UK Canals - Journey reports

Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Skipton

Walking the dog this morning revealed that our new mooring is even nearer to Morrison's than previously to Tesco.   Attempting to buy a paper at 7:45 proved futile as the store was not open and nowhere could I find any indication of store hours!   Actually it opened at 8:00 am.   Today we explored Skipton.   We walked up the Springs Branch past the back of the Castle, and wandered along the street market ending up purchasing things we didn't know we needed including a slab of Garstang Blue cheese, a fresh loaf and a cake tin.   Morris Dancers were out by the canal and there was a festive atmosphere.  The day turned out quite pleasant with occasional actual sunshine from time to time.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Skipton

Rain yesterday afternoon continued overnight and this morning. As we had 4 swing bridges in close proximity, Pat set off walking. What we didn't know was that the middle two were chained open. The last one was the site of the Polish Airmen's Memorial. Lovely views over the Aire Valley continued to the left and the hillside to the right was sometimes wooded. The last of the rhododendrons added colour. Kildwick Bridge gave the impression of being an automatic operation, but the key only worked the barriers, lights and wedges. It had to be pushed open. Likewise Bradley bridge. Kildwick village looked attractive from the canal with steep streets leading up the hill to the right. After Bradley we came up behind another boat and expected them to have to work the first swing bridge for us, but opposite direction boaters got there first and this was the only one before Skipton. By chance we found a mooring opposite the facilities and coach station which was ideally placed for the nearby Tesco, but rather unattractive, so once shopping done we moved past the Springs Branch turning to bridge 176 for more greenery and access to the nearby park over the bridge.

Leeds & Liverpool Canal:Silsden

A slow start this morning.   With no food in the freezer we needed to check out the whereabouts of supermarkets.   Luckily we found a Tesco Express store nearby in Morton Lane (Crossflatts) and for later, a Tesco superstore in Skipton near the canal.   So we went to the local one first thing and then to the bakers at the bottom of the hill for fresh bread.   No!   They don't sell fresh bread.  Wierd! Then to the butcher for bacon, eggs and pies.  The butcher seemed to be doing brisk business.  So we left after 9 am in the end and had no problems with today's ration of swing bridges.   Taking it very slowly we stopped in Silsden at midday and after lunch went to explore the town.   Just the main street shops with a launderette, bakers (no fresh bread here either) and a butcher.    Then the rain set in as forecast.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Micklethwaite

Arrived back on the boat today after a sojourn in Chatham (Kent) visiting with our daughter. All was found to be in order, although the holding tank was full and urgently needing a pumpout.  I had always wondered what would happen if the holding tank was really full to overflowing like.  Well it doesn't overflow.  What happens is that the effluent just syphons back into the toilet which really smells. The only way to achieve a pumpout was to reverse back to Hainsworth Boatyard near the top of the 5 rise locks. There was a swing bridge to negotiate, Pat's nemesis! She hates them, partly because the motorists are sometimes unforgiving (though this time very understanding) but because something always goes wrong. It did this time. Firstly she couldn't get the gates to lock closed, then at the end to get them open again. It took a local chap who knew them well to sort them out. "Don't worry, they are always going wrong." Pumpout done and with no food in the fridge anymore, we moved back to the riginal mooring and nearby fish shop for the night.

Bingley

I have pretty well given up all hope of getting anywhere.   With no crew, the swing bridges are just about impossible and risk is too great.    So just poodled along to the bottom of the Bingley 3 rise and was rather taken with the offside moorings below Damart Mill.  The lock-keeper came and asked what my intentions were because there can be long delays at the locks.  I desperately needed some shopping, so went off in search of a food shop and found easy access from the moorings to the road bridge, left at the lights and up to the top of the hill for quite a decent Coop store.    The moorings are 3 days max, so thought I would spend the night at least.   However, later in the afternoon another boat was ready to go up the two sets of locks - they are worked as a unit, the 3 rise and the 5 rise, and the lock-keeper suggested in the lovely way they have of doing, that I would be better at the top.  So we went up.   The first chamber of the 5 rise had a leaky bottom seal in the intermediate gate, and being deep locks sprayed a huge jet over the roof and into the well deck of the hire boat.  The water on the roof gushed down the handrail guttering onto the back deck, and the well deck drained through the door vents into the cabin.   We were untouched, but if we had been going the otherway out engine bilge and back cabin would have been flooded.  Our tiny rainwater drainage channels could never cope.   At the top, I failed yet again to offload the rubbish and could not find a deep enough mooring until after Micklethwaite bridge which I negotiated with the help of a pair of opposite direction boats.    Being relatively near a railway station it seems best to wait here until crew returns.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Dowley

Plan for the first swing bridge worked like a dream.  Moored on the working side, open the bridge, pass and moor on the towpath side to use the chain to close it.  Same for the second except that there was no mooring on the working side, so used the pole to push it over and the chain as before.  Third one was too stiff for this approach but two cyclists helped.  Then I arrived at Apperley, and saw the welcoming signs at the marina for pump out (needed) and diesel (could be needed), but it was only 8 am and no sign of activity there so I decided to carry on and round the corner was the nightmare of the key in the slot automated bridge with no moorings on the working side.  Rush hour.  So I thought, lets go back to the marina and wait for service when hopefully traffic will have subsided a bit.  Big mistake.  A boat came opposite direction 15 minutes later which could have saved me, and the marina I discovered too late didn't open until 9:30 and then I was told that I couldn't have a pump-out because my port is on the wrong side.   By this time I was suitably riled not to bother about traffic and tied up to a post on the working side, opened the bridge and suggested to the driver in the front of the queue that it would be in his best interest to push the button for me when I had passed through.   Dobson 2 locks were no problem.  Strangford had no chain and I got in a terrible mess with this one and was rescued by another boat.   After Field 3 lock staircase (lockkeeper) Buck Hill bridge was so stuck I had to rope it to the boat to pull it open and a passer by agreed to be a safety watch person to prevent a cyclist suddenly appearing out of nowhere and finding the bridge suddenly not there.  He actually worked the bridge.  Oddies worked with the pole and chain, except when I pulled the chain it was broken.   Some youngsters appearing on the working side shut it for me.  Dock bridge was another nightmare which although requiring some agility worked well.  The BW key is used to lower the barriers, then a windlass to wind separately the wedges and rotate the bridge.   Driving the boat through I was able to put it across the canal with the stern by the bridge turntable and the bow on the bridge mooring. This meant a rather undignified climb up a  2ft 6" wall, but not difficult. Then through Shipley and Saltaire, no mooring space, so carried on to Hirst Lock and its swing bridge (no problem, but a long walk round the lock to close the bridge) and finally the Dowley Gap 2.  This was interesting.   The previous user had left a bottom paddle 1 or 2 inches up which I didn't spot beforehand, so when changing chambers, the water continued to leak out and the boat grounded.   I couldn't understand at first why the boat wouldn't move out of the way when I tried to shut the gate.   Soon solved of course.  Finally stopped for the night round the corner.

On the K&A moorings are now provided on the working side of all user operated bridges, but not on the Leeds & Liverpool.  I suppose the counter argument is that boats are not expected to be single handed.  I might need a different strategy.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Dowley

Plan for the first swing bridge worked like a dream.  Moored on the working side, open the bridge, pass and moor on the towpath side to use the chain to close it.  Same for the second except that there was no mooring on the working side, so used the pole to push it over and the chain as before.  Third one was too stiff for this approach but two cyclists helped.  Then I arrived at Apperley, and saw the welcoming signs at the marina for pump out (needed) and diesel (could be needed), but it was only 8 am and no sign of activity there so I decided to carry on and round the corner was the nightmare of the key in the slot automated bridge with no moorings on the working side.  Rush hour.  So I thought, lets go back to the marina and wait for service when hopefully traffic will have subsided a bit.  Big mistake.  A boat came opposite direction 15 minutes later which could have saved me, and the marina I discovered too late didn't open until 9:30 and then I was told that I couldn't have a pump-out because my port is on the wrong side.   By this time I was suitably riled not to bother about traffic and tied up to a post on the working side, opened the bridge and suggested to the driver in the front of the queue that it would be in his best interest to push the button for me when I had passed through.   Dobson 2 locks were no problem.  Strangford had no chain and I got in a terrible mess with this one and was rescued by another boat.   After Field 3 lock staircase (lockkeeper) Buck Hill bridge was so stuck I had to rope it to the boat to pull it open and a passer by agreed to be a safety watch person to prevent a cyclist suddenly appearing out of nowhere and finding the bridge suddenly not there.  He actually worked the bridge.  Oddies worked with the pole and chain, except when I pulled the chain it was broken.   Some youngsters appearing on the working side shut it for me.  Dock bridge was another nightmare which although requiring some agility worked well.  The BW key is used to lower the barriers, then a windlass to wind separately the wedges and rotate the bridge.   Driving the boat through I was able to put it across the canal with the stern by the bridge turntable and the bow on the bridge mooring. This meant a rather undignified climb up a  2ft 6" wall, but not difficult. Then through Shipley and Saltaire, no mooring space, so carried on to Hirst Lock and its swing bridge (no problem, but a long walk round the lock to close the bridge) and finally the Dowley Gap 2.  This was interesting.   The previous user had left a bottom paddle 1 or 2 inches up which I didn't spot beforehand, so when changing chambers, the water continued to leak out and the boat grounded.   I couldn't understand at first why the boat wouldn't move out of the way when I tried to shut the gate.   Soon solved of course.  Finally stopped for the night round the corner.

On the K&A moorings are now provided on the working side of all user operated bridges, but not on the Leeds & Liverpool.  I suppose the counter argument is that boats are not expected to be single handed.  I might need a different strategy.

Leeds and Liverpool Canal:Rodley

The wind generator is not yet fully commissioned and a few supplies were still needed to an early visit to Wilkinson's sorted that out.   My dilemma is that if I need to return to London again urgently for upwards of a week, I need to be in a suitable place, i.e. some sort of security is a good idea, and electricity saves cleaning out the fridge.   Clarence dock is £25 a night after 48 hours although after explaining the situation I have been allowed to stay on for a couple of nights longer free of charge.   However, longer term moorings there come with a minimum stay of months.   Finding space in a marina is not always easy and several I phoned either have no space or do not accept short term mooring.   Lemonroyd Marina could help, but it is in the wrong direction and Rodley Boat Services would help if needed, mooring breasted up on their inline wharf.   So today, I aimed for Rodley.   This is now single handed operation with dog.

Leaving Clarence Dock I was once again on the wide river and finally found the entrance to the canal, Lock 1 (River Lock).   There is not landing stage as such, just some steps leading up from about 4 feet up on the lock throat wall.  It took a little while to get the centre rope secure and access to the steps was from the roof.  Forgetting that a handcuff key is the norm here meant another trip back to the cabin.   Once in the lock wind became a factor and the boat drifted away from the ladder.   The curious L&L ground paddle gear was also a surprise.   It seemed to take ages to clear this lock, but eventually we did and with everything secured up again.   Office Lock was negotiated a little faster, but again with the boat all over the place.  Then came one more before the Oddy 2 staircase.  I was meeting boats coming the other way, so now the chambers were empty, except that for the staircase it means filling the top chamber first.   At the next lock, a broadbeam was waiting above, so that was helpful.  Then the longer run to Kirkstall Lock and finally reaching the Forge 3 lock staircase where the lock-keeper was already priming the top two chambers for me.   He suggested it would be easier if I just stayed on the tiller which I was obviously glad to do, having all the work done for me.   He had telephoned ahead to the next staircase 3, so they were ready also.  I was however, surprised that the bow hit the top gate cill before I had cleared the bottom gate and had the do a Calder & Hebble wiggle to get in.   The filling didn't seem to go so well here as the ground paddle sent the boat across the lock unlike previously.  This lock is apparently the shortest on the canal, particularly the middle chamber, I was told.   Then I came to my first swing bridge.   Of course the operating end is opposite to the mooring side, so there will be much experimenting in future on how best to deal with this.   I expect every bridge will be different, but Ross Mill was the first.  I took a bow rope and tied it to the bridge, opened the bridge and pulled the boat through, pushing it off as it went to stop the cabin side being scored by the bridge.   Then stopped it in such a position that it could be pulled in to the base of the bridge to escape.   Then next one I persuaded a passer by to do for me (result!).   Finally I stopped short of Rodley Bridge on the Wharf Moorings for the night. 

With a bit of time to spare I completed the guy wire assembly for the wind generator which is now deployed.   There is some wind today and the thing is intermittently humming as I write this.   Lets see how the batteries look in the morning.

Return to Leeds

We had needed to return to London urgently on Sunday and had left the boat rather quickly, just connecting the electric up to the pedestal, seeing current, but not checking the credit on the meter.  On return this afternoon, the power was off and the inverter had cut out at low voltage.   However, the fridge was still cold and a £1 card purchased from the CRT office got everthing going again.   A quick recce found the shopping centre not far away.

Leeds and LIverpool Canal:Armouries Museum Wharf

We left early hoping to get to Leeds this morning.  Passing through Castleford Flood Lock we entered "new territory".   Our first obstacle was the massive Lemonroyd Lock.    This is a full length lock with a 14 foot fall and end fill to boot.    Mooring in the lock well back there is a little bit of surge back and forth, but quite manageable.   Likewise with the remainder of the locks to Leeds, although Leeds Lock has a small Leeds & Liverpool sized chamber for general self operation - fully automated.    We found perfect moorings in the Armouries Basin (Clarence Dock) with electricity (Cards can be bought in the CRT office opposite on the river.)  We used 30p worth overnight.

Aire & Calder:Castleford

We stayed put today, mostly to set up the newly aquired windcharger.   More on that in the maintenance section in due course.

Castleford

Having returned to the boat last afternoon, we continued our journey today aiming for Castleford.  We quickly got used to the many swing and lifting bridges on the New Junction Canal, including the bridge at the lock.   To the unfamiliar, this one is a puzzle until one realises that the key has to be inserted into a solitary pedestal by the bridge and the bridge operated before the lock can be used.   Then in reverse when finished.   Joining the Aire & Calder Navigation we were, of course on massive locks, although there is mostly a smaller section for self service operation.  We encountered a large opposite direction sand barge here, but with no discernable consequence.   The canal narrows at Knottingley and I remarked how meeting such a barge here might be exiting.  Blow me we did, right in an admittedly large bridge hole!    The moorings at Castleford were busy and we were forced to tie up at the "commercial end" on a rather high wharf.   No real problem though apart from the dog needing a bunk-up to get off.