After leaving Ferrybridge on the river Aire the route rejoins the Aire & Calder navigation for a long straight trip east across the country. The Aire & Calder runs to Goole where it joins the river Ouse which in turn joins the Trent and eventually the Humber before flowing into the North Sea at Hull. However, the river beyond Goole has a strong tidal flow which is too much for my little narrow boat. Unlike the main canals, which were built for narrow boats, these waterways are wide and straight - the motorways of water transport and were designed to let sea going vessels and large barges travel to the industrial heart of Yorkshire. Like motorways they allow quicker travel but are rather boring.
Mr Bunbury felt very small compared to this converted Humber barge which is twice the width and almost twice the length. Originally designed to carry large loads such as coal or grain.
I therefore turned south onto the New Junction canal which runs down to Doncaster but after only a few miles turned east once again onto the Stainforth and Keadby canal. Whilst still quite wide this was beginning to look more like a traditional canal.
After a long day at the helm covering 20 miles, 5 locks and several lift or swing bridges I stopped for the night at the little town of Thorne. This is only 10 m miles from Keadby where it joins the tidal Trent. I can have a gentle day tomorrow cruising up to Keadby before tasing through the lock onto the Trent on a rising tide at around 8am on Friday. The rising tide should give me a gentle push southwards to Torksey where I will leave the Trent for a few days to explore the Fossdyke navigation and Lincoln city.
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