Peter's Waterways Blog A Northern Navigation This was first published in IWA West Riding's Northern Navigation News section of the Milepost newsletter in September 2018, encouraging members to try a trip afloat on these northern waterways.

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This summer, as well as our usual canal trips we have had trips on three tidal waters, north, west and east of the country. Our northern trip was on the River Tyne, from the centre of Newcastle to Tyne mouth, all tidal water and on the passenger boat Fortuna. Details of trips from here Advanced booking is required for these trips.

A highlight was the “blinking eye” millennium bridge which was opened to allow our boat to wind at the start of the trip. We passed this unusual lock at the mouth of the Ouseburn: it's the Barrage that John Pomfret talked about in October 2014 (account in January 2015 Milepost).

One of the more unusual items was the Kittiwake Tower. This was built to give the kittiwakes that nest and perch on the ledges of buildings in the town somewhere to build their nests. Unfortunately the kittywakes are not interested, but the pigeons seemed to be enjoying it!

Further downstream, there are more sea-going port activities.

A second trip upsteam, in a smaller passenger boat Coventina, took us under the seven bridges that join Newcastle to Gateshead. Peter Scott