23rd July

My turn to collect the papers today, I walked to the lock and over the bridge and continued towards where I thought the shops would be, after 200 yds. I was in the shopping precinct, found the paper shop and returned to the boats.

We set off at 8.45, retraced our steps for the first two miles then turned on to the Aire & Calder Canal also called the New Fleet Drain South and North and later on Knottingly & Goole Canal. Totally different from yesterdays cruising, instead of the very twisty wide river, we were on a canal, although it was wide it was made up of long strait sections.

After 10 miles we turned south onto the New Junction Canal, 3 lift bridges, 1 swing bridge, 1 lock and 5.5 miles later we turned east on to the Stainforth & Keadby Canal and arrived at the Bramwith lock. At this point I phoned an old friend who lives at South Bramwith, who with his wife came up to the lock to help us with its peculiarity's, We haven't seen Geoff and Maureen for a long time so we had a lot of catching up to do. The boats were moved off down through a swing bridge and moored up on the bank opposite the bottom of their garden.

We were treated to a superb Yorkshire welcome & hospitality. The drinks flowed and then a Chinese take away dinner, lots of stories and catching up to do, in the comfort of their lovely house and garden.

14 miles, 4 locks, bottles ??