Now that really is a boat!

Friday, 06 August 2010 17:46

Moored at Keadby we explored a little

John went for a wander in the evening and took a few evening shots - these are the moorings above the lock. The boat is the foreground is the boat referred to in the title, but more of that in a minute!

In the evening the River Trent looked very benign. I think that is my favourite word to describe rivers - I am OK when they are benign! However we had to face it on the morrow!

We were not leaving the Stainforth and Keadby Canal until about 11 am the next morning, so we relaxed and had a good night's sleep.

In the morning, the sun was shining and we took a closer look at the lock and swing bridge. We had to wait for Lincolnshire Council's "operatives" to open the bridge. They were still waiting for a spare part to repair it and it is on order from Italy. Is this the taste of things to come, if local councils are given more "powers" on the waterways? Can we hope that they might keep spare parts "in stock", if they become responsible for structures and other navigation related items?

Keadby Lock has three sets of gates, apparently one set closing the wrong way. This puzzled some of the members of Ripon Boat Club until John surmised that it is possible for the River Trent to be above the level of the canal so boats would have to lock up from the canal.

Keadby Lock from the Lock Keeper's control tower

As you can see, we went up into the control tower to speak to Mark the lock keeper and to buy the outstanding two River Trent charts published by the Trent Boating Association. These give better detail of the hazards on the river than Nicholson guides. This is where we were going later.

We had been admiring the Humber Sloop Spider T, moored opposite the visitor moorings. Mark suggested we go and have a look, as Mal Nicholson, the owner, had done a fantastic restoration of this lovely vessel.

Spider T, Humber sloop

Mark walked across with us and Mal, very generously, invited us aboard. She was built in 1926 and worked as a cargo carrier until 1972. Mal bought her in 1994 and has lovingly restored Spider T to her original condition on the outside and created a beautiful interior. The sloop was damaged a while ago and has had to be repaired. Mal had to learn all the traditional skills that have been lost from shipyards to repair her. Now he could probably claim to be the only person who can re-plate and rivet such a traditional craft.

To see her in full sail on the Humber and the sea must be an amazing sight. Have a look at the Spider T website, marvel at the interior and learn more about her - clickety click

Here she is again - I can't resist it! Howeve,r I think I still prefer navigating on canals in a narrowboat!