River Boating Forum

Hi, I'm moored at Stainforth, on the Stainforth and Keadby. I was lucky enough to get an EOG, really an end of field, thanks to my farmer neighbour. Been boating (sail) for years but only recently on canals. First serious trip was from Birmingham to Stainforth in June! Never been so wet in my life. 8 day trip took almost a month, good job I took early retirement!
Nice to see this site, hope it all goes well.

Cheers

Steve

hi steve !!!

big welcome to the site

i am sure we all would like to hear of your epic journey from birmingham to stainforth

i know i would. tell us about your boat and the route you took, the ups and downs of the journey

and how you got so wet. regards,

alan

Well if you're interested, I'll try and remember.

First came across Peter Pan in 1990 when she belonged to my boss (and good bloke), who took me out for a spin on the Grand Union. I hadn't seen him for many years, but earlier this year he contacted me and another old pal (John) to see if we would be interested in taking her over, as he felt he was getting a bit old for all the maintenance, travelling (he lives in Scotland, boat in Birmingham)etc.

After a few seconds thought we said we'd be delighted, a fee was negotiated and a deal struck. I then had to find a home for her nearer to my home, this turned out to be more difficult than anticipated. All the local marinas were full and BW had nowhere either. The Stainforth and Keadby runs only 400yds from my house and Dave the farmer has a field just across the road which abuts the canal, and he owns the bank. An application for an EOG at the spot was succesful, a deal made with Dave and we had a mooring!

Now to get her from Birmingham to Stainforth.

We departed Hawne basin in June, in fine dry weather, not for long! After about an hour the heavens opened, this wasn't just rain, it was M&S rain! Made great progress the first day, didn't even hit anything in Netherton tunnel. We wanted to clear the flight of locks at Farmers Bridge on the first day and we did easily, so continued looking for a pub to moor near. By the time we got to Tyburn, it was getting late, we were cold wet and hungry. So we moored at the rear of the Tyburn Inn. After stoking up the fire and drying off we went to the "inn" for a meal. Sorry we stop serving at 8, was the reply, have a bag of crisps. Couldn't believe it, but they did let us dial a curry and take delivery in the pub. The beer was cheap too.

One of the big surprises to me on this trip was the amount of time we went into pubs to be told that they had just stopped serving, usually at times like 7PM.

Got back to Peter Pan scoffed the Indian and fell into a deep sleep. About an hour later I was woken by a bang on the hull, a few minutes later I saw torchlight in the lounge where my pal was sleeping, I thought there must be a problem so I got up to investigate. There was a youth hanging through the window rummaging through the remains of the curry, I shouted and lunged for him, but he was too quick, I probably shouldn't have shouted, just hit him. At this John wakes up, "what's all the noise about " says he, he hadn't heard a thing and the smashed window was about 2' from his head!

Went out to investigate and found we'd been cast adrift, made fast and called the police who were quickly on the scene, very helpful, but warned us to moor on the opposite bank, as this was the worst place in Birmingham to moor. Only damage was the window, and breakfast (cold curry) was on the floor.

The following day we carried on down the Birmingham and Fazely, heavy rain again, but no problems until, I think it was the last Curdworth lock. To the east is a water park and this had overflowed, the water was cascading in a torrent past a house and into the canal just below the lock, boats coming up couldn't get into the lock as the force of the water was such that they couldn't enter it, coming down I gave PP some stick, and though we were forced into the bank, it's a soft bank and we made it past the flood OK.

Later we arrived at Fazely junction and managed to moor opposite the BW offices. All the flood water from the water park was now filling the pound, and you could see the canal rising by the minute. We were all told to loosen our ropes and expect the worst. By mid evening the canal had overflowed and water was pouring down the street, I don't know were it ended up, but someone must have had wet feet. A foray into the town found beer and food, another curry as all the pubs not doing food.

The following day the waters had fallen a bit and we carried on our way to Fradley Junction, the canal was very high, overflowing in some places, but it had actually stopped raining. Arrived Fradley Junction to find canal closed in both directions. Got a good spot by the BW office, handy for the showers and the cafe, and resigned ourselves to being here for a few days. Since it was to be days, we cadge a lift to the nearest station and went back to Birmingham to get the car. At least we would be mobile. BW let us park behind their office until we could get back to pick it up. Went to look at the weir at Alfrewas, which was the hold up, it was quite disconcerting, the amount of water going over it. Still it was dry for a couple of days and the water fell into the amber, so we could go.

I was bricking it going past the weir, but it was uneventful. Started raining again. Managed to make it to Shardlow, got a good mooring right outside the Clock Wharehouse, found food and beer in village, pleasant evening .

Following day Shardlow flood lock closed, so stuck here for a while. Went back to Fradley to collect car again. Then found hire boats going through flood gates on red on orders of hire company, so we followed.
Another frightening moment passing the weir by the M1, but no problems in the end, raining again, very heavy now. Got past Sawley marina, but couldn't get past next lock as board on the river well into the red.
Bit of a disaster mooring here, no pubs, and too far to walk (for me, I'd done my back lifting a generator) Dispatched John to offy for beer and pies.

A day later and board now in the amber, so we're off again, but not for long. Only got to Cranfleet flood lock and it was chained shut, even though board in the amber. BW refused to open it because it would cause problems in the pound. Turned around and moored on the floating pontoon outside the Navigation on the Trent. It started raining again, you could see the river rising by the minute, and we were on it!
Fished out some chain and moored with that just in case. we are the only boat on the Trent, a bit worrying. This was on the 26 June, see flood pictures for more idea of conditions. We must have been there when they were being taken. Since it was obvious we were going to be here for days, we went to fetch the car from Fradeley. The local pubs were good, but this gave us the option of going to the shops for vitals.
After hours of incessant rain, someone came round saying they were releasing water from Ladybower, this would flood the Derwent and would arrive on the Trent in the early hours, all the pubs should evacuate and move there stuff out of the way. I phoned Steve Cropper, BW patrol officer, who had been good enough to give me his number in case we got worried. He reckoned there was no problem and we should stay put. And he was right.

After a few days cabin fever was setting in, and there was no sign of the flood lock being opened, so we decided to go home for a while, some of the locals offered to keep an eye on the boat for us, many thanks to them, and we phoned BW every day until the flood lock was opened.

Several days later we got the word that it would be opened tomorow, so off we went. On arrival we were advised it had opened for an hour but was shut now! We decided to stay put until the levels went down again.

Several days later we were promised it will be open tomorrow (again), we are still the only boat on the Trent. We motored down to look at the lock, it was full of trees and other debris, for want of something better to do we got a grappling hook and cleared most of the big stuff out of the way in preperation for the grand opening, then we backed off a couple of hundred yards (to be nearer the pub) and moored up. Suddenly there were boats everywhere, and we are now at the back of the queue. However there was no problem, we'd obviously been seen doing our good deed and were waved to the head of the queue, except for one cheeky git who turned up at the last minute and simply motored to the gates and through.

We were now headed for Newark, not raining, boat going fine moored onto pontoon in town. Went for beer and food, guess what, no food after 6PM, another curry.

Set of early the following day heading for Torksey junction, once on the Trent proper going like the clappers with the river in full flood, made great time. When John had the helm he liked to keep very close to the bank, (in case of commercial traffic) wouldn't believe me when I told him we were actually NOT in the river and to get more central. Then we ran aground, but only for a moment, he listened to me after that.
We made such good time we decided to go for Keadby and went flying past Torksey. Phoned the Keadby lock keeper to book passage and she was doubtful we would get there before 9PM when she knocked off, and suggested we check our timing at Gainsborough because we might have to stay there the night.

I've been through Gainsborough a few time in the car and it looks like an interesting market town, but from the river it looks very forbidding. Anyway, our time was going well so we kept going and arrived at Keadby with plenty of time to spare.

I've heard lots of horror stories about entering Keadby lock, so didn't know what to expect, but we had a green light and could go straight in. I took a wide sweep so I could get a feel for the current, the idea being that if it was a bit fast to, go past and come back upstream with a bit more control. Gave her some throttle and went for it. John was crapping himself now, squealing "go around, go around" but I was conviced I could make it in one shot. As we got closer it was looking a bit dodgy, but there was no turning back now, full throttle and we were in, never even touched the sides! John made some crack about there must have been hairs around it, but I'm not sure I understood what he meant.

Moored up and went for beer and whisky to calm the shattered nerves, pub next to the canal had a group on too noisy for me, so went to "The Auld South Yorkshire " just round the corner, quiet friendly pub, no grub, but let us order another curry, and even supplied the plates and cutlery to eat it there!

Following day was an easy cruise to Stainforth and Peter Pans new home. We'd had a few small engine problems, but they've been sorted now.

She's being hauled out for new anodes and bottom blacked tomorrow, then roll on next year!

Steve

I forgot to mention Peter Pan is a 52' narrow boat, Perkins 499 engine, 1976 Hancock and Lane, open plan style.

hi steve !

great story, and i must say you are very brave to tackle the waterways in flood.

i have heard on several occasions of problems in that part of birmingham and once hired

from rugby we were told not to moor in that area.

hope you enjoy your boat next season and a few more to come/

alan

Wow! what a story! welcome to the forum and telling us about your journey!! i must admit i would never go out on a red or amber, too scarey!

Cranfleet can be a real pain !
Health and safety seems to go out the window there.
About 4 years ago I came up from Beeston on an Orange
Bw padlock the gates at Beeston when on red they removed them as the river level was falling .
I made easy progress up to Cranfleet lock, moored up and went to do the lock.
I was shouted at from a partially open window in the lock keepers bungalow to "Leave the paddles alone " as the river was in flood and the navigation was closed !
I explained I had come up from Beeston which had been opened by Bw and was on the said flooding river !
I was told "Tough" and the window was shut !
I spent an uneventful night on the river and locked through the next morning ?

The flood gates at the other end of the cut Are a constant problem to navigation as they are closed without warning with the slightest rise in level.

gancanny wrote:hi steve !

great story, and i must say you are very brave to tackle the waterways in flood.


alan

They weren't in flood when we set off!