Monday 29 June 2009

Well, today was not without excitement!







We set off from Lemonroyd marina, down the adjacent lock (15 feet deep) and set off further down the Aire and Calder Navigation with anchor at the ready and lifejackets on.


All peaceful and serene as we made our passage down to Castleford, notching up about 5mph!


Then, as we approached Castleford Junction ready to make a left hand turn into the flood lock, the VHF radio crackled and we heard a voice saying "there is a narrow boat coming down from Leeds, just lookout for it!" Then, slowly but very surely, the nose of a loaded sand barge appeared in front of us and moved out of the junction, and across our path on its way on to Whitwood Wharf. We slowed down and the barge, very low in the water, continued on its way from left to right across the front of us.

Although the lock traffic lightremained red, Bob used his VHF radio speak and we got confirmation that our passage was then clear to proceed on through.



We moored for lunch, completed our pumpout needs, and low and behold the flood lock trafficlightwent red and the same barge returned back through the flood lock, having deposited its load up stream. It was manoevred without a bow thruster and single handed, very impressive boat handling.


So we are now pressing the pause button folks, whilst we return home for a couple of weeks to have a rest!

Our cumulative totals are: 429miles and 274 locks = 2.75 lock miles an hour approx

Sunday 28 June 2009

Rodley through Leeds and onto the Aire and Calder Navigation

Today records have been broken - over 7 engine hours - moving off around 8 30am when it was slightly damp and overcast. This meant the local lads and lassies were not keen on swimming before the sun broke through and so we did not encounter the navigational hazards as expected. The water here is so clear, it its easy to see why swimming in the canal is such an attraction to the locals on a hot day, but we wouldn't do it even if you paid us!

Working our way down the locks into Leeds city was quite pleasant, as there are loads of new developments along the way, and as we got into the city centre a charity dragon race was on going and lots of people were enjoying live music in the cafes and bars along the way.

The Aire and Calder Navigation is another wide, deep waterway where we could open the throttle between locks, are now electric, unmanned and enormous!

We are spending the night within a BWML marina at Lemonroyd before going off tomorrow down to Castleford for necessary services.

Saturday 27 June 2009

From west of Saltaire to Rodley, Bridge 215

Today we have travelled a lot further than we intended!

We moored in Saltaire mid morning and visited Salts Mill which has been converted to house several floors of retail units, but has a display of David Hockney drawings and paintings. Quite interesting but no air con and it was very oppressive heat inside. Very interesting to read about Sir Titus Salt and his achievements. The mill was opened in 1853 to manufacture fabrics some from alpaca wool brought by canal from Liverpool.

Our plan was to moor up mid afternoon, but advice from a BW lockkeeper about passing through Leeds, spurred us on further so that we get through the locks on the outskirts of Leeds as early as possible tomorrow, as the heat of the day will bring out the local lads who risk their health swimming in the canal and generally making a pain of themselves, especially to boaters. Why doesn't somebody stop this small yob faction spoiling it for the masses? Apparently this swimming also goes on at Wigan locks on hot days, but because we came up that flight in the pouring rain, the yobs stayed in bed that day!

Doubtless these nuisances will expect the NHS to spring into action should they become unwell from these antics.

So tomorrow it is Leeds and maybe life jackets and anchor time, again if we proceed onto the Aire and Calder Navigation

Friday 26 June 2009

Silsden to Dowley Gap Locks

Today we nade our way through Silsden and down the Bingley 5-Rise and 3-Rise Locks. Barry the lock-keeper is still there after 32 years but seems to have a supervisory role now with younger keepers actually helping you down the two flights.

We had lunch above the 5-rise and amused ourselves watching a 60 feet long hire boat trying to turn immediately above the locks, where the channel must only be 59 feet 11 inches wide!! They were eventually advised to reverse 100 yds to the official turning point.

The staircase locks were very hard work, especially in such humid weather and having walked miles between swing bridges in the morning.

We were glad to see the Damart Mill is still in use at the bottom of the locks but didn't stop to buy any thermal underwear today.

Thursday 25 June 2009

Skipton almost to Silsden



We hadn' t realised until this morning that we had moored alongside the old Dewhurst Mill that used to produce Silko thread until 2003, but is now luxury flats with a German secure stacking system for residents cars.



We spent the morning in Skipton and the town has left a us with a good feeling - an attractive town with quality retail outlets and clean and tidy too!



We have been through several swing bridges this afternoon, one in particular was so stubborn it necessitated a damsel to run down the road and help Bob open it!



Our mooring this evening is looking down the valley, with Silsden in the foreground.



We are ready for Bingley and Saltaire tomorrow.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

From Gargrave to Skipton

A bright and breezy run down into Skipton, through more stunning Yorkshire countryside. We moored at lunchtime after a couple of locks and a few swing bridges.

We spent most of the afternoon visiting Skipton castle, which is a very fine surviving example of a medieval/Norman structure, loads of rooms, dungeons and fireplaces, and with immaculately manicured and rollered lawns. Skipton itself was a pleasing scene of a bustling market town, probably the busiest town we have encountered. Lots of boats, boat trips, market stalls, and shoppers spending. Mary Portas would have her spirits lifted if she came here!

As a note of interest to a certain follower of the blog, we have caught up with the couple on the green boat whom we shared the Anderton Lift with. We met them on the towpath in Skipton this afternoon and they are planning to go up to Ripon as well, and they mentioned that they will have to leave their boat for a few days while he goes to a gig in early July ( he is a guitarist ) and they plan to use the same marina to leave the boat that we have chosen. Thats exciting isn't it.

Tuesday 23rd June 2009

Bank Newton Top Lock to Gargrave

A leisurely start to the day due to the lock restrictions and so we set off at 10 am. Shared the locks at Bank Newton and Gargrave with a hire boat from Burnley with a very nervous crew.

Stopped at lunchtime as it was getting far too hot to go through the rest of the locks, and then it rained all afternoon, another excuse for not going any further!!

British Waterways have a funny way of writing around here as the "Cill" warning on the lock in the picture proves.

We are still trying to organise somewhere to leave the boat at the end of this phase of our journey.

It is good to be back in Yorkshire again, even the weather forecaster on the BBC talked about sending the rain clouds across the border to Lancashire.

Totals for the day - 1.5 miles and 9 locks!!