Shall I share a secret with you?

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 15:38

At least three visiting boats know it too!

The Chesterfield Canal is really worth visiting. Yes, it is worth all the effort it takes to get here, whether you come down the Trent from the midland waterways or the hard way (like us) from the north east and the Yorkshire Navigations! Think about the waterways we have cruised to get here! The Macclesfield, the Peak Forest, the (S)Huddersfield and the Standedge Tunnel and then more ....

Standedge Tunnel, Marsden Portal

More challenges on the River Ouse, Ripon Canal, Tidal Ouse, River Derwent and the lovely Pocklington Canal, Selby Canal, South Yorkshire Navigations, Aire & ........... Now we are on the final chapter, (or rather off it for a while) the River Trent. Phew - that is what continuously cruising is ALL about! Now we gradually make our way south towards the more populated canals, but hey, just in time for them to become quieter again!

As I said as I looked out of the bow windows this morning, "aren't we lucky? who would want to live in an house? I don't!". I digress, only because I am in a reflective mood, being in the process of writing a requested article about our travels for a couple of magazines. To read them, you will have to join NABO or the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society (providing they publish them of course!).

Pocklington Caal

So, back to the Chesterfield Canal. Although it is probably not cruised by many visiting boats (yet!), there are quite a number of local boats which have been out and about over the last few days. The other day 8 passed us whilst we were moored and yesterday we passed another three on the move.

On the move at Middle Bridge

As you know, if you are a regular Epiphany blog reader, narrowboat Petroc has been here before us and at the moment Tony Haynes (narrowboatworld journalist) is also enjoying the Chesterfield on his narrowboat. I am sure there are others not known to us - let us know if you are!

Back to the cruising bit - which is probably why you read this anyway. Once we left Stockwith Basin we had a couple of locks to do. Misterton Low and Misterton Top Locks.

Misterton Top Lock

Between these two locks, there was once a flour mill. Albion mill, built in 1906, was powered by canal water from the reservoir beside the top lock.

The locks all have anti vandal devices, unlocked by a BW watermate key.

The canal skirts Misterton but there is a short mooring spot (short in length and no overnight mooring allowed), convenient for a quick walk into the village Coop. We stopped for a top up of provisions before continuing onwards. More to come  - of course!