narrowboat_Abigail_Jenna: Thorne to Retford and a new beginning

I like the mooring at Thorne. I have met some very interesting people there and some of those were on Sobriety. A number of children on board. It was a delight to watch them ashore playing rounders, cricket etc. A very polite bunch they were too. When Sobriety turned around there wasnt a deal of room left.

A few days ago I was visited by this mad woman :-) Honestly she, that is Lee, must be mad as she has decided to come and travel the canals with me. It has been a long time since I have laughed and enjoyed myself so much. Long may it continue.

Just outside Thorne and on the way to Keadby and a field with lots of poppies in it. Not a very common site these days.

Lee soon gets the hang of the different types of swing/lift bridges. It makes such a trip so much more with a companion and I don't just mean the ease with which I now get in locks and under bridges.

For a start there is the large number of young of various species to point out.

This felt like the fastest trip to Keadby I have ever made. With Sunny Scunny in the background our destination shows up as the chimneys of Keadby power station.

Didnt have time to take pics at the lock. We had booked to go out at 1700 and when we arrived at the lock at 1430 we were told we were going straight out with three others. Two are going to Torksey. The other is going into West Stockwith and as this was his first trip on the Trent was going to follow me. Brave man :-)

West Stockwith and inside the lock. I hadnt realised just how fast the tide was moving us. After the turn to get into the lock it was flat out to make the entrance. The only way I could get around was to put the nose on the wall at the left then bring the stern slowly around.

The people operating the lock have it all sorted out and it works a treat. Sue the lockie warned us about the lack of water and the excess of weed. What is even worse the pub is closed on a Monday.

Stopped at Misterton to get some sun-screen. Lee went off to the shop and they had sold out. A very nice gentleman went out of his way to pass a bottle of his own over.

The lock leaks a bit and the duck and young dont seem at all phased by it.

It is a bit shallow. However it is a lovely canal and well worth a visit. All the sluices are locked up and you need a key to get through along with a windlass.

At Clayworth we stopped to pop into the village to pick up a few necessities such as wine and stayed here for lunch. A chatty lot of locals go past us.

As you can see the canal is well weeded up. In places there is only a few feet spare on either side.

There are a few rather low bridges. The wind genny is now on the stern and the bike rests on the gunnel

This is the approach to the lock. It has the feeling that it is a drain that we are travelling down.

The mooring for the night. Not where we should be but as the going is so slow we are running a bit late in the evening. Moor as far away from the lock as possible so that if anyone does come there is room to get in. Lee decides to go of exploring while keeping an eye open for nettles :-)

The canal now takes on the look that I remember. The view ahead is never very far which makes for an interesting life for the helmsman.

A lot of time is spent dodging the small islands of weed coming along.

The number of greens is a delight. Only to be beaten come autumn by the reds.

Lee has become at home onboard and has been here for ever.

A bit more excitement with Drakeshole Tunnel. Not much as tunnels go but its the longest on the Chesterfield canal in use at the moment.

Inside and a large number of Martins are flying about and as we get to the exit the nests start to appear.

Old Mans Briidge and an old man is on the center stone. There is another on the other side.

No. Lee is not bored and and nodded off already. She is busy answering all the messages from friends suggesting that she isnt really giving up work :-)

We arrive at Clayworth. We had walked up here earlier from the exit to the tunnel. A lovely walk with poppies, linseed fields and lovely views to be seen. We found on the towpath what looked like a load of fish scales. These were about the size of a finger nail. It must have been a large fish but what must have taken it out.

There is a nice pub in the village and the club house opens at 2000. The facilities are just after the club.

We spent the night at Hayton where there is a mooring. Very pleasant and

another pub just feet away on the bank.

We stopped for a while at Clarborough which is another nice mooring. There does seem to have been a lot done to enhance the trip since my last visit. The shop in Clarborough is closed so it is Retford or stock up earlier.