Mixing in a basin

Sunday, 08 August 2010 12:26

West Stockwith Lock and basin

We left the "wall" below West Stockwith Lock and John steered Epiphany immaculately into our place beside the narrowboat that had caught up with us. Geoff from narrowboat Petroc caught it on camera! Thanks Geoff.

We had to pass our ropes up so we could keep the boat under control as the water came in. Boaters are advised to have ropes at least 25 feet in length for Keadby Lock but  our usual ropes were long enough there. However our very long rope (about 60 foot!) was on the bows ready to be used and I was grateful for it at West Stockwith. The stern rope was just long enough for it to be tied to a bollard on the lock side.

As we rose I saw Petroc sitting just outside the lock and Gill on the bows.

John and Geoff had a natter at the stern and then we were ready to leave the lock, carefully avoiding Petroc!

It felt like we were in another world - a canal world again, the Chesterfield Canal! We said goodbye to Sue the Lock Keeper and quickly crossed the basin to moor so I could dash back to take photos of Geoff and Gill leaving for Torksey.

Rather than ships passing in the night, it was narrowboats swapping in the lock! We managed to have a quick shouted conversation as they went down and out into the River Trent. Sadly we will probably not see them on the cut again this year: they will be well ahead of us going south.

So we settled down in Stockwith Basin outside the Waterfront Inn (seen in the photos above) among the mixture of boats. The stormy sky of the evening heralded a few showers, but nothing like the rain that was forecast!