Thorne to Bramwith

As soon as we left the mooring we came across a bit of canal history.  The bridge at this housing development crosses the dry dock of the Thorne boat yard.  The gates, although they have almost disintegrated, are still visible.  

A few yards further on is the lock.  At 61 feet long I only just made it.  Slightly larger boats could get through on the diagonal. 

Both of us got into the lock ok and then the hiccups arrived.

Tim wanted to call in the chandlery so I let him out first.  Once he was out I moved Abigail Jenna and the wind started to close the bridge for me as I came out of the lock. Full Ahead Both as the saying goes!!

Having got out of the lock I then had to go alongside to close up.  The wind was blowing through a gap in the hedge and I ended up with the stern on the mooring and the bows out in the middle of the canal.  Ah well these things are sent to try us I guess.

More side-ways boating and we reached Stainforth - the home of Thorne Boating Club. Outside the marina are moored three interesting converts to living on the canals.

We passed one of the items I will need to get according to Abz.  

A couple of goats wandering the canal side.  Not only would I get milk but they are very strong and I wonder if they could do some towing for me :-)

The road bridge at South Bramwith created a problem with the wind and the fact that the mooring before it is only 45 - 50 foot long with a set of buffers at the end of it.  Not a lot of room for manoeuvre and once through getting alongside on the other side the wind is across the canal.  

Lots of choppy waves and only one mooring that we could see and while free it is a long term mooring but we leave early tomorrow.

URGENT

Inland Waterways Association News Flash

BRITISH WATERWAYS PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

Sign the petition on the Number 10 website

Click the link below 

Don’t let this kind of dereliction happen again

This is what will happen if we do nothing! 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You may know about the media speculation that the Government intends to include the British Waterways’ property portfolio as a component of the £16bn asset sale.

The Government has made no announcements and is steadfastly refusing to be drawn on the subject.

We have been using this period of silence as a window of opportunity to lobby Ministers.  We have orchestrated a political lobby in both the Commons and latterly the Lords to pressurise Government, and have briefed radio and national TV, using an array of reasons to support the argument that a sale would be in no-one’s interest.

We stand the best chance of preventing this sale if the Government can be persuaded not to do so, during this period of Ministerial silence. Whilst no announcements have been made, it is easier for Government to back away as it involves no public reversal of policy.

However, an e-petition has appeared on the 10 Downing Street website;

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectourcanals/