Selby Canal - West Haddersley

Overcast and windy again this morning when we set off for West Haddersley.  Pat went ahead to the nearby lock and got it ready, then the lock keeper appeared by car and did the remainder for us.  Ferrybridge Power Station eventually appeared and we go off the river again into the cut to Knottingley and the junction with the Selby Canal.  Back to manual locks again!  Just as we were about to open the gates two more boats appeared  There is only room for two narrowboats in these locks, so the last has to wait.  Initially we are back on the River Aire again and its very convoluted course to West Haddersley.  At Beal Lock we caught up behind a broadbeam hotel boat, so had to let that go first.  These boats seem so awkward in the water and so slow that we had caught up with it well before the flood lock at West Haddersley and had to slow to little more than tickover.  The flood lock gates were closed and so the lock had to be worked; all for about 3 inches.  However, the lock instructions say to leave it with gates closed and the paddles down, so we did.   Moored up on the neat lock landing for the night.  Weather is promised to brighten up this afternoon.