Worksop to RWBC at Clayworth

Mon 8^th Aug   Worksop to Manton

We departed fairly early, hoping that the bored youths of the town would not be up and about. We went down through Stret Lock, and past the place where we turned in 2005, having got stuck in the lock. The turning place is the entrance to an old canal arm.

Stret Lock

Old canal arm

Worksop Town Lock is difficult, as it is half covered by a low road bridge. The approach is via a narrow channel. There is only one paddle on the lower gates, and there is no way across. Thankfully, we managed OK.

The narrow approach to Worksop Town Lock

Worksop Town Lock

This is followed by the Straddle Warehouse, an unusual building that is over the canal.

Straddle Warehouse

At Bracebridge Lock we met Will, the CRT man we saw on Saturday at the Lock Keeper. He was most helpful, locking us through both Bracebridge Lock and Kilton Lock, pointing out where the shallow places were.

Bracebridge Lock

Bracebridge Pumping Station

Will being helpful

After we left Kilton Lock we met a boat coming the other way. They probably had the same help from Will.

We met a boat!

Manton Railway Viaduct

Weed

We only wanted to get away from Worksop, and we had spotted a possible mooring on the way up the canal, just East of the three bridges at Manton.

Our mooring at Manton

Next to some woods

No boats passed after we moored. This canal is very quiet. We had a few walkers and a cyclist or two. Then three polite lads turned up asking if we could help them as their dog had cut itself on some barbed wire. We couldn’t do more than bathe the wound in clean water, and give the lads a drink.

5 Locks, 3 miles. Dep 0855, arr 1110

Tue 9^th Aug  Manton to Forest Locks

We had at least two owls close to the boat in the night. It was a peaceful mooring.

Morning at Manton

We noticed that the harvest had started since we came past ten days ago.

The harvest has begun

We had a mishap in Long Bridge at Osberton. We had some weed on the prop which limited our steerage, and James should have taken the hood down. We had enough clearance if we were central in the bridge, but the bridge name says it all – it’s like a very short tunnel. The bows moved to the left and the bow thruster is not functioning properly due to weed. We attempted to stop, but couldn’t prevent the hood from scraping the underside of the bridge, ripping the fabric. Oh dear! Repair bills ahead!

Damaged hood

We were soon through Osberton Lock, and we had better success with the weed along here than last time. Perhaps this was because the weed cutter had been at work.

Osberton Lock

Weed management

Canada geese

Water lilies

We suddenly found ourselves gaining on a boat in front, which we later learned had just turned in a winding hole before Ranby. We followed them through to the Forest Locks.

Following a boat

The boat in front

In Ranby we spotted Firefly, the boat we had met at the Lock Keeper pub a week ago. We emptied cassettes at Charlie’s Lock, officially known as Forest Middle Top Lock

Firefly

Charlie’s Lock

We learned that the ladies on the boat in front had just seen what they called a Water Snake. The other name for a grass snake is the European Water Snake. Shame we missed it. We haven’t seen one this year. We had seen lots of dragonflies of all different colours and sizes, plus a kingfisher, and a bird of prey flying over which we didn’t have time to identify, but it was smaller than a buzzard and was not gliding. Probably a sparrow hawk.

We moored on the visitor mooring just below Charlie’s Lock. There were lots of fish in the clear water.

Moored at Forest Locks

Fish

James tightened the stern gland as it had been dripping.

3 locks, 5 miles. Dep 0920, arr 1235

Wed 10^th Aug   Forest Locks to Clarborough

We are warming up for another heatwave, so the forecasts tell us. We certainly had blue sky today, as we set off through the remaining Forest Locks to Retford.

Our mooring at Forest Locks

Forest Bottom Lock

Lady Bridge 54

The water was really clear, and we saw countless fish, including roach, perch, two pike, and a large chub (probably). There was also a shoal of a dozen large bream. At West Retford Lock we met some ladies who were interested in Canal Ministries, so they received appropriate leaflets.

Fish

West Retford Lock

We found a shady mooring above Retford Town Lock, and we both went to have haircuts. We also found a replacement for our racquet insect zapper. A visit to a café for a cold drink was essential in the heat, and then we cooled down in Aldi before returning to the boat to set off once more.

Ornate Council Offices in Retford

Retford Town Lock

The Hop Pole

Whitsunday Pie Lock

Red Hot Pokers

We passed Firefly moored below the Town Lock. We moored up on visitor moorings at Clarborough, and Firefly came in behind us later. We had a Canal Ministries Zoom meeting.

5 locks, 5 miles, 1 swingbridge. Dep 0950, arr 1135 Retford. Dep 1535, arr 1655.

Thu 11^th Aug  Clarborough to RWBC

Firefly left early, presumably to avoid the heat of the day. We followed a bit later.

Moored at Clarborough

Young moorhen

Loosestrife

As we cruised, a tern was following us, catching fish in our wake. There was also a large heron on the branch of a tree, and a swallow on a wire. We didn’t have any problems with weed, although we took it slowly. We did have to avoid some islands of reeds at times.

Tern

Heron

Swallow

Reed island

We saw some smoke a long way off and wondered if it was a wildfire. Another boater said it was tyres burning.

Smoke

We moored at RWBC, and were pleased to be under a tree for some shade. James collected his parcel, so that we can now repair our fourth cassette.

Moored at RWBC

We wanted to visit the church at Clayworth, which has famous wall paintings, but we couldn’t find the bus stop, and even then, the bus didn’t turn up. It was too hot to walk, so we decided to visit by bus later from either Misterton or West Stockwith.

We had our meal outside, with plums falling from the trees above.

Retford and Worksop Boat Club

0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 0845, arr 1005.

Next: Two days to get to West Stockwith, then out on the tide on Sunday back towards Newark.