As I moved along from Selby, I am reminded of the time of year. How things have changed over the last week. 25 km/h winds, intermittent showers, and on-again-off again clothing layers. Autumn is near! (well it feels like that already!).
Selby canal was absolutely quiet, and I only met 2 boats on the Aire River as I headed towards Knottingly. I turned left at the junction and made my way to Eggborough, amidst very large power stations and an operating coal mine (colliery). These power stations remind me of the Wabamun area in Alberta: apparently they produce a very significant portion of England’s electricity. They are very clean-burning, though, with only apparently steam exiting the tall chimneys. I’m sure there is more, but that is all that is visible. I moored overnight amidst heavy showers and rock-the-boat winds. Fortunately, my friends Nick and Christine were back in the area, and took me out for a wonderful Thai dinner.
Then yesterday, onwards. I was blown along the last canal built in Britain- dead straight, and with lots of mechanical bridges. I prefer the old hump-back stone and brick ones: they don’t require the misery of ‘tying up- operate the bridge-move quickly through-tie up-operate the bridge-untie and move-on process’. In the wind.
I am in Barnby Dun overnight and hope to ring here this morning. Love the village name, and the church is a small village one. Then on to Doncaster to get supplies, and also to do a little train journey to fetch my car. All is well.
