TNC On Tour 2003 Page 25

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2003

25 - Keadby to Shireoaks. Tidal River Trent and Chesterfield Canal.

Monday 21st July 2003

At 07:40 there was a mass exodus through the Vazon Swing Bridge, ready to hassle the railway bridge keeper and Jarvis Rail operatives. Apparently the fault with the bridge (collapsing support pier) had been given a good, almost TNC style bodge and the restricted hours were soon to be removed. The Rail Bridge was swung soon after and at 08:10 we were at the end of the Keadby Visitor Moorings.
The mass exodus at Keadby was soon over seeing as all the other craft wanted to go up to Torksey or beyond. Neil sauntered off to the locky and said we still did not want to go until at least 12:00, seeing as we could always make up a bit of time and wanted to arrive at West Stockwith at High Water.
After a good water fill up we had just put away the hose, had lifejacket drill and put the cratch cover down when at 12:00 the swing bridge beepers and lights started flashing and we cast off into the waiting lock. At 12:05 we were out into a still well flooding Trent. It was near Neaps, but there was quite a serious breeze, coming down stream, creating choppy conditions due to wind over tide.
Bob Wood steered most of the way, mainly due to us all deserting him after a sudden violent rainstorm! At least this was after the salty flying about water bit and washed off the muddy Trent water. Arrival was hung out, but we still arrived at West Stockwith with the Trent still in flood at 13:40. Neil was at that time in control and we winded up stream, then steadied ourselves against the flood, coming close to the down stream piles, which is in the lee.
The locky (Sue was not on duty) took the bow rope and we managed a none touchy sides entrance. By 14:00 we were out of the lock, heading straight up the Chesterfield. Just below Shaw Lock Ed shouted out that he had just seen the bow of a Small Woolwich, could it be Fulbourne?........Neil though that Fulbourne was still laid up with propshaft bearing troubles, so Ed then said..............."Oh it must be Bath Then"...............well it of course was Bath. Ed knew Dave Turner, who said the last bit of the Chesterfield up to Norwood Tunnel is wonderful and that we would have no trouble getting up there.
Seeing as the Chesterfield was so weed free we carried on past the White Swan at Drakeholes and got to the Boat Inn at Hayton, Bridge 66 (19:10). We had to moor past the bridge in the rough, Neil managed to get off with pins and we put plank off the stern - only just long enough! Pub and food OK.

Tuesday 22nd July 2003

07:05 start from Hayton in brilliant sunshine. We were amazed at how weed free the Chesterfield was. Ed and Neil did a slow cruise through Retford, doing the first of the narrow Chesterfield locks in a drawn out fashion as possible, while Bob W and Martin C went for a quick ASDA shop.
Ranby and Osberton Pounds virtually weed free, the new "Osberton" BW weed boat must have been working overtime. Top of Forest Locks at 11:00 and past Straddle Warehouse in Worksop at 14:00.
Eventually moored up in Shireoaks Basin at 15:40. Ken the Chesterfield Canal Soc "Head of Navigation" officer soon sorted us out and told us to moor on the Long Term secure side. Ed Mortimer then found John Lower, who was on his NB Maddley Wood and much conversation ensued.
TNC Crew Julian Edgington arrived at around 17:00. Ken told us that "The Railway" pub now no longer did food, so we walked back down the canal to the "Lock Keeper" Mansfield pubby thing............not too bad, on form Mansfield and reasonably priced OK food. Nice quiet night in basin.

Locking out onto the Tidal Trent from Keadby Lock. Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

Keadby Road / Rail Bridge undergoing a much needed re-paint. The repainted walkway (in grey paint) is probably due to being replaced due to having been struck by a ship. Tidal River Trent.

A bit choppy as we pass through Althorpe. Tidal River Trent.

Bob.......are you alright carrying on steering in the rain? :-) Tidal River Trent.

West Stockwith - Trent still in flood, so we went up stream, winded and pulled in against the flood. Tidal River Trent.

The Packet Inn at Misterton..............GONE! Chesterfield Canal.

The Packet Inn sign..............still there! Chesterfield Canal.

Taylors Bridge No 71 - above Drakeholes. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Old Man Bridge No 72. In Wiseton Hall Estate. Chesterfield Canal.

Wiseton Top Bridge No 70. Chesterfield Canal.

Clayworth Bridge No 67. Retford and Worksop Boat Club club house in old pub. Chesterfield Canal.

Retford and Worksop Boat Club moorings. Chesterfield Canal.

Our rather shallow overnight mooring at Hayton. Clayworth Bridge No 67. Chesterfield Canal.

THE Hayton visitor mooring! Clayworth Bridge No 67. Chesterfield Canal.

The Boat Inn at Hayton. Chesterfield Canal.

Our rather shallow overnight mooring at Hayton. Clayworth Bridge No 67. Chesterfield Canal.

Ed gets ready to leap into action at Whitsunday Pie Lock No 60, the last of the wide locks. Chesterfield Canal.

Whitsunday Pie Lock No 60. Chesterfield Canal.

Leaving Whitsunday Pie Lock No 60. Chesterfield Canal.

Hop Pole Bridge No 59. Chesterfield Canal.

The Hop Pole pub, with its own off side moorings. They provide a waterpoint. Chesterfield Canal.

Coming into Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

Grove Mill Bridge (AKA Gas House Bridge) No 57. Handy Spar corner store, in front of the Packet Inn pub. Chesterfield Canal.

Grove Mill Bridge No 57 and Packet Inn pub. Chesterfield Canal.

Bridge No 56 A. Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

Town Bridge No 56. Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

Retford Basin. Retford Lock No 59, the first of the narrow locks ahead. Chesterfield Canal.

Retford Lock No 59. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back from Retford Lock No 59. Chesterfield Canal.

Leaving Retford Lock No 59. Chesterfield Canal.

River Idle Aqueduct. Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

West Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

Foot Bridge No 55 A. West Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

West Retford Lock No 58. Chesterfield Canal.

West Retford Lock No 58 and Woodcocks Bridge No 55. Chesterfield Canal.

West Retford Lock No 58. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Woodcocks Bridge No 55. Chesterfield Canal.

Beyond Retford. Chesterfield Canal.

Lady Bridge No 54. Chesterfield Canal.

Forest Bottom Lock No 57. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back down from Forest Bottom Lock No 57. Chesterfield Canal.

Forest Lock No 56. Chesterfield Canal.

Forest Lock No 55. New sanitary station to the right. Chesterfield Canal.

The "new" standardised paddle gear for the Chesterfield Canal.

Leaving Forest Lock No 55. Chesterfield Canal.

Forest Top Lock No 54. Chesterfield Canal.

Ranby - the straight section of canal, beside the A1. Chesterfield Canal.

Ranby. Chesterfield Canal.

Ranby - the sharp bend after Chequer House Bridge No 51. Chesterfield Canal.

The Chequers Inn at Ranby. Chesterfield Canal.

The sharp bend before the A1. Ranby. Chesterfield Canal.

The A1 Bridge 50 A at Ranby. Chesterfield Canal.

"Osberton" the new BW weed boat. Chesterfield Canal.

Bridge No 49 and Osberton Lock No 53. Chesterfield Canal.

Osberton Lock No 53. Chesterfield Canal.

Osberton Lock No 53 - we disturb a lock side picnic. Chesterfield Canal.

Osberton Hall Footbridge No 48. Chesterfield Canal.

Long Bridge No 47. Osberton Hall. Chesterfield Canal.

Passing through the Osberton Hall estate. Chesterfield Canal.

Manton Turnover Bridge No 46. Chesterfield Canal.

Manton Railway Viaduct. Chesterfield Canal.

Manton Railway Viaduct and Bridge No 45. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Manton Railway Viaduct and Bridge No 45 . Chesterfield Canal.

Approaches to Worksop. Kilton Lock No 52. Chesterfield Canal.

Kilton Lock No 52. Chesterfield Canal.

The old sewage farm pump house at Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

River Ryton Aqueduct. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Bracebridge New Bridge No 44 A. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Bracebridge Bridge No 44 and Bracebridge Lock No 51. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Bracebridge Lock No 51. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Bracebridge New Bridge No 44 A. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Prior Well Bridge No 43. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

The Canal Tavern and The Straddle Warehouse. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Cuckoo Wharf and the Straddle Warehouse. Town Bridge No 42 and Worksop Town Lock No 50 beyond. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at the Canal Tavern. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

The Straddle Warehouse. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Town Bridge No 42 and Worksop Town Lock No 50 beyond. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Worksop Town Lock No 50. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Worksop Town Lock No 50. The bottom gate are somewhat overshadowed by the extended Bridge No 42. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Worksop Town Lock No 50. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

The Riverside Inn restaurant. Worksop. Chesterfield Canal.

Morse Lock No 49, with it's new "Pirates Hat" footbridge No 42 B...............yeeees! Chesterfield Canal.

Morse Lock No 49. For many years, the head of navigation. Chesterfield Canal.

Morse Lock No 49. Chesterfield Canal.

A 60 Bridge No 42 A. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Stret Lock No 48. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Stret Lock No 48. Has Ed found a peg? Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Stret Lock No 48. Notice the happysmiley fisherman........who welcomed boats! Chesterfield Canal.

Deep Lock No 47, Bridge No 41, Lock Keeper pub / restaurant beside. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Deep Lock No 47, Lock Keeper pub / restaurant beside. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Rhodesia. More friendly fishermen. Chesterfield Canal.

Haggonfield New Bridge No 40 A, Haggonfield Lock Bridge No 40 and Haggonfield Lock No 46. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Haggonfield Lock Bridge No 40 and Haggonfield Lock No 46. A 57 Worksop By-pass Bridge No 39 A beyond. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Haggonfield Lock Bridge No 40 and Haggonfield Lock No 46. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Haggonfield Lock No 46. A 57 Worksop By-pass Bridge No 39 A beyond. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Haggonfield Lock Bridge No 40, Haggonfield Lock No 46 and A 57 Worksop By-pass Bridge No 39 A. Rhodesia. Chesterfield Canal.

Martin Clark, Ed Mortimer and Bob Wood. Doefield Dunn Lock No 45. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Doefield Dunn Lock No 45 and Railway Bridge No 39 A. Chesterfield Canal.

Low Bridge No 39 and Shireoaks Bottom Lock No 44. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Bottom Lock No 44. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Bottom Lock No 44. Looking up at Shireoaks Middle Lock No 43. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Low Bridge No 39 from Shireoaks Bottom Lock No 44. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Middle Lock No 43. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Middle Lock No 43. Looking back at Shireoaks Bottom Lock No 44. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Top Lock No 42. Ed opening the bottom gates the "professional way"! Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Top Lock No 42. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Top Lock No 42. Entrance to Shireoaks Basin just beyond. Chesterfield Canal.

Looking back at Shireoaks Top Lock No 42. Shireoaks. Chesterfield Canal.

Entrance to Shireoaks Basin. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Basin. The official visitor moorings are this insecure side. Chesterfield Canal.

Entrance to Shireoaks Basin and Facilities block. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Basin. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Basin. John Lower's NB Maddley Wood. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Basin. Chesterfield Canal.

Shireoaks Basin. NB Earnest at rest. Chesterfield Canal.

The Tour Continues...

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