We are currently moored at Castleford having arrived here on Friday afternoon.  We wandered into town on Friday just for a look around and then on Saturday had an expedition to the supermarket to do the shopping.  Today was spent just chilling out in the sun.  We have a chimney that really needs sweeping but have put this off until another day.  The moorings at Castleford seemed very peaceful at first, but quickly filled up, this is obviously a popular weekend destination.

Jeanie Deans moored at Castleford

On Friday we said goodbye to Matt on NB Tinkertoo whe we had travelled with up to Sheffield and then met with on the way back.  We travelled together for a few days as it makes locks and swing bridges easier if you double up.  Matt very kindly donated some tinned dog food, the dogs thought it was Christmas as they normally have kibble.  Sadly the reason for the food was that Matt very lovely little dog Roxy died very suddenly whilst he was in Sheffield.  He is obviously very upset but has now adopted a rescue dog from Romania.  Good luck Matt hope it works out.

Jeanie Deans and Tinkertoo breasted up on the visitor moorings at Long Sandall Lock

We had a very rude awakening early morning as Humber Princess entered the lock!!

On the Aire and Calder Navigation.  The River Aire is a large river which makes it surprising that until we came up here we had never heard of it.

Power station at Ferrybridge flood lock.  The lock was open so we just passed through.

Tomorrow we are heading for Leeds for a few days and then heading up the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Having decided that we would divert to Sheffield, we then found out that you have to book passage through Tinsley Flight, a flight of 11 locks up to Sheffield.  Having phoned up and sorted out the booking we made our way slowly up to the meeting point with the lock keeper.  Travelling up with three other boats, we arrived and moored in Victoria Quays, right near Sheffield city centre, on Thursday.  Stayed over for a few days and travelled back down on Sunday.  We were the only boat coming back.  Most of the locks up here are big electric locks and are lovely and easy to operate, but the locks up to Sheffield are double locks with very heavy gates, some of which I struggled to open and close.  The lock keepers are brilliant at lending a helping hand though so we did it without too many problems.  The main difficulty was that the locks are short and even though we are the right size to fit in it was very tight and we ended up with a lot of water getting into the back cabin on the way down.  Still got stuff drying on the roof now so just as well we have had a hot and sunny day.

An impressive train bridge that slides across to allow boats passage 

  

A selection of views of the  South Yorkshire Navigations

Last time we were up this way the gravel barges were still working, this has all gone now, but Humber Princess, an oil tanker still does two runs a week up to Rotherham.  She passed us on her return journey when we were moored at Mexborough.

Humber Princess

Boats at Waddington Lock

 The straddle warehouse, Victoria Quays, lit up at night

The locks up here are huge!!!

We had a very early start today!  Up at 5:00am to walk the dogs and be ready to leave Torksey lock at 6:00am.  A good trip but the last part was a bit hairy due us arriving approx 3/4 hour later than the optimum tide conditions.  This resulted in having to turn into the lock on a flood tide rather than an ebb tide (bit technical for me, but think I have this right).  Made turning into the lock fairly exciting, especially watching the boat in front attempt it in fairly spectacular style.  At one point he was sideways on to the lock and being swept upstream by the flow of the tide.  Wish I had some photographs but as I was clinging onto the top of the boat in a panic that didn't happen.  This whole situation was created by all three boats that were leaving being given somewhat duff information from the lock keeper at Torksey about what time we needed to leave, apparently we should have left about 5:30am.

We had a bit of a bow wave!!

We are now moored up at Keadby lock on the South Yorkshire Navigations, arrived here at about 10:30 this morning and have chilled out for the rest of the day.

Keadby Lock

Jeanie Deans moored at Keadby Lock

Spider T.  A Humber Sloop moored opposite us at Keadby Locks 

We have had a busy few days leaving Nottingham on Sunday morning, down two locks and back out onto the Trent.  This is a nice easy trips as although the locks are very large they are all automated and manned by the lovely Trent lock keepers.  After leaving Hazelford Lock on Monday morning we completed a fairly short trip to Newark on Trent where we moored up on the floating pontoons and plugged into the electric hookup.  The washing machine was busy that day.  Spent an enjoyable afternoon wandering round Newark and chatting to the other moorers on the pontoon.  Phoned the lock keeper at Cromwell lock to find out what time we could go through the lock and on to the tidal Trent.

The Barge pub at Newark on Trent

Newark Castle and the town bridge

View from the mooring pontoon at Newark

A late start on Tuesday as Cromwell is only 1-11/2 hours trip and we are not going through until 1pm.  On arrival at Cromwell spoke to Tommy, the lock keeper who told us that we would be better going at 2pm so we had lunch and sat out in the sun.

On the mooring at Cromwell lock

The mighty Cromwell lock, gateway to the tidal Trent

Looking back at Cromwell lock

Passed through Cromwell lock and headed off to Torksey Lock.  Moored up below the lock as not going through just waiting overnight until the tide is right to head off to Keadby.  On arrival spotted Mike and Karen from Annoula, who we moored with over winter.  Lovely to catch up with them and find out where they have been so far this summer.  Also great to catch up with Simon, who we met two years ago on the Soar.  He and his partner came over from Lincoln and we had a lovely evening with them.

We are now on the South Yorkshire Navigations and heading for Leeds although we may divert to Sheffield as well.

It's been a long time since I have even looked at this blog and I thought it was about time to get my backside into gear and actually write something.  We had a good winter in Market Harborough and finally left, after a few false starts, on the 31st May.  Having spent rather longer than we intended in Leicester and then Nottingham we are now well underway and moored up at Hazelford lock on the River Trent.

View from the boat at tonight's mooring

Although it has taken longer to get here than it should we have had a good time slowly wending our way.  Due partly to the River Soar being in flood and mostly because we decided to stay around for the River Festival we stayed in Leicester for four days.  Had a good time and met some interesting people.  Including a guy who moored up against us and was telling us about his all electric narrow boat that he has taken about 15 years to build.  Fascinating bloke, worked as a technical person for the BBC for years.

Coming into Leicester

C aRT work boat on the Soar

Heading through Leicester

Approaching the lock at Frog Island Leicester

Very peaceful mooring before heading into Loughborough

We left Nottingham this morning after a couple of days stop for shopping and a look round the city and dropped down two locks onto the River Trent.  All the locks are now enourmous, but fortunately they are all operated electrically and are manned by lock keepers, who are brilliant!  They are all very helpful and informative and generally have the locks ready as you approach.

The locks on the Trent are on a much bigger scale than on the canals

There are many different types of boat on the river

Including a water skier!!

Tomorrow we head on to Newarke and then Cromwell Lock and on the the tidal section of the Trent.