Back on the River

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 00:44

The River Don comes and goes for a bit

After the Tinsley flight, the River Don becomes part of the waterway and then leaves at an impressive weir just before Jordans Lock. It rejoins later nearer Rotherham.

Dave, the lockie, has a theory that Jordans Lock is named after a Roman god. After a bit of research on the net I found not a Roman god but a Jordanus who was part of the cult of the Nazarene's Trinity. I do not know a lot about this cult, except it was around when John the Baptist and Jesus were born and lived. There are experts who know much more (maybe our son ...) but my theory is that the lock is called Jordans as we had just "crossed the river", another Biblical reference!

We left Dave and narrowboat Tower of Babel at Holmes Lock

This is the end of Dave's jurisdiction and we said goodbye and thanks to him, one of the "old school" lock keepers who is sad to see the "company" in such dire straits. Bank staff are very important to the waterways, their knowledge, advice and help is much appreciated by us and other boaters. BW should realise that they are the best way to keep in touch with what is happening to the waterways and so if anyone from BW us reading this - you need to support your staff, you need them.

Leaving Holmes Lock

Ickles Lock and Rotherham Lock are the last of the manual locks and below Rotherham Lock I spotted this - can anyone enlighten me about it?

Eastwood Lock was next, we decided not to moor above it this time, but carry on to Mexborough. Thrybergh Wharf is part of what was British Steel (now Corus)  and I could imagine water freight coming and going.

The reminders continued at Waddington Lock, with all the Waddington Barges lying idle. Here we paired up with another narrowboat and took turns at operating the next locks.

Leaving Waddington lock

This warehouse at Mexborough (below) still looks occupied, even if the lifting mechanism looks derelict. Mexborough Top lock is like Fort Knox - it is all fenced in and the gates are locked. A BW watermate key opens the gate for access to the lock landing and moorings below.

We moored up above Mexborough Low Lock, there is lots of room if you don't mind mooring against the steel piling. Our old tyres came into use once again as fenders. We are also well moored, with all our pins, in case the large barge Humber Prince makes an appearance!

River Don Navigation, Tinsley Bottom Lock to above Mexborough Low Lock

4 hours 18 minutes, 8 locks, 10.03 miles