Thorne to Wakefield

Mon 9^th May   Thorne to Bramwith Junction

We heard deer barking in the night, and a cuckoo this morning. It was hot and sunny as we made preparations to leave.  We moved the boat onto the very short pontoons at the facilities block so that we could fill up with water. We also disposed of rubbish and emptied cassettes.

We made a last visit to Sainsbury’s for some provisions.  The store is built behind the old brewery which is now used for all sorts of small businesses, but it is still a striking landmark.

Old brewery in Thorne

When we returned to the boat we reversed up to Thorne Boat Services next door for some diesel.  We had to tie alongside another boat, and it turned out that they were going in the same direction as us, so we agreed to share the locks and swing bridges. Although they didn’t have the name on the side, their boat was called Hayboat.

Thorne Lock was the first hurdle, and James started the business of setting the lock, (easy with a key), when the lady from Hayboat arrived, having driven by car. She was to set all the rest of the bridges and locks by car. So did she go boating or didn’t she?

The swing bridge operation was linked to the lock, and could not be opened until the lock was full. You can’t put the barriers in place until then, and you can’t get your key out until the whole operation is complete.

Thorne Lock and swing bridge

We passed under the M18 motorway, and then were alongside the River Don, although we couldn’t see it behind a high flood bank, reinforced in places with steel piling.  We noticed a possible mooring by Stainforth Bridge which we might use on the return journey.  Once again there were lots of rape fields.

Moorings at Stainforth Bridge

Rape fields

When we arrived at Bramwith Swing Bridge, our lady was there with the bridge open. She then overtook us in her car to prepare Bramwith Lock.  This was the first one for ages that had needed a windlass, so James operated our side.  Hayboat’s mooring was just after the lock so we parted company at that point.

Bramwith Swing Bridge

Sharing Bramwith Lock with Hayboat

A short distance further on was Bramwith Junction, where we turned sharp right onto the New Junction Canal to head for the Aire and Calder.  On our return we shall take the other direction, into Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Bramwith Junction.

We moored up just past the junction, and decided to enjoy the sunshine. We retrieved the plastic armchairs from off the roof, and the cushions from on top of the water tank under the bow deck. We had not brought the cushions into the light of day since last autumn, and were very pleased to see that they were in good condition, with no sign of damp or mildew!!

A dozen youngsters were up ahead having a gathering with some of them swimming and diving from the top of the guillotine stop gate at the Don Aqueduct.  A large C&RT workboat rig went past – three vessels all tied together.

Large CRT workboat rig

While were sitting in our chairs in the shade, Hugo caught a mouse.  He didn’t bring it to show us, or take it onto the boat.  We wonder how many other unfortunate rodents have had the same experience, and not been noted down in the blog.  James went to look at the aqueduct, and found that the water from the canal overflows into the River Don below. It looks a bit like an infinity pool.

Don Aqueduct

2 locks, 5 miles, 2 swing bridges

Tue 10^th May  Bramwith Junction to Southfield Junction

It was cooler this morning, with rain forecast later.  Hugo had caught another mouse in the night.

Our mooring at Bramwith Junction

A lady on a short Sea Otter went past – Gobian.  We weren’t ready to join her, but half an hour later we set off. It was interesting crossing the aqueduct over the River Don, with no wall at all between the boat and the river below.

Looking back across the aqueduct

Low Lane Swing Bridge was automatic. James operated it as the quayside was too high for Hazel to get off.

Top Lane Lift Bridge was being lowered as we approached.  When we arrived five minutes later, we found the quayside was much easier, so Hazel went to press buttons and raise it again.

Low Lane Swing Bridge

Top Lane Lift Bridge

At Kirkhouse Green Lift Bridge we caught up with the lady on the Sea Otter. She was on her own, so each bridge took much longer.  She would have to moor the boat, go and lift the bridge, so back to the boat and go through, moor up again, and go back to close the gate again. Meanwhile all the car drivers start to get impatient. She waved us through, saying “See you at the lock”.

Kirkhouse Lane Lift Bridge

We slackened our pace to allow her to catch up. With over two miles to the lock we thought she would, but we still arrived at the lock before her.  There was a lock keeper in control, who was happy to wait for her.  He had already swung the swing bridge which crosses the lock. Thankfully this only serves a minor farm track and not a busy road.  We discovered that the lady was heading for Ripon, but we didn’t find out much more.

Sykehouse Lock and Swing Bridge

We set off first and were soon leaving her behind in the short mile to Sykehouse Road Bridge, which is a lift bridge, although not marked as such in our Nicholson Guide. Hazel went to press buttons again, and James took Gabriel through and stopped on some visitor mooring bollards, as by now it was raining. The lady came through, but carried on past.

We stayed there for a few minutes, and realised that there was a nasty country smell from tractors moving slurry around.  We decided to move on, and came to rest for the day a mile further on, just after the aqueduct over the River Went, where there is a line of visitor moorings.  With a wide grassy area, these would be excellent for a barbecue on a sunny day.

Aqueduct over the River Went

Moored near Southfield Junction

We saw a shelduck on the water meadows below, plus swifts screaming in the sky.  Later the rain increased to fairly heavy and continuous. It was cool in the evening so we used the Webasto to get the radiators warm.

1 lock, 5 miles, 2 swing bridges, 3 lift bridges

Wed 11^th May  Southfield Junction to Knottingley

We saw a pair of Oyster Catchers this morning, on the grass behind the boat. They flew off when James appeared. Who can blame them?

Into the Aire and Calder Navigation

As we set off today we turned left at the junction, onto a section which was new to us. We were now on the Aire and Calder Navigation.  It was still very straight, but the swing bridges had been replaced by high bridges, so there was no bridge opening to do. The first obstacle was Pollington Lock, which had a strong weir stream pushing us over from the right. It was key operated, as they all are from here until we get to Wakefield.

Pollington Lock

The next one was Whitley Lock, which is side filling, so we were pushed over to the left in the lock.

Whitley Lock: bottom gates closing

We crossed under the M62, and came in sight of Kellingley Colliery, which closed down in December, the last deep coal mine to do so in the UK.  We moored up soon after, just before Knottingley

Kellingley Colliery recently closed down.

8 miles, two locks

Thu 12^th May  Knottingley to Birkwood Lock

Moored near Kellingley Colliery

After half a mile, we reached Bank Dole Junction, and were back onto a stretch we had done in 2007 in the other direction, when we were heading for Selby and York.

Bank Dole Junction

The route to Selby

We noticed that the bridges all had fairly new signs, giving the bridge name and number. Cow Lane Bridge in our Nicholson Guide is numbered as bridge 30.  The sign says Bridge 7. This is very confusing when some guides refer to bridge numbers (including the BCF Church Directory!)

Bridge numbering

There was plenty of evidence of industry and coal mining to be seen, including loading wharves and an old loading chute at Knottingley

Loading chute

There was a splendid building we spotted and found out later that it was the Town Hall. Soon after that we passed an impressive flour mill.

Knottingley Town Hall

Flour mill at Knottingley

Ferrybridge Flood Lock was open, so we cruised through back onto the River Aire, past the three power stations at Ferrybridge.

Ferrybridge Flood Lock and Power Station

River Aire and the flood lock

There was then a stylish bridge which used to be the Great North Road. A little later we passed under the modern equivalent: the A1. This crosses what is known as the “Five Mile Pond” which is a river section of just over four miles, passing through some quite scenic wooded banks and curves, with some more evidence of coal mining in the past.

Great North Road Bridge

A1 Bridge

Five Mile Pond

At the end of this section comes Bulholme Lock, which again is side-filling from the right, pushing the boat to the left. It is best to start on the left to begin with. We also saw three C&RT vans parked up apparently not being used, and wondered why other C&RT staff are hiring vans to do their work, as we saw recently on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

Bulholme Railway Bridge and Lock

Bulholme Lock

Three CRT vans not being used

We needed to get to the facilities block at Castleford, but there was a big sign there saying “Visitor Moorings”, so of course there were boats blocking access to the facilities.  We had to moor opposite on the lock bollards, where there was a fisherman taking up space, so it was awkward. We then had to trundle the cassettes across the lock gates to achieve our objective.  There are plenty of other visitor moorings in Castleford, so the space by the facilities block should really be maximum one hour wait.

Castleford Lock is large, and is normally left open as a flood lock. This time it was closed, otherwise we would not have been able to trundle cassettes across the gates.  Apparently this because the foot bridge is undergoing repairs. We found this information on the blog for Waiouru.

In Castleford Lock

The confluence of the Aire and the Calder

Outside the lock at Castleford there is a watery crossroads:  the River Aire comes in on the right from Leeds, and the River Calder comes in opposite from Wakefield. The two rivers combine here and go off to the left round a corner and over a weir. We headed straight on up the River Calder for two miles before we came to the first lock: Woodnock Lock. Here there was a boat club with both a welcome sign and a no mooring sign to confuse us stupid boaters.  The lock fills from both sides, so it is best to stay back in the lock.

Mixed messages

Woodnock Lock and Railway Bridge

Woodnock Lock

The navigation leaves the river for a while at this point, passing under the M62, and through King’s Lock, where there are lovely moorings, spoilt by the racket from the motorway.  We moved on a further mile and moored above Birkwood Lock, where it was pleasantly peaceful. We enjoyed a sunny evening on our chairs in the bows.

Under the M62

Birkwood Lock

Strange holes in the lock wall. What are these for?

A sunny evening at Birkwood Lock

8 miles, 5 locks

Fri 13^th May  Birkwood Lock to Wakefield

Half a mile into our journey we arrived at Stanley Ferry, where there are two aqueducts over the River Calder, as well as the workshop where they make many of the lock gates on the system.  There are several red notices on the aqueduct railings saying no mooring on the aqueduct.  Sadly there were some boats moored right on top of one of the notices.  There was room for us but there are some large boats around here.

Lock Gate manufacture at Stanley Ferry

Stanley Ferry Aqueducts

Boats moored on the aqueduct

Large Boat (compared to ours, anyway)

At the end of a mile and a half straight, we find Broadreach Flood Lock, normally kept open, where the canal section rejoins the river.  A mile after that comes the first lock on the Calder and Hebble: Fall Ing Lock. This required a windlass.

Broadreach Flood Lock

Fall Ing Lock

We found a mooring soon after that, and went to discover Wakefield.  We first had a hunt for the sanitary station marked in our 2006 Nicholson Guide. It was not there.  We found some wonderful warehouses which had been converted to apartments. We also spotted the results of winter flooding in the shape of a strange looking craft stranded on the weir, and the orange floating boom at the bottom of the weir instead of at the top.

Converted Warehouse

Stranded craft on the weir

We indulged in a meal at Harry’s fish and chip restaurant, which was very popular at lunchtime.

Fish and chips with mushy peas

We then paid a visit to Wakefield Cathedral, and saw some peregrine falcons on the steeple.

Wakefield Cathedral

On the way back we visited Sainsbury’s to buy a few provisions, before stopping to chat to Tom and Jan on Waiouru.  We last saw them last year when we shared Cowley Lock in Uxbridge.  They told us about lock 24E on the Huddersfield which needs an appointment with C&RT, as they have had accidents with the windlass mechanism.  It was useful information as we hadn’t heard this.

1 lock, 3 miles

This blog is behind. We are now in Huddersfield, going up the narrow canal tomorrow, Thu 19th May.  Catch up soon.