Back to Thorne

It was a lovely bright morning as we awoke.

Before setting off We had agreed that Mike would make tonight's chilli con carne so that we could better cater for variations in this afternoon's schedule - our car was now at Keadby and had to be collected.

Just as he was finishing the preparation, Christine called from the front and was already taking photos of a burning car on the edge of the canal. She had seen a couple of young lads revving up the car in a mud patch and then running off. Immediately afterwards it was apparent that the car was alight. It very quickly became a full blaze.

As luck would have it, Mike's mobile had failed overnight and Christine's was only just picking up a signal. Eventually we managed a 999 call to to fire service. Not easy to give the location as we were really rather out in the wilds and devoid of landmarks but we did our best based on where we thought we were on the canal and map!

We waited some while but nothing arrived and the car was now almost completely burned away so we set off.

The canal is home to some larger boats and more cruisers than narrowboats. Meeting a sea-going cruiser coming round a bend at speed is not for the faint hearted - especially when they take time to react.

Bramwith Swing Bridge

Only one more swing bridge before Bramwith Junction where we were to turn around. This one was fully mechanised - it was also possible to see the wedges that secure the bridge in place and which have to be moved (by automated hydraulic power) to along the bridge to swing.

Bramwith Lock

The main part of Bramwith Lock only takes 60 foot boats so we just fitted lengthways - but it also has an extra set of gates at one time to allow longer boats to pass.

Bramwith Junction

From here it was only a few minutes to Bramwith Junction where we turned around and re-traced our steps. We paused at Bramwith Swing Bridge to dispose of rubbish and empty elsan and chat to a local broad beam boat owner who told us about the advantages (to his wife anyway) of the greater capacity, including a daily bath, even though he misses the opportunity to cruise further afield.

Just before we reached the spot where the car had been torched we spotted a PCSO on the towpath and we pulled in to see if we could give any useful information. He used the photos which Christine had taken and, after zooming in, could see the number plate. He radioed this in and soon heard that it had been reported stolen earlier this morning. (He and his PCSO colleague had no difficulty in finding the spot from our description although he had had to walk from the nearest road, the track down being very rough - no doubt what had attracted the joy riders. The fire service never made it!) After we set off we passed the car, still slightly smouldering.

We called at Staniland Marina as we had heard that they had a chandlery - we were able, after much debate, to select a rope suitable to replace our worn mooring rope. Of course, we picked the most expensive material, but we made the mistake in the past of opting for a lower quality and the handling is not pleasant. The man in the shop agreed to splice the ends for us but we would have to come back later.

We shared Thorne Lock with another narrow boat and a small motor boat which helped as this is the lock with attached swing bridge that takes a number of different operations to work through.
They arrived first at the pedestrian swing bridge and had much the same problem as Christine yesterday but, perhaps being local, they knew how to persuade it to open!

Shortly afterwards we realised that we were at a good spot for the railway station and quickly pulled in to moor. Mike set off at a fast pace but - alas - he was just one minute too late. Hence he had just under an hour to sit quietly in the sunshine and recover before the next train arrived. Several freight rains passed as he waited.

After that, the trip to fetch the car went according to plan. After alighting at Althorpe station, it was a ten minute walk back to Keadby. On the way Mike was able to pick up a newspaper and some rolls for our journey home tomorrow. Before returning to the boat, he went back to the marina to collect the rope. Meanwhile, Christine had been completing the usual end-of-trip clean through (she had managed most of the packing earlier) But she was able to snap a tiny duckling and its mother.

Christine was impressed by the sunset and so shot this picture.

7.8 miles - 3 locks