Sprotborough

We had travelled up from Wadebridge yesterday but arrived just before six o'clock after a remarkably smooth journey. We did not plan on moving today anyway, but the boat keys and safety certificate had not been left on board for us so we wanted to see about those in the morning. We were also relieved that we had brought our dinner already prepared (shepherds pie).

This morning, Mike went into Thorne for a paper whilst we waited for the marina office to open. When he returned he spoke to one of the local boaters and discovered that the marina office does not open on Monday or Tuesday!

We were just setting off when another local boater called the marina owner on our behalf and he apologised for the mistake - we agreed to arrange for them to deliver to us on our return trip from Sheffield. We do at least have a spare set of keys.

Thorne Footbridge

Once we were on our way - getting out of the marina took some time not helped by a strong cross wind but with positive help from the locals - we continued through Thorne which we passed through on the last trip. The awkward mechanised footbridge was not an obstacle this time as another boat was just ahead and opened it, letting us through as well. They were stopping at the marina just through the bridge so did not follow us to the next lock.

Thorne Lock

A large boat had just penned up but managed to set the controls into a confused state. There were several boats waiting to come down and lost of people giving advice. The lady from that boat eventually managed to get her key out of the controls (they are retained until everything is closed down properly) but then, with two boats now in the lock to pen down, the bottom sluices would not open. Eventually - ignoring all the 'helpful' advice - Mike managed eventually to persuade the controls to sequence correctly and we passed through without further incident.

Providence House

We continued as on the last trip - the burnt out car remains had been removed - this quirky scene caught Mike's eye (the house is called Providence House! the smaller boat is a seat) At Bramwith Swing bridge we were joined by a small cruiser who had been having lunch at the moorings. They too were going through Bramwith Lock.

Bramwith Lock Bottom Gates

This lock has an extra set of gates and we realised that the bottom gates were shut because the large boat had just penned through. When we came through last time we only used the shorter form of the lock but in the meantime these middle gates had failed and were chained up and marked 'Out of order' so we had to fill the whole lock anyway!

Bramwith Lock

Above the lock, just before Bramwith Junction, we stopped for lunch.

Bramwith Junction

Thorpe Marsh Cooling Towers

When we set off we were almost immediately on new territory as we turned down towards Sheffield at the junction. Ahead were the cooling towers of the now closed Thorpe Marsh power station - this is not the first we have passed where the generating station has been demolished but the cooling towers left standing. No doubt there is a reason and perhaps one day we will find out!

Barnby Dun Lift Bridge

We soon arrived at Barnby Dun Lift Bridge which is much larger than almost any other we have operated but, as it is fully mechanised, it was very simple to pass through. However, there was a most satisfying queue of traffic that built up in the few minutes that it took us to cycle through the opening and closing.

St Oswald's Church

Although the surrounding area was once very industrial, nature is rapidly reclaiming the immediate banks. At Sandall Grove a 12th century church is close to the canal. Sadly, the church is now redundant but a developer's web site says, "The ambitious £30 million plans to rebuild the lost village of Long Sandall on a redundant brownfield site on the edge of Kirk Sandall near Doncaster will once again place the historic St Oswald’s Church at the heart of the community."

Long Sandall Lock

Long Sandall lock is quite shallow but still very long and took a while to fill.

Doncaster Minster

We gradually approached Doncaster with the Minster impressively towering over the town centre. Underneath a railway and a road bridge is Doncaster Town Lock.

Doncaster Town Lock

The lock chamber is built from large scale sheet piling, meaning that the sides are not flat. manoeuvring the boat to exit through the gates which are much narrower than the lock chamber, Mike managed to catch the tiller arm in one of the indentations with the result that the arm is askew relative to the rudder. Steering is possible but not easy.

A1(M) Bridge

We carried on, passing HM Prison which is surrounded buy two arms of the River Don, and passed into a very different section, typical river setting with trees either side. Under two railway bridges and then the A1(M) high above us, we arrived at Sprotborough Lock our destination for today. Just above the lock are the last designated moorings for some distance so we were rather please that they were entirely empty - although another narrow boat did join us later.

Sprotborough Lock

Sprotborough Lock

Christine then set about phoning RCR and making arrangements to have the tiller looked at. Any action will have to wait until the morning but we were advised that it should be covered by our insurance policy and that it may be best to carry on into Rotherham where there is a boatyard. However, RCR should make all the arrangements on our behalf - let's see!

14.9 miles - 5 locks