Author Archives: Pip

Your, You’re, Ure. 15th August

Linton Lock to Oxclose Lock, Ripon Canal

John and Marion accompanying us away from Linton Lock

We timed our departure this morning with the Geraghty Zoom so that we had some amusement whilst cruising the nine mile reach of the river. Topics today included, A levels, Theatre and quarantine exemptions in New York. As we cruised along up river we gave the family a forward view of the willow trees. We missed where the River Ouse becomes the River Ure, a small stream coming in from the west marks the point, so small it wasn’t spotted.

The most exciting part of our cruise, going under Aldwark Bridge sadly was missed by them all, as our connection kept being lost, this also meant we missed out on some of the conversations. Sitting inside with the laptop is much better as you get to see everyone, rather than just the person who is talking. But it helped us while away an hour.

Today was most certainly jeans and jumper weather, the temperature having plummeted from the heights of a few days ago and the sun had put itself into quarantine.

Some golfers crossed high above the river going from one hole to another and herds of cows stopped what they were doing to have a look at us and only one Kingfisher made the effort to amuse us today.

Milby Lock came into view. We’ve only been up this way once before, six years ago, and I’d forgotten how imposing this lock looks from below. It also is not our favourite lock. A cruiser (first boat seen today) pulled away from below which made us think the lock would be empty, but it wasn’t.

Canoeists sat by the lock having a brunch of noodles, whilst others lifted their boats out of the water to leapfrog the lock. I wound the paddles up and had a good look at the lock as it emptied.

Back in 2014 we’d roped up in the lock, I’d headed to wind the same side paddle, which in most canal locks means your boat gets held against that side. Not being able to see anything in the lock I’d given my windlass two turns and headed over to check on things. Before I got there there was an almighty crash, chinkling of glass as the bow had launched at speed across the lock. Nothing obvious to us from outside we very slowly continued to fill the lock. Once we were up and out of the lock I headed inside to be greeted by Houdini (our second mate at the time) rushing towards me. She was desperate to let me know it wasn’t her fault! It turns out somehow our crash had dislodged the hopper half of a porthole which had jumped off the boat and smashed, now sitting at the bottom of the lock!

So not wanting to repeat this my observations were important. There are risers on the starboard side of the lock, these are protected by timber rails either side, the one nearest the top gates stops some two three foot from the water level a possible place where your boat can get caught as it rises. Also here and on the other side are bowl shaped holes, presumably from where boats have time and time again hit the walls as the lock has filled. But the most important thing I did note was where the water would come into the lock, because the river level is a touch low at the moment I could see that it would be perfectly positioned to catch the bow of a narrowboat and push it across the lock.

With this knowledge Mick brought Oleanna in moved her stern across behind the starboard side gate, he roped up onto one of the risers and I gently lifted the port side paddle. Two chaps arrived to come down the lock, locals who I asked for confirmation that I was doing the right thing. At first I wound the paddle with one of the chaps keeping an eye on Oleanna, but then we swapped. Water was swilling across Oleanna’s well deck through the drain holes, so we lowered the paddle a bit until things calmed down. She gradually rose with no bumping, a touch of paddle adjustment was needed but we did it without loosing any windows. Phew!

Along the tree lined cut to Boroughbridge we must have passed three more cruisers, everyone having set off at a similar time. We pulled in on the off side to top up with diesel, Canal Garage has a pump just in view and a hose that swings out on an arm. The mooring is high so fine for most cruisers, but positioning a narrowboat facing upstream for the hose to reach is a touch problematical. In the end I had to untie the bow rope and push out. The hose just reached and we topped up with the garages best red at 64p a litre.

It was easier for us to push over to the other side to tie up before Mick headed back across the bridge to pay, he then headed into the town for our Saturday newspaper, the Spa shop having a big queue outside so a newsagent got our money.

After lunch we moved off again another three and a half mile reach of willow trees to keep us amused. Under the A1, more cows watching our progress then the bow of a narrowboat came into view.

The cratch looked familiar, I zoomed in, yep NB Billy. Clare picked up her binoculars to check us out, we both waved. Last seen on the curley wurlys of the Leeds Liverpool just over three weeks ago, we’d been wondering if our paths would cross again or had our slow progress meant they would be miles away by now.

There was time for a quick chat as our bows crossed, they’d had a good time up in Ripon including a visit to Fountains Abbey. Glad they enjoyed it. I suspect this will be the last time our paths cross this year, not sure which way they are heading now. Which ever way it is enjoy it and see you somewhere again.

A large creation sat on the river bank. More like an aircraft hanger than a boat with tarpaulined roof, admittedly with a few bits of timber and windows visible. We wondered if this was a house boat, boat or shanty town. As we got to the upstream end we discovered it was No 9 with a very natty bicycle rack on it’s roof.

Below Westwick Lock a widebeam was manoeuvring. Had they come down the lock backwards? Had they been picking people up? We weren’t sure but they pulled off up towards the weir stream and hung back for us to approach. They actually had right of way as facing upstream we can hold our position easier.

We worked our way up the lock opening the top paddles as I had done at Milby and it worked a treat.

Around the first bend we could see apple trees full of natures bounty. This is the orchard of Newby Hall. We wondered if they would notice a few missing for a crumble but soon realised we could hear people, so wouldn’t pull into their mooring to help ourselves. The Hall and grounds are open, people climbing on board the mini railway and trip boats were running upstream.

During World War 2 the Hall was reserved for the Royal Family should they have needed to be evacuated from London. There are gardens, orchards and a very fine house, originally built in 1690 by Sir Christopher Wren the house was then enlarged and adapted by John Carr and subsequently Robert Adam. The interior is a very fine example of 18th Century design, well worth a visit.

As the hall disappeared behind us our way forward was sign posted. Left into an almost invisible cut whilst the river headed off looking far more inviting to our right. We followed the sign and soon arrived at Oxclose Lock the start of the Ripon Canal.

We worked up the lock, lifting the panels in the upper walkway to open the gate as they slot neatly round the paddle gear. Above two boats were moored on the visitor moorings. Was there space for us?

The Ripon Canal is renowned for being well looked after, the Lock Keeper keeping everything smart and clean. Yes the grass around the lock could do with a cut, but the flower beds and shrubs looked neat and tidy. There were some new posts that the boats were moored to. A sign on the offside suggested that was the lock landing, so were these posts right up to the lock for mooring? We decided that yes they were, we’d also be leaving enough space behind us should anyone else need it.

It took Tilly a while to find a gap in the chicken mesh hidden in the sideways trees, but then she was off away from pesky woofers, shouting and climbing the trees, she took a little bit of persuasion to come in for her dingding when the time came.

The cruisers that had been down on the river returned along with the widebeam. We soon realised it was better if the lock was full as it was very noisy when empty. Then early evening the two boats ahead of us winded and headed up towards Ripon leaving us on our own. Soon we were left listening to rain falling for the first time in weeks.

3 locks, 14.93 miles, 1 river but 2, 1 canal, 1 hour off and on of zoom, 1 horrid lock, 107 litres, 64p, 1 newspaper, 1 Billy, 2 waving boaters, 2 trip boats, 4 apples wouldn’t go amiss, 3 hours shore leave, 1 tiny cat sized hole, 27 trees, 1 kingfisher, 1 helicopter.

https://goo.gl/maps/5ShS82ovsRgXMXZcA

Bridging The Ouse. 14th August

Naburn Lock to Linton Lock

Once breakfast was over it was time to make a move upstream. We have done the route into York on Lillian twice, however I know the river better from the banks on this side of the city. This is where I grew up, over looking the river which I was taught to respect from a very early age. Things change, but along this stretch only the trees seem to grow bigger and higher than in my childhood. The advantage of living beside a flood plain is no new chimneyless houses have popped up.

From Naburn the riverside moorings are full of white shiny cruisers all their pointy noses facing upsteam. Acaster Malbis has houses to match with big gardens stretching down to the river.

There were tents and gazebos at York Marina and they seemed to be doing a roaring trade, most probably in teas and coffees overlooking the river.

The wire sculpture of a fisherman and his dog on Naburn Railway Bridge

We tried checking the price for diesel on their pump, but as it serves both petrol and diesel I couldn’t tell which cost £1.65 a litre! We’ll hang on till Boroughbridge.

The west bank of the river now becomes more interesting, lots of different sorts of boats, all the moorings individual clinging onto the high bank. In some places it’s like a shanty town, it must take years, decades to collect the stuff some have piled high. Others have new swiss style sheds that have sprung up during lockdown, their fresh yellow wood waiting for the winter to be toned down by nature.

Archbishops Palace. We used to walk down the east bank with the dogs and stand and look at the Palace. At 7 or 8 I never thought about who lived there, but today neither of us knew who the new Archbishop of York was, I had to look it up! We knew John Sentamu had retired after 15 years, now Stephen Cottrell is the 98th Archbishop, I believe he took on the position early in the summer. Four years ago scarecrows stood in the riverside garden, today it just looked neat.

Not the nicest bridge to cross the river

The A64 then crosses the river, I remember the days before this was built and then the gradual increase in traffic across it which could be heard from our house, it also supposedly blocked out the tiny view of the palace from my parents bedroom. A brave runner ran against the traffic high above us, then she popped up again on the east bank keeping pace with us as we headed upstream.

Fulford Hall, now apartments sits on the bend where the trip boats used to wind. Then I could just make out Landing Lane (Lovers Lane when I was a kid) between the trees. My Dad in his latter years felt he’d achieved a good walk if he reached the benches here for a rest, I think Bramble his dog was glad of the rest too, accompanied by a restorative square of liver cake Dad made especially for her. He was also very popular with all the other local woofers.

Wonder if they were looking for the penny Harald dropped in 1066

Today two chaps were magnet fishing off the little beach here. This is where the Battle of Fulford took place in 1066. King Harald III of Norway and Tostig Godwinson, his English ally, fought and defeated the Northern Earls Edwin and Morcar in September that year. It is estimated that 1650 died in the battle, so there may be interesting things to find on the river bed. Recently Fulford Parish Council had a crowdfunding attempt to buy some of the land for the community. But sadly even though they reached their target their funds were out bid at auction. I hope the new owner realises what they have.

Just a short distance on it was time to very gently coast upstream. We kept our eyes peeled for a house set back, peeking above the friendly cover on the banks. To either side of my family home are big houses, my Dad’s house much smaller, but somehow, my Dad’s is the only one you can get a clear view of from the river. The window visible is my parents bedroom, the room where I was born.

In the last year or so the current owner has added a bedroom to the back and altered the conservatory, as part of the building works new larch cladding has replaced the old original wood which had darkened with age. The house my Dad designed and built is still there.

Onwards to the Millenium Bridge a possible mooring that needed checking out. We’ll need to be a touch creative with our mooring as other than a chain there is nothing to tie to. We checked the depth and that was good too, the fact that we’d be moored close to a chilled medication boat has nothing what-so-ever to do with it!

Now we were joined on the river by trip boats and day hires doing circles. We managed to avoid them.

The Blue Bridge over the end of the River Foss has recently been away for restoration and it looks like a temporary bridge had been installed. The Foss Barrier behind is sadly closed due to work being carried out on it, we’d been toying with a little trip up as far as you can get, but that will have to wait for another time.

We spotted a weather vein on top of my best friend Emma’s house, sure this wasn’t there when the Snowdons were residence.

If anyone fancies buying us a big present one day

A rather lovely looking Dutch Barge sits on the Clementhorpe bank. If we were ever to win the Lottery we would love to own one of these for the large waterways. Their lines are just so lovely, of course we would keep Oleanna meaning we could still climb over the Pennines.

Skeldergate Bridge, which recently we found out that the northern most arch used to have a lifting section to it to allow taller boats access to the busy quaysides upstream, this last opened in 1975. Originally a toll bridge which replaced a busy ferry it opened in 1881 and was designed by Thomas Page, it was the third modern bridge in the city. The bridge became toll free in 1914, the citizens of York were so happy they held a regatta to celebrate.

Kings Staith was busy as always, well apart from when it’s flooded! All the trip boats and hire boats were out and plenty of people were sat out enjoying the sunshine. Here is another possible mooring, but with ladders to climb to get on and off Oleanna we are unlikely to use it.

Under Ouse Bridge the oldest of the bridges in York. This is where the first bridge across the Ouse stood in the ninth century. Several versions have followed including one that in 1367 had the first public toilets in the country installed. The current Ouse Bridge was built in 1821.

The back of Coney Street, the main shopping street from my youth follows along. The old printworks for the York Press and the Mansion House all back onto the river before Lendal Bridge, another crossing designed by Thomas Page.

This was the second bridge to cross the river, its original foundation stone was laid in 1860, during it’s construction disaster struck and it collapsed killing five men. The bridge was rebuilt to Thomas Page’s design and opened in 1863. The new bridge put the Lendal ferryman out of business, he was paid compensation of £15 and a horse and cart.

The moorings along the bottom of Museum Gardens is the most popular place to tie up in York, nothing to do with the other chilled medication boat being moored here. Today we’d have managed to squeeze in, but here was not our chosen mooring for the day, we still had quite a few miles to go.

A trip boat had pulled out ahead of us and now took it’s time to give it’s commentary on the Scarborough Railway Bridge, with it’s new footbridge that leads into the station platforms. Past the bridge the trip boat sped up and we followed until it reached Clifton Bridge where it winded, giving it’s horn signal mid manoeuvre!

The river is now surrounded by willow trees, many having shed large branches into the water, luckily most still attached to the bank so not a hazard to us today. Under Skelton Railway Bridge which takes the East Coast Main Line up towards Newcastle and Edinburgh, no trains obliged for a photo.

Kingfishers were about again today, darting across the rivers surface keeping us amused whilst nothing much else could be seen. Then a few trees other than willows showed on the banks of the river, a house and then a tight turn to the right where the River Nidd joins the Ouse and sandy banks encourage dogs and children to swim. Here is the boundary to Beningborough Park in which sits Beningborough Hall a National Trust property we visited in 2014 .

We were surprised to see the pontoon for The Dawnay Arms empty on a Friday afternoon, but then again they are closed during the afternoon. Here’s hoping it is empty on our return as we’ll be stopping to treat ourselves to a meal here.

Below Linton Lock the river widens out and is very shallow. Buoys mark the shallow water and fishermen were taking advantage to wade their way out to tempt the fish to their lines. I hopped off at the pontoon and walked up to set the lock.

The mechanism for the bottom gate paddles is an unusual one. Horizontal wheels on the gates need to be turned to raise the paddle below the water. This takes quite some time to do, then the lock takes quite a while to empty. Once I was certain it had levelled out it was time to open the gate. This is windlass operated so if your arms weren’t tired enough from turning the wheels they would be by the time you’d got the gate shifted. I’ve made a mental note to try the other gate when we come back as it may not rest on the ground quite as much, hopefully it will be easier.

Then there is everything to close up before you start filling the lock, those wheels to spin closed and the gate to wind shut. I looked longingly at the large cool glasses of beer sat in front of people by the lock, they looked so good!

The position of the ground paddles is quite a distance away from the lock, this makes it impossible to see what is happening as you raise the paddle. With no sight of Mick or Oleanna I wound the paddle several times then checked over the gate, a bit more, check again, a bit more and so on. I think it increased my steps for the day. Slowly Oleanna rose, still quite a distance down in the lock when the levels equalised.

We’d been hoping for a space on the visitor pontoon here. Two cruisers seemed to be taking up most of the space, but was there more room further on. Mick headed off whilst I closed up the lock. Just after the cruisers was a space big enough for us, even if the pontoon ran out and we’d be overhanging the slipway, it would do for us tonight.

1 lock, 15.71 miles, 1 palace, 9 bridges, 1 birth place, 1 Daddy Fatso house still there, 1 day reminiscing, 2 moorings checked out, 2 chilled medication boats, 1 sunny day, 1 home city, 1 table booked, 2 wheels, 0 view, 1 boat squeezed in, 1 very late lunch, 0 shore leave, 5 Kingfishers, 300+ photos today.

https://goo.gl/maps/YBkxTk4RCWNMNUiz9

Balaclavas At The Ready. 13th August

Selby Swing Bridge to Naburn Lock, River Ouse

As Mick opened a kitchen window this morning a wonderful cool breeze spread through the boat, air at last.

Our delivery arrived a little after 10am. The address given had been for the recycling centre, so as the van arrived and turned down the road opposite us I could see Mick running after the driver. The van turned round and parked up, the layby by us being full.

Fresh produce was sorted from that that could be quarantined, the only problem where to quarantine things? Normally they sit in the well deck under the cratch for a few days, whilst on canals this has worked fine, but today I’d be wanting a touch more space should we need to deploy the anchor on tidal waters, it may also rain so some things just couldn’t be stored there.

A rearrangement was needed, the plants, hose, ash can etc all came inside, the shower tray making for a green house for the afternoon. With everything now in a place it could stay we moved off, through the swing bridge towards Selby Basin. Tilly sat in the window and waved to her admirers as Oleanna passed through.

Boats on the visitor moorings were haphazardly positioned meaning we couldn’t get to the water point without sitting on the pump out mooring. We’d happily move should someone need it. Rubbish, water tank, yellow water all dealt with. The boat swept through, bathroom the once over then the final job of preparation, zipping together Tilly’s Escape Pod.

The excitement was great, she even tried to climb inside before I’d zipped the bottom to the sides. The top went on and she was the happiest cat in the whole wide world.

The Lock Keeper arrived and opened up his hut, so we walked over to say hello, check that he knew it would be NB Oleanna not NB Pollyanna heading up to Naburn today. We were accompanied by the chap who was in two minds, although he’d made his mind up now. Recently he’d had a bowthruster installed and there seems to be a leak from his water tank into where the motor sits, he needs to do some work to sort this.

We talked of return tides at the end of the month, our chosen day not so good so we may have to stay in York a day or two longer. I’m sure we’ll keep ourselves busy. We were warned about the amount of debris floating about on the river, normally on neep tides this isn’t such a problem.

Final checks, life jackets on, anchor easy to deploy. The bottom gates of the lock were unlocked, top gates opened, we headed in for our descent onto the incoming tide. We were to be the only boat heading upstream today from Selby, nothing big would be about as the rail bridge doesn’t swing in hot weather.

The lock emptied. The Lockie warned us of a passing tree, then we were free to head out into the flow. Oleanna rocked as she met the sideways force, pushing the bow round to face upstream. We were on our way.

However the tree that had just gone past was taking it’s time. We were moving faster than it! Mick slowed us right down, even a burst of reverse to try to get the tree from our bow. We sat stationary with the tree as the tide moved onwards around us! Gradually it moved and we were able to nudge it to one side. It accompanied us through Selby Railway Bridge. We really didn’t want it with us at the Toll Bridge where the arches are narrower and the water is faster flowing. More reverse and gentle nudging, then a burst of power and we were free at last!

The muddy banks surrounded us, trees and wharfs as we made our way round the first couple of bends.

‘Forest off the Port bow!’ Blimey it was like a log flume out there, so many branches and trees joining the flow. ‘Spiney to the starboard side’. Chicanes of wood accompanied us upstream for a good few miles. I put a flag on my map to mark the position of a very large tree, next week the tides will be very high so it will be interesting to see if it moves.

Mick checked our speed, 7mph, we were speeding! A few revs less. The tide carries you along, but you still need to power to be able to steer. Our first trip up the Ouse was with a stronger tide and more boats. The currents and confused water a new thing to us then, pushing us right out on bends and slowing us when not expected. In the last six years we’ve crossed the Douglas and Ribble, cruised the Trent several times and been up to York twice. Our last time on tidal waters was the Trent early last year when we wore balaclavas, today t-shirts and shorts were more appropriate.

After 8 miles we rounded a bend, the first houses visible on the bank above, Cawood. Mick lined us up for the bridge, we were ready to wave at the bridge keeper, but he had his head down as we sped past.

A couple of Kingfishers if you look closely

The banks gradually become lower, gaps in trees, but with the tide still coming in there are no views really to be had. The river gets narrower, the flow still with us for some way. We’d already seen a couple of Kingfishers, I’d pointed my camera to where I thought they’d landed and got lucky. Now on the higher reaches of the river Herons fished and more Kingfishers showed themselves. Today turned into a Kingfisher record day, nine seen darting along the river brightening up the grey day no end.

Our VHF radio crackled away chatting to Selby Toll Bridge. It sounded like we were being followed, most probably a cruiser who would fit under the bridge without too much of a problem with the tide coming in.

At Acaster Selby a barn looked like it’s roof had been rolled back and the farm house showed it’s roof beams to the world.

Now on Moreby Reach we met the boats heading downstream, first three cruisers all in a line. Then a couple of narrowboats, we all waved to each other.

High up on the east bank sat a building we’ve not noticed before, Moreby Hall a Grade 2* 19th Century manor house. There seemed to be building work going on, skips and a couple of containers outside. It seems like it is now a hotel. I can find details of it being 3 star but also 5 star. Maybe it is going to be relaunched. Some photos available here of the interior when it was last on the market.

The VHF radio came to life. Something about turning back, we weren’t quite sure what was being said, our reception a bit crackly. Then Naburn Lock was talking to someone else, a cruiser, they were being asked to wait. Another conversation in which we heard that the lock was in someone’s favour, presumably a boat that had turned back, presumably one of the boats we’d passed.

Mick decided to let the Lock Keeper know we were close, to which we were told to pull into the lock on the port side. This we did, the Lockie suggesting which riser to use at the bow. We took our time, passing a rope round at the bow, then Mick had threw the stern lineup which was tied to the top of a lock ladder, the lock too deep to pass it back down to Mick to hold. We then had a wait.

After about ten minutes the second cruiser we’d passed appeared, limping into the lock. It was their first trip onto tidal water and had been following their friends boat after leaving the lock. Something had hit his prop, the whole thing was juddering if he went above tickover. Obviously he wasn’t happy to continue down the river to Selby with the tide which was about to turn. With no weed hatch he wasn’t able to have a look, he’d need to come out of the water.

With them safely in the lock the gates were closed and we gently rose up to Naburn height. The semi detached lock keepers cottage looking over the lock cut. The square building that when we were last here had been empty, now looks like it may be a cafe, plenty of gongoozlers, some of whom were waiting to go down onto the river in their big cruisers.

We pulled out of the lock first and headed to the far end of the visitor moorings. Tilly was let out and a game of Pechow! was played up on the bank. Here was a timetable for the river bus which runs on Saturdays, we’d not seen anything saying not to moor where we were on the moorings.

Of course then about half an hour after we’d settled the river bus arrived! Winding right alongside us, there was plenty of space behind us for them to pull in. Mick chatted to the skipper asking if we were in their way. We were.

Mick pointed out that there was no notice reserving the mooring when you arrive by boat. The visitor mooring signs currently hidden behind long grass actually suggest that where we were moored would be a 14 day mooring. At least there would be no more river bus trips until Saturday, when we’ll be long gone.

2 locks, 14.15 miles, 14 on tidal water, 1 swing bridge holding up 7, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 0 rubbish, 2 many floating trees, 3 cruisers, 2 narrowboats, 1 returning cruiser, 5 herons, 9 kingfishers, 1 coconut, 1 boat in the way.

https://goo.gl/maps/MKTH9romXNbRs65H6

So Hot The Fire Brigade Came Out. 12th August

West Hadderseley Flood Lock to Selby Swing Bridge

Still warm this morning, but we kept the doors closed as we were wanting to move onwards. Mick refreshed our solids bucket so that we can dispose of it’s contents before heading onto the Ouse.

Our two neighbours had pushed off this morning and three boats from Strawberry Island in Doncaster came past from Selby. The last chap said he thought five or six boats were leaving Selby today, so there should be room for us.

We finally pushed off at around 11am, our planned mooring not quite at the other end of the canal.

Yesterday I omitted to mention that we’d had a visitor come in through the side hatch. A Golden Snitch flew in twice and thankfully managed to find it’s own way back out. I think our panic out weighed it’s as it crashed into things making sounds as if it’s structure were made of thin metal rods. Today we would be accompanied by many more snitches darting back and forth. Some gold some blue, but all of them beautifully glinting in the sunshine. Their presence almost making the muggy air bearable.

The Selby Canal at this time of year is filled with duck weed, nothing new as the water gradually got greener and greener the closer we got to Selby.

The high wall mooring was free apart from walkers taking a breather sat on the bench and two boats filled the available length at the barbecue mooring where we’d spent a very pleasant afternoon with the Margees four years ago when we spotted Otters in the cut.

Selby Boat Centre looked as busy as ever, chaps were out sanding boat roofs. We’d been wanting a top up of diesel, the first chap I asked didn’t know if they sold it. Then Mick caught the eye of another chap who was stood nearer the old diesel pump. ‘No, sorry. There’s a petrol station just over there’. We weren’t that desperate our tank will last us to Boroughbridge where the price would be more attractive than from a standard forecourt.

The Selby branch of Enterprise came into view along with the recycling centre, this was our aimed mooring. Mick tried to pull us in where we might benefit from some trees, but the depth was shallow three foot out. We pulled along further to see what it was like between a couple of moored boats. A chap coming for a chat from the first one.

Here we got right into the side and had a good position for a supermarket delivery in the morning as we were right by a layby. The chap from behind was in two minds to carry on up to York, his boat one with a tarpaulin cratch cover and a lot boaters gold on the roof doesn’t have a very powerful engine so he was worried about coming back in at Selby. Yesterday he’d watch boats returning, one managing to hit the lock in three different places!

Tilly didn’t take much persuading that shore leave was cancelled as the temperature inside Oleanna rose to around 29C. Curtains were closed, kitchen windows wide open with the blinds closed, front doors open with the bathroom door closed. I offered Tilly a damp flannel on the bathroom floor, but she wasn’t impressed. Maybe we should invest in a cool mat for such days.

Mick did a milk and bread shop at the nearby Home Bargains. After lunch we all became inanimate objects, the temperature far too high to do anything. That second coat of primer/filler will have to wait for another day.

The sun is setting earlier and earlier now, today it set over the recycling centre, I didn’t bother taking a photo as it wasn’t that picturesque. People walked the towpath in the dark taking advantage of the now cooling air.

We heard voices, a couple of chaps walking a touch too close to Oleanna with a torch. We stood up to see what was happening as one of the chaps squatted down beside our open hatch.

It was the Fire Brigade. There had been reports of a lady in distress at the bridge and she’d been seen coming this way. Had we seen anything? We hadn’t, some rowdy lads had been past, but nothing more. We couldn’t help. They spent the next half hour or so shining their bright torch around the canal. We heard nothing more, so hopefully the lady made her way home safe and sound.

The temperature is due to drop tomorrow, here’s hoping so as we’ll be stood out the back for some time making our way upstream to Naburn.

0 locks, 4.97 miles, 29.5 C, 30+ outside, 1 christened Christmas tree, 1 cooking cat, 2 cooking boaters, 1 shopping order complete, 4 boxes, 4 bottles, 1 inactive afternoon, 1 phone call, 3 bums, 2 firemen, 1 lady, 1 very hot night ahead.

https://goo.gl/maps/rCXuBuieXqNuV3u68

We Haven’t Checked The Roof Yet. 11th August

Beal Lock to West Haddlesey Flood Lock, Selby Canal

I woke to a different noise this morning. I’m used to Mick’s snoring so today this was something different. The high pitched call of a Kingfisher as it did it’s morning turn around the lock island, I only saw it zoom past once and far too quick for me to get the camera out. What a lovely mooring I thought.

Outside the water had become covered in a layer of whiteness. We’ve noticed this here before, but where could it come from? Is it from the Himalayan Balsam that surrounds the lock cut? Or some fall out from the surrounding Power Stations? We doubt the latter as only one of them is still in use.

As we had breakfast there was a sudden downpour. It looked like someone had superimposed the rain on top of a layer of marble as it landed on the white water.

Being by a handy water point on the pontoon, Mick had set a load of washing going and went out to fill the tank. The rain and the white in the air had mixed together and created a dribbley effect down Oleanna’s cabin sides. So much for giving her a wash down!

Once the water tank was full again Mick put together the expanding hose with spray gun to give the roof and starboard cabin side a rinse down. I followed with a cloth giving it a good rub, another rinse and then a wipe down. Sadly I think I’d have been better off starting from scratch with a proper wash down of the cabin side as there was a lingering stubborn streakyness. At least it didn’t look like someone had tipped diluted white paint over us.

Before more of the white stuff could fall we were ready to push off. A couple of boats had come past us yesterday afternoon heading towards Selby, so Beal Lock needed filling. As I waited for the chamber to fill the noisy Kingfisher did a circuit and landed on the weir boom post, a good vantage point. This was at quite a distance, must work out why my camera doesn’t zoom quite as much as it used to.

Down the lock, the gates heavy, but manageable, we started on the big twisty turns heading down stream. Great views of Eggborough as we steered round the 180 degree bends. Some sheep had come down to the waters edge for a drink, one seemed to be stuck shouting into a hole in the bank.

We pondered on the lack of rubbish again, the tide line from flooding. Maybe it was all still there and the trees and friendly cover being so lush and green right now are just masking it.

Every five minutes I was requested to check the temperature gauge. 80 or there abouts, just where it should be.

West Haddlesey flood lock came into view, with the levels low we didn’t even bother pulling in to drop me off. Mick swung Oleanna round and sure enough the flood lock was open at both ends. The 48 hr mooring here was empty so we decided to call it a day. The other moorings along the canal were likely to all be in full sunlight, so at least here we knew we’d be able to let Tilly out.

Eggborough, just how a power station should look

The grassy outside was just teaming with friends. All I had to do was select one. Which I did quite quickly. With only a landing next to the boat I didn’t find it suitable to dine on, only one thing for it the bedroom floor. She didn’t seem too please with me, but stood by as I finished every morsal, reciting the rules.

‘NO friends home dead….’

A little rest was required to help digestion, it was hot this outside, being a long cat for five minutes was needed. Then back out to see who else I could find. There was this jolly chap who I decided to bring home to play.

‘….Or alive…..’

But he dashed into the newspapers and Tom’s shoes. I tried to find him, but he was being elusive. She came to help, everything being shaken out before being put on the bed. There he was, just a touch too plump to fit under the washing machine! She was even less pleased, but my intended game ended up getting everyone involved.

Tom put a big box blocking off the route into the rest of the boat, my friend now having made a dash for the bathroom. Tom then came in through the front door, pokers and shovels to assist. I did my best to keep the focus away from the toilet and hunted at the other end of the bedroom, hoping this would keep the game going on for longer.

The box She had was too big, another receptical was needed, narrow enough to go down the side of the toilet. One was found and emptied. Then a two pronged attempt, Tom with poker at one side of the toilet and She with container in hand which just handily dropped over my friend. Game over. I’d hope it would last longer. It nearly did!

She managed to get the shovel under the container, then it and my friend were carried out the front doors. I followed to watch. My friend could smell the fresh muggy air so stuck it’s nose out through a hole in the side of the container, managing to squeeze through it, just like I do with the bathroom door.This is where She gave up, and just let it run away into the friendly cover. I was then picked up and returned inside to make sure Tom was clearing up properly. I don’t know why but my friend had left lots of little poohs everywhere!

‘….or on the roof for later!’

We haven’t checked up there yet!

After all the excitement a big shiny widebeam arrived taking its time to come through Tankards Bridge, all bow thrusters constantly being used. They pulled up behind us. Earwigging when we could. It seems that the Collingwood boat may have been on brokerage in Selby and just sold. It was being taken to Goole. Phone calls were numerous. They had no VHF radio but would need one, where would they be able to moor up, arrival of the low loader and crane, permission from the harbour master at Goole. All exciting stuff. I wonder where the boat will be taken to?

They moved off, a small Sea Otter pulling in and mid afternoon another narrowboat pulled in filling the gap. Here on board with his owners was Sid. He’s used to elderly cats, a nineteen year old in fact who was busy checking the insides of her eye lids. Tilly on the other hand kept a close eye on Sid from the safety of the cat walk.

We sat for a while with bow and stern doors closed, only the side hatch and galley windows giving us any form of air in the boat. In the end we decided that we’d rather Tilly brought more friends in than expire with the heat.

Time to replace the zip on my bum bag. Hand sewing would have to do. I took note of how the old one had been sewn in before unpicking it. The only problem I would have was what to do with the ends of the new zip, where they should poke into the bag had big rivets holding the strap on.

Pinned, then tacked into position, the zip worked. I then did my best to poke the ends in as far as they would go before slowly back stitching the zip in. Not the prettiest of sewing, but hopefully it will hold out for a while longer. At least my phone and camera will be safely zipped up when crossing lock gates again.

1 lock, 1 flood lock, 3.75 miles, 1 left, 1 streaky boat, 2 rinses, 1 circling Kingfisher, 80, 1 quiet hot mooring, 1 widebeam, 0 radio, 2 friends at least, 1 eaten, 1 murder scene cleaned up, 1 tuperware too big, 1 small pot with escape hatch, 1 poker, 1 shovel, 2 boaters kept busy, 1 cat reminded of the rules!!!

https://goo.gl/maps/EwMVvC24Uh1aSdqq9

Test Cruise. 10th August

Old Potteries Arm to Beal Lock, Aire Calder Navigation, Selby Section

No we haven’t started testing out new boats, we’ll leave that to Adam on NB Briar Rose, but Mick wanted to test out Oleanna before we hit the tidal water of the River Ouse.

Back in October last year when I headed off to work on Panto, Mick with the help of Paul (Waterway Routes) aimed to get Oleanna up the Thames to Oxford from the Kennet and Avon. On their second day of cruising, trying to beat the rising river, Oleanna’s engine overheated and the anchor had to be dropped. They limped on to Abingdon where RCR came out. When Mick managed to get a touch further upstream to Sandford Lock the engine still wasn’t right, he called out the engineer again. This time investigations found a lot of rusty crud in the cooling system, a reason for which still eludes us. The engineer suggested leaving the system for around six to nine months and then checking to see if the crud had returned. The last thing we want is for the engine to overheat on tidal water, let alone when turning into Selby Lock!

On the river stretches we’ve been on in the last few days we’ve kept an eye on the temperature gauge as Oleanna’s engine has been cranked up and it has remained normal. Not wanting to drain the system Mick decided to see what would happen if he removed the thermostat, this would mean we wouldn’t get hot hot water from our cruise today as the system would be free to flow around the skin tank rather than the calorifier and would prove that it could do so. So before setting off today he ventured into the engine bay and removed the thermostat whilst the engine was cold.

I got the sand paper out and sanded back the filler/primer and then wiped away the dust from Oleanna’s clean exterior. Some patches will need a touch more to give a smoother finish before the top coats go on. With this done it was time to make a move.

Somehow the soaked teddy, that had been sat on the grassy bank looking up at the view yesterday, had moved. He was now a similar distance in front of us. Maybe a C&RT chap we’d seen this morning had moved him, or maybe overnight the bear had had a tipple too many and staggered past us to end up face down in the grass. Who knows.

Time to push off and see what damage has really been done to the skyline of Knottingly. We tried our best to line up with the photo I’d taken last year, a monumental solid image of power production. Now I am in mourning.

Along the cut there are a couple of places just crying out to be used for outdoor performances. I considered giving my friend Sian a call, she lives locally. We could put a show on here, her fiance Matt could do a one man show, directed by Nick another local writer director. Sian could costume Matt and I could make the surroundings fit the play better. I wonder how two one act plays about toilets would go down with the folks of Knottingley?

At Bank Dole Junction there are permanent moorings and a boat yard. Big boats tend to live here. Today we couldn’t see round the bend towards Goole due to there being even more big boats. The penny soon dropped.

Here were Tom Puddings, sat out of the water was Sobriety and along the way was Wheldale. All these boats used to be at the Yorkshire Waterways Museum in Goole, now closed. A banner ‘FOR SALE’ on the side of Wheldale. So sad, we wonder what has happened to the moorings where these boats used to be in Goole, have they morphed into visitor moorings, or been taken over by the overstayers?

We turned left and soon came across a cruiser coming towards us, maybe the lock would be full. Sadly no another boat was following them up. Would the lock still only have one top paddle working? Would it take forever to fill? Last year we waited a very long time before calling C&RT out to assist, water was bubbling out from below the bottom gates at the same rate as it entered at the top, destined never to fill. In the end we had to go away for the night whilst they sorted it.

I hopped off to lend a hand if I could, a narrowboat ascending. There was time enough for us to share our life histories as the boat slowly rose.The chap and his partner were heading to the junction with the New Junction Canal to self isolate before an operation in a few weeks time, a perfect place to be. I was also given upto date knowledge on the availability of moorings on the Selby Canal.

Our turn next to go down, it takes a while to empty, but at least both paddles work. I decided to open the towpath side gate as it doesn’t overhang the river as the other one does, therefor a lot easier to move.

Mick reversed to pick me up and then we were off, twisting and turning. The first glimpse of Eggborough and Drax Power Stations got my usual excited reaction for the cooling towers. Just what will the sky line look like should they be demolished?

This way and that we went, checking the temperature gauge at regular intervals, around 60 rather than the usual cruising temperature of 80. No overheating.

Sooner than expected Beal Road Bridge came into sight, large limbs of trees still caught on the uprights. That got us wondering how all the rubbish that was left after floods gets removed from the river banks. Do C&RT come along on boats to clear the trees of plastic bags? Do the local farmers come out and litter pick from the banks? Or is it all left to be swept away with the next flood?

As we pulled into the lock cut we could see one boat at the lock landing end of the pontoon, but the rest was clear, enough space for us. Pulled in we now had to explain to Tilly why shore leave was not possible in such a wonderful outside, she wasn’t impressed!

Lunchtime and then jobs. With the engine cooled Mick set about putting in a new thermostat and I scraped away a new rusty patch on the starboard side grab rail.

Then it was time to look at the cratch cover. When we shared locks with NB Billy we’d not rolled the covers up fully. Not only had a rivet popper been squashed on the bow, but the cover had been pulled tearing it around a popper. The Fent shop in Skipton had come up trumps with some waterproof blue fabric, so I intended to patch the area as best I could, still being able to use the popper.

Closer inspection suggested I could just darn the tear, hopefully that would hold the popper in position and do the same job as a patch would do. I’d bought some thick polyester thread as the Linen thread I’ve used before hasn’t stood up well to the elements. Maybe I should have bought black thread for this job as the blue is a touch brighter than the fabric. Whilst I was there I had another go at sewing a zip back together, hopefully this will hold a while longer.

The lock island seems to be inhabited by at least one very vocal Kingfisher. Every now and again it does a circuit of the island, zooming past Oleanna and returning further up the cut. Just a shame there isn’t a suitable perch opposite us as the cut is brimming with fish.

1 lock, 3.77 miles, 1 left, 2 rights, 3 power stations, 1 a shadow of it’s former self, 12 patches sanded, 2 patches fertand, 1 thermostatless cruise, 1 new thermostat, 1 zip, 1 darn, 1 kingfisher at least, 1 bored cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/kr7eSfVxZvgtTEQV6

More Of A Deflation. 9th August

Oil Terminal Arm to Old Potteries Arm, Ferrybridge

When we left Granary Wharf the other day we were in such a rush to get going and get off the bottom before being stuck any longer, we hadn’t got round to doing our river cruising preparations, in fact we’d totally forgotten to attach the anchor and get the life jackets out. So this morning we made sure everything was river cruising ready as we’d be joining the river proper below Lemonroyd Lock. Only one thing was omitted and that was zipping Tilly’s escape pod together, with the painting box out it would be another thing to constantly be moving from here to there, it will be made ready for our trip up the Ouse though.

I walked down to the lock with the key of power ready to empty the huge vast lock whilst Mick winded Oleanna and followed behind. The lock was already in use, a narrowboat and a wide beam were ascending, a lady with a couple of dogs was doing the honours. She waited for the lock to empty of boats and then for Oleanna to come in to close the gates and get her key back, your key is trapped in the panel until everything is closed up.

With no-one following us, Oleanna sat all alone in the middle of the lock. Gongoozlers stood and watched as the water drained out, this takes sometime and the result is an even smaller boat sat waiting to exit the lock. Everything closed up I walked down to the steps below the lock and climbed back onboard.

Now on the river proper, life jackets on, anchor attached we zoomed along surrounded by willow trees on both banks, not much of a view, but that didn’t matter, it’s quick heading downstream.

A couple of cruisers were moored up at Allerton Bywater which looks like there are new shiny ladders at the high banked moorings. We passed a casualty of some flooding, a sad sight.

Castleford Junction came into view. Here we could turn right to Wakefield and the Calder and Hebble, which is currently closed due to flood damage. We could go straight on, but that would not be advisable as it leads to a weir with the big curvy footbridge across it. However we chose to turn left through the flood lock and onto Castleford Cut.

Both ends of the flood lock were open despite the footbridge still being out of action. A family had been sat waiting for a boat and the young lad was so very excited to see us. He waved enthusiastically and then they all climbed onto their bikes to follow us along the cut to Bulholme Lock.

Here is where you normally see big boats, Humber Keels. There was one that looked like it had a new cabin recently fitted all very bright blue.

Then Radiance was moored up, obviously a live aboard with the amount of stuff on the roof. This included a car, why not if you have that much space! There was plenty of space where we could have moored, but we really wanted to cover some more water before we stopped for the day.

The little lad was so excited to watch Oleanna descend the lock. He really wanted to stand on the bottom gates as they opened, but his Dad was certain that he wouldn’t! Below I could see a chap in a canoe so I phoned Mick to warn him even though the fella looked like he was holding back as the water emptied from the lock.

Back out onto the river, a long reach now to get to Ferrybridge. More willow trees, very few views, quite boring really apart from being able to zoom along.

Anyone who has read this blog for an amount of time will know how I feel about Power Stations especially their cooling towers. Tall ceramic vases that have been dropped onto the surface of the planet creating their dumpy bases, gentle curves and strong stature. Ferrybridge is THE power station of my life being a landmark of my youth.

Our first cruise past I had been so over excited at being so close that I was like the kid back at the lock today, jumping about, shouting. I inadvertently caught the self inflate toggle on my life jacket on Lillian’s back doors and the whole thing inflated! But today was not going to be an inflating day, it was to be a deflating day.

Last July one of the eight cooling towers had been demolished, then in October another four were blown up, leaving three for posterity. I knew this had happened and awaited to see what it looked like. Well there were no cheers or jumping about today, just a little tear in my eye. Tomorrow I’ll try to replicate the photo that appeared on our Christmas card last year so you can see how much has changed.

Under John Carr’s Ferry Bridge, which seems to have plenty of buddleia sprouting from it, and straight through the long flood lock onto the cut.

Here I really wanted to do a touch more to the port side, the cut is wide enough to wind in with ease but the visitor moorings are not the best place for a cat to while away the afternoon. We considered pulling in behind a cruiser on the port side, but instead continued on a little further to where the bank is lower and a big grassy bank takes you up to the towpath and trees before dipping down into the river.

Tilly set off straight away, dodging the dog walkers and headed for the trees.

After lunch I rinsed off the fertan on the bar and grabrail, let it dry off and then spent half an hour stirring up some filler/primer I’d had squirrelled away. I worked from the front to the back and by the time I’d finished the front patches were dry.

Meanwhile Mick was emptying the port side stern locker. When I’d pulled out a bucket the other day I’d noticed some liquid on the floor. It turns out that a container of oil hadn’t had the cap screwed on completely so it had leaked all over the floor, soaked into some ropes too.

The puddle was soaked up with nappies. The ropes were submerged in a bucket of soapy water hoping to get rid of the worst of the oil. They were then left out in the sun to dry off.

I’ve had a knitting commission from Jac my sister-in-law for a cotton top. So much of the remainder of this afternoon was spent choosing yarn via whatsap and email. This will be sent to her in London to bring up when we meet up in York in a couple of weeks. I’m quite looking forward to having something to keep my fingers busy in front of the TV again.

2 locks, 2 flood locks, 9.58 miles, 3 not 8! 1 life jackets still primed, 1 tear shed, 0 excitement, 1 grassy mooring, 1st coat primer, 1 lost bear, 12 high pounces, 0 friends, 1 oily locker, 350 grams white cotton, 8 cruisers all in a line, 2 turkey schnitzels.

https://goo.gl/maps/rjCs4VyWSffh2iKLA

Port Side. 8th August

Woodlesford Lock to Oil Terminal Arm

Mick was off straight after breakfast for our Saturday newspaper, heading up into Woodlesford, returning just in time for 10am and the Geraghty Zoom. Todays topics, dragons, being tongue tied and art patrons. Tilly had been refused shore leave as we intended leaving soon after seeing the family, so to stop her incessant winging at the back doors she and I had an extended game of pen at the dinette. This seemed to do the trick.

Before pushing off we emptied the yellow water tank and then pushed over to the water point to fill up. Rubbish was disposed of and Tilly got a fresh litter box whilst we waited for the tank to fill. NB Barley came past leap frogging us. At the time we thought we might catch them up, but then our plans changed.

To reach Selby for our passage up the Tidal Ouse to York we need to do a couple of hours or there abouts a day. Quite a few of the moorings will mean that Tilly will be deprived of shore leave, so we decided to only go a short way today. Our chosen mooring would have all she would want, shady trees for us and the possibility of a barbecue. But this would mean a longer day tomorrow to catch up, not really a problem.

A chap stood at the downstream panel for Woodlesford Lock pressing buttons. He was there for ages without the gates opening, so I went to see what was happening. He said that Barley had left the paddles up when they left. I assumed he’d meant the paddles at the downstream end. He stood and pressed the gate button, nothing happening, kept pressing the paddle button, nothing. I looked below the lock, there were signs that the level in the lock was higher than below, suggesting that the lock had started to fill itself after being used. A full lock is a safer lock should anyone fall into it and rivers tend to have sufficient water to cope with this.

I suggested he tried turning the panel off, removing his key and starting all over again. This worked and the lock emptied. I suggested to use my key on the top panel so that hand over would be easier, the chap agreed. Once in the lock he gave a thumbs up, just after I’d pushed the button to fill the lock the chap at the helm disappeared inside. Through the front doors I could see two of them were making a snack and drinks, they only came back up on deck when the lock was nearly full, admittedly their boat had only wandered about a bit in the lock as it was a gentle filler, but still.

Lots of people have been making comments about the state of the canals since lockdown, towpath cutting, reeds taking over, weed. But today here was the biggest thing I’ve noticed. Woodlesford Lock normally has the grass kept neat as my Grandfather would have liked to see it and the flower beds immaculate. Any dead heads removed and not a weed in sight. But today the grass is long, some flowers are in bloom but all around them is filled with weeds. One can only assume the volunteers who normally look after the area have been shielding.

Below the lock we cruised about a mile to join another boat in our chosen mooring. We winded so as to have the port side to the towpath and tried to get in. A few tries didn’t work, in the end we reversed back behind the other boat and tucked in nicely.

Here the towpath is actually a little bit away from the edge, giving us a grassy area next to us without so much footfall. Tilly got straight to work, rolled in the dust and then headed off into the friendly cover.

I mixed up some sourdough cracker dough and experimented with the flavouring. The last two batches I’d made were rosemary and thyme with parmesan. Today I went for paprika, mustard, garlic and pumpkin seeds. They were okay, but I’d forgotten to sprinkle on some seasalt before baking them. They could have done with a touch more flavour.

Then a batch of gluten free rolls were mixed up and left to rise whilst I got on with clearing the roof and preparing to wash the port side whilst Mick listened to the cricket.

Under where the plank and poles sit the red bar on the roof has developed some rust spots. So these got some attention before the roof was washed. On finishing the roof the batch of rolls had risen enough to be shaped and left to prove. This was all timed very well with washing down the cabin side which had got extreamly dusty in Calverley.

The barbecue came out and Mick chopped away at the big chunks of charcoal with an axe, they were soon glowing away and ready to cook on. Halloumi and veg kebabs and some pork and apple burgers tonight, all whilst Tilly had extended shore leave. Todays temperatures hadn’t been quite as high as we thought they’d be and by the time we’d finished eating it was decidedly chilly out, no sitting out to watch the sunset tonight.

1 lock, 1 mile, 1 wind, 10am zoom,1 newspaper, 1 empty wee tank, 1 full water tank, 0 rubbish, 1 unkempt lock, 1 twonk head, 0.5 roof clean, 1 cabin side clean, 1 big puddle of oil, 6 more patches of rust, 1 coat fertan, 4 kebabs, 4 burgers, 4 rolls, 4 glasses of wine, 1 chilly evening.

https://goo.gl/maps/bt57uWPLg44rcpaK8

The Bottom And Bottomless. 7th August

Granary Wharf to Woodlesford Lock, Aire and Calder Navigation

Being moored in a city centre you expect noise and because we tend to moor in different places most days we tend to ignore air conditioning droning, dawn choruses, the odd bit of railway noise. But last night there must have been workers on the tracks above our heads as several trains, one at 2:15, sounded their horn! This and it being a warm night didn’t make for a good nights sleep.

With a plan for the morning, shopping, top up the water tank and then be on our way to find some trees we woke fairly early. Mick got up to put the kettle on. I could hear him open up the back doors. ‘Uh, the water’s gone!’ I got up and sure enough we were on quite a list, both side to side and front to back.

As we’d gone to bed last night we’d heard gurgling, but hadn’t put two and two together. Our bow rope was really rather tight, we wouldn’t be going anywhere as we were sat on the bottom, but I headed out in my pyjamas to loosen it off, reducing the strain it was under.

We were on the bottom, so were the floating pontoons

The two boats that had followed us down the locks yesterday (The Strawberry Island boats) were getting ready to push off, topping up on water. They had been to check the paddles at River Lock and had noticed a pump, that wasn’t back pumping from the river. They had found a security guard who had the ability to turn the pump on and they were now waiting for levels to resume, getting us all off the bottom.

Mick headed off to pick up some bits of shopping before we had breakfast, hoping there would be some improvement on his return. But despite some gurgling around Oleanna’s hull the level hadn’t risen sufficiently to get us off the bottom.

The Strawberry Island crew were wanting to be off. One of them had been up to Office Lock and lifted a paddle, letting quite a lot of water down. The level improved, but not enough for us to be floating again. They had been warned yesterday not to tie to the walls as the levels can drop. They had followed this advice and breasted up on one of the pontoons, one boat in bow first the other stern first.

The boat alongside the pontoon seemed to be floating, the boats were untied and one could be reversed, the other still hard aground. They tried all sorts to get moving, a rope pulling them that way, a rope the other way, a rope to the other boat which only moved the free boat towards the one stuck hard. I’m not sure, but I suspect more water was let down and eventually both boats were floating again, off they went down the lock.

We were still sat at an angle. Mick tried to push us off, but no luck. The pump was still back pumping from the river, so hopefully that would improve things. The level dropped with the use of the lock. Then it appeared that the pump was only keeping up with the amount of water draining out of the pound, so we would remain on the bottom until more water could be sent down. We called C&RT.

Mick got through to customer services and then ‘any other enquiries’. The chap on the other end of the phone did his best to help. Leeds Liverpool Canal, between Locks 1 and 2, River and Office Lock. ‘So that’s in Liverpool’ ‘No,Liverpool is 127.25 miles away’. In the end the chap knew where we were lacking water and said someone would call back. They did a short while later and said a team were already sending water down.

So all we could do was wait. A walk around the basin and up to Office Lock where two C&RT vans were parked but no signs of anyone, water certainly wasn’t being run through the lock. The pump pumped away, it’s large thick pipes decorated with spray paint so that they didn’t become a trip hazard.

I kept myself busy too. More calculations were required for ascending the big curved wall. I took my time as I wanted to get it right first time as there was a camera crew filming Toms descending. They were coming down backwards (very wise) but with the assistance of ropes, I suppose it’s because Toms don’t have claws to help cling on.

A load of washing was just about to be hung out when all of a sudden a wave of water came across the basin, Oleanna lifted from her resting place just a touch. We and the Barley crew immediately jumped into action, no thinking about it this time. We quickly rolled back the covers, washing hung up inside to dry. I was able to give Oleanna a push and Mick reversed off following Barley to turn to face the lock.

River Lock needed topping up a touch, this was done once both boats were out from the pontoons, in case the level dropped again. The surge of water had been provided by NB Tobias coming down the lock, they were now moored up on a wall in front of the Hilton, possibly the quietest spot at the Wharf.

With the gates open Barley and Oleanna headed into the safety of the lock, the bottom paddles lifted, we had escaped! Phew!!

Oleanna now having completed the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was on the Aire and Calder Navigation. We led the way, there only being one set of steps to reach your boat we had to take it in turns, so Jenny closed up behind us.

The width and depth of the river were such a relief, no grounding here. You could tell Oleanna was enjoying blowing the cobwebs away travelling down the river at speed. Past the old warehouses, new tower blocks, bridges old and new.

At Leeds Lock I hopped off and opened the gates using the key of power. This was to be our last shared lock with NB Barley and the last short lock until we reach Linton Lock on the River Ouse. Both boats were mindful of the overhanging walkway on the bottom gates and kept their distance. I closed the gates, dropped the paddles and the hopped onto Oleanna, Jenny taking charge at the other end of the lock.

A wave goodbye to NB Barley as we exited, they planned to stay another day on the river in Leeds, guaranteed to still be afloat in the morning. We headed off downstream aiming to find some trees for Tilly.

Blimey it was hot out there, a breeze making it bearable. A graffiti artist was at work underneath Richmond Bridge. The first colour gold had gone on for his large tag, covering over previous small tags. I couldn’t quite make out if the two in gold before the one he was working on were also by him, being in gold they were hard to read.

Left onto the widened section of the river, passing people picnicking on the flood lock island. Cormorants sat on warehouse roofs and dipped into the water, diving to make up for their lack of buoyancy when on the surface.

At Knostrop Fall Lock, the first of the big ones, there was a boat just closing the gates to come up, a single hander who managed to get to the top control panel before I did. He was just heading to the off side to moor so we arranged for me to leave his key on top of the panel to collect later. Down we went, the key of power and my index finger doing their job.

Now on the long pound to Fishpond Lock, passing Thwaite Mills. The visitor mooring at the museum looks like it has new lighting. Plenty of space on their long term moorings, but these may be due to boats being out for the summer.

A high pitched chirp, followed by another. Two Kingfishers were showing us the way, darting ahead of us, keeping their distance. Too far for a photo, but close enough to amaze. One dipped into the water, but came up without a catch. They stayed with us for quite a distance, then one could be seen looping back round behind us along the towpath. This year we’ve seen so few Kingfishers, maybe they’ve all been self isolating.

A group of lads were jumping into the river by Concrete Bridge, the older lads stood on the bridge smoking, looking cool! The swimmers moved out of the way for us to pass. Another group swam with the aid of a life ring, we wondered where they’d got it from as they pulled one another out of the water with the attached rope. Surely they’d put it back when they finished with it!?

Fishpond Lock was in use, Hotel Boat Lady Teal heading back up to Leeds for a couple of days off before their next guests arrive. I chatted to the lady, who said their capacity had been affected by social distancing. Most trips had sorted themselves out, people who’d been shielding not wanting to risk a holiday yet, but there were some trips where they’d had to make difficult choices in deciding which group to turn away. We talked about the low water at Granary Wharf, she was of the opinion that someone wouldn’t have closed a paddle correctly and with the trip boat not currently running from the wharf the lock wouldn’t have been checked last night.

As gaps in the moorings showed themselves above Woodlesford Lock we decided stopping for the day, a mile or so and one lock before we’d planned. Back at River Lock we’d found a windlass on the bottom lock gate and had wondered if it belonged to one of the Strawberry Island boats. Here they were settled for the day, we slowed down as we passed, but neither of them recognised it. Oh well we’ve another now to add to our collection.

We pulled in just where the Aire bends round very close to the cut. Tilly went straight out and vanished very quickly into the friendly cover. Washing was hung in the pram cover with it’s sides still open. Curtains on the starboard side got closed as even though we were under trees we wouldn’t benefit from any shade until much later in the day.

It got hotter and hotter. We had a visit from an old black cat. He was very friendly and wanted to come and check out our boat, we thought that unwise so shooed it away. Thankfully we didn’t hear a cat fight anywhere and Tilly didn’t seem to notice that someone else had been using her cat walk!

Another load of washing was done making use of the free electricity being generated. Then Mick noticed an empty hanger under the pram cover. What had been on this hanger? A pair of pyjama bottoms of mine. But just where were they? The empty hanger was on the canal side, so only one thing could have happened, they’d fallen into the cut. We’d like to apologise now to the person who picks up some red tartan pyjama bottoms around their prop at some future date. I won’t be wanting them back, so if you can make use of them please do, they were clean and nearly dry when they got blown in.

4 locks, 6.04 miles, 0 swing bridges, 4 boats on the bottom, 2 escapees, 2 patient boats, 2 bacon butties, 1 ascent planned very carefully, 4 boaters on super fast speed to untie, 0 room at the armouries, 2 kingfishers, 4 evil birds, 9 swimmers, 1 hotel boat, 2 cats sharing the cat walk, 31 ish degrees, -1 pair of bottoms.

https://goo.gl/maps/VuyWH4xKRAvSuSgV6

Crawling into Leeds. 6th August

Rodley Swing Bridge to Granary Wharf

Leaving our very close neighbour for the swing bridge

The voice of Houdini woke us up along with plenty of people already out and about on the towpath at 6. By the time we’d had breakfast and were rolling back the covers two other boats were pulling away from the moorings.

Well that meant there were three of us heading towards Leeds, one swing bridge each and we could leapfrog all the way. Moss Bridge Swing Bridge behaved, it was still a cool morning. Back in 2014 it was stuck hard, no chance of pushing it without the aid of a tractor, which all took some sorting as the bridge is owned by Yorkshire Water and not C&RT.

Our bridge was the last one, Ross Mill. I’d just got momentum going when a chap wearing blue came towards me. I quickly stopped the bridge and pushed it back closed to let him across, he was to be our lock keeper at Newlay 3 Rise. One boat was already at the top of the locks and then the three of us heading from Rodley. I had to wait a while to close the bridge, weed causing problems for most of us and numerous trips would be made down weed hatches today.

The last to arrive at the locks we were waved straight in by the Lockie. The other two boats were travelling together and we could team up with NB Barley, as they had been at the locks overnight they were to go first.

With two Lockies on hand the staircase of three was descended quite quickly. One of the boys in Blue knows NB Ellis so we had chats about Stanley Ferry and fridge freezers whilst we waited for the chambers to empty from one to the other.

Jenny from NB Barley and I walked on to Forge 3 Rise where another Lockie was expecting us. He was pulling huge amounts of weed out from above the lock and the chambers. Chatting with him it seems that things along this stretch are improving. The large groups who used to come to drink and swim at the locks do so less often, the increased footfall due to new housing developments and a new station seem to be putting them off.

The level below the staircase was really quite low, but whilst boats were coming down the staircase above they wouldn’t let water down. A glance before we emptied the bottom chamber at the levels suggested we might just make it the half mile to Kirkstall Lock, bumping our way along the bottom, so we gave it a try.

The Lockie now headed down on his bike to see why the level had dropped overnight. Someone had closed the gates with debris between them, so the water had just been flowing straight through the lock overnight. He cleared things and then returned. By now the bywash was running but more water was needed so he ran water down the flight too.

In the end it took us just over an hour to cross the half mile pound to reach Kirkstall Lock, the weed still a good few feet away from the bank. Once in the lock weed hatches needed to be cleared. Andy pulled out reams of weed whilst Mick pulled out t-shirts and a pair of pants.

We led the way through the next long pound. Under the arched footbridge that straddles between refurbished mills. Past Leeds Industrial Museum, maybe one day we’ll pay it a visit, but not today.

At Spring Garden Lock we waited for Barley to catch us up, their prop attracting so much more weed than ours. Here the bridge across the bottom gates is rotting through nicely, so no access across it. With one gate open, Mick nestled Oleanna behind the closed gate to wait.

Oddley 2 Rise needed setting the last boat through having come up. I emptied the bottom chamber whilst Jenny topped up the top one. Then with the boats in the top lock we lifted paddles. On the other staircase locks along this stretch there have been spillways to channel off excess water, the chambers not having been built to the same depth as each other. But here excess water seems to drain over the top of the bottom gates as well as flooding the surrounding area.

Below the raft boat was moored up on the offside. In the last four years it has continued it’s journey towards Leeds and I’m sure it has been extended by at least a third since we first saw it up near Skipton. An interesting construction built with all sorts people don’t want anymore.

Once down St Ann Ings Lock we had only one more to descend to reach Granary Wharf, Office Lock.

I walked down, disturbing a chap who covered the spliff he was making when he saw my camera. I was far more interested in a bit of graffiti than his next smoke though.

Right up against the canal new building work is taking place. This means that the water point just above the lock is inaccessible as it’s on the wrong side of the fencing. The offside gates have been left just enough room to work them and the foundations of the new building seem to stretch right up to the lock.

Jenny walked round to check on moorings and there was plenty of space for us to swing round onto one of the pontoons. We’d thought about continuing to find some trees for tomorrow, but by now we’d had enough. So a quiet afternoon and evening instead.

Office Lock

Tilly however had other plans. Yesterday I’d taken the opportunity to give her a spot on for fleas, not that I have any! This means no collar for a couple of days, therefore no shore leave. I knew she wouldn’t like it at Granary Wharf so this wouldn’t matter. Normally in places like this and BUMingham I let her out for her to make her own mind up, which usually happens quickly. But today without a collar this was not on the cards. Instead I sat out in the closed pram cover whilst she checked out the surroundings. This outside looked alright, a patch of grass, some tiny trees and a big curved wall that I started to make calculations to climb. Tilly tried any available gap in the cover with her nose and when one looked like she might just be about to squeeze out she was pulled back inside and the back doors closed. She is SO mean!!!

Yesterday I’d made a quinoa crust for a quiche and today filled it with the left over chicken from a roast, courgettes, bacon and onion. I did a trial custard using eggs and soya cream, this set thank goodness and was quite tasty, much better than previous attempts without proper cream.

12 locks, 3 of which staircases, 3 swing bridges, 7am push off, 4 boats going down, 1 very low pound, 1 sulking cat, 2 t-shirts, 1 pair of pants, 1 hour waiting for water, 1 water point out of bounds, 1 pair molegrips, 1 full water tank, 1 load washing, 1 tasty quiche, 1 noisy mooring for the night.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna