April 2007

Saturday 14th April. It was just before eleven o'clock when we left Clarence Dock at the Leeds Armouries and dropped down Leeds Lock onto the River Aire. This was the first of the mechanised Aire & Calder locks (BW key & push button operation) so Pauline said she would do the locks and I took the tiller. Now this was our fifth day of handling the boat and Pauline was doing a really good job at steering the boat in and out of locks because this was her first time at steering. We did not get very far, in fact to Knostrop Falls lock, when the engine overheating alarm sound while going down in the lock. When the gates opened, I very slowly moved to the lock landing moorings and shutdown the engine. Well at a time like this, there was only one thing to do, put the kettle on and have a cup of tea until the engine cooled enough to check it out. What I found was an empty header tank, so I very slowly added warm water until the level returned. Now the only thing we had changed since our Bingley trip was we had found the clarifier water connection closed and had opened them up, so to be safe we closed them again and continued on our way. Arriving at Castleford for five o'clock, we took on water but did not have a card for the BW pump out, which we would later regret. We decided to stay the night and had a good meal at the newly refurbished "The Old Mill" pub at the end of the moorings.

Sunday 15th April. Away for just after ten o'clock and had a very nice surprise at the first lock, Bulholme Lock, when we met Dawn of NB Black Pearl (Forum member) coming the other way, she is a very nice lady and it was like meeting an old friend, a pity we could not stop to chat. Progress was good, coming off the river at Ferrybridge Flood Lock but nearly made a navigation mistake at Knottingley when we nearly missed the turn to Goole. We were going to go straight on when we noticed just in time someone had painted on the canal wall that we were heading for Selby. Up to this point BW had done a good job of showing the direction to be taken but I did not see a sign at this junction, so thanks to the boater who did the freehand paint job. Whitley Bridge Lock was passed OK but still looks like the contractors have just left site. At Pollington we pulled over to moor for the night above the lock, we had said to the electrician who had put "Ebinka" wiring in, that we would stop on the way home for him to see the boat now nearly finished. After Mark had gone we settled down to our second meal on board and watched a splendid sunset.

Monday 16th April. Now the plan for this day was an early start and try to make Thorne or if possible our home moorings at Keadby. While we were just finishing breakfast, two BIG barge passed heading west, one being a Rix tanker, I was glad they passed before we set off. We dropped down into Pollington Lock but on the way out the boat lost all drive even with extra throttle but by a quick manoeuvre we got alongside the lock moorings and I checked the prop for fouling, nothing, because I had cleaned the prop at Leeds. I next checked the gearbox for oil and you guessed it, none in sight. Now what do you do in the middle of rural Yorkshire, miles from anywhere, I asked a BW worker at the lock, "Was there a garage nearby". The answer "No mate, nearest is Snaith", so got on my mobile and phoned Swiftcraft, explaining what had happened. They dually arrived with oil for the gearbox, checking around we could not see any evidence of a big leak but there was oil in the bilge. So with oil back in the gearbox, a quick check on the oil level and we had drive back, so armed with some spare oil we were on our way again, feeling a bit nervous about the condition of the gearbox. We did not get very far because while turning into the New Junction Canal, we lost drive again and pulled into the moorings just north of Went Aqueduct. With no roads in sight, I knew we had to get to a place with road access, so I put my spare oil into the gearbox and moved down to Sykehouse Lane Lift Bridge. From there I phoned our son, Richard, who came out and we went to find some oil for the gearbox, which was a lot harder than I thought in a rural area, no garages. Once we had the large container of oil, back to the boat, Richard went home and we moved to Sykehouse Lock to moor for the night, having a meal on board. The end of a very tense and nervous day.

Tuesday 17th April. Next morning we decided to go very steady, at about 1,000 rpm on the engine, hoping this would not put the gearbox problem under stress. We got to Bramwith Lock and took on water but we were going from bad to worse because now the black water (toilet) tank was full. Then on leaving Bramwith lock we lost drive again, so using the last of the large container of oil, we set off again, pushing on for Thorne. It was a relief but still most frustrating to pull in at Bramwith Swing Bridge Sanitary Station and not have a card (again) to pump out the tank, DOH. On we pressed, Pauline becoming most concerned that we would not make Thorne but not long later we passed under the M18 motorway, we were not far now. It was a great relief that Staniland Marina (Thorne) came into view and just in time because we lost drive coming alongside. Going ashore, I found the marina owner, I asked if they could repair the gearbox leak and do a pump out ??. The answer came back "No mate, we don't do repairs and the pump out is broken", I could not believe it having only just made it there. The marina owner did say there was a boatyard just down the canal, so putting in the gearbox my last one litre of oil we set off through Thorne Lock down to Thorne Boat Services and moored up, "That was it, no further". A quick word at the boatyard confirmed they would check out the gearbox problem and also do a pump out. Now how to get home from Thorne was solved with call to our son, Jarrad who came out and rescued us.

So we were home but "Ebinka" wasn't, so near so far but looking back over the last ten days it had been great and all what we thought it would be. We enjoyed every minute and the last two days have not put us off, it is just another set back but being an Heron boat we are used to fighting for everything.

Forum boats seen enroute :- Lyra, Black Pearl, Minimoman and Lord Bensham.