I'm back

After several weeks away from the boat (hiding from Christmas) I am now back.

At the end of December I was in Barton on Humber being kept in line by Abz while Mummy was in hospital giving birth to her little sister.  The big sister image fits well on Abz who loves every minute of her time with Izzy. Karyn wont be getting a look in if Abz has her way! :-)

Isabelle Amy was born by CS on December 31st at 1005 and weighed in at 8lb 1/2oz. She looked and still does look gorgeous. She had slight jaundice but not enough to be kept in so they were both back home on Saturday when I returned to the boat and the snow.

Abigail Jenna is in the middle of these.  Nice looking (must be getting on for vintage) wagon was delivering log this morning.  Happily I have coal on board.  In the next few weeks when the ice is thawing I will be off to Ferrybridge to pick up some more and then possibly try for Wigan via Bingley.  There might be a stop in Leeds for a few days.

The snow is lying on top of the ice.  You can just see the solar panel on the boat.  I went down and cleared the snow off it.  Not a job taken lightly with the snow on the gunnels :-) I am not linked to the power supply at the moment so need to run the engine occasionally.

The snow is still falling but inboard with the fire well and truly lit I am in shirt sleeves it gets so warm.  Mind you first thing in the morning would be enough to put people off boating in winter with ice on the inside of the windows.

I did mention that there was not much room for error mooring up.  I only have one fender down and that had to be kicked into place.  At least the boat doesnt move a lot even if the ice wasnt there.

Winter draws on as they say

The valley at Aberdar looks quite flat from a distance but the road going up the mountain as we went to Treorci was steep and very winding.

On a clear day the view is of the Brecon Beacons miles away in the distance.

The town of Aberdar is typically Welsh is style and the tallest thing you can see is the church which dominates the area.

Over the mountain via Maerdy and towards Treorci is another country to locals.  As with places in England there tends to be a natural inclination to move in a certain direction along the roads.  England the key is the local market towns.  Here in Wales the route taken is up and down the valley.  I have been told that you can distinguish the valley that people come from by their accent they are that isolated from the neighbouring valley.

Virtually all the high points seen in this pic are over 1000 feet. 

On the way back is a view that gets one rock hammer hand itching.  Plenty of hard rock geology here and right on the surface.

In the distance can be seen the Brecon Beacons all covered with snow.

The valleys are much greener these days with the coke works down the valley having shut down and the last of the pits closing recently.

Its cold

Had a run out today over the mountain.  We stopped a couple of times to take a pic. While there hasnt been a great deal of snow the wind and low temperature meant we didnt stay out side for long.

As you can see it is wintery all right. I wouldnt fancy walking over from one valley to the other in this weather.

There is a market now where my father would pick up aluminium sheets and on the way I found........

......part of what is left of the canal that once ran to Swansea.

The bridges are typically Welsh and made from the local stone.

Weather Forecast- Mini Tornado heading for home

Before I went into the marina I took a couple of photos for Tim.  The idea being that these will be used for his blog where he will give the history of his time on board Quiescence. I don't know what has happened to the pic.  It was OK when it left the laptop 

Come Saturday lunch time I was all ready for visitors.  My super sonic mini tornado was coming for the rest of the weekend.

Soon afterwards and a cup of tea later dinner arrives in the persons of Ian and George.  The dinner has been made by Ians fair hand is the favourite of both myself and Abz - Stew and dumplings.

Not only was dinner brought but also a birthday present for Abz. She is of an age now that she is well into make-up and the package was full of make-up and a glittery Abz was the end result.

For the rest of the evening we are kept amused by Abz and the DS.  We have two DS's.  Abz and one that I had bought to play games with her.  The one that I had purchased is a DSi.  The only other that they had for sale was pink.  By no stretch of imagination can I be classed as a pink person and as the only black one was a DSi that is what I ended up with.  A good buy nonetheless for there are a couple of extra programs that delight Abz. The things that she does with photos taken with the DS via the morphing is a wonder to behold :-)

It is not just the DS that was well used while Abz was here.  She finds her way around the internet with ease and is very savvy about the sites that she can use with safety.  I found out a lot about make-up with some of the places she went to today.

On Sunday we took a walk around Thorne.  The first place to visit was the park.  This is a delightful place to be in summer but during the winter is rather bleak.  However the ducks are always glad to see you.

The play area is getting rather small for Abz now but a swing is a swing for all that.

A letter was written recently to the local paper complaining of the disregard that dog owners here have for others.  Dog mess every where.  The Park is not exempt for while we were there a white pit bull type was doing its business while the proud owner looked on.  In general I guess a pit bull type dog goes with a certain type of owner.  Need I say more. 

On the way back to the boat we walked down the little pedestrian precinct and found some bikes floating about.  Ideal for climbing on but got a complaint - with a grin - where are the peddles.

Late in the morning we moved on to the Blue Water Marina – slowly.  The pedestrian footbridge – yet again – isn’t working properly.  When the key is put in and turned the light doesn't start flashing as it should and the gates can’t be closed nor the bridge opened. After much muttering of expletives and a good kick at the bridge it comes to life and works.  The last time I went through it was playing up to such a degree that there was someone stationed there to keep it going.  After this long a time the bridge should have been fixed but the council seemed to be unable to get it right.

Into the marina and this time I am some way along the inside.  The last boat went in OK but this time there is little room for lining up but in we go – just.  The mooring is so tight that I can’t put fenders down on both sides.  At least the boat isn’t going to move a deal now.

Everyone has now gone and Ian has taken Dash with him for a holiday while I do some visiting. He made a great addition to the boat and I will be glad to see him back.

It did rain today

We stayed at Barnby Dunn yesterday.  As you can see from the pic above taken at mid-day the weather was threatening a good soaking for us if we left.

The weather this morning was more settled.  It was all grey and cloudy but not about to rain I thought.

The canal at this part of the bend is about 65 feet wide and with the wind blowing this way the boat was turned  around quite rapidly and we head for Bramwith.

There is not a lot of room to spare over 60 foot at the top of the lock for mooring  to open up but it is rather nice to use the old style paddles again.  Tim closed up for us and is still next to the lock.

I opened up the Bramwith lift bridge and here the wind is blowing from the right which doesn't help.  The mooring on the other side is really short and Tim couldn't get on so I closed up.

On the way down I had the Walkman on and listened to various albums but liked the Christmasy Three Tenors CD.

Tims turn to open up and as I enter the lock it starts raining.  Within minutes it is belting down and luckily for us we have only a little way left to go.  As I leave the lock to close up the wind catches me and I couldnt get on the mooring so Tim does the business.  

By the time I reach the mooring which is ten minutes away it is quite dark and about ready for headlights if it had been further.

On the New Junction Canal

This morning from the bows. Blue skies with a light wind.

The entrance to the 5 1/2 mile straight is over a small aquaduct.  There used to be a guillotine at this end once upon a time

.

As you can see there is still plenty of water lying on the low land.

By the time we were leaving Sykeshouse Lock the clouds were coming in.  Some bits of blue still there though so fingers were crossed. Spotted Eric hiding behind the empty barge on the left.

A trouble free trip with me opening the first bridge.  Tim then closes up and overtakes to open the second where I close and retrieve my keys left in the last bridge for Tim to pick up.  

The other end of the junction has a pair of guillotines that are used for flood protection. These stand at either end of the aquaduct over the River  Don.  There is a mass of rubbish piled against the bridge on the upstream side. As I entered the aquaduct I spot a gravel carrier coming towards me.

I get over and well into the side but the amount of room that the Humber Princess  of Hull has to spare must be very little.

Made to measure by the look of it.

Changed our minds on the destination for tonight.  We were going to go into Bramwith but decided in the end to turn around at Barnby Dun for no particular reason but that we could.

Soon moored up and as soon as we finished Mega Jules came past and they moored for the evening on the other side of the bridge.  

The Jolly Miller really is!

I was dragged kicking and screaming to the Jolly Miller pub last night with and by Tim, Gary and Carina who are on a wide beam and heading for Castleford.  OK the décor leaves something to be desired but if you want a welcome from the barman and the locals then this is the place to go if you stop up here.

The following morning I looked out of the window and right next to the boat were a pair of Bullfinches enjoying the meal of berries on the trees that line the mooring.

Through the lock at Whiteley searched for the water point for Tim.  There is one and it is situated just on the stern of the boat on the left.  It was in use so we will stop again later on.

On the way to Pollington Lock we go under the East Coast Main line.  Next stop York.

Under Pollington Bridge in into the lock.  An odd set up of ponds around the lock.  Lots of manoeuvres to get in place to moor up.


Below the lock is an over flow that needs some watching especially if you are going to use the water point next to it.


By now the sun was hiding behind the clouds coming from the west and the temperature dropped several degrees.

Going this way I was able to see the name of the old barge next to Sectan .  It is the Claxby or at least that's what is says on the hold.

The last part of the trip was a lot more pleasurable than the way up. The canal was, as you can see, like a mirror.  This is the entrance to the New Junction and is the mooring for tonight.


Plenty of bird life around today.  The usual cormorant but I also saw a Green Woodpecker and a Little Grebe.