Coal Mining

The canal is still closed although the river water level continues to drop, more slowly than before. By the end of today we are convinced that it can only be about 9 inches above normal water level for the canal - but still no sign of amber on the marker board. Careful comparison of photos over the past two hours suggests that it fell another couple of inches. Hopefully tomorrow will bring better news especially as more heavy rain is forecast for the weekend. If we do not get away in the next 48 hours, it will be a very long stay. If we can go via the Leeds and Liverpool, that is is now our preferred option but does involve navigating the River Aire as well as the River Calder, before reaching Leeds.After that would be on canal only.

We decided not to waste the day and took the bus into Wakefield. After consulting the helpful Tourist Information Centre, we opted for the National Coalmining Museum, just outside the city at Overton. It was a 25 minute bus ride away.

FREE ADMISSION was not the only attraction! (but it helped!) Even the underground tour was included in the admisssion ticket price! Although it was not always easy to decode the foreign accent (Yorkshire mining!) it was still a worthwhile experience and a chance to see what working condiitons were once like - despite modern Health and Safety regulations which mean that we could only have a taste of what it must have really been like.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and evening by the time we returned to the boat so (were it not for the background concern about now soon we can get away from here) it was no hardship to sit and read for a couple of hours and to walk around the nearby water nature park.

Marking Time

Stuck behind the floods all day!

That's really all there is to say. We had a wakeful night, someone on watch throughout, checking the river water level at regular intervals. It eventually peaked about 2 am, just an inch or perhaps two below the level of the defensive stonework at the top of the flood lock. If it had risen any more then no-one knows what might have happened - it is possible that the canal could have flooded from either end as, we later learnt, the river below the weir was up to the top of the Stanley Ferry Aqueduct, just a mile or so further back along the canal.

By 9 am, the level had dropped almost as dramatically as it has risen, now some four feet or more below the high point. However, it is likely that the further reductions to safe navigable levels will be quite slow.

After a morning of doing very little - surprise, surprise - we eventually decided to walk into Wakefield along the riverside footpath. The first section last night was in the middle of the flood plain! The weir in the city centre was flowing well although, again, the evidence of much higher flood levels yesterday was evident everywhere.

After a little shopping and using Wetherspoons for wifi (not a freebie this time, alas) we bought a length of timber to fashion into a handspike - we also took a look at an actual mechansim on Wakefield flood lock to see how it works and what size it needs to be. Then, the only imaginitive thing to do, was to walk back to the boat the way we came.



The exciting part of the day (!) was a short boat movement back to the water point to fill up the tanks! Afterwards, Andrew walked down to the aqueduct and saw for himself the extent of the rubbish which had collected, including a tractor tyre deposited on top of the footbridge! He also learnt that there was a lot of worried boat people around there last night!

Floods

We awoke to the sight of very, very heavy rain. We navigated a short distance to Stanley Ferry Marina - the main reason was that we had seen on an internet web site that a boater had acquired a Calder and Hebble hand spike from the boatyard here. We crossed the new aqueduct, which cross the River Calder with about a foot clearance, alongside the older one which was built to a design that anticipated the Newcastle and Sydney Harbour bridges.

After waiting for the boatyard to open (luckily there was a couple of seats shelterd from the rain) we were told that they do not stock them, despite saying that they have been asked three times for one! The owner advised that we may be able to get one from Dewsbury or we could just use a mooring spike!



On then to the next lock - just a short distance - only to see the flashing red light warning against trying navigate the river section. The height board was also well into the red so it was a 'no brainer' to decide that we were to be moored here for the duration! A man living in the former lock cottage, who described himself as a former lock keeper, was also keen to make sure we were not so foolish as to attempt to proceed and, in any case, it would not be possible to pass Wakefield itself. As we monitored the water level against the old marks (in Roman numerals) we realised that the fast-flowing river had risen two feet in little over two hours!

After lunch, Mike and Andrew opted to go into Wakefield in search of food supplies, leaving Christine to read and look after the boat! From the top of the lane a bus route runs into the city centre and a text message service
confirmed that the hourly service was due in a few minutes.

The city Tourist Information Centre happily supplied us with a map and directed us to the shops we were seeking. After raiding an independent butcher and Morrisons (alas) as well as being disappointed by the supplier of fresh bread, it was time to return. A bus was indicated as due in a few minutes but is never appeared so we resorted to a taxi from the nearby rank.



The river continued to rise and could be seen to have over-flowed the banks beyond the lock, filling the flood plain. By the time the rain started to abate around 5 pm it was up by nearly two metres! However, as this blog is being written, there are signs that it has reached its peak - for now, in any case. Watching the local news shows that we have not been as badly affected as others - only inconvenienced by being able to continue with our trip.

Ferrybridge and Castleford

A slower start today as we have no tight schedule to meet! The first section was to complete the dead straight run of the New Junction Cut before joining the Aire and Calder Navigation for the rest of the day.



With still some commercial traffic, the Aire and Calder is wide and well maintained, yet still very clean water. For some distance we were close to the huge Ferrybridge 'C' power station. We also passed the unloading station where each barge is lifted out of the water and its contents emptied into the process plant. Later on we passed another depot where there were also some of the tugs which are used to move long trains of the these barges.



This section also has mechanically powered locks which, once you have become familiar with the operating sequence, are surprisingly impressive bits of engineering! The Personal Mobile Radios, which Andrew brought along, proved useful and comforting in operating these locks where it is not easy to see from the boat what is happening with the operation. Most of the locks are so large that our boat seems quite diminutive!



Once in the safety of the canal bypass to the river at Castleford we took the luxury of mooring for lunch. Following this. Mike and Andrew walked into the town in search of a Calder and Hebble hand spike, a new lump hammer (the one supplied failed with metal fatigue last night) and wifi access.

Whilst they failed to find a hand spike (the BW depot was unsurprisingly closed) they succeeded otherwise and returned rather pleased that, for 99p each - the price of a latte - they both had 30 minutes high speed access parts of the internet which are unrealistic using the mobile phone link. Significantly, they acquired lists of wifi hotspots (which were left behind) and the locations of Wetherspoons pubs (who provide the special offer). And, by the way, the coffee was quite good! (Pictures from the trip so far are now on the Picasa web album)

We continued and were pleased to show a small group of interested youngsters at Castleford lock how the lock is operated. They seemed to enjoy being allowed to press the buttons to move the huge lock gates. Whilst the lock showed a flashing red light (which we later realised meant that the river was in flood) the static indicator board gave a level at the join between amber and green and so we were content to proceed.

By the time we reached the next lock, which took us off the river again, the indicator was in the red! The main concern now is for a short section tomorrow which returns to the river. We shall see. Still in need of the hand spike, we moored just before the boatyard at Stanley Ferry which is reputed to sell them. At least when we were on the wifi we could see what they look like!

Tidal Trent

Instructions from the Keadby lock keeper, as relayed by Cromwell and other locks, were to start at 6.30 in order to reach Keadby just after 11 am. The main reason was supposed to be the state of the tide, although we later learned that there is quite a wide window around high tide. The time we were given was about the time when the incoming tide balances the river flow - the extra water from the rains makes it difficult to predict.

We duly set off in a rather misty and quite eerie atmosphere, continuing to speed downstream. Although bthere are few stopping points, most stretches were interesting and all very different. Obviously the river gradually widens until it is almost intimidating!

After almost two hours (including some more very heavy showers) we arrived at Gainsborough where there is a visitor pontoon where we tied up - quite hairy coming alongside with the river flow! We went into the town in search of bread and milk the market stalls were only just setting up but we tracked down a small indpenedent bakery shop - definitely better than supermarket!

We returned to the waterfront which is gradually being much improved by a riverside walkway and new apratment blocks. As we were about to set off, two GRP boats raced up and indicated that they wanted to use the spot which we were vacating. Alas there was a slight bump due to the flow of the river but we did not see anything untoward in the incident until they later came racing up behind us to demand details be left at Keadby lock keeper! We shall see . . .




As we arrived at Keadby - more or less on schedule - there was a single coaster ship tied up alongside, opposite to the lock entrance. At one time this might have been a much busier wharfing place. Coming into the lock, which was ready for us, was a challenge but we managed to read the water flow correctly and came into the calm of the lock chamber without a problem.

Now for something quite different: the Stainforth and Keadby Canal (part of the South Yorkshire Navigations) is wide and once carried large quantities of commercial barge traffic, but no longer. Today, it is most attractive and the canal banks have been allowed to grow naturally.



There are several bridges to be opened, both swing and lift, both powered and not. (The first is a railway bridge that move a complete section of track sideways to allow boats through!) Each need safety gates to be opened and closed so passage is limnited by the time needed to read the different sets of instructions for each one. Some are well automated and only need a single button push to set the whole opening or closing sequence in motion.

The New Junction Cut is a long, completely straight section built in 1905, again for commercial barge traffic. Two thirds of the way along is Sykehouse lock - amazingly huge - and just below we found a welcome mooring spot. Even the sun came out to celebrate!

(And, dear reader, we have lots more pix of bridges of various types!)

River Trent

As with Leicester and Loughborough before, it was impressive to see just how much city and town centre re-development has improved the canal frontage. Only two locks remained on the short run to the Trent but we stopped at the second to take on water, not being sure quite when we would next be able to do so.

Out on the river and we quickly found ourselves carried along on the fast-flowing stream at an impressive 11-12 kilometres an hour (kilometre posts helped to estimate speed over the ground) even though speed through the water did not seem to be much faster than when on a canal.

Alas, rain started to fall and persisted as very heavy rain until lunch time. The locks from Holme Lock onwards are manned and operated by power. In view of the huge size and serious wood and metal work in the gates, this is no doubt welcome to the lock keepers. Alongside Holme Lock is the National Water Sports Centre and the canoe slalom was much in evidence. Our experience of the brief chats to the lock keepers was universally friendly and they are keen to offer advice, information and to let you know that they are informing the next lock of your progress. Even so, our exceptionally fast speed caught one or two of them unawares as we arrived ten minutes ahead of (their) schedule!



At Cromwell we picked up final information about mooring at Torksey (a previous keeper had already checked for us that there was space available on the pontoons) but here the keeper was more cautious about the ntime to reach Keadby and suggested a 6.30 start tomorrow morning. Keadby lock can only be accessed for a certain time around high tide so journey planning is important to avoid a lengthy wait, tied up alongside the river mooring waiting for the lock to re-open.



The river scenery was very attractive - wide expanse of water and most of the time edged by trees or shrubs. If only the weather had been kinder we might have taken the chance to stop off but our concern that more rain might lift the river levels once again and bring navigation to halt, meant that we pressed on.

The River Trent has been the source of water for many power stations and we passed or saw several - although the one at High Marnham seemed not to be operatinbg - at least no steam was emerging from any of its five cooling towers.

The afternoon was dry and, just occasionally, the sun peeped through enough to encouyrage the third member of the crew to take on steering for an hour or so!

We made good time and by early evening we were tied up on the pontoons below Torksey Lock. A chat with the lock keeper here confirmed the advisory start tomorrow of 6.30. We presume this is intended to ensure that we arrive at Keadby at high tide and do not have to cope with a flow either up or down as we turn into the lock.

There was time for a short stroll to the village of Torksey but nothing of note was found!

Andrew Joins the Crew

Slow start as we assessed the flood situation. Everyone we talked to gave a different story, all claiming to have been in touch with British Waterways! The red light was still showing and it seems likely that this was, by now, precautionary and that navigation was safe enough. Generally, indications suggest that the Trent is better than the Soar.

Delaying a start even further, we filled up with water before going down to the lock itself. Two other boats were passing ahead of us and perhaps a dozen in total that morning. So . . . off we set, having first to wait for a group of youngsters being brought up through the lock together with their canoes. They were heading for the weir!

Although the river was fast running, it did not seem especially flooded and when we reached Pillings Flood Lock, a little further downstream, it actually showed the level well down the amber section and almost to the green!

The next section is canal and we moored at Bridge 38 with just 15 mins before Andrew was due at the railway station. He arrived only minutes later, pulling tolley loaded with four crates of beer and wine - oh, and his baggage as well! Should not run out too soon.



On to Loughborough Junction (Wharf closed for development work on huge black of student flats). Shopping and a chance to find the flat where we first lived after we were married. Generated some debate as we could not find the entrance! The street still housed a thriving market, now extended into the main town centre which is now
pedestrianised.

Whilst we were able to do most of our shopping in local shops and from the market stalls there was still a need to visit Sainsburys! Four bags later we returned to the boat and set off.

Much relief as we approached Bishop Meadow Lock (where we once moored our own - very small - boat) the light was green and the sign stated that the river was now open. Even so, the flow was still speedy and we raced down the river. Some very heavy showers crept up unawares. At one point we passed under a main road bridge and were amused to see that we were probably moving faster than the queue of traffic above!

Trent Junction arrived and, for a short distance, we navigated upstream - very slowly! Then we turned into the Cranfleet Cut followed by a return to the river. A boat coming upstream reported taking two hours from Beeston Cut - we did it downstream in 45 minutes! The river is quite spectacular - pretty as well as much larger than the average canal.



The shelter of Beeston Cut was a welcome sight and we found a satisfactory mooring opposite the Boots Estate - well shielded by trees and shrubs.