22nd and 23rd May 2012
Python continued from Sandy Lane onto Retford mooring at the Hop Pole pub, next to one of our trip boats, Seth Ellis. After the blog started enthusiastically yesterday, the crew are very lethargic, mainly due to a hard days sunbathing whilst ploughing up the bottom of the Chesterfield Canal. (They say we have it easy!)
It’s because we travelled first from Sandy Lane to Retford and then Retford to West Stockwith in glorious sunshine. Nothing much to report except that Python lives up to it’s name and still doesn’t like to go round corners! We all had to get off except the steerer who then took a run up to get past the bridge coming through Worksop, where unfortunately there is a problem under one of the bridges. People have ripped up paving slabs from the side and dropped them into the bottom making it difficult for deep drafted boats to pass. Python leaping like a salmon to get over them is a sight to behold!
Going into Osberton Lock, Python got part way in and then CLANG swiftly came to a full stop as she hit the cill . The crew had to get off to gently float her over it.
If you’re trying to picture Python getting stuck, here it is struggling at the Shireoaks set of locks.
We stopped off at the Chequers at Ranby to deliver Chesterfield Canal leaflets and posters and left very refreshed.
After Ranby we stirred up the bottom some more and found a couple of submerged objects and made it round to the Hop Pole taking the last berth for the night.
The days comments were:- These Mile Posts are a long way apart!
Don’t forget to mention on the blog as well that today the skipper cooked lunch (Thanks Mick Cheshire).
The trip then continued along the canal all 15 miles and 5 locks to where Python ended up in West Stockwith before heading out onto the Trent! (On The Next Blog!)
Python moored in West Stockwith after an uneventful trip.
Dave Kiddy