Retford and down to West Stockwith

After a few days outside Asda carpark its time to head back to West Stockwith and the Trent. Its only a few yards to the first lock and all the tight locks are behind us and wide locks are to come.

There are still a few bridges about that are a bit on the low side and I think its this one that the wind genny tail had a meeting with earlier. The other side of the bridge is a mooring that looks ok and only a short walk to the centre of Retford.

Its not long and its back out in the countryside. As usual as soon as a lock is reach someone turns up to chat.  This time its a boat owner who kept their boat up at Shireoaks.

The canal closes in again and there is only a few feet either side of the boat.  Now and again the very tight bends take a bit of getting around.

Stopped for the night at Clarborough and went out for a walk.  There are some lovely places to wander about all along the canal.

The view from the bows tonight.  The pub is  The Gate and plenty of room to moor up and with so few boats about there is always lots of space available.

As a change from wheat and oilseed rape there is a field of broad beans and they are nearly ready to be picked :-)

Every so often - ok every mile :-) - on the towpath side can be seen the new mileposts that have been put in and occasionally on the off side the original ones can be seen.

The canal isn't very wide anyway and the floating islands of weed taking up half the canal doesn't make life easy but does make it interesting :-)

Forever winding and going from fields along side then wooded areas turn up.

The twisting course allows one to see ones destination a short distance away across the fields but there is still a long way to go before arriving there.

At Clayworth moorings nb Jophina II is spotted. She didn't look all that happy at being left and is waiting for Chris to keep her company :-)

Another boat not far away has a heraldic theme and very effective it is too.

The swans that live around here have really come on in the few weeks since we last went past.

  Moored up close to the facilities so that there is plenty of room left if anyone else wants to stop here.

  There are a couple of nice walks here as well. This is part of an old trackway we found while out and about.

I should have got a copy of the Richlow book as it would have saved me some time looking for the Post Office marked on the map.  This is another shop that has closed.

 

Back into the woods

and through tunnels of trees

with the clear water one can try to count the thousands of fish that are here.  Fry without number right up to 18 inch monsters by the dozen.

 

Under the Old Man Bridge.

Spent the night at Drakeholes. There has been an event somewhere involving dozens of old bikes.  One of them pulled up next to us.  Marvellous sounds as they go past. Called in the pub which is close by. More of an hotel really but a decent pint anyway.

Sun is out again and we wait while a boat enters the tunnel

then its our turn.  Many Martins flying in and out to feed all the young inside.

With the boat going in front of us all the locks are empty so its a bit slower going having to fill the lock first.

There are several disused brickworks with the chimneys still standing. Alone in the middle of a field and looking odd in an agricultural landscape.

Stopped below a lock for lunch in the sunshine.  Kept an eye out for other boats and when one turned up I opened the lock ready for him to enter.

Passing rather a nice house with land running down to the canal and good use made of the canal by putting a narrowboat on it.  As we went past we are thanked for our speed (low ) and discover that the owner is from Swansea. Another immigrant flying the flag :-)

Ooops.  The canal becomes a dyke at one point with gaps measured in inches rather than feet.  Plenty of weed about and happily not a lot getting around the prop although others report otherwise.

Nearly time to stop and dash into Misterton and visit the Co-op and butchers.

The last lap down to the Stockwith basin has a long straight. Very unusual for this canal.

The view from the bows tonight with the lock dead ahead.

Moored with stern to the bank.  A couple of 'Tupperware' come in and do not impress the lockey or us. 

The next day we took a walk down to the River Idle to see what the possible moorings for hire are like.

This is the problem. The EA govern the use of the guillotine gates and access to the river. However.  When the Retford boat club wanted to get in in 2009 in cost nearly £500.  This will be a major stumbling block to getting the mooring working as a going concern.

Its well worth the effort of a short walk down the road to the footpath along side the river.

The path comes out in a field but it continues on through the hedge.

Some Ragwort on the edge of the field and I found the caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth on it.

and the field goes on......

Another disused brickworks but this time turned into a home.  A superb site and very well renovated.

Then its back along the river bank towards Stockwith and the basin.

Flat out here with the highest points being the flood defences.

and on to Shireoaks

First I must apologise to all those who have missed the blog.  Its not as though Sandra and Rojer want to know why it hasn't been put on line but just in case you are wondering the internet connection on the upper parts of the Chesterfield is not very good. Honest :-)

 

 Moored up nicely at Retford with Asda only a few paces away and well stocked with bread, cheese and wine - that's us not Asda you understand. Decided that it was time to take a look upstream as there had been many comments on how bad the weeds were.

It wasn't long before we found out.  This was the second stop to clear the prop and as you can see it was quite idyllic even if the reason to stop was mundane.

The weed was worse in-between the four Forest Locks and outside not too bad.  However the depth of the canal did leave something to be desired at numerous points. The facilities at the third lock includes a shower which we took advantage of.

Meanwhile Dash was being Satyrical :-) and enjoyed the sun.

On the way back to Retford we kept leap-frogging another boat as we took it in turns to stop and get the weed-hatch open and cleared.

To try and help others and ourselves at a possible later date we took to hooking out as much weed as we could.  However as the locks filled the weed arrived faster than we could get it out of the canal.

Now and again we are lucky enough to meet someone at the right point so that they can let us through and close up for us.  We naturally do the same for others when we can.

 

 Off for a second run towards Shireoaks but going all the way this time. There are a few mini-aqueducts to go over at Retford but don't blink or you will miss them as you go through the narrows.

At the first lock we met up with the most popular men on the canal at the moment.  They are driving the weed-cutter and although they could spent treble the time cutting every little helps as they say.

The canal narrows down to very tight proportions and on the occasional bend the small keel I have keeps the boat heading in the direction I am trying my hardest to get out from.  Once or twice I end up in the weeds.

Back at the Forest Lock facilities and the several small boats moored here dont go very far as evidenced by the length of the weed growing from the hulls.

Up through the lock and in front of us - just to rub it in - is a weed cutter that isnt used any more. I am sure volunteers would be forcoming to train up to use it if the chance was given to canal enthusiasts.

A bit further on and damn me there is another one.  Three weed cutters on the canal and its so full of weeds you can hardly move without getting your prop tangled.

Its a boat house but not what I would look for in size at a canalside residence :-)

There is also a bit of dredging going on as the BW put down new pilings along the bank.

The viaduct gives a view of the trains but is what one would call impressive.

Awww.  For the donkey lovers amongst the readers of the blog.

Meanwhile the Moorhens and Coots are working on a second clutch of eggs.  Some of the young are now as big as their parents.

Getting close to Worksop and an old - what I think might be - pumping station. Any offers as to its real use?

Lovely old bridges but very plain after the serpentine cross-over bridges of last year. 

 

And at last the twin towers and spire of the Priory in Worksop.

 

There are some fine examples of the local industrial heritage. Not much of a chance to investigate though so you will have to be satisfied with a glimpse through the gates.

Random Pics

Found this in Worksop as we walked up to the supermarket. Hippies rule :-)

and this piece of 'graffiti' I found stencilled onto a lock gate arm.  Any ideas?

Now and again we would come across a splash of brilliant colour.  This doesnt do the spot justice.

A number of new mile-stones are to be found along the way and each seems to be dedicated to a local family. Lovely idea.

and finally one of the delightful mooring places.  This one is a short walk from Sainsburys near the Lock-Keepers pub.  Just the place to get stuck in the lock :-)