England 2 - Sweden 0

We went to the Marina and were planning to head straight off, but we're dragged into the atmosphere in the bar so ended up watching the football. Worth watching given the result. We then headed off and settled down just beyond the sanitary station at Bramwith. It was a lovely spot and very peaceful for the night. We had a very peadeful time sitting on the canal bank watching the sun go down.

 

In the morning I took a walk to the aquaduct which takes the New Junction canal over the River Don. A spectacle we've not viewed from that perspective. 

The River Don and and the keadby to Stainforth canal run almost parallel at this point. On the way back to the boat spotted three Swans down in the River Don it was possibly the lowest I have seen the Don in some time. It made me think that had the Monk Benedict from Auxerre sailed up the Don rather than the Ouse his monastery may have ended up here.

On the way back to Thorne we called at Stainforth market for breakfast. Quite a few boats already there meant we had to take a mooring where it was a bit of a scramble to get off.

All repaired and back at the mooring

I used the outboard to run the boat to the marine engineers this morning, a journey of only 50 feet out of the visitors moorings. The engineers managed to position the boat to lift the outdrive to reach it, something which was impossible in the places we were broken down due to the high banks.

I left the boat with them and they had it repaired in only a couple of hours. We were hoping the shear pin had broken due to picking up weeds. It was wrapped with weeds, however the section of the propeller which holds the shear pin had separated from the rest of the propeller. The engineers have machined the propeller to accept new bolts between the 2 sections of propeller and it is now working fine. They are also going to investigate whether an alternative propeller for the boat can be fitted to this ZF drive as they seem to think there is a particular Volvo one which will fit. They will get back to me.

Anyway I drove back to Thorne and collected the boat and navigated the 1/2 mile back to the mooring including Thorne lock. The first time I've done a lock singled handed but I manged OK.

The blue narrowboat on the right at the end is the one which towed us back. John gave me the thumbs up when he saw me go past and that the boat had been repaired.

Top of Thorne lock almost at our mooring.

Finally made it back!

Well during the week parts have arrived for the outboard. I fitted the recoil spring and new starting rope on Friday night and whilst at it I stripped the carburettor and clean it out. On running the outboard in a bin it seemed to be running much better. So off once again to try and make our way back to Thorne! 

We set off  but after around 1/4 of a mile the engine cut out. I'm sure it would have started again but the wind had pushed us straight into the weeds on the side opposite the towpath. The weeds were everywhere and wrapped around the propeller. No way would we be able to start here without also damaging the outboard. I tried to paddle back to the towpath but as soon as I paddled boat in the direction I wanted to go  the wind took it back. 

But not to worry because shortly after arrived a narrow boat. I asked if they could possibly tow me across to the other side but after enquiring where they were going we arranged a tow to Thorne for the princely sum of  'a few drinks'.

Thank you John and OXO the dog!

We were hoping to get into the visitor moorings as they are right next to the marine engineers we use but they were full. So we moored a little further on for Saturday night. On Sunday morning someone moved on so we tried the engine again and free of weed ran fine and we moved on to the visitor mooring. Monday morning I spoke to the engineers and he will have a look tomorrow morning.

A family of swans looking to be fed!

Half way back!

We managed to get hold of a small outboard to hopefully get us back so returned the next Saturday and set off towards Thorne. Unfortunately the outboard bracket has never been used since we got the boat and has seized solid so we couldn't adjust for optimum performance. The outboard could have been done to have been an inch or two lower in the water but it was moving us albeit slowly.

We got nearly back to Godnow and the outboard started to begin running badly so we pulled over to take a look and  thankfully we had left a car at Godnow anyway so we wouldn't be too far from a car at any point. I thought I'd try a fuel filter so we drove off to Scunthorpe to see what we could find and managed to get one at a motor factors which fitted despite being a bit bigger.

We gave it a start and it did seem to be running a bit better so we settled down for the evening and decided to make a move the next day. Unfortunately on trying to start the next day the recoil spring broke! So again the boat was stuck once more!

Run out with grandchildren then broke down

Well we had a lovely run out from Thorne to Godnow Bridge near Crowle with the Grandchildren, Will and Jack. Will had left his car at Godnow so he could run everyone back and be back home in time for work.

Everyone had a great time and the kids can't wait to come with us again.

We took a walk into Crowle for some refreshments and something to eat from the Chippy and decided to head off for Keadby so we could fill up with water and use the facilities. I was going to fill the water before leaving Thorne but the tap was already taken by a sprinkler watering the borders.

We pulled over at the swing bridge just before Vazon sliding railway bridge and Fee got off to open the bridge. When I attempted to move on I found the drive had gone.

Being there was nothing we could do we just decided to settle down there for the evening.

We had planned to go into Scunthorpe on the train on Saturday from Keadby (Althorpe) so stuck with our plans as we were only about another 15 minutes walk from the Moorings at Keadby. There is a house only 100 yards from where we broke down and it is overlooked by the Signal box so we felt it was a safe place to leave the boat. Also we moved the boat by rope, as far away from the bridge as we could so as not to hamper other boats using the bridge. We stayed on the boat again Saturday night and then got a lift from Will on Sunday morning back to Thorne to collect the car while we worked out our next move.

Run into Doncaster

Well after a peaceful night at Long Sandall we decided to have a run to Doncaster and moor if there was space or just have a look and turn back. As it turned out there were a couple of spaces left so we moored up and had a walk into town before making our way back to Thorne. 

Family of ducks including what looks like an albino.

Think I'll carry a bit more extra petrol next time as the petrol gauge seems to be a bit erratic so I'm not entirely certain how much is on board. I don't think I'll attempt to tamper with the gauge yet as I think it may get better with use. I think the float might be sticking at times through lack of use over the last 18 months. We'll see!

Back home today then we'll come back to the boat on Friday with the grandchildren for their first run out. I think we'll head towards Crowle as there are plenty of bridges etc to operate which I'm sure they will enjoy. Having said that I'm sure there will be plenty of bickering regards who's job is who's and when!

Long Sandall Lock

Well we didn't get very far.

We navigated the lift bridge at Barnby Dun and the lock at Long Sandall and found it such a beautiful spot decided to stay there. We had a walk to a nearby Marsden's pub and had dinner whilst sitting out in the sunshine. William had a headlight bulb blow on his car and didn’t want to pay Halfords prices to have it changed so drove through to Doncaster for me to fit it instead. At least we got a free taxi back to the boat!