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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tour 2015
3 - NB Earnest Swineshead Bridge to end back to Hubbert's Bridge, Black Sluice Navigation
13th June 2019
Shoved off from Swineshead at 10:35. Easy passage up to just before the railway bridge. From here the water was shallower and the blanket weed had taken over. We found that the weed was less on the right had side, possibly as this was more in the shade. It was bad up until Donnington Bridge (12:25), which was the official head of navigation, winding being possible using a side drain. After this the weed was much less as the drain was narrower and mostly in the shade. Passing a good few possible winding points in side drains, we got to the B1397 Kingston's Bridge, which is the "Unofficial" Head of Navigation. 8 narrowboats got this far in 2008 and we knew this was the last reliable winding point in the mouth of a side drain pumping station. After winding we decided to reverse up as far as we could get. From this point there was only around 2ft of water, with a fairly hard bottom. The bonus was that the drain at this point had only recently been weed cut! Earnest goes well astern in minimum depth, due to the slipper stern. Reasonable progress was made until the outlet of Rippingale drain pumping station, which must have thrown up a shoal. Black Hole Drove pumping station (which straddles the drain) was tantalisingly close, just round the next bend. After gathering our senses (14:40) we slowly picked our way back to Kingston's Bridge (15:10) After this it was a bit of a blast until Donnington Bridge (16:30) then picking our way through the weedy section to pass Swineshead Bridge at 17:55. Arrival at Hubbert's Bridge was at 18:35. That night it was a no brainer, an excellent pint and meal in the boater owned Wheatsheaf. A long chat with the owners ensued, with us signing the boaters visitor book.
Swineshead Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking up to Hale Fen Pumping Station. Black Sluice Navigation.
looking back at Swineshead Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Hale Fen Pumping Station. Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking back from the junction with Helpringham Fen. Black Sluice Navigation.
Junction with Helpringham Eau. Black Sluice Navigation.
Helpringham Eau. Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking back at the junction with Helpringham Eau. Black Sluice Navigation.
Helpringham Fen Railway Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking back from Helpringham Fen Railway Bridge. Right in the thick of the
blanket weed infested section. Black Sluice Navigation.
Helpringham Fen Railway Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking back at Helpringham Fen Railway Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Swaton Eau. Black Sluice Navigation.
Donnington High Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking back at Helpringham Fen Railway Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Donnington High Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Ouse Mere Lode. Black Sluice Navigation.
Looking back at Donnington High Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Billingborough Lode.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Neslam Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Neslam Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Pointon Lode. Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Black Sluice Navigation.
Kingston's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Kingston's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Kingston's Bridge. Here were turned in the entrance to Dowsby Fen pumping station and
carried on astern. Black Sluice Navigation.
On our way back. Looking back at Pipe Bridge and Caswell's Bridge. Black Sluice
Navigation.
On our way back. Pumping station for Rippingale Fen. Black Sluice Navigation.
On our way back to Kingston's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
On our way back to Kingston's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
On our way back to Kingston's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
On our way back, we have passed Kingston's Bridge, now with some gusto! Black
Sluice Navigation.
Back to the "End Of Navigation" sign, by Donnington Bridge! Black Sluice
Navigation.
Hubbert's Bridge visitor mooring. Black Sluice Navigation.
Hubbert's Bridge visitor mooring. Black Sluice Navigation.
Hubbert's Bridge visitor mooring. Black Sluice Navigation.
The Wheatsheaf at Hubbert's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Crossing keepers cabin, Hubbert's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
Hubbert's Bridge. Black Sluice Navigation.
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