Selby to York
We were in the second locking into the River Ouse at about 9am. Passage through Selby was rather turbulent, then had a scare at the first left hand bend where we pushed through the bushes on the outside of the bend, but we escaped without damage.
The rest of the trip to Naburn was swift but uneventful. After Naburn we stopped for fuel at Naburn Marina where we had been told it was cheaper than further upstream.
Moored in York above Lendal Bridge and went for a late lunch in the Maltings.
20050220
Thursday 16th September
Doncaster to Selby
Turned onto the New Junction Canal and then onto the Aire and Calder heading for Knottingley, where we hoped to get lunch at the Steam Packet Inn. This didn't appear to be open and the moorings nearby were not suitable in view of the commercial boats which pass there. So we carried on to the visitor moorings near Ferrybridge lock where we had lunch on board again.
Turned round after lunch and headed for Bank Dole Lock where we got onto the River Aire and thence onto the Selby canal.
Moored for the night in Selby basin. Eventually found some food in the hotel which did not have real ale. After a few other pubs we finished off in the Albion Vaults which was in the 2004 GBG. Little did we know that it wasn't in the 2005 edition.
Turned onto the New Junction Canal and then onto the Aire and Calder heading for Knottingley, where we hoped to get lunch at the Steam Packet Inn. This didn't appear to be open and the moorings nearby were not suitable in view of the commercial boats which pass there. So we carried on to the visitor moorings near Ferrybridge lock where we had lunch on board again.
Turned round after lunch and headed for Bank Dole Lock where we got onto the River Aire and thence onto the Selby canal.
Moored for the night in Selby basin. Eventually found some food in the hotel which did not have real ale. After a few other pubs we finished off in the Albion Vaults which was in the 2004 GBG. Little did we know that it wasn't in the 2005 edition.
Wednesday 15th September
Sheffield to Doncaster
Turned round aafter going through the straddle warehouse then headed off to Tinsley top lock where we met a different lock keeper. This time he went ahead unlocking the locks and leaving us on our own more, as it's it's much safer going down.
Pressed on through Rotherham and stopped for lunch at Hooton Road Bridge. Unfortunately the Ship Inn by the railway was not open for lunch and the other pub futher east was no longer a pub. There was a shop selling take away snacks so we took advantage of this and went back to the boat where we could enjoy it with a bottle of beer in the sunshine.
Moored for the night on the secure visitor moorings in Doncaster. Having eaten in the Wetherspoons on the market square we went on to visit the Leopard and the Tut'n'Shive.
Turned round aafter going through the straddle warehouse then headed off to Tinsley top lock where we met a different lock keeper. This time he went ahead unlocking the locks and leaving us on our own more, as it's it's much safer going down.
Pressed on through Rotherham and stopped for lunch at Hooton Road Bridge. Unfortunately the Ship Inn by the railway was not open for lunch and the other pub futher east was no longer a pub. There was a shop selling take away snacks so we took advantage of this and went back to the boat where we could enjoy it with a bottle of beer in the sunshine.
Moored for the night on the secure visitor moorings in Doncaster. Having eaten in the Wetherspoons on the market square we went on to visit the Leopard and the Tut'n'Shive.
Tuesday 14th September
Sprotbrough to Sheffield
Another early start to ensure that we would make Sheffield for the evening.
Made good progress so we stopped for lunch in Rotherham. The first GBG pub we tried turned out to be a Wetherspoons so we tried the other entry which was also a Wetherspoons!
Made Tinsley bottom lock in time and the lock keeper escorted us all the way up on his bicycle and doing most of the work.
Another early start to ensure that we would make Sheffield for the evening.
Made good progress so we stopped for lunch in Rotherham. The first GBG pub we tried turned out to be a Wetherspoons so we tried the other entry which was also a Wetherspoons!
Made Tinsley bottom lock in time and the lock keeper escorted us all the way up on his bicycle and doing most of the work.
Monday 13th September
West Stockwith to Sprotbrough
Got up at 7am to prepare for our tidal trip. Moved down to the lock at 8.15 to get fuel and gas. We shared the lock with another narrowboat and a third boat was also going to Keadby after us.
Left the lock at about 9.15. We had no current to help us initially but slowly picked up speed and eventually managed 8.5 mph at 800 rpm, ie about 3.5 mph current. Calm trip sheltered from the worst of the wind by the banks. Make a good entrance into Keadby lock.
The third narrowboat from Stockwith had managed to catch us up and arrived shortly after the other boat. All three of us were going at least as far as Thorne so we leapfrogged through all the swing bridges after the Vazon rail bridge which was looking much better than last year.
In order to make it to Sprotbrough we did not stop for lunch, instead we had it on the move after Thorne. Passed the black boat from Shireoaks at one of the few narrow bridges.
Booked a passage up the Tinsley flight for 3pm tomorrow.
No trouble getting to Sprotbrough where we ate in the Boat Inn, a spoon pub, then went into the village proper for some Sam Smiths at the Ivanhoe. We were forced to move into the public bar when the music quiz started.
Got up at 7am to prepare for our tidal trip. Moved down to the lock at 8.15 to get fuel and gas. We shared the lock with another narrowboat and a third boat was also going to Keadby after us.
Left the lock at about 9.15. We had no current to help us initially but slowly picked up speed and eventually managed 8.5 mph at 800 rpm, ie about 3.5 mph current. Calm trip sheltered from the worst of the wind by the banks. Make a good entrance into Keadby lock.
The third narrowboat from Stockwith had managed to catch us up and arrived shortly after the other boat. All three of us were going at least as far as Thorne so we leapfrogged through all the swing bridges after the Vazon rail bridge which was looking much better than last year.
In order to make it to Sprotbrough we did not stop for lunch, instead we had it on the move after Thorne. Passed the black boat from Shireoaks at one of the few narrow bridges.
Booked a passage up the Tinsley flight for 3pm tomorrow.
No trouble getting to Sprotbrough where we ate in the Boat Inn, a spoon pub, then went into the village proper for some Sam Smiths at the Ivanhoe. We were forced to move into the public bar when the music quiz started.
20040912
Sunday
Clarborough to West Stockwith
Lie in, then the short trip to Clayworth, where we had a very good lunch in the Blacksmiths Arms (Black Sheep and John Smiths). We followed this by a pint in the Brewers Arms which had Castle Eden, Barnsley Bitter, and John Smiths.
Long afternoon to get to Stockwith. We stopped to check out the pub in Misterton and the take aways. The Chinese was open but the chippy was not. The pub was the Red Hart and had St. Austell HSD, Bombardier, and John Smiths. We had one pint there and then carried on to West Stockwith, where we moored just outside the basin. After having tea on board we went for a few more pints in Waterside Inn.
Lie in, then the short trip to Clayworth, where we had a very good lunch in the Blacksmiths Arms (Black Sheep and John Smiths). We followed this by a pint in the Brewers Arms which had Castle Eden, Barnsley Bitter, and John Smiths.
Long afternoon to get to Stockwith. We stopped to check out the pub in Misterton and the take aways. The Chinese was open but the chippy was not. The pub was the Red Hart and had St. Austell HSD, Bombardier, and John Smiths. We had one pint there and then carried on to West Stockwith, where we moored just outside the basin. After having tea on board we went for a few more pints in Waterside Inn.
20040911
Saturday
Shireoaks to Clarborough
Left Shireoaks shortly after 10am. Very windy which made turning left out of the marina interesting. Caught up with another boat that had left one hour earlier. He was single handed, so having helped him through one lock he let us overtake.
Moored below Town Lock in Worksop and went to the Mallard for lunch, two different beers and a £1 roll.
Caught up with the single handed boater again at Forest Locks. He stopped below the upper middle lock and we carried on through Retford to Clarborough. Moored outside the Gate Inn. They only had Adnams bitter on, which tasted odd when served through a sparkler. Food was running late and one of the meals did not come with the extra potatoes.
Ian was not feeling well so he went to bed early. Andy and I were going to go the other pub but it started to rain so we just had another in the Gate.
Left Shireoaks shortly after 10am. Very windy which made turning left out of the marina interesting. Caught up with another boat that had left one hour earlier. He was single handed, so having helped him through one lock he let us overtake.
Moored below Town Lock in Worksop and went to the Mallard for lunch, two different beers and a £1 roll.
Caught up with the single handed boater again at Forest Locks. He stopped below the upper middle lock and we carried on through Retford to Clarborough. Moored outside the Gate Inn. They only had Adnams bitter on, which tasted odd when served through a sparkler. Food was running late and one of the meals did not come with the extra potatoes.
Ian was not feeling well so he went to bed early. Andy and I were going to go the other pub but it started to rain so we just had another in the Gate.
20000901
20000413
April 2020
Erewash canal
Following completion of the work on the engine a return trip to Stenson was needed but took the opportunity to explore the Erewash canal first.
Saturday Long Eaton to Langley Mill where Fiona whisked us away to the Brunswick Inn, Derby. This was busy as the Camra Agm was taking place that weekend.
Sunday Back south.
Monday return to Stenson
20000312
March 2020
Had a phone call to say that I could not leave Jacob at Shardlow, so the following weekend I returned and visited Stenson marina and arranged a short term online mooring there to await lower river levels so that I could go south on the River Soar. Set off on my own, stopping on the way at Ragley Boat Stop for lunch.
Weekend trip from Stenson to Burton, mooring by the Marstons Pedigree bridge, then carrying on to the Bridge Inn? for Sunday lunch.
Arranged for an engine service which had to take place on the towpath opposite the marina. As a result of that some work on teh valves was recommended and we arranged for this to take place at Sheetstores basin in Long Eaton.
20000227
20000226
February 26, 2000 Takeover day
Having spent the night at Fionas I went ahead of the others to meet Pete Hawkins and takeover Jacob at Shardlow. Fortunately I spotted that there was not a full complement of gas bottles and he got them from the building next door. Unfortunately it was too windy to go anywhere so were unable to get to Burton by boat for the beer festival. So the beer festival had to be visited by car and had to do a crawl of the local pubs instead. Clock Warehouse, Malt Shovel and New Inn.