such that it actually doesn't drain right to the stern where the bilge pump is but to the forward part of the compartment. It didn't take long to bail out and dry up and get the engine started first time. The shore cable was good so all the batteries were fully charged according to the Smartguage. The next job was to put the kettle on, so on with the gas, and that to be followed by the heating. That was a problem as nothing happened and the Hurricane remote read out was flickering then dead. I checked the fuse in the engine hole to find that it had got water in it and the fuse had blown. I then walked into town to find a replacement and got some at Halfords. By the time I had got back it was getting dark, but after fitting the fuse the unit flashed up but then powered down as it was reading that the thermostats were all satisfied. Oh well I will have to look into that for the next time. There is always something going on isn't there. I didn't get to check the batteries and even forgot one of the things we had dashed over to collect. Still it means that we will have to go again before Christmas.