Southfield Junction, New Junction Canal

Today's trip took us to pastures new. Turning left at Bramwith Junction we entered a stretch of water known as New Junction Canal; a completely straight, wide and relatively new cut through from the South Yorkshire Navigation to the Aire and Calder Navigation. Its 5.5 mile long channel passes above roads and rivers via 4 aquaducts. It has 6 moveable bridges and one lock.

We decided it would be efficient for Will to cycle the towpath and operate the bridges and locks, giving Vicky a clear run through. Unfortunately our plan fell at the first hurdle, or rather Will fell into the canal (with the bike) before the first bridge 😖 Vicky was hanging back waiting for the bridge to open and trying to make radio contact while Will, having hit a big bump and gone head over heals into the water was making a Herculean effort to hang onto the pilings with one hand and the bike with the other. The floating radio was bobbing out of reach but Vicky (who had no clue what had happened) heard an almighty roar to get a move on! Sopping wet and with a rapidly swelling knee and thigh, Will was otherwise unharmed. We managed to save the bike, the waterways key and the radio and Vicky even caught the cat mid leap before she escaped. The only loss was a pair of glasses, the second which had sunk to their watery grave since we began boat life.

We swapped roles; Vicky strapped a rather stressed Leo into the Pom Pouch, tucked Tiger into a shoulder bag and set off on her bike while Will took the helm.

Despite the wind picking up the rest of the journey went relatively smoothly. We overshot our planned moorings and stayed near the junction with the Aire and Calder instead. The towpath grass had been trimmed and there was a lovely background of brambles and blackthorn. Over the tops of trees we could see the tips of windsurfer sails zipping back and forth on the nearby Southfield Reservoir adjoining the Aire and Calder.

Though an unbusy site, we could hear the cracks of guns being fired nearby for hours. The strong westerly wind buffeted Rainboat against the bank. The noise and vibration lead to disturbed sleep for us and anxiety for Tiger Lilly. We let her up on the bed at 4am but as sometimes happens the stress led to two fits the following day.Read more