Messing about on the rivers.

The weather was warming up as we left Granary Wharf and began the descent of the last lock on the Leeds/Liverpool and onto the river. We shared the lock with a fellow moorer and then both stopped at the service pontoon just past the entry to the Royal Armouries, this after tackling Leeds lock.

The river is wide here, the locks similar in size and operation to those on the Thames. The difference is these are self operated and the custom of roping up and engines off is somewhat absent. As we are descending, the operation is very gentle and with such low traffic volumes, all very stress free. These locks are big.

River cruising whilst pleasant, can be a tad boring! You can see too many trees. As we had arranged to meet up with neighbours from home at Woodlesford, we were moored up by lunch time and after a bit of jiggling to avoid the grass cutters and strimmer's, welcomed Simon, Michelle and daughter Lily for a look around the boat. It was a truly lovely afternoon in the sunshine.

Thursday saw us away down river at a brisk pace. The sun shine and it was hot! It did not seem long before we reached Castleford, and we made the sharp right and headed for the Calder and Hebble.

Early morning fisherman

We shared the first couple of locks with a couple of other boats

Castleford Junction

We made a stop at Stanley Ferry and whilst I dealt with the services, Ali wandered to the yard and purchased a Handspike, for use in operating the locks ahead of us.

New lock gates being made

Stanley Ferry Aqueduct

Last of the big locks

Big paddle gear

and so ..hard to operate

I was not without a little trepidation at the thought of tackling the locks on the Calder and Hebble. We are 58'6" and although the locks are broad, they were built for broad boats up to 57'6". With care and by going corner to corner, we fitted with a little room to spare. This was somewhat aided by the fact that the walkways suspended off the bottom gates, have been somewhat shortened, thus preventing the tiller becoming jammed if not enough care is taken. So not as bad as first thought, although the rate of flow when using the handspike is a little unpredictable.

Amazing bridges

We passed through Wakefield's pleasant suburbs and after a long, hot day found a pleasant mooring below the pub at Horbury Bridge.

The weather forecast for Saturday was dire and as we were using river sections, we thought on Friday we would crack on and get beyond any areas likely to be affected by prolonged rain. Friday was a beautiful day, once again hot. We were soon into Dewsbury. The locks seem to be getting shorter!  Rising up Thornhill double locks we had a slight problem with water levels. Ali found the locks with paddles up, so the pound was very low between the two locks. When we ascended, the levels remained low, which surprised us as the next section leads once again onto the river.

We soon found the reason. Someone had closed the flood gates. This resulted in the pound of nearly a mile in length, loosing water down the locks. The flood gates were therefore holding back the river water and with only one operable paddle, it looked like a call to CRT and a long wait was on the cards.

Then a boat approached down river. We warned them that the gates were closed and held shut by the pressure and they managed to tie up below the gates and climb up.

Four of us on one gate finally got it to shift and once open a deluge roared into the depleted cut, almost washing our boat back down with it! But we safely negotiated this and were once more on our way.

A stop at Mirfield allowed us a quick shop at the handy canal side Lidl and at Coopers bridge we passed the entry for the Huddersfield broad/narrow. Onwards up for us and once through Brighouse, we called it a day mooring up above the river Calder at Cromwell bottom, where there are good moorings, with rings no less.

Peddle Power

Locks getting shorter

Hand spike in action

The plan for Saturday was to sit tight. But the forecast changed and by late morning it had stopped raining and brightened up. Only seven locks to Sowerby Bridge, so we decided to go for it. By this time we had the hang of these locks and seemed to ascend effortlessly. Even the guillotine lock at Salterhebble did not faze us, or the two shortest locks on this section. Or rather Ali.

Entering the guillotine lock (our first)

 looking back down the locks

the last short lock

At the top lock a fellow boater recommended the Navigation at Sowerby for food, so after mooring up just short of the basin and having a walk, that is were we went. Well recommended, good grub at reasonable prices. So good, we have booked in for Sunday lunch today. Well it is a day of rest, so that is what we are doing!

Thus far, the trip over the Pennines has been well worth the effort. Great scenery, very quiet boat wise and from Leeds, new waters for us.

Tomorrow we begin the Rochdale canal...

34 miles.
33 broad locks.

Leeds.

Now moored in the middle of the teeming metropolis that is Leeds, at Granary Wharf. This is wedged between the railway, the Hilton hotel and a tower block. Somewhat noisy during the day, but surprisingly quiet at night.

We are just above the river, which we will drop on to in the morning. Making the most of what the city has to offer, Ali had a shop first after our arrival yesterday afternoon and then in the evening we enjoyed a meal at Jamie's Italian. Followed by drinks at a waterside bar in view of our mooring.

Once again, wind has been the prevalent weather, with thankfully very little rain.  Leaving our mooring at Riddlesden, we were soon at the top of Bingley five rise.  We had a wait there as boats were ascending, but this allowed us to visit the services and enjoy a bacon buttie from the cafe above the locks.

Then we began the descent, we shared with another boat. This flight and the three rise proved to be a tad damp. Having to reverse back in order to open the gates, meant the rear deck was deluged with water leaking from the gates. By the time we reached Saltaire and moored up, some bailing was required from the engine ole!

Bingley Locks

New paddles awaiting instalation

Mooring at Saltsaire is poor, mainly because you are not allowed to stay overnight on the moorings opposite the mill as apartments overlook it and it would appear CRT has bowed to them. We were moored under trees and as the forecast for Saturday was would you guess, more high winds. We decided to make the short hop to the visitor moorings at Shipley first thing Saturday morning. Proper rings!  Sue and Baz were due to meet us for the day, so lunchtime we met up with them and had a wander and some lunch at the cafe on the park. The forecast was correct, it blew a hooley and we were glad we stayed put.

On Sunday we decided to drop down to Rodley, getting fuel on the way at Apperley Bridge and doing our first 3 rise on our lonesome, we managed, absolutely no problems and a little help from a chap who had been with us for miles walking his dog. We watered up at the services above the locks here, possibly the slowest tap on the system! Over an hour to top up. We were really looking forward to a Sunday roast at the pub that had been recommended, but missed it as service ended at four!

Monday saw us beginning the final descent into Leeds. The stories of nuisance youths swimming in locks here are legendary, so we were expecting the journey to be something of a bind. It was far from it. The canal passes through leafy glades. With no litter or youths to be seen. Newlay and Forge locks are manned, which aided our lone passage. One of the keepers explained that local kids can be a nuisance, after 3pm. Well we saw none. It was a really pleasant trip. Descending Office lock, we saw that there was plenty of room in Granary Wharf and so we reversed in and moored up. Very pleasant it is to, when the local builders knock off for the day...

This has been a very peaceful journey. On average, we have seen four boats moving per day. Compared to the narrow canals in the south and Midlands, it is eerily quiet. Worth the effort for the views and the tranquility.

So enjoying a day shopping and seeing the sights. Ali has gone to donate blood whilst I type this out and as a reward,we are off for a meal at the bistro overlooking our mooring, tonight.

Hope he is well paid!

Tomorrow we descend the last lock on the Leeds Liverpool and out onto the river.

These pictures are under the Dark Arches, they are how the area was

and now ...

18 miles.
28 broad locks.
17 swing bridges.

On the move again. Slowly!

Boy am I glad we made the move into Skipton then hunkered down. The forecast was spot on. The wind was horrendous. Luckily, we had a spot on the 14 day moorings, sheltered from the worst that the weather could throw.

Monday morning was not to bad. So we had a walk around this splendid market town and did a little shopping. By mid afternoon, the wind was flexing it's muscles and do we battened down for what was a stormy evening and night.

Tuesday we had visitors. Chris & Wendy from N.B. Bees Neez called for a cuppa and catch up. We had met them in 2012 when we shared the Wigan flight and subsequent locks with them after leaving Liverpool. They have a beautiful mooring at Kildwick. Nice to catch up with them again.

As Sue & Quentin were having a short break from the boat,  we decided to go for a farewell meal. We wandered into town and ended up in what turned out to be a lovely pub, The Wooley Sheep Inn. Great beer and great food, great company, what more could one ask for. A really enjoyable evening, we retired back to the boat and finished off with some of Ali's cake. It was rather late when we said our final farewell. Sorry both, hope you had clearer heads than we did when you left for the station!

After a shop in town, well M&S, we cast off. A couple of miles, stopped for an Aldi shop and lunch, then a hop to Kildwick. We are pacing ourselves, really to avoid Leeds at the weekend, but also to give us time to decide on our route after this. This is swing bridge country and one was a bar steward, with a friendly dog walker assisting Ali to close one up!

On the outskirts of Riddlesden, we spotted a mooring giving a panoramic view of the Aire valley, so hopped in to enjoy the heat of the day. Yes, heat! It has been a beautiful day. Ali did a quick starboard touch up, whilst I had a snooze.

Tomorrow we hit the locks!

11.5 miles and 16 swing bridges.

pity about the street light, but there was a gap in the trees