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Sunday, 15 August 2010 12:51

Just a little further along the Chesterfield Canal

After Drakeholes Tunnel we continued towards Clayworth in the sunshine. Man Face Bridge has another name which escapes me for the moment! Anyway I prefer Man Face, although the man's face is so weathered it is not recognisable.

Also, as you can see, the bridge is well hidden by the over hanging willow. The dumb barge is moored nearby too - I have never seen one with bars on though. I wondered what the reason was, maybe someone can enlighten me.

As we rounded the corner and saw this machine, for a moment we both thought it was the weed cutter that had been up along the canal and cleared some of the weed.

But as you see, it is a combine harvester. But how about that for an idea BW? - it could run along the bottom ot the canal, cutting and dredging at the same time! The wheels are probably bigger than the depth of water. Come on - use your imagination!

The evidence of an early harvest is all around and makes for some good foreground in photos! Royston Manor looks rather grand, set back from the canal.

So we came to the extensive linear permanent moorings of Retford and Worksop Boat Club. At the bridge beside the club house (an old pub), BW were working on the wall beyond. It was taking 6 men and three BW working boats to repair one wall after a "boat strike".

Clayworth Bridge is on the skew and narrow, so all this activity just made it harder; plus, two of the BW barges were moored on the visitor moorings. We had to moor temporarily against one to wait for the boaters facilities.

Narrowboat Petroc had marked a good rural mooring on the map for us and we cruised on and found it - absolutely lovely! A view both ways, church towers in the distance, a minor road far enough away to be almost silent and no other boats around.

We hear that there is a dearth of moorings like this - come on BW get your act together and help the locals and visiting boats to further enjoy this beatiful canal.

Can it get any better? - we shall wait and see!

Chesterfield Canal, Shaw Lock to half a mile NE of Hayton winding hole

3 hours 47 minutes, 6.64 miles, 1 lock