We were later away from Thorne than planned, chatting to neighbouring boaters takes up some time, doesn’t it! It had turned half-ten by the time we reversed away from the moorings and headed up to Thorne Lock.
Off from Thorne, we’d filled with water before we pulled out.
Thorne Lock, just 5 minutes into today’s trip
We’re waiting for NB Shugley, moored near us overnight and almost ready to leave as we did. And there they are in the distance.
This lock is mechanised, all push-button, but the swing bridge just above has to opened and closed manually.
Top side of Thorne Lock and swing bridge
We had about 4 miles to go to the next swing bridge at Kirk Bramwith, and our locking partners set off while I closed up, they would deal with the bridge. A complication arose; a boat pulled out between us and was going slower than our friends, so they were getting further and further ahead.
It’s very pleasant along here, the River Don runs alongside and the banks are pleasantly wooded.
It looks like the local joy-riders have been busy.
It must be a popular dumping spot here, another time we passed a car was still smouldering from the night before. There’s a track running to the canal from the main road.
Stainforth is a place we’ve never stopped at before; we should really. It looks worth a visit.
Converted Humber keels at Thorne Boat Club
The New Inn and a row of cottages at Stainforth
Stainforth Bridge has taken some punishment…
A motor boat was coming through Bramwith Swing bridge as the first boat of our strung-out convoy approached, so they held it open for them. But our middle boat was too far back to leave it that long so they closed up. But Derek on NB Shugley, good as his word, pulled in beyond then came back to open it for us.
We motored down to the lock and I jumped off to open the gates while Mags waited to come in. I expected us to be joined by the “interloper” but she (turned out to a female single-hander) waved Shugley in to join us.
Bramwith Lock
The lock has three sets of gates, so can be used as a 65 x 17 foot single chamber, or with the extreme end gates in use, double the length. Probably for towed strings of barges, I would think. We just used the top end, of course. It’s all manual operation as well, and the gates are heavy.
After leaving the lock Shugley set off towards Doncaster, we pulled onto the water point just above and I did the gentlemanly thing and fetched the lady single-hander up. She set off, turning right at Bramwith Junction and Goole. She’ll have fun with the barge locks on the New Junction and Aire and Calder…
We cruised to the end of the Stainforth and Keadby, and pulled in at the junction. It’s a fine spot here. Not to much in the way of pedestrians, but wide open views of the junction and passing boats.
Bramwith Junction
Behind us the the Stainforth and Keadby, to the left is the New Junction Canal leading to Sykehouse Junction and the Aire and Calder, and behind me is the Don Navigation to Doncaster and Sheffield.
I took advantage of the fine afternoon to get the second undercoat on the new top box. I might get the first top coat on tomorrow, although there’s rain forecast for later in the day. We’ll see.
Locks 2, miles 5
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