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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tour 2002
3 - Haxey Gate to Keadby - River Idle, Tidal River Trent.
Friday 28th June 2002
High water at West Stockwith was at 12.00, so
we wanted to get out at this time, or just after if we needed to wait for
clearance. The tides were still approaching neaps, so it should be easier than
on our arrival. We left Haxey Gate at 10.50 and arrived at the upper Idle sluice
at 11.30. Martin Wilson had yet again been press ganged into Frogmoore crew
along with Wilf. It was straight through, to wait for the upper sluice to drop
and the lower sluice to raise. We exited at 12.10, the air draught under the
sluice being greater, as predicted. Frogmoore went first and was overtaken by
the first of two narrowboats just let out of West Stockwith. Earnest got caught
behind the second, very slow narrowboat, so soon decided to overtake it. A flat
out trial run then ensued.
Uneventful run down on the ebb to Keadby. Neil hung back as the other narrowboat
and Frogmoore entered the lock chamber. By the time Frogmoore had made an
upstream of the lock wind, to drift backwards downstream, Earnest had winded
below the lock to pull into the ebb, close to the downstream vacant wharf. We
hovered here as we witnessed a bit of a pigs ear approach by Frogmoore, which
amazingly had John Chapman at the controls. There was a Russian freighter on the
still used upstream wharf, which meant that John's dash across the ebb side on.
To gain control a bit of "flat out" was called for, but when in the
lee of the freighter a rather large broadside wallop ensued on the piled lock
wing wall. Don the locky gave some "Tut Tuts".
Neil was unaware whether Earnest would fit in as well. Don beckoned Earnest in
and Neil did a perfect, slow turn into the tight remaining spot. Don managed a
smile - obviously a 10 out of 10 this time. We were laying off Keadby at 14.00
and by 14.20 we were out of the lock and swing bridge, on the water point, just
above. Later we moved up the visitor moorings to where John had moored
Frogmoore. First to arrive of the new crew was Wilf, John's mate. Next Peter
Wright arrived in his Scenic, after having dropped Ian Clarke off at West
Stockwith to pick up Andrew Goodland's Audi (Linda had given him Andrew's spare
key). A rather quick car shuffle then ensued. This was OK for Wilf as he had
eaten with John, (but poor Andrew went without!) Andrew picked Wilf up after he
dropped his car at some friends on the outskirts of Beverley. That night Neil,
Ian Clarke, Peter Wright and Martin Wilson ate out at the "Old South Yorkshire" pub.
This has started doing rather uninspiring food. The closed "Friendly
Fox", by the lock has reopened as the "Barge Inn". Andrew missed
the pub, so had cheese sandwiches back on Earnest.
Railway Bridge. River Idle.
Misterton Foss - footbridge and remains of old tidal lock. River Idle.
Misterton Foss. River Idle.
Misterton Foss - footbridge. River Idle.
We arrive back at the upper sluice and pumping station. River Idle.
Upper sluice and pumping station.
River Idle.
Upper sluice at West Stockwith. River Idle.
Upper sluice at West Stockwith.
River Idle.
Barry Turner, the sluicemaster looks on. River Idle.
One of the guest narrowboats - "Samsabode". River Idle.
West Stockwith lower sluice. River Idle.
West Stockwith lower sluice. Frogmoore waits for the levels to equalize.
River Idle. Picture Martin Wilson.
West Stockwith lower sluice.
River Idle.
West Stockwith lower sluice. Slightly more headroom than on the way up. River Idle.
Earnest leaves West Stockwith lower sluice.
River Idle. Picture Martin Wilson.
Tidal River Trent - we pull out of the River Idle, Keadby bound and meet a pair
of narrowboats just let out of West Stockwith.
Looking back at the entrance to the River Idle. Tidal River Trent.
NB "Samsabode" leaves the River Idle and heads back to West Stockwith.
Tidal River Trent.
After getting caught behind one of the slow narrowboats let out of West
Stockwith Earnest decides to catch up with Frogmoore! Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.
Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.
The Butterwicks. Tidal River Trent.
Looking back at Ernest coming under Keadby rail / road bridge. Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.
Approaching Keadby. Tidal River Trent.
Gunthorpe Wharf and Keadby Bridge. Tidal River Trent.
Keadby - Frogmoore has winded before the lock and in drifting downstream on the
ebb. Russian coaster is the "Ladoga-17". Tidal River Trent.
Earnest waits for the other boats to enter the lock. Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.
Frogmoore is too far out in the current and has to "go for it". Tidal River Trent.
Frogmoore coming into Keadby at rather high speed. The piles on the left were
given a good broadside! Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.
Earnest makes a very controlled and sedate turn into the lock at Keadby. Tidal River Trent. Picture Martin Wilson.
Locking up at Keadby. Three narrowboats can be accommodated. Martin Wilson on
Frogmoore and Andrew Goodland on Earnest. Stainforth and Keadby Canal.
Locking up at Keadby.
Stainforth and Keadby Canal. Picture Martin Wilson.
The "Barge Inn" at Keadby. This was the moribund "Friendly
Fox" on our last visit. Stainforth and Keadby Canal. Picture Martin Wilson.
John Chapman steers Frogmoore out of the lock and swing bridge at Keadby. Stainforth and Keadby Canal. Picture Martin Wilson.
Our overnight mooring at Keadby. Stainforth and Keadby Canal. Picture Martin Wilson.
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