Goole

We were not in any hurry today as we were only aiming to reach Goole - so long as we could find a mooring there - so that we could arrange to meet up with Sarah from Bluewater Marina with our keys and boat safety certificate.

Sykehouse Lock

In the event, Christine was ready and keen to set off just before 9 am - so went down to the lock to open the gates. This lock also has a manual swing bridge across the middle. However, the level sensor on the top gates is not working and it takes a lot longer to release the gates to open.

Sykehouse Lock Swing Bridge

Kirk Lane Swing Bridge

Two more movable bridges followed, closely enough for Christine to walk from one to the other. The first was a swing bridge and the second a lift type.

Sykehouse Road Lift Bridge

River Went Aqueduct

Almost at the end of the New Junction Cut, an aqueduct took us over the River Went.

Southfield Junction

At Southfield Junction we joined the Aire and Calder Canal, turning right towards Goole. This is a very wide canal and often straight for some distance.

M18

We passed under the M18, just south of where it joins the M62. A few weeks ago we drove over the top on our way back from the Humber Bridge - this time we were not sad to be leaving the noise of the motorway quickly behind us.

Sobriety

After passing under the railway bridge we entered into Goole Docks. We did not have to venture very far to the visitor moorings outside the Waterways Museum - fortunately there was space for us. However, we did have to avoid Sobriety as it manoeuvred from its moorings outside the museum. It is a good example of the keel boats that once were so common in this area - the freight lorries of their day. Sobriety is a Sheffield Keel, built in 1910 and converted from sail to motor around 30 years later. It continued working until 1973 but is now part of the museum project.

Museum Model of Coal Hoist

After lunch we took a look around the small but pleasant museum, dedicated to the life of Goole, its docks and canal, the boats and the people that lived and worked there. One of the inventions that distinguished this area was the Tom Pudding boat train, a long string of almost square containers that were towed by a tug between colliery and port. A large coal hoise was used to empty the containersinto a waiting ship.

Jebus

When full, the train had a small jebus between it and the tug to help the flow of water. This was not needed when they were empty so it was pushed in front of the tug.

Another keel has been converted to a small gallery Room 58 - the collection of pictures was not especially interesting but it does give a good impression of the capacity of these boats.We next decided to walk into town - it is over a mile along the road through the middle of the docks. One of the coal loading hoists is preserved, together with a few remaining examples of Tom Puddings.

No 5 Boat Hoist, South Dock and Tom Puddings

Tom Pudding

The lighthouse was originally installed at Humber Falls to reduce the number of accidents with ships going aground and the wooden pole was used to help turn boats into the adjacent dock.

Lighthouse and Winding Pole

Two large water towers dominate the docks - the older, thinner one was built in 1885 but is now disused. The 'salt pot' was built in 1927, at the time the largest in Europe. It is currently surrounded by scaffolding as it undergoes renovation.

Salt and Pepper Pots

We wandered around the small shopping centre and made an attempt to visit the huge parish church. Alas it was closed so we could only stand looking up to the top of the steeple high above us.

Goole Parish Church

After picking up all the items we wanted we walked back to the boat. Several ships were unloading - this one was delivery a piece of equipment - but we could not guess its purpose!

A substantial barge passed where we were moored - glad we did not meet it on a sharp corner! We also took the opportunity to fill our fuel tank from the adjacent marina boat yard.

7.7 miles - 1 lock