Shipley to Dowley Gap

6 May

Shipley to Dowley Gap

Slow start of the day to catch up on chores. Inverter playing up as we had not done enough hours over the last few days and could not handle washing machines. 

Did a trip to Aldi, strange supermarket but it has everything.

As we had just started we did not stop at the famous Saltaire model town built by Sir Titus Salt to house his workers and mills. Also missed out on finding the famous custard squares but we probably didn't need them. http://www.saltairevillage.info/

Only did 3 miles in drizzle but still managed to get to go through 3 locks and successfully built our engine hours.

Dowley Rise which is 2 was supposed to have a lock keeper but I think he was in hiding as it was no longer drizzle but real rain. We managed to get through on our own and tied up outside Fisherman Inn. We had been told you get good food there and being wet and 2pm thought fantastic we can have a warm lunch and dry off. No such luck - chef had had an emergency and kitchen was closed. What is it with English pubs and not serving food, this had better not become a habit.

After a couple of drinks we went back to boat almost dry and made Roast Chicken for dinner.

TOTAL – 3 miles, 3 locks (1 + 2 Rise) and 2 swing bridges

7 May

Dowley Gap to Silsden

Glad we stopped at Dowley last night as we made the Bingley Rise 3 and 5 in overcast but fine weather, would not be fun in rain. Definite bonus is that they have lock keepers, I would have been dead if I had to do it all by myself. Interesting guys, thoroughly enjoyed talking to them.

Top of the 3 rise - note the chimney height

Start of the 5 Rise Bingley

look how little Pete is through gate

At the top - note Chimney height - have risen 61 feet

Gates badly need to be repaired on 3 Rise and the lower 2 gates on 5 Rise also need repairing as they had been put in 1990 and were definitely getting to the end of their lives. New gates had been made and guess what they got them down there and couldn’t put them in, wrong size altogether. They had used wrong plans and no one had gone to measure. What ever happened to measure twice and cut once.

The country side has changed dramatically as we are now more in the moors having raised over 61 feet and has become beautiful.

Can you spot the canal - invisible in the countryside

Silsden

TOTAL – 7 miles, 8 locks (3 + 5 Rise) and 11 swing bridges (just about over these, harder work than the locks)

First Visitors aboard

3 May

Leeds to Kirkstall

We waited outside The Royal Armoury until our first visitors arrived. Donna and Sharon (cousins) landed in UK on 2^nd from Sydney. Their train was late from London so we were going nowhere. 

It had rained steadily overnight and river was up on red mark which meant we couldn’t proceed if we wanted to but by the time the girls turned up at 2pm the rain had stopped and the river had lowered to amber.

We also found out that once we got through Leeds Lock 1 we had no more Auto Locks and the hard work was starting. Donna was given quick lessons on how narrow locks worked and was put to work.

We moored by 6.30pm outside the former Kirkstall Brewery and now the student Hall accommodation for the University.

We headed to The Bridge for a drink and some food only to find out that they were not serving food that night.  Pete loved the Ale which had NZ hops and more.

We girls drank wine and all rolled back to boat, you would have thought we hadn’t caught up 6 months ago, we never learn.

TOTAL- 3 Miles - 7 locks

4 May

Kirkstall to Horsforth

Donna and Sharron headed to Kirstall Abbey and came back amazed at how old it is. 

Kirkstall Abbey

We took off around 9.30 and had one lock and two 3 rise locks and 3 swing bridges to get to Horsforth.

In Rodley we had managed to final find Diesel and pumpout, we had been looking for days and have already learnt never pass up an opportunity to restock or empty.

getting pumpout

By 1pm we headed to the Owl in Rodley for lunch and had phoned Dianne and the boys and Alfred to join us.

After lunch we moved on to a more suitable mooring in Horsforth and changed pubs to Railway Inn and where Rachael joined us and we cured our hangovers by topping up. Had a great family get together.

Totally amazed at how many dogs were in this pub. The English and their dogs.

TOTAL – 3 miles - 7 locks - 3 swing bridges with hangovers.

5 May

Horsforth to Shipley

Got rid of our visitors who headed back to London and we set off in drizzle towards Shipley just before 10.  Fantastic fun catching up with people but we are ready to move on.

Lots of swing bridges and locks. We managed to get help from another boater at Apperley Bridge lock which was a 2 rise and we were lucky enough to get to Field 3 Rise between the magic hours. These locks are only manned between 1 and 2 by Canal Trust.

In the middle rise we got to pass another boat going into the lock we just came out. This is the 2^nd time we have done this. The guy on his boat was amazed he had been on canals for 30 years and had never passed another boat in a lock.

Have moored in the heart of Shipley tonight and we will replenish the cupboards and then head towards Bingley

TOTAL – 6 miles – 5 locks – 7 swing bridges

                                                                                                                           

Woodlesford to Leeds Lock 1

A leisure start for the day after a trip to The Co-op to restock stores in Woodlesford.

We continued on down The River Aire to Leeds going through some interest city life 

Thawte Mills Industrial Museum a no-mans's land of closed collieries, we didn't stop this time.

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Thwaite-Mills-Watermill.aspx

Royal Armouries Museum

We had planned on stopping here as they have 72 hour free moorings and we have our first visitors arriving tomorrow into Leeds. The museum was extremely interesting and certainly a good way to waste a wet afternoon. The sun had better come out for tomorrow.

http://www.royalarmouries.org/home

Our mooring for the night just see boat on the right.

It has been nice having a slow day. Tomorrow looks like a big day.

TODAYs TOTAL – 4 miles and 3 locks

Went Aquaduct to Woodlesford

1 May

Woke this morning to frost, what a beautiful morning. Too cold so lit the central heating and went back to bed - ho hum hard life for some.

Frozen flag

Spent most of the day cruising the River Aire which started by going through Knottingley

Flour Mill

Alot of the river to Castleford was through Fairburn Ings and Newton Ings - (Ings must mean Natural Reserve). We also spent alot of the day looking for diesel and pumpouts - still to be found.

I have certainly got the hang of these big locks - very pleased that they are automated I would hate to be pushing these gates.

We got to Lemonroyd Lock around 3ish and caught up with our Steve and Paul (cousins)  After discussions we decided to move on to Woodlesford which is where my dad was born. Tied up for the night and off for dinner to the carvery with them, was very cheap and good - only in Yorkshire. Had a good catch up, so reliable I forgot to take photos again.

TOTAL - 21 miles and 4 locks and 2 flood locks that are open