Grebe

Hi H and welcome. My wife Christine Richardson is more known for her canal history and guides plus a biography of James Brindley. She also takes an interest in Waterways of the Humber (a legend that is painted on our boat) and has a website that may interest you and others. Waterways-of -the-Humber Bookwise try and find 'A life on the Humber' by Harry Fletcher 1975 ISBN 0 571 10723 0 Over on the South bank there is a site called Winteringham.info that has stuff on the Humber in general that must be transferable to the North bank http://www.winteringham.info/

We spoke to an experienced visiting boat from Lymm at Shireoaks a couple of weeks ago. They encountered a lot of weed around Forrest Locks (just above Retford)but were glad they persevered as it cleared and they got all the way through. John Lower of Richlow fame did Clayworth to Shireoaks and back in late June as part of his plan to get Madeley Wood to the festival at Staveley and he did not experience any great problems. There were 3 weed cutter boats working earlier in the summer. In all these things it depends on the hull, the prop, how much power you use, how the boat is trimmed and you patience. I once had to sit on the stem post whilst SWMBO steered to make progress. Go fot it - you'll love it.

But we are not dealing with COLREGS and SOLAS here. C&RT, EA, Broads Authority etc have their own bylaws regarding this sort of thing - they reflect international regulations but the bylaws are the rules.

We've just got a small Kogan TV for the boat and were that impressed we got a bigger one for the house. DVD built in and if you add a memory stick or external hard drive it will pause live tv or record tv programmes for you. It comes with a mains-to-12volt transformer and they sell their own 12volt lead as an extra.

The 'Braunston Gang' are going to attempt it by boat. See their blog. http://nbhuffler.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2012/08/pastures-new.html

Hi Rachael, Spot on advice from Pearley and The Dog House. Get diesel at Thorne or Goole same as last time. Just be aware that Mexbrough Top Lock and Swinton Lock and Sanitary Station are within fenced compounds. When we were last there the Mexbrough top lock compound could only be exited by the gate under the pedestrian ramp on the south side, the Swinton compound is exited at the downstream end into a little park. Mooring is restricted to one hour at Swinton sanitary station. You may be able to do a deal with the Activity centre for longer.

Chris Clegg of Time Map fame did it with his boat which is 60ft 6ins. As Martin says - gate shuffle or diagonal - consider fender removal - WATCH OUT FOR CILLS COMING BACK DOWN - you may need to descend a lock backwards on the return.

Bazza put a post on here about the Port of Boston wanting VHF to be made compulsory on the tidal Witham. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=47827&st=0&p=889397&hl=boston&fromsearch=1entry889397

Also remember that locks 1,2 and 3 are on controlled working all year. I dug this from the Canalscape website as a reminder Opening Times: Locks 1, 2 and 3 Tuel Lane Deep Lock Season opening hours 2012: 12 March 2012 to 4 November 2012 A British Waterways lock keeper is present on the following days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - 8.30am to 5.00pm (No booking required) No lock keeper present on these days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays – 8.30am to 3.00pm (Please book) Locks 1, 2 and 3, Tuel Lane Deep Lock, Sowerby Bridge. Lock 3 (Tuel Lane) is operated by a British Waterways lock keeper. Follow the local signage and the lock keeper’s instructions. Do not enter the tunnel (below lock 3) whilst boats are in lock 3. Locks 1 and 3 will be padlocked outside of the normal entry hours specified above. A booking system is in operation for passage on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays by calling our Red Bull office on 01782 785703 during office hours giving 48 hours notice of your booking. (Enquiries: 01782 785703)

Thanks for the holiday tale Rachael. You obviously got through the Glory Hole before the Witham started rushing about. We had a friend stuck waiting at Brayford Pool for a few days last week.

Yes Martin, they did knock one down. I wasn't sure of my facts about it so left that bit out of my earlier reply. I think there was talk of a gas powered unit at Thorpe Marsh. The release I saw about High Marnham said that the Gas Powered Station plan had been withdrawn.

In the mid 1990's it was rumoured that the towers at Thorpe Marsh would come down soon. They are still there. For the geographically challenged Thorpe Marsh is the power station alongside the SSYN near Barnby Dun and Bramwith Junction.

I think the rag-and-stick sailors use a pre-stressed rope. We find tradline at Braunston are usually able to get most types of rope. Alternatively you could try a marine supplier like Jimmy Green ropes.

The cooling towers at the disused High Marnham Power Station beside the tidal Trent were demolished this morning. Update your guides and charts. http://www.itv.com/news/central/2012-07-15/video-showing-demolition-of-5-cooling-towers/

When are they going to fire the steam-box up and start bending planks onto the bow and stern?

I'm sure Wyre Lady the trip boat owned by Alan Oliver has Gleniffers. She's a venerable old girl, I think she was built for Clyde area ferry work and then moved to the Fleetwood/Saltend ferry route. I saw her at Sprotborough a few weeks ago.

Jim on nb Starcross, currenlt on the Fossdyke/Brayford Pool also reports being agressively 'chugged' in Lincoln http://narrowboatstarcross.blogspot.co.uk/

Just checked the Richlow guide to the Chesterfield and the current limiting factor is Manor Farm Bridge (no 78) making the section above the bridge narrow beam only. River cruisers would have to check their cabin profile very carefully as the bridge has a tight profile. I've also had a chat with Christine Richardson. Her research shows that the aspiration was for a broad canal all the way to Chesterfield but the costs were prohibitive so they settled for a narrow canal. However the people of Retford, where there was an existing, if levels dependant, 'barge' trade on the river Idle, were willing to fund the extra cost of a wide canal, and associated extra water supplies, from their town to West Stockwith. So the six locks from the Trent to Retford were wide enough to accomodate 'barges' and long enough to accomodate the 70ft narrowboats used on the upper canal. The trade did switch to the canal and the Idle carrying quickly ceased. As suggested the source and timing of various narrows on the wide section are not recorded but the various railway companies and wartime flood/waste protection measures all played a part.