Bartimaeus

After lunch at the pub in Sprotbrough we went a slightly long way back to the boat via the lock.  A large wide boat was rising in it as we walked by.  Just before the lock went out of sight, I saw that the gates were partially open, but not moving.  I didn’t expect to have any valuable insight to offer so we carried on to Bartimaeus.  I had been wondering about moving on, but knowing the lock wasn’t working made that decision pretty simple.  Later that afternoon two boats came through, so I knew things were resolved, but moving on could wait until the morning.

We cast off the next day just before a boat appeared behind us.  Before we reached the lock I realised it was the same one we had seen having difficulty the previous day.  Clare got off to press the buttons, and there was plenty of room for them to join us in the lock.  On exit I had to pull in to collect Clare, so they went ahead.  By the time we reached the lock in Doncaster they were already leaving the other end.  The lock-keeper passed on an unnecessary apology from them for not waiting.  When we moored in Doncaster they were on the same jetty, so we were able to assure them that we didn’t think they had done anything wrong.

We did a quick shopping trip and then I suggested we move on.  Even on this bank holiday weekend there was loud building work going on next to the mooring.  It was a great relief to move away to a peaceful mooring a few miles further on.

Before we reached the moorings, a chance text exchange with Bryn revealed that he was being driven to a course for a few days in the Dearne Valley.  That was a familiar name!  After a quick check I confirmed that was a mile or so upstream from the aqueduct.  We arranged to meet the following night.  The plan we settled on was for us to return straight back to Doncaster which is only one stop on the train from where Bryn was staying, and then have dinner together in town.

We delayed our return on Monday hoping that the noisy workers would have packed up for the day.  They might have taken the day off for all we know, but happily it was quiet when we arrived.  We met Bryn off his train and had an enjoyable meal together.  His train back was delayed by signal problems, but we were in good spirits as we waited with him at the station.  As the delay increased I was considering our options.  If he stayed with us overnight he could get a train in the morning.  If there were still no trains, we could move the boat, or take him by tandem, or a combination.  It was almost an anti-climax when a late-running train resolved the problem.

This morning, the noisy workers were back – shortly after 7am.  Once we were ready we set off looking for some peace.  We stopped at the visitor moorings above the next lock for some lunch. On the lock bollards across the canal was a work barge full of recovered tree trunks being emptied.  The action of the machinery turned the barge into an effective wave machine, bouncing us around more than we normally expect.  Thankfully the workers also stopped for their lunch shortly after – peace was restored.

As we set off after lunch the workers called to me saying that the bow thruster was cheating.  When I pointed out that they weren’t lifting the logs with their hands either, one of them was at pains to mention that he had been hand-sawing some of the branches earlier.  We all enjoyed the banter.

We were soon at the lift bridge that had been operated for us in the other direction.  Today it was self-service so I hopped off to press the buttons.  Clare was still driving at the junction where we went straight on to the New Junction Canal.  This canal is so straight that it looks like a mapping error. I wasn’t expecting it to be very interesting, but almost immediately we came to the Don Aqueduct.  This takes the canal over the River Don, and also serves as a footbridge over both the river and the canal.

The water was spilling over the edge of the aqueduct which made the canal into an infinity pool.  The handrail on that side must surely be for psychological support only.  There is no danger of a boat reaching it, and no reason for a person to do so.

Clare kept firmly to the side with the towpath.  Even if another narrowboat had been coming the other way, there would still have been plenty of room.

We could see the canal continuing straight to the horizon, but before long we reached a small interruption, a swing bridge.  We were trying to ascertain which side might have the controls and therefore which side to move towards when I noticed the road barriers drop.  I assumed that the bridge was staffed and sped up a little.  As the bridge opened, a narrowboat appeared coming the other way.  There was plenty of room for both of us though, so I continued through.  We thanked them and commented on our excellent timing.  We had got a free run, but it had only delayed them a few seconds.

Clare operated the two lift bridges next.  They are both visible for over a mile because of the balance arm hanging over the bridge deck.

The canal had a surprising amount of bird life.  We saw a number of herons and cormorants along with swallows and a suspected gadwall.  I saw a characteristic low straight flight some distance ahead of us.  “I think that’s a …” at which point it turned to fly straight towards us.  As it got nearer the blue and orange left no doubt.  The kingfisher flew along the water and straight past us.