Friday, 18 May 2012
Updates - May 2012 (3rd)
South Pennine Ring - Part 1
Page 6. Bookings and Operating Hours - Rochdale Canal
All bookings (Tuel Lane Lock, Summit Passage, Manchester Locks) are taken via the C&RT Manchester & Pennine Waterway office, see p41.
Page 7. Tuel Lane Lock Operating Hours - Summer 2012
The lock is always operated by a lock-keeper. Duty hours are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 8.30am until 5.00pm. No booking required, just turn up.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday there is no lock-keeper on duty. Passage on these days is possible between 8.30am and 3.00pm but must be booked giving 48hrs notice. Contact details as above, on p41.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Updates - May 2012 (2nd)
Chesterfield Canal - A Richlow Guide
Page 16. Boat Inn at Hayton
This pub has closed. We do not normally advise of individual closures as the situation changes so quickly. But there are mentions of the pub in both the Navigation Notes, and the "Hayton" paragraph.
Page 32. Hollingwood Common Tunnel
The entrance to the tunnel has been cleared and made safe. Added - "The entrance on the far bank, with a grill and a fence, can be seen from the towpath near Works Road Bridge (8c)."
Page 41. Contact details
Tripboat Seth Ellis (Retford) - 07925 851569 and sethellis@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk
Chesterfield Canal Partnership - Hollingwood Hub, 22 Works Road, Hollingwood,
Chesterfield S43 2PF 01246 477502
geraint.coles@derbyshire.gov.uk
Friday, 4 May 2012
Updates - May 2012
South Pennine Ring - Part 2
Page 28 and Map 16 Sellers Tunnel
We understand the complicated works involving the removal of Sellers Tunnel, and the relocation of locks, have been completed.
But we have been unable to check the situation, in order to update the Navigation Notes, because of the wettest April on record and an injured Richlow leg. On-site checking will take place as soon as we can.
So please allow for our frailties.
Friday, 17 February 2012
Updates - February 2012 (2)
Narrowboat on the Trent
Page 36 Keadby Lock Size. Length Restriction. About 60ft is the normal length restriction on boats using Keadby Lock. The chamber is 67ft according to the lock-keeper, but other considerations are the wide walk-overs within the chamber on the river-end gates, which tillers can rise up under. Longer craft can only pass through when the tide in the Trent makes a level with the canal and all gates can be opened, by prior arrangement with the lock-keeper. This means waiting outside on the tideway for appropriate conditions, and is not recommended. Note, that such craft will only be able to proceed as far as the similar-sized Thorne Lock.
The chamber of Keadby Lock is wide enough to accommodate three narrowboats abreast.
Narrowboats, having come in from the Trent. The centre one is 60ft long, plus fenders. On the right is Richlow's flagship Madeley Wood, with John Lower on the roof. Note, he is wearing a life-jacket.
Narrowboat on the Trent www.richlow.co.uk Post Free
Page 36 Keadby Lock Size. Length Restriction. About 60ft is the normal length restriction on boats using Keadby Lock. The chamber is 67ft according to the lock-keeper, but other considerations are the wide walk-overs within the chamber on the river-end gates, which tillers can rise up under. Longer craft can only pass through when the tide in the Trent makes a level with the canal and all gates can be opened, by prior arrangement with the lock-keeper. This means waiting outside on the tideway for appropriate conditions, and is not recommended. Note, that such craft will only be able to proceed as far as the similar-sized Thorne Lock.
The chamber of Keadby Lock is wide enough to accommodate three narrowboats abreast.
Narrowboats, having come in from the Trent. The centre one is 60ft long, plus fenders. On the right is Richlow's flagship Madeley Wood, with John Lower on the roof. Note, he is wearing a life-jacket.
Narrowboat on the Trent www.richlow.co.uk Post Free
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Updates - February 2012
Lincolnshire Waterways
Page 26. Geordie's Chandlery and Boat Sales. New owners, David and Sue Ball. Boat services are now - Pump-out, diesel, petrol, Calor Gas, water, chandlery.
General supplies include groceries, newspapers, coal, logs, stamps, ice-cream, fresh and frozen food, pharmaceuticals. 01205 280311
Pages 26 and 52. Witham and Blues. The Ferry Boat Inn at Langrick Bridge has been transformed into the Witham and Blues - restaurant, coffee-shop, bar. http://www.withamandblues.com/
Page 26. Geordie's Chandlery and Boat Sales. New owners, David and Sue Ball. Boat services are now - Pump-out, diesel, petrol, Calor Gas, water, chandlery.
General supplies include groceries, newspapers, coal, logs, stamps, ice-cream, fresh and frozen food, pharmaceuticals. 01205 280311
Pages 26 and 52. Witham and Blues. The Ferry Boat Inn at Langrick Bridge has been transformed into the Witham and Blues - restaurant, coffee-shop, bar. http://www.withamandblues.com/
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Updates - January 2012
Chesterfield Canal - A Richlow Guide
Page 12. White Swan pub. Walkers can use the pub's car park.
Page 30, and Map 11. The canal is now in water from Mill Green Bridge to the new Staveley Town Basin. The towpath along this stretch was resurfaced in January, thereby removing the mud created by the recent canal restoration work.
Page 40. The Angel pub at Killamarsh has closed once again.
Page 41. The police non-emergency number changed to the new national 101.
Guides available from our website http://www.richlow.co.uk/ Post free.
Inland Waterways Information http://boaters-web.com/
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Images of - River Trent (tidal)
Narrowboat on the Trent - available from http://www.richlow.co.uk/
The tidal River Trent between Cromwell Lock and Keadby Lock
These images are of the tidal section of the River Trent, for those who do not have a clear idea of the nature of these waters, nor what it would be like to navigate them.
We cannot cover here all that is needed to be known. But subjects such as equipment, ropes, anchors, tide calculations, charts, moorings, etc have been collected together in our book Narrowboat on the Trent, based on Richlow's 35 years of cruising the tidal Trent, and regularly updated.
,
The book covers the whole of the navigable Trent, but in this blog we have only covered the tidal section because those are the waters about which boaters need the most information.
Many narrowboats navigate the tidal Trent. They do so because it gives access to canals and rivers not otherwise reachable, or as an alternative to climbing across the Pennines to reach the waterways east of those hills.
And often because they want a change, a challenge.
Approaching Cromwell Lock, from upstream.
The Trent flows over the adjacent weir, the structure which prevents the tide from progressing further upstream.
All locks on the tidal Trent are operated by lock-keepers.
The exit from Cromwell Lock, onto tidal waters.
At first the tidal Trent is narrower than expected, with charts necessary to avoid shallows, but it opens out into wider channels.
When used to seeing and handling narrowboats on the confined waters of canals it takes a while to get used to the scope of a major river.
Yes, large commercial vessels sometimes use the Trent. But good planning, common sense and preparation will make the experience something to savour.
A scene sometimes seen on the tidal Trent, but now rarely. However, carrying contracts come and go.
The first "port of call" is Torksey, the entrance to the Lincolnshire waterways - the Fossdyke, the River Witham and their links to other canals and rivers. An "Images of Lincolnshire Waterways" section is available on this website.
This scene is from Torksey Lock, along the approach cut, with the Trent in the background.
Further downstream is Gainsborough. This scene is from the town's bridge, one of the few road crossings this far downstream.
Two narrowboats cruising downstream on the ebbing tide. Save diesel, let the river help you along whenever possible.
Before railways, when the waterways were the main transport routes, Gainsborough was a major inland port. It was the point where cargoes were transhipped between large coastal vessels and smaller boats which could navigate further upstream.
On any flowing water - always turn into the current before manoeuvring. As here, approaching a mooring.
Remembering this important fact makes life so much easier on any river. And if it's tidal? Know which way the river is going!
The next junction is West Stockwith Lock, the entrance to the pretty and secluded Chesterfield Canal - the only narrow canal in the area.
The narrowboat is going downstream on the ebb tide, the cruisers have turned into the flow, waiting to enter the lock as the one in the foreground is doing.
West Stockwith Lock entrance. Although it's a narrow canal the lock opens into a basin for larger craft.
An "Images of the Chesterfield Canal" section is available on this website.
Just downstream from the Chesterfield Canal is the River Idle, into which is cruising Richlow's Madeley Wood. There is a right of navigation on the Idle but there are sluices at the entrance - for passage of which a high fee is levied.
Richlow is campaigning for the resolution of the Idle navigation problems.
The distinctive Keadby Bridge.
Beyond Keadby Bridge, the Trent becomes wider.
There are wharves on both banks...
...regularly used by shipping.
Near the bows of the coaster is Keadby Lock, the entrance to the Stainforth & Keadby Canal.
This is the furthest point downstream regularly navigated by narrowboats. It is possible to cruise down to the Trent's confluence with the River Ouse - and then up that river, or down the Humber estuary to Hull and other waterways. It needs very specialist local knowledge to safely do so in a narrowboat and Richlow guides do not cover those waters - our guides are "Written by People Who Go There" - and we've never been there - yet. And when we do, it will be in convoy.
So respect the River Trent - don't fear it.
Narrowboat on the Trent is available, post free, from our website. Study it, do your homework, make your boat ready for these waters - and enjoy yourself.
The tidal River Trent between Cromwell Lock and Keadby Lock
These images are of the tidal section of the River Trent, for those who do not have a clear idea of the nature of these waters, nor what it would be like to navigate them.
We cannot cover here all that is needed to be known. But subjects such as equipment, ropes, anchors, tide calculations, charts, moorings, etc have been collected together in our book Narrowboat on the Trent, based on Richlow's 35 years of cruising the tidal Trent, and regularly updated.
,
The book covers the whole of the navigable Trent, but in this blog we have only covered the tidal section because those are the waters about which boaters need the most information.
Many narrowboats navigate the tidal Trent. They do so because it gives access to canals and rivers not otherwise reachable, or as an alternative to climbing across the Pennines to reach the waterways east of those hills.
And often because they want a change, a challenge.
Approaching Cromwell Lock, from upstream.
The Trent flows over the adjacent weir, the structure which prevents the tide from progressing further upstream.
All locks on the tidal Trent are operated by lock-keepers.
The exit from Cromwell Lock, onto tidal waters.
At first the tidal Trent is narrower than expected, with charts necessary to avoid shallows, but it opens out into wider channels.
When used to seeing and handling narrowboats on the confined waters of canals it takes a while to get used to the scope of a major river.
Yes, large commercial vessels sometimes use the Trent. But good planning, common sense and preparation will make the experience something to savour.
A scene sometimes seen on the tidal Trent, but now rarely. However, carrying contracts come and go.
The first "port of call" is Torksey, the entrance to the Lincolnshire waterways - the Fossdyke, the River Witham and their links to other canals and rivers. An "Images of Lincolnshire Waterways" section is available on this website.
This scene is from Torksey Lock, along the approach cut, with the Trent in the background.
Further downstream is Gainsborough. This scene is from the town's bridge, one of the few road crossings this far downstream.
Two narrowboats cruising downstream on the ebbing tide. Save diesel, let the river help you along whenever possible.
Before railways, when the waterways were the main transport routes, Gainsborough was a major inland port. It was the point where cargoes were transhipped between large coastal vessels and smaller boats which could navigate further upstream.
On any flowing water - always turn into the current before manoeuvring. As here, approaching a mooring.
Remembering this important fact makes life so much easier on any river. And if it's tidal? Know which way the river is going!
The next junction is West Stockwith Lock, the entrance to the pretty and secluded Chesterfield Canal - the only narrow canal in the area.
The narrowboat is going downstream on the ebb tide, the cruisers have turned into the flow, waiting to enter the lock as the one in the foreground is doing.
West Stockwith Lock entrance. Although it's a narrow canal the lock opens into a basin for larger craft.
An "Images of the Chesterfield Canal" section is available on this website.
Richlow is campaigning for the resolution of the Idle navigation problems.
The distinctive Keadby Bridge.
Beyond Keadby Bridge, the Trent becomes wider.
There are wharves on both banks...
...regularly used by shipping.
Near the bows of the coaster is Keadby Lock, the entrance to the Stainforth & Keadby Canal.
This is the furthest point downstream regularly navigated by narrowboats. It is possible to cruise down to the Trent's confluence with the River Ouse - and then up that river, or down the Humber estuary to Hull and other waterways. It needs very specialist local knowledge to safely do so in a narrowboat and Richlow guides do not cover those waters - our guides are "Written by People Who Go There" - and we've never been there - yet. And when we do, it will be in convoy.
So respect the River Trent - don't fear it.
Narrowboat on the Trent is available, post free, from our website. Study it, do your homework, make your boat ready for these waters - and enjoy yourself.
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