Thorne to Cromwell Lock

Sun 4th September  Thorne to Crook o’ Moor

We had noticed some floating weed like duckweed but larger, like miniature water lilies. Some of it collected near our boat. Research revealed it be Greater Duckweed. It made some quite pretty patterns.

Greater Duckweed

After church and a Sunday roast (see previous blog entry), we wanted to go part of the way to Keadby, so we set off through the first obstacle: Princess Swing Bridge. This used to be the road bridge until they built the flyover bridge, and although now it just carries pedestrians and bikes, it is still fully automated, so Hazel operated it with a key.

Princess Swing Bridge

Similarly Wykewell Lift Bridge was hydraulic so Hazel pushed the buttons. Moores Swing Bridge, however, needed to be pushed, so it was James’ turn. The same applied to Maud’s Swing Bridge.

Wykewell Lift Bridge

 There were some big black clouds that were threatening to overtake us, but we successfully outran them and escaped. The weeds gradually got worse the further we went.

Escaping from the weather

 The weeds increase

Crook o’ Moor Swing Bridge was also push and shove so James did the necessary.

Crook o’ Moor Swing Bridge

We found a mooring soon after, where the ever present railway separates from the canal by a field width with a line of trees to shield the noise a little.

Before we had finished tying up the boat properly, Hugo had already gone ashore and caught a mouse.  He caught another just twenty minutes later.  He was out all night so who knows how many rodents went past their expiry dates?

Moored at Crook o’ Moor

0 locks, 5 miles, 4 swing bridges, 1 lift bridge, 2 mice minimum

Mon 5th September  Crook o‘ Moor to Keadby

Sunrise at Crook o’ Moor

After blearily taking the picture of the sunrise, we went back to bed. When we finally set out we very soon had Godnow Swing Bridge to push open.

Godnow Swing Bridge

We didn’t see any deer this time although we kept a good look out.  By the time we reached Vazon Swing Bridge (push and shove) the weed was right across the canal.  Just after this bridge comes the sliding railway bridge which was opened promptly for us. Two trains had just gone by.

Weed at Vazon Swing Bridge

When we finally pulled the boat into the side, the weed became compacted, and the bright green tops were intermingled with the reddish undersides.

Compacted weed

James went to explore and found that there was a large ship just outside the lock, unloading timber, probably from Scandinavia. There was also an historic Humber keel moored on the canal on the opposite side from the visitor moorings.

Ship unloading at the wharf by Keadby Lock

Humber Keel at Keadby

The power station at Keadby is apparently gas powered and has only recently been recommissioned after being mothballed for several years.

Gas powered power station

We had been told we would need to leave at 0820 to catch the tide.  We set an alarm so that we didn’t have to rush in the morning. 

0 locks, 5 miles, 2 swing bridges, 1 railway sliding bridge

Tue 6th September  Keadby to Torksey

Before dawn at Keadby

We were getting everything ready, including getting out the anchor for emergency deployment, putting on lifejackets, and taking vulnerable items off the roof.  Hazel went to dispose of rubbish at about 0730, and we thought we had plenty of time. There was a loud knocking on the side of the boat. It was the lockkeeper, saying we were late and should be in the lock. The other boat was apparently ready and waiting for us.  It turned out that the 0820 departure time we had been given was for the tide on Wednesday, not today.

Fortunately we were mostly ready. We just had to get the time-lapse camera started and placed securely on the roof, strapped to a heavy tin of paint to keep it in place. So we were in the lock at 0740, sharing with a white cruiser named Andante.

Early start 

Into the lock past the open swing bridge

As the lock slowly emptied, water and weed was rushing in behind us through some vertical slits in the top gates.  There must be a reason for this – perhaps to stop the canal overflowing the banks. Normally there would be a bypass weir for this.

Water and weed through the vertical slots

Gates opening

The ship Mia Sophie-B was till just outside the lock, but this did not present a problem as there was not much flow to start with.  If we had been coming from Torksey or Cromwell it would have been very difficult to see the entrance to the lock.

Andante leaving the lock past the ship bows

Looking back at the ship hiding the lock

There is an interesting website that tells you where vessels are and something about them. It includes cargo vessels and cruise ships. www.vesselfinder.com

Ships at Gunness Wharf opposite Keadby

Our plants out of the wind and the anchor ready

Andante paused in mid channel to remove weed from the propeller, and we soon left them behind, until they got themselves sorted out eventually, and creamed on past 45 minutes later.

Keadby Bridge, or George V Bridge is a bascule lift bridge powered by electricity. It was first opened in 1916. It carries a double track railway and the A18 road.  It was last lifted in 1956, and the headroom was increased in 1960, with the bridge being fixed in position.

Keadby Bridge

M180 viaduct

 The windmill at West Butterwick

Andante being a bit more allegro

There follows a series of photos of the main landmarks on the route south, mostly mills, bridges and power stations.

Riverside settlement at Owston Ferry

 Windmill south of Owston Ferry

River Idle joins the Trent through a sluice

The church at East Stockwith

East Stockwith Lock

Gainsborough Wharf

 The bridge at Gainsborough

West Burton Power Station

Cottam Power Station

Marton Mill

Looking back at Torksey Viaduct. Keep left if heading north.

When we arrived at Torksey, the pontoon was empty, so we moored near to the ramp so Hugo could go and explore.  More boats arrived later, including some large barges they were using for dredging work.

Moored on the pontoon at Torksey

The dredging barges arrive

A hire boat also arrived, and the lady on board had been reading this blog, trying to decide whether to go via the Huddersfield Canal or the Leeds and Liverpool. Another of the boaters kept their boat Serendipity at Lemonroyd Marina, and they used to be at Swiftcraft at Apperley Bridge. They knew Richard Fee who built our first boat, and they also knew Simon and Pat of Towpath Ministries.

We contacted Les and Christina Moore, who live locally. They joined us for a meal in the White Swan. It was good to see them. They have sold their boat, although they still want to remain part of BCF.  The food at the pub was very good, with huge portions.

Les and Christina Moore

You can see a timelapse video of the days boating here: https://www.facebook.com/james.bell.524596/videos/10154542563511757/ 

1 Lock, 1 swing bridge, 27 miles

Wed 7th September  Torksey to Cromwell Lock

The pontoon at Torksey

The dredging team started early, working at the entrance to Torksey Cut.  We needed to go with the tide at 1115, and it was a challenge to get past them, as the dredger operator could not see us past the huge barges which hid us.  A few short blasts on Gabriel’s horn soon made them aware.

The dredging team

Full pontoon as we left

An unexpected hazard

Dunham Toll Bridge

Fledborough Viaduct

 Pylons from power stations

Carlton Mill

New Besthorpe Wharf

We had the flow against us all the way, as the tides were not large, and the flow of the river downstream outweighed the effect of the tide upstream. We called up Cromwell Lock on the VHF radio and the lock was set for us when we arrived. 

Cromwell Weir and Lock

Green light at Cromwell Lock

On the long walk to the sanitary station, James came across a spindle sticking out of the ground. According to an information board, it was the mount for an anti aircraft gun during WWII.

Anti aircraft gun mount

We had intended to go on further, but by the time we filled our water tank (very slow tap) it was getting late and we thought the moorings in Newark might be full, so we decided to stay on the pontoon.  We met some pleasant people on Wild Thyme. They moor at Shireoaks on the Chesterfield Canal.

The pontoon at Cromwell Lock

1 lock, 14 miles

Next: we continue our journey with a quick pause in Newark for shopping and lunch with relatives, then on to Nottingham