Well that was 2013. For me it went okay really. Retired and spent seven months on the canals. Not too shabby really. Plus lots of other good things happening too.
Well now we are in 2014 and a lot of expectations. I had an early New Year as I was just looking to see what the time difference was in Dubai to see when the World Record Fireworks were going to be when I happened across the live feed just after it started, at 2000. (Our time). It was quite impressive but when I got to watch the London fireworks on the television I thought they were better as they were more concentrated. And that was without the flavoured snow and mist!
New Years day we were going to visit some friends near Selby and as I wasn't driving for a change, we went with some other friends, I was able to take a greater note of our surroundings.
We passed over the River Hull using the Myton Bridge. Myton Bridge is a swing bridge taking the A63 over the Hull. It was built in 1981. Just towards the Humber Estuary lies the Tidal Barrier that projects the centre of Hull from flooding, and then The Deep Submarium. I used to bring ships up through this bridge and swing them just before the next one so that the River Hull pilot could then take them stern first up the river but using an anchor down and the flood tide to move them. There are about 12 bridges on the River Hull inside the boundary of the City of Hull.
Well now we are in 2014 and a lot of expectations. I had an early New Year as I was just looking to see what the time difference was in Dubai to see when the World Record Fireworks were going to be when I happened across the live feed just after it started, at 2000. (Our time). It was quite impressive but when I got to watch the London fireworks on the television I thought they were better as they were more concentrated. And that was without the flavoured snow and mist!
New Years day we were going to visit some friends near Selby and as I wasn't driving for a change, we went with some other friends, I was able to take a greater note of our surroundings.
We passed over the River Hull using the Myton Bridge. Myton Bridge is a swing bridge taking the A63 over the Hull. It was built in 1981. Just towards the Humber Estuary lies the Tidal Barrier that projects the centre of Hull from flooding, and then The Deep Submarium. I used to bring ships up through this bridge and swing them just before the next one so that the River Hull pilot could then take them stern first up the river but using an anchor down and the flood tide to move them. There are about 12 bridges on the River Hull inside the boundary of the City of Hull.
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Myton Bridge seen from the River Hull.
(Copyright Tuesday Night Club 2002)
Myton Bridge is not the first on the river. That is the Millennium Bridge completed in 2001. This provides access between The Deep Submarium and the Fruit Market and Marina Quarter of the 'Old Town'. There is also the Tidal Barrier that saves the centre of Hull being flooded on spring tides and during tidal surges like experienced last month.
Millennium Bridge with the Tidal Barrier in the background.
( Copyright Ian Taylor. Licenced for reuse under creative commons licence).
The Millennium Bridge is not even the newest bridge as the the one after Myton was only opened last year June 2013 and is Scale Lane Bridge. It is designed to be ridden on when it is moving. It is supposed to provide the link between the museum quarter of the 'Old Town' and new developments on the east bank that have been put on hold during the economic downturn. A reckon a bridge buff would have a whale of a time in Hull as there are so many to see.
Scale Lane Bridge, River Hull.
(Copyright Timothy Soar and The Guardian).
The road passes along the north bank of the Humber and under the Humber Bridge, which needs no introduction, as does the railway and several other roads. If I remember correctly there is 35mt air draft in the middle on a spring tide, but it never looked like that.
The Humber Bridge Taken from Barton on Humber.
(Copyright David Wright).
The road later becomes the M62 and we turned off just before the Ouse Motorway Bridge. It may not be as beautiful as the Humber Bridge but it certainly speeded (sic) traffic up after it was opened in 1976 as until then use had to be made of Boothferry Bridge.
Ouse M62 Motorway Bridge.
(Copyright Bernard Bradley. Licenced for reuse under creative commons licence).
Boothferry Bridge is a two lane swing bridge, at least the northern section swings open to allow ships to reach Selby. It was opened in 1929 and before this there was a ferry across. How times have changed.
Boothferry Bridge.
(Copyright Tuesday Night Club 2002)
The main reason I started to write this blog was about the last bridge we crossed. This is as it crosses the River Derwent which is navigable and gives access to the Pocklington Canal. I would love to bring our boat up here and move up these rarely boated backwaters, including the River Hull and Driffield Canal and so having to use the Humber for access. I think we will need a few more miles under our belt and a bigger crew to boost confidence. Maybe after we cruise the tidal Trent we will be more prepared for it and my ambitions will be fulfilled.
Loftsome Bridge over the River Derwent showing the horse tunnel on the tow path bank.
(Copyright J Thomas. Can be reused under creative commons licence).
Wow, I didn't sit down to write that blog. It just happened!! I wonder if bridges are A Freudian thing for this time of the year?
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