Category Archives: Canal and River Trust

The Pumpkin In The Room. 2nd June

Plank Lane to almost Dunham School Bridge, Bridgewater Canal

Our start was delayed by Mick having to return the car to Enterprise this morning. As I worked on a couple of new ideas for panto, scribbling them down in my sketch book John was sending through new ideas and new excerpts from the script. I had to pause to read through what he was sending and adjust things accordingly.

Once Mick was back we soon were ready to push off. It suddenly got very busy! NB Petroc was pulling in for water and then most probably to use the bridge. As we pulled out another two boats approached, one immediately taking our mooring the other pulling in behind the line of moored boats.

Being on the flat for a few days it’s time for me to take advantage of not being needed to work locks or bridges and crack on with work. A planned place to pull up for lunch was agreed, this would coincide with a zoom meeting with John.

I stayed up top to pass Pennington Flash a very popular mooring, we’d have moved up last night if there hadn’t been the car to return. Then it was time to scan images, add a few new references to folders I’ve shared with John, all the time keeping an eye open as to where we were. In Leigh I popped up top as we said farewell to the Leeds Liverpool and hello to the Bridgewater Canal, you now have to book your passage on the C&RT website before entering.

Mick pulled Oleanna into the bank at 12:40 right alongside what I thought were orchids. My meeting went well, just a couple of small adjustments and things I want to alter when I make the white card model. We’ve come up with a slightly different idea regarding the coach, normally the design is based around a pumpkin, well I’m not going to say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for those who’ve already booked tickets.

No stopping here or the day, we have a schedule to keep up with and today we needed to skirt round Manchester. A boat came past just as we were ready. This chap was cruising whilst his dog followed him along on the towpath. The boat’s speed left something to be desired! We trundled along in and out of gear following.

With my drawing board set up on the dinette table I got on with sketching out a groundplan and trying to solve problems I’ve given myself. The flying bars just aren’t quite in the right place and an angled wall is a touch annoying, but I’ll get there.

Landmarks still need to be seen. Worsley with it’s half timbered building and orange water. There were a couple of interesting boats moored at the boatyard and photos were being taken of a wedding party.

I managed a photo of the lighthouse and then made sure I waved towards our friend Cat who lives just by the M602. Then it was time to be back up on deck as we approached the Barton Swing Aqueduct, thankfully no ships were passing on the Ship Canal today so we could cross without a long wait.

On the far side of the aqueduct a boat faced us, a zoom in with the camera showed that it was moored to the bridge bollards, hope it’s left enough space for a widebeam to get past!

Onwards past the Trafford Centre to Waters Meeting. I bobbed my head out of the bow doors to make sure Mick would be turning right. Just because I’m working doesn’t mean I can shirk my navigational duties.

Mick thinks there were more boats moored on the Bridgewater than he remembers, meaning our progress was slower. Through Sale and on to Altringham where I bobbed back outside again so that I could see what has happened with the development at the Linotype Works. The clock tower still stands and the base of a chimney, but where was the frontage? Had they removed the writing?

No, the iconic building which was going to be converted into flats was deemed not structurally sound, so had to be taken down. The developers are going to rebuild it using as much of the original materials as possible as it’s a listed building. Have to say we don’t think a lot of the new builds surrounding it, in fact they are pretty ugly from the canal, maybe they are more eye pleasing from the road.

Not far now, we’d wanted to moor near to Dunham Massey tonight, but time was ticking on. So as soon as we reached somewhere green enough without a nearby road we pulled in and gave Tilly three quarters of an hour of shore leave. At first she didn’t think much of it, too many runners and woofers. But then she must have discovered the meadow behind the fence, she was gone for quite a while. I heard her bell, only to find that she’d found a friend to bring home. A badly timed walker on the towpath meant Tilly headed for Oleanna where the front doors were open and a chink in the cratch cover allowed her access! Damn!!!

Soon after we’d settled in we were joined by another three boats, at least one setting up a barbecue. We settled for Crispy Lemon stir fried chicken.

0 locks, 18.8 miles, 2 canals, 1 right, 1 aqueduct, 1 wave to Cat, 1 thumbs up, 1 pumpkin in the room, 1 sketch groundplan, 2 portals drawn up, 1 iconic building gone, 1 friend or should I say starter! 1 almost Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://goo.gl/maps/EpCo8D6YMGshmo718

Lifting The Swing. 31st May

Dover Lock to Plank Lane

No need to rush this morning as we’d only got a short distance to cover. So a cuppa in bed was enjoyed then over breakfast I added notes to my sketches for panto and sent them off so that John could have a good look before my meeting with him later on in the day.

We pushed off at around10:30 and pootled our way towards Plank Lane. Passing the Dover Lock Inn, it’s such a sad sight. It’s been empty for years and has certainly had an inferno inside. A sign along the towpath says ‘Canalside Care The Dover Lock Inn, Working in partnership to improve the local environment’ ! Wonder how long that’s been there?

Soon we arrived at Plank Lane. The bridge here forms part of a busy road and time limits have been put on it so as not to hold up the traffic during rush hour. You cannot work the panel between 8 – 9:30am and 4:30 – 6pm. We were well out of those times, but I still had to wait a while before I felt there was a gap in the traffic.

**Red light is for traffic from the car park**

Pressing the OPEN button seemingly does nothing for a while, that seems to let any cars waiting through the bridge before it drops the barriers. By the time all traffic lights turned red I’d already caught a few cars. At panels like this I always make sure I read the instructions before operating the bridge. Press and hold today.

Looking up from the panel there was a newish sign in blue saying not to open the bridge all the way up, but just enough to get through, as when fully opened it may get stuck! You would be seriously unpopular then!

A top up of the water tank, the pressure now we’re on the flat considerably less than up in the hills, this took quite some time. Should we pull up behind the next boat or carry on a little bit further? Further was preferable so that Tilly was less likely to head towards the road. Spikes hammered in, cat let out.

This would do us for the night. I spent the afternoon quickly jotting down some new ideas to show John I’d had this morning, then realised that my meeting was via teams. We’ve only used Teams once about two years ago, clicking the link to join the meeting with just a couple of minutes before it started wasn’t wise. Updates, then passwords that had to be changed as we seemingly didn’t remember the correct one. Then it said no way! My IT department deserted me to cycle off to collect a car! All really annoying, but John and I got there in the end via zoom.

My meeting was good, my basic setting was given a big thumbs up, but I’d maybe been being a touch cautious on the built pieces of scenery. The budget hasn’t risen this year, so this was a good thing. But with a director who wants to push the budget to it’s maximum there were plenty of new ideas to add to the mix. Numerous notes were taken and I’d just put them into understandable order when Mick returned.

He loaded the car with a big bag of washing and our first bucket of offerings for this year to return to the house. He also dropped off a large click and collect shopping order that needed stowing away. Then off he headed back to Scarborough for the night, checking on Olivia our new lodger and to wash our socks and pants, along with a dentist appointment tomorrow.

Boats arrived to fill with water, others carried on through the lift bridge, plenty of footfall on the towpath that Tilly managed to dash her way through to the friendly cover. An evening of working my way back through panto, Act 1 completed new squiggles of ideas. Tomorrow I’ll do Act 2 and then translate the squiggles for others to view.

Prawn and pea risotto tonight for me and a Tempo Special for Mick, both things we each like but the other one doesn’t. Looking at Facebook this evening I came across news from Peter Baxter the volunteer at Wigan. More pounds on the flight had been drained last night on the flight so passage had been impossible again today. Thankfully the pound worst affected isn’t that big, so the hope is that tonight the bywashs will top it up sufficiently to be used tomorrow. This does mean though that volunteers may not be quite where boaters would like them to be (right ahead of them) as they may be doing more important things managing the water down the flight so passage is possible all the way up or down.

0 locks, 2 miles, 1 lift bridge, 14 held up, 1 full water tank, 2 boxes wine, 6 bottles, 1 slightly squished melon, 1 panto meeting, 2 pages notes, 1 bag of dirty washing transported to Scarborough, 10C lower than at Plank Lane.

https://goo.gl/maps/PDuTzcxtPZZRS1Yx5

Wigan Crew. 30th May

Bridge 61 to Dover Lock, Leigh Branch Leeds Liverpool Canal

With a rendez vous to keep the alarm had been set and we were up, breakfasted, covers rolled up and pushing off at bang on 7:30am. Just as we’d got going a look behind, we were being followed. NB That’s It, they’d been moored a couple of bridges behind us last night.

As thought yesterday there were two boats waiting at the top lock. The lock was still locked and it was a little while before a Lock Keeper arrived and did the honours. The two boats ahead of us turned into the lock whilst we tried to get off whatever it is just before the lock moorings that we were stuck on top of.

The lock was reset just as Peter Baxter arrived at the top lock. He had a quick chat with a chap clearing out the bywashes and then started to walk down the flight resetting the next lock on our descent. Peter was awarded Lock Keeper of the year 2022. The Wigan Flight Crew page and it’s files is a wealth of information on the locks. It’s well worth a look as if you are unlucky to have to do the flight without a volunteers assistance you will be aware of which gates are problematic (never open the near side tail gate at lock 75, unless you really really have to as it is a right b**er to shut), where to mind the dog shit, which locks have serious leaks and where to stand for the best photo of the flight.

Our prep at Johnson’s Hillock Locks the other day proved worth while. It was agreed to only open one gate when leaving the locks. NB That’s It would leave first then Mick would push Oleanna’s bow over using our bow thruster and exit the lock. This meant should one of us need to go ahead to set the next lock they wouldn’t be leaving two heavy gates to be closed behind. It also meant we tried to take it in turns to shift the big heavy gates.

It turned out that neither of us needed to walk on ahead as Peter was doing a great job. Every so often he’d give us some guidance on the next lock, you’ll need your windows closed, two of you on that beam. At one lock he set it filling and then walked on ahead, not opening the gates, this was because two people were needed to open it up and he knew we’d be along soon.

Last week we’d seen on Facebook that a couple of the pounds on the flight had been drained overnight. Paddles had been lifted at both ends of the locks. One of the pounds included a side arm which most of the time is useful for extra water. But with it being drained it meant it took two days to refill it, so the flight was closed, however no C&RT notice was sent out. Keeping an eye on the Flight Group was good, as soon as there was enough water in the two pounds the volunteers were helping boats back on their way.

A drink and biscuits, or Bakewell slices were required just after the halfway mark to up the energy levels. Arms were starting to get tired after all the windlass winding and gate pulling and pushing.

Now we started to meet uphill boats. Two breasted up as one boat was a single hander. The crew from the other boat weren’t too happy with this as they’d planned on teaming up with another boat and felt as if the single hander had jumped the queue! She was at least off her boat helping, but did try closing a gate before we’d got both our boats in the lock to come down.

As we walked down to the last lock of the 21 Peter had been joined by John Gallimore, who I believe set up the Facebook group and another John. Jo and I were treated to stepping back onboard our boats and getting a ride down the last lock we’d share before heading off in different directions.

It actually turns out we have met before, last year at Sykehouse Lock on the New Junction Canal. They were coming down the lock when we arrived, which is most probably why I didn’t recognise their boat.

**The Wigan Crew. Pip, Jo, Brian and Mick**

The flight took us 3 hours 29 minutes and 20 seconds, not that I was counting or anything! Possibly the best trip up or down the flight we’ve had. Good company, a good routine, with the chaps closing gates, us only opening one and of course the help from Peter and the boats ahead filling the locks ahead for us. It was almost a pleasure.

**Time to say goodbye. Enjoy your summer**

At the junction with the Leigh Branch, NB That’s It headed straight on, it looked like there were two boats waiting to go down Henhurst Lock. We biped our horn and waved goodbye as we turned left towards Manchester.

Last year due to low water levels you had to book to go through Poolstock Locks, thankfully today the water levels seemed pretty good. The top lock was set against us , the second had a boat just coming up and a whole host of volunteers cleaning and tidying, painting lock beams and the railings on the bridge.

We’d planned to stop for the day at Scotsmans flash, but when we got there it felt a little billy no mates, so we carried on in the sunshine and pulled in at a mooring just before Dover Locks. Here Tilly was given four hours shore leave and we’ve hardly seen her all afternoon! Who needs the Yorkshire Dales with it’s views when you can find plenty of friends around the mining subsidence of Lancashire!

23 locks, 7 miles, 21 shared, 1 volunteer all the way down, 3 stem ginger cookies, 4 bakewell slices, 1 pint water, factor 30, 1 left, 8 volunteers, 1 big pot of hammarite smooth, 1st Mrs Tilly stamp of approval this trip!

https://goo.gl/maps/M5w97Yjenr6yp3my6

The Sausages Have Gone Fat! 27th May

Riley Green to Bridge 84

We’d already decided on a slower start to the day, then we’d see where we got to on the mooring front as today had been ear marked as a work day for me. Setting off cruising we’d see what a large M on our Waterways Route map was like and if it was deep enough for us to get into the side. If not then we’d carry on to Johnson’s Hillock Locks, do the flight, then find a mooring.

We didn’t manage the earlyish start we’d planned and Mick really didn’t want another long day at the tiller and I really needed to get on with some work. So we had a cooked breakfast.

Mick had stocked up on suitable ingredients for breakfast including some gluten free black pudding and some sausages. However the pack of sausages, despite saying they’d be best before the 31st had expanded in the fridge and the cellophane lid looked like it was about to explode! The pack was opened, contents sniffed. They didn’t smell bad, but just the fact that they’d been gassing for several days wasn’t appealing, they sadly went in the bin! An almost vegetarian breakfast. A bit like those enjoyed when working at the SJT when a vegetarian breakfast with a portion of bacon were consumed at the Rendez Vous Cafe on a regular basis. It was still very tasty, but the sausages were missed.

Tilly had been allowed shore leave and thankfully hadn’t spotted all the tadpoles that surrounded Oleanna in the shade. Just how many of this mass will survive and grow into frogs? Never seen so many tadpoles in the canal.

Onwards. Mick tried pulling Oleanna into the bank before bridge 84, nowhere near deep enough, but through the bridge where the M was on our map proved better. Here there were no tadpoles just Canadian Geese creches. Mick at one point counted 20 goslings plopping into the water. This could be a noisy night!

With a small shopping list Mick cycled down to the next flight of locks and found a garage with a Spar shop. No newspaper but a few things to keep us going. I set about doing more sketches for panto.

I’ve now got six basic ideas of how the whole thing could look. The afternoon was spent scanning the sketches, removing parts of my drawings so that I can add other scenery without having to redraw the basic.

Late afternoon I needed to stretch my legs so headed off for a panto thinking walk. I crossed over the canal at the next bridge and climbed up the hill, hawthorn bushes surrounding me. Along the road I came across a Vegan cafe, diners enjoying the late afternoon sunshine on the terrace with great views across the valley. Then on the main road was a Farm Shop. If only we’d known! It was closed now and won’t open until we want to be on our way tomorrow. Next time!

Returning to the canal I had to walk past a smart houses front door, they obviously have to put up with such things but I could hear I was tripping infra-red alarms. Down the steep path back to the canal. A few more steps were required and a bit more thinking had me head on down into a field, crossing small wooden bridges and wading through tall grass filled with buttercups and Ladies Smock. Then back the even steeper hill back to Oleanna. I’d stretched my legs but not come up with enough solutions for panto.

Time to strip the roast chicken and make use of a couple of leeks that were sat at the bottom of the fridge. Chicken and leek macaroni cheese. This was very yummy for a fridge invented meal and will be made again.

0 locks, 2.5 miles, 1 aborted mooring, 1 deep mooring, 2 outsides, 1 sausage roll day, 0 rolls, 6 versions, 13568386425 tadpoles, 20 geese.

https://goo.gl/maps/d4GujUDFXXetc1nK8

Having A Gander. 23rd May

Skipton to the Curley Wurleys above Bank Newton

After a lovely long weekend of friends, food, theatre, oh and a birthday we needed to be on our way again, the alarm was set.

The lovely man from the slow boat was walking his dog and insisted that he should help us through Brewery Swing Bridge where the key of power does the barriers but you have to push the bridge manually. Between us we managed to find a gap in the traffic and school children and ended up holding nobody up.

A line of Silsden maroon boats sat just past a vacant water point, we pulled in and topped up the tank. Then a wave to Robert and Margie (who weren’t looking at the time) and we were soon saying our farewells to Skipton, Gawflat Swing Bridge no longer requiring a C&RT person to operate it.

About three miles on the flat gave us more swing bridges, the last on this side of the summit. Swans sat enjoying the freshly cut grass. Were they making nests? Would a farmer carry on regardless or leave that corner of the field should eggs be laid? Geese preferred the longer grass around the fields, peeking up having a gander at us as we cruised past.

Approaching one swing bridge a hire boat was coming the other way, they’d got to the bottom of the locks and decided to leave them for their second narrowboat holiday, swing bridges would be enough for their first. At Highgate Swing Bridge two boats were getting ready to set off, they’d each found themselves a locking partner.

I walked up to help. One boat was a hire boat and it was their first broad lock, myself and the other lady explained how the locks worked and wound the ground paddles round and round and round. A shame I’d helped so much as we’d be on our own coming up and my arms were already exclaiming about this being the first of several locks today.

Once we were up we pootled onwards to Eshton Road Lock, the two boats ahead now rising and what looked like another Silsden boat was pulled up on the lock landing, we might have found ourselves a locking partner.

This is the first lock with cloughs as ground paddles, I asked the lady we’d be sharing with if she’d used them before. The answer came back that they had done this stretch several times before, we had experienced serial hirers with us. Helen and Joe turned out to be good locking partners.

The two boats ahead pulled in above Highlander Lock for the day leaving the way ahead clear for us. As we walked between locks some Ash trees were having a serious chop back, Mick was a little bit too far away from the bank to stop and collect a few rounds sadly.

We now met a few boats coming down the locks everyone enjoying the wonderful sunshine. Mick and Joe chatted away at the stern and Helen and I chatted, when we could hear each other, at the locks.

So much green, yellow, white and blue. What a beautiful day to be boating and on such a beautiful canal.

A lunch break was required by all, so both boats paused before starting our ascent of Bank Newton. Most of the lock flights on the Leeds Liverpool have restricted hours, nothing too restrictive, 10am to 5pm, last boat in at 4pm. This is to help conserve water so that hopefully the canal won’t have to close as it did last year.

At the bottom of Bank Newton a Lockie was cutting the grass, he mentioned that there were two boats on their way down. As soon as Helen and Jo were in sight I started to set the first of the six locks. The newer of the cloughs seem to be the hardest to move, maybe tighter fitting below the water. Us both ladies in their 50’s we’d give the cloughs a go, but should they not want to move we’d leave them for a while before trying again, in some cases a while longer. No point in aggravating my back third week back on the boat!

We made steady progress up the flight, passing a Silsden wide beam in one pound and a narrowboat in another, both gates requiring opening as they cruise with their fenders down! By the time we reached the halfway mark we picked up a friendly volunteer who headed on upwards to set the next locks for us.

Now on our favourite pound, we followed the contour around the hill, fingers crossed there’d be space for us on the curley wurleys. Bingo one boat there, we pulled in to their stern, Helen and Joe pulled up in front. This is our favourite mooring on the network. A wide towpath, sheep in the fields below, a dry stone wall and fantastic views.

We’d been planning a barbecue but sadly there was just too much of a breeze to have made for a perfect evening. Instead we decided to have a drink sat out to soak up the view and give Tilly an extra hour of shore leave before we all came inside to eat. I so love it here. Next time we’ll try to stay for longer.

12 locks, 11 shared, 7.6 miles, 5 bridges, 0 held up! 1 pooh sucky lorry, 1 wave to Margie, 1 slightly pink boater, 31st sock for dementia.

https://goo.gl/maps/TrtyHzwgVGumqzY17

In The Footsteps Of Barry. 19th May

Hirst Lock to Keighley Golf Club

Pitter patter on the roof this morning, rain! No choice but to get moving though as we wanted to ascend Bingley this morning. Passages up and down the five and three rise happen twice a day with the assistance of Lock Keepers so arriving before 10am would be a good thing.

First we had Hirst Lock. These locks are a lot kinder when shared, but nobody else was on the move. The woods round these parts must have been spectacular a couple of weeks ago, a haze of bluebells, sadly now past their best. Maybe next time we’ll cruise the L&L in early May to catch them.

A cat sat watching us as we arrived at Dowley Gap Two Rise. The top chamber required topping up and the bottom emptying. There was a lot of walking round to be done.

Now the weather was drying up and we pootled along to the bottom of Bingley. We wondered what this stretch looked like before the A650 and railway were hemmed in by the 1980’s looking stone walls and before the railway existed. Just after we’d pulled up joining three other boats a steam train came past, shooting it’s smoke high above the walls (from Carnforth, heading to York).

One boat was descending as I popped up to say Good Morning to the Lock Keeper. He was pleased we’d be making a second pair, pairs are easier in the locks. A chap from the hire boat we’d be sharing with asked if we’d be going up straight after the two lead boats, because theoretically they could have three pairs in the Three Rise at once. Well no you couldn’t as the following boat would have to steal the water from the boat ahead. So you need to leave a chamber in between uphill boats.

It took Oleanna 22 minutes to rise up the Three Rise. The Lock Keeper setting ahead and a jolly volunteer keeping an eye on paddle winding. At Bingley you need to take note of what the Lock Keepers say, conserving water is one thing, but keeping your boat safe is another. It took a while for the chap from the hire boat to understand that you shouldn’t just open paddles, a close eye on bows and sterns were required before another two turns could be made.

The pound between the Three and Five seemed low, but there was just enough water to get us in line below the Five. The bottom lock was emptied for the lead boats then the Lock Keepers headed up the flight to get the upper chambers ready, each one filled ready to be emptied into the next one.

Tilly sat in the window to admire the view, well the sideways view was of rather good looking trees!

I headed up to reset the bottom chamber, getting to walk up the side Barry (the renowned Lock Keeper) used to inhabit. The bywash at the bottom having moments of gushing water as chambers filled and over spilled above us. The lead boat was assisted up the staircase by the Lock Keeper whilst the lady volunteer assisted us. A pause at one point as the gates into the second chamber ahead hadn’t quite closed for us to empty the one in between. Water cascaded over the top of gates, the Lock Keeper ran round, the bywash below gushed again. We paused a while to let them get ahead of us.

Thankfully we’d recalled a Lockie a few years ago suggesting to have our cratch cover closed due to leaky gates, helping to deflect the water away from the welldeck. We know of one boat this year that has turned around due to so much water spraying over their tug deck, this was before they got to the Three and Five Rises.

Oleanna and the hire boat would enter each chamber far enough for the bottom gates to be closed and then nestle back towards the bottom gates. Despite this the roof of the hire boat was a third wet and water rushed down along the sides of the grab rail, nowhere for the water to drain other than right down to the stern, causing two waterfalls one each side of the stern bulkhead.

At Bingley there are four seasonal Lock Keepers (2 of which share a job). The Lockie chatted about the seasonal staff in Leeds and the difficulties they were having recruiting this year. From last year one chap has retired, another hasn’t returned due to ill health, the third one, well lets just say there are still people out there who don’t respect Lock Keepers as they should.

As we reached the top chamber it was time to put waterproofs back on as the sky turned black, thankfully we didn’t get too wet before the swing bridge was swung for us to leave the top of the Five, fifty minutes after entering the bottom.

We’d thought about filling with water, but the tap by the café was being used and the hire boat wanted to top up, we’d last til Skipton. Now to find a mooring, suitable for Tilly and in time for Mick to have another important phone call.

Micklethwait Swing Bridge has had an upgrade since we last came through and had to call for assistance. A raised platform with a small pedestal with Open and Close buttons. Other bridges didn’t have such good sight lines so a quick walk from checking the road to the pedestal was needed before more traffic came.

Cygnets, new houses, the views across to Keighley. A splash of serious colour from two rhododendron bushes in a garden made us hope that we’d timed our arrival along this stretch to perfection. Sadly we’re at least two weeks too early for the masses of rhododendrons to be in full flower. Maybe next time we come this way we’ll have to do it in early June!

More swing bridges, one operated by a hire boat, another by C&RT as they were in the middle of replacing the post it gets secured to.

We passed the Piano Boat, a raft comprising of all sorts that the owner bow hauls along the L&L. A peek in through one of the bay windows revealed a drum kit.

We’d thought of mooring near Riddlesdon, but that was too close to roads for Tilly. Onwards to where we thought we’d moored before, but sadly we were too deep to pull in close enough to the bank. Onwards pulling in to try time after time, Mick’s arranged phone call getting closer and closer all the time.

Booths Swing Bridge has always been hard to secure in position. Today it had been left a few feet from where it should be, no chance of securing it. I tried to give it a push. Nothing! Was this the bridge our locking partners out from Leeds had mentioned that you needed to jump on the opposite corner to help get it moving. I jumped and tried again. Nothing! I enlisted Mick to come and do the jumping and sure enough this helped greatly to get it going, phew!

A short distance onwards we tried pulling in again. The depth not our friend, but this would do for the time being, for lunch and Mick’s phone call. Mick hopped off to bang spikes in.

Where were the bow spikes? I normally leave them sticking out from a spare pooh bucket. They weren’t there. Ohh! We both realised what must have happened. This morning I’d untied the bow and thrown the rope to Mick as the bow was quite a way from the bank. I’d then headed off to set the lock and Mick had been more occupied with the position of the bow rope so I wouldn’t have to stoop to get it, he’d forgotten to pick up the spikes and the good hammer. So if you are now the new owner of two spikes and a yellow hammer may they serve you well. Luckily we have spares, but will need to get replacement ones for when this happens again. Maybe a visit to a chandlers for Mick’s birthday is needed!

Tilly headed off to check on the golfers below as we had lunch and then Mick’s phone rang bang on time. Tomorrow is Mick’s birthday, he will now be of an age where he will receive his private pension. A small one he’d been getting for a few years had suddenly had a boost, he checked this with the person on the phone, the new amount was correct, what a lovely birthday bonus.

During the afternoon I watched Encanto, a Disney film set in Columbia. The settings pretty much spot on with my reference photos I’d collected. The music was very catchy, even Mick was tapping his toes.

Then a spot of secret baking. A new recipe for a chocolate fudge cake from a book I got at Christmas. I omitted to add the 70ml of milk, and when I realised my mistake it was already starting to rise, so I let it be. Within ten minutes I could smell that it was cooking well and needed to be covered in foil as the top had caught! Was it the amount of sugar in it? Was it that our oven has decided to be a touch too hot? I’m sure it’ll be edible though, fingers crossed!

11 locks, 3 staircases, 11 bridges, 1 left open, 25 held up, 1 wet start, 2 shallow, 2 boaters jumping on bridges, 2 late for bluebells, 2 early for rhododendrons, -2 spikes, -1 mallet, 1 very dark chocolate cake!

https://goo.gl/maps/NCsXFmiFCfAZnzud9

First Floor, No Thanks! 18th May

Calveley Lodge Swing Bridge to Hirst Lock.

Alarm required today as we’d need to be making another early start, however today we allowed ourselves to have breakfast before pushing off.

The road was busy at Millman Swing Bridge, but I think it always is. I put the key of power into the pedestal, waited for a gap in traffic then pressed and held the ‘Open’ button. Once Oleanna was through I pressed and held the ‘Close’ button, we were through in a jiffy. What a good design of bridge unlike Moss Swing Bridge yesterday!

I walked on to Dobson Two Rise locks and started to set it for us, the towpath pawl on the bottom gate paddle wasn’t making any contact with the cog so I had to let it close so that I could check the upper chamber, the offside one worked, emptying the chamber. As I was walking back down a group of volunteers in blue arrived from litter picking. I was asked if I’d like some help, I then asked which side of the lock was best to use, the near side was the answer as the ground paddles on the other side are VERY stiff.

Conversation with the volunteers obviously turned to Moss Swing Bridge. Just about everyone has complained about it. Apparently C&RT are collecting together the complaints to hand over to the company who own it to try to get things improved. We’ll be adding our complaint to the many, hopefully something will happen.

With one volunteer watching, Oleanna gently rose up the staircase of two, we then paused to fill with water and dispose of our rubbish, the skip having just been emptied. The water tap was slow so we gave up when we were three quarters full, we’ll finish it above Bingley.

Next Mitchell Swing Bridge which had a problem a few days ago being stuck half open. C&RT had been out and got it moving again, however it was soo stiff I had to enlist Mick to give it a push from the towpath side, thankfully that worked.

I held a Yorkshire Water van up at the next bridge having just let one van through. The chap didn’t seem too bothered.

We’d been told back at Dobson Two that there would be volunteers on at Field Three Rise and sure enough there was. Three volunteers who were trimming edges and cutting the grass, then there was an employee who was jet washing the stonework and lock beams. This lock has always felt a little bit left out to me. Being close to the sewage works, not the picturesque Dobson Two or close to Saltaire. Admittedly it’s normally raining when we come through so that won’t help with appearances. Once the jetwashing is done it will look lovely.

Three more swing bridges to go today. Dock Swing Bridge used to have to be wound round, I enlisted Mick to do that for us in 2014. Now it all operates by pushing two buttons.

As we passed the boat yard by the junction where the Bradford Canal used to join the L&L a narrowboat was in mid flight about to be put back in the water. The chap giving instructions to the crane driver asked if we’d like a first floor adding to our boat. We declined as we’d not make it through bridge holes further on.

There was nowhere to stop in Shipley, all moorings taken.

Then through Saltaire. The obligatory photo taken.

Would the mooring above Hirst Lock be free? Or should we join a few other boats moored alongside the sport fields? I walked up to check, there was a boat. Maybe we could get in behind it and bang spikes in, but I remembered the earth to be minimum and stone blocks lurking beneath. We opted to reverse to a short length of armco where we got in, just about.

Time for a quick lunch before Mick had an important phone call to answer and another to make. I got on with collating reference photos for panto before I had a zoom meeting with John the Director and Gemma the Production Manager.

Unfortunately the internet in Saltaire isn’t too brilliant, so I kept dropping out. But ideas were exchanged, logistics talked about, future meetings set, hopefully for when we’ll be passing near by. Maybe we’ll be setting the alarm clock most days and try to moor up for lunch so that I can work the afternoons and Tilly can head of into the undergrowth to explore. Another early start tomorrow so we can arrive at Bingley in good time.

5 locks, 7 miles, 7 bridges, 29 held up at least, 6 volunteers, 0.75 filled with water, 0 rubbish, 3 decisions made, 1.5 hours of panto chat, 5 hours shore leave, 200ml of double cream, chocolate ganache can now be made.

https://goo.gl/maps/prXAmiFWeE4QgCTQ6

Our Verdict. Absolutely Ridiculous! 17th May

Granary Wharf to Calverley Lodge Swing Bridge 215

The alarm wasn’t needed today as we’d been woken by glass bottles being showered into a recycling wagon. Up, dressed, cup of tea drunk whilst rolling up the covers. At 6am we could see that our locking partners were awake, then someone came and untied the bow rope. We sprung into action, well as much action as you can muster at that time in the morning! Their crew had already set Office Lock, I hopped off to lend a hand. Between the two boats we had six crew.

Libby and Karl have hired numerous times before and had been joined for the week by novices Mark and Sarah. It turned out that we had quite a bit in common, such as Scarborough, Windermere and boats of course.

The morning started off chilly, fleeces and jumpers required, but working the locks the layers gradually were removed. As we worked our way uphill numerous runners pounded the towpath. Ground paddles were stiff requiring repositioning of windlasses. Gates over grown with greenery and stiff. Oddy Two Rise the gates wouldn’t open fully, I think I remember that from last time. But with four people to work the locks we had most things covered and worked efficiently.

After Spring Garden Lock we had the a long pound to cruise, time for breakfast on the move. Tilly below deck was excited to be moving. They kept moving all those fantastic looking trees. Don’t they realise I’ve not had a challenging tree to climb for months! She shouted and shouted at me, so keeping hold of her I opened the stern doors so she could see that we were moving the outside! Tom was very busy!

Then at Kirkstall Little Lock we ground to a halt. Here the locks are padlocked shut before 08:00 and after 15:00 daily. We’d arrived at 08:10 and the padlocks were still very much locked. From past experience one Lock Keeper has the job of unlocking this and the next two staircase locks, so they obviously start at one and work their way down. We waited, we could have had a more extensive breakfast, we waited.

At 9:00 Mick called C&RT and was on the phone to someone just as a blue van arrived. C&RT usually have seasonal Lock Keepers, but none had returned this year, so interviews are on going to find new people, leaving a couple of chaps to pick up the van and then unlock locks, then deal with work boats on the move and other things. The chap unlocked everything for us and said he’d try to get the other Lockie to set the staircases ahead for us.

Forge Three Rise needed the bottom emptying and the top chamber topping up. The stonework on these locks is just wonderful. Curves between chambers. Spillways all engineered in. Bywashes, thankfully all running today, flowing with clean water. We worked our way up. Bottom gates leaking and spraying over the bows of both boats. Once the bottom gates were closed Mick and Karl moved the boats back to avoid the worst of the torrents.

Under my Bridge, the first P just starting to fade a touch now. The Lockie met us part way, there had been something jammed in a gate paddle on Newlay Three Rise, he’d managed to sort it but didn’t want us to use that paddle as we rose. The last of the locks for us today.

Now the start of the swing bridges. Rose Mill Swing Bridge was nice and easy doing just what it should. NB Burnsall headed onwards to Bridge 218, Moss Swing Bridge! We have history with this bridge, back in 2014 it had expanded in the heat and wouldn’t open, a tractor was sent to assist. Today a tractor wouldn’t be needed as the bridge has been replaced and is causing somewhat of a consternation on the Leeds Liverpool Canal and the local area. It also seems to have had a name change to Aire Dale Mills Swing Bridge! However everyone is still calling it Moss Swing Bridge.

Here’s a list of articles if you fancy reading them

Article in West Leeds Dispatch

More a week later

Yorkshire Evening Post

Yorkshire Post

Not owned by C&RT, it is privately owned by Rodley Bridge Company (Emergency phone number 08000114074 you may need this number one day!)

Mick had had to pause to clear the prop, but as he arrived Mark and Sarah were at the bridge along with a chap who has been employed to assist boaters in the correct operation of the bridge. Sarah filmed and I took photos.

There is a large sign with instructions, the first four stages you need to follow are on the control console. First you unlock the cabinet, not unusual for those of us used to the Stainforth and Keadby Canal swing bridges. Inside you follow the steps to set the barriers in motion by pushing buttons. Once they are lowered you then have to remove the bridge key and insert it into the Bridge Wedge release handle lock rotating it clockwise. Then you move the locking lever to release the bridge, this is a 90degree bent metal rod. I’m not sure how you Ensure the handle is fully retracted and pins fully withdrawn.

It seems that you have to keep hold of the lever for a while as you start to turn the wheel which removed the wedges. You then keep turning the wheel for around about 70 turns until it will move no more.

Walk across the bridge to the other side. Here you lift the tail lock catch (because we all know what one of those is!) and rotate clockwise to sit on the holding bracket. This is another 90degree bent bit of rod.

Then you turn the wheel at this end of the bridge to swing it. I don’t know how many turns this takes. Some people say 100. Mark looked relieved when it was finally open and he could have a rest before reversing the whole procedure. If you forget to return the tail lock catch to where it had been at the start then you won’t be going anywhere, neither will be the vehicles wanting to cross the bridge.

Once you’ve wound the wheel back to relocate the wedges you then return the big fat key to the control console, press buttons and hope that they don’t flash at you.

The chap employed to assist boaters seems to be well known by the locals. He is there from 8am to 3pm when he takes the protruding handles away with him. He will only be on site for a few more weeks when apparently some new handles will be attached, or you’ll have to turn the wheels as you do on the River Nene locks!

Mark was keen to operate the bridge today even though he’d had a go yesterday. From putting his C&RT key into the lock and removing it it was just over 10 minutes. I was very relieved it wasn’t me trying to work out what the instructions meant and turning and turning the wheels. It will be just about impossible for single handers to operate the bridge, the instructions say that the bridge operator to remain in position throughout navigation movements, so you can’t move your boat anyway!

Not all the bridges on the Leeds Liverpool are easy, some are buggers, but this bridge (designed to withstand lorries going to a building site) is plain ridiculous! During morning hours when the bridge is most likely to be operated by boaters heading into Leeds the home owners will be wanting to head to work. Whether it’s 67 or 72 properties in the new development that is a lot of potential cars wanting to cross the bridge. I see horns being sounded. Should an ambulance or fire engine be required in the development it takes time to turn those wheels. The cardiovascular exercise to operate it is well breath taking. I think it is likely to put some people off cruising the Leeds Liverpool.

Verdict. Ridiculous!

**Rodley Swing Bridge opened with smiles**

Anyway. Mark and Sarah went ahead to open the lovely Rodley Swing Bridge then I took my turn at Owl Swing Bridge. Here we parted ways as we were looking for a mooring and they were wanting to get close to Saltaire to have a look round tomorrow. Thank you for your company this morning and especially to Mark for working the stupid bridge.

We carried on to where the green fields stretch out below Calverley. It took a while for us to be happy not being quite into the side.

A sausage roll day!!! 6 hours!!! Brilliant!!! I made sure I did my rolling on the towpath so it knew it was mine, all mine. We didn’t see her for ages at a time, but the Dreamie container will require a refill soon.

**Don’t you come home until you’ve had a bath!**

Bolognaise sauce is bubbling away on the stove and I suspect we won’t be late to bed this evening. Another earlyish start tomorrow.

12 locks, 3 staircases, 6.8 miles, 4 swing bridges, 5 held up, 6am push off, 2 more Scarborians, 2 more lodgers booked, the most stupidest bridge ever, 6 hours, 1 dusty grey pooped cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/oxiReejirFzVsVTa8

Extra Jumpers Required. 12th May

Castleford Visitor Moorings to Clarence Dock/Potato Wharf/Leeds Dock what ever you want to call it!

Grey but not wet thank goodness, just chilly! Brrrrr!!!

Our plan to fill and empty at the services was thwarted as three boats were moored in the way, maybe they’d just finished filling and emptying, one chap stuck his head out to ask if we needed water, he’d move back if we did. We’d already decided to carry on and do the necessaries further on. The flood lock was closed and a boat had just come through, NB Tumbleweed who used to write a blog. Hellos were exchanged.

The downstream panel took forever for the Lock Ready light to illuminate. Maybe because the lock is just vast it took it’s time. It took so long that I even removed my key and started again to see if that would help. Eventually the light illuminated, I lifted the sluices, Water Level light came on, gates open, Hooray!

Another boat was waiting to come through from the other end, so it made sense for the chap to use his key. The level board at this end of the lock looked to be on the cusp of amber, would yesterdays rain raise the level anymore and would we have problems with closed flood gates?

**Steps to accommodate all size of boats**

The right navigation was chosen rather than the left and we headed on towards Leeds, I wish I’d brought my gloves out the back it was that chilly. Lemonroyd Lock soon appeared with it’s downstream lock landing built for all sizes of boats. Full as expected, I waited to get the thumbs up from Mick that he’d tied Oleanna up before I lifted the sluices to empty it.

Lemonroyd Lock replaced two locks and is just so vast, Oleanna always look so mini. A gongoozling family arrived, they live on the Ashby and have helped many a boat through locks before (can’t have been on the Ashby). The chap wondered why I wasn’t using a windlass, I showed him the panel of buttons, can you imagine the pressure on normal gate paddles! I enlisted their help in opening the gates, pressing another button. Mick pulled onto the water point for a delayed top up of fresh water and an empty of yellow water, making use of the elsan.

Tilly thought it looked quite nice here, but we still had further to go, even though we were both cold already and both of us were quietly wishing we could stop.

A gravel barge sat moored up a short distance on, is this where they come to empty their holds? Piles of fresh aggregate suggest so, but there wasn’t any sign of any means of offloading it.

At Woodlesford Lock a lady recognised us as being in the Jonathan Wilson facebook group. As soon as she mentioned her boat name NB Freedom I recognised them, we’ve seen them around here before and down on the Thames. NB Ecky Thump also familiar from Blue Water Marina last year.

At Fishpond Lock we had a tern diving for fish as I emptied the lock, it remained hungry. Thwaite Mill visitor mooring was available, slightly overgrown.

Knostrop Lock next. By the top gates there were bunches of flowers marking a memorial to a 14 year old lad, who on the Easter weekend had jumped into the lock to swim, shortly after a gravel barge had been through. He disappeared from view, thought to have been caught in a current created by the barge. All very sad.

Signs at the lock reminded boaters of the limited opening hours at River Lock up onto the Leeds Liverpool Canal. The levels drop at Granary Wharf leaving boats sat on the bottom, so for the time being the lock is only opened for two hours a day between 1 and 3pm. The signs suggested there is space for three boats below the lock, we’ll have to look at these when we go through, we were hoping to stop sooner.

The service and mooring pontoon have a build up of silt below them making the deck rippled. We’d not be mooring there unless we really had to.

Two hire boats came towards us, a new company to us The Boat Co North. Mick was later to meet a single hander from the USA, he helped him through his first push button lock. Hope he managed to get to Woodlesford today.

At Leeds Lock I opened and closed gates, lifted paddles as Mick tried to hold Oleanna still in the now short lock. If you are coming down this lock, keep away from the top gates as you may get caught on some wood jutting out. As Oleanna finished her ascent I walked up to peer over the wall into Clarence Dock to see if there’d be room for us. Bingo there was!

In the last few days we’ve heard that the visitor moorings here had long since gone, others have stayed but not known what the time limit was. Time to check for ourselves. The old signs are just visible, then a new bright blue sign declared the pontoon to be Visitor Mooring 2 days. Brilliant and an Oleanna sized gap waiting for us. Add to that an electric post still with a small amount of credit left.

On previous visits here we’d been able to buy electric cards I think to the value of £5 from the C&RT office across the river. Sensible size for two days and available to purchase when the office was open. These cards are unique to Leeds Dock/Clarence Dock what ever you call it. However now you have to order them £10 credit and get them posted out to you at an extra £2.95! For a bit of card the size of a credit card! Not very user friendly, the sooner C&RT install meters that you can log onto and pay for what you use anywhere on the network the better. But that won’t be for sometime as it would cost money and that is short at the moment. So we remain grateful to a previous boater who left some credit on a post.

The remainder of panto was read, notes taken. Tilly was slightly stroppy as there’d be no shore leave here. We remained very cold until Mick had lit the stove and the interior of the boat started to warm up. It was only two days ago we were sitting without jumpers in the evening, today we’d really needed thermals and just adding another jumper this evening really wasn’t going to cut the mustard!

Crispy Lemon Chicken tonight. A new favourite.

5 locks, 1 flood lock, 10.1 miles, 3 hire boats, 1 ex-blogger, 1 JW boat, 1 hungry Tern, 1 bored cat, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, £1.20 credit, 1 stove lit, 0 knights having a wee.

https://goo.gl/maps/Krar6X929DCqS3LQ7

Zooming The Waterways. 13th March

Last week Mick got a call from Sean at SPL Covers saying he’d finished repairing Oleanna’s pram and cratch cover, he’d returned to the marina and popped them back on. The only thing was that when the main part of the pram hood was taken away Mick had popped the sides inside Oleanna for safe keeping. With snow and possible high winds forecast we wanted to get the sides back on as soon as possible to keep the weather off.

Mick considered heading to Goole the same day, but he’d only get about 50 minutes before he’d need to be on a train heading back to Scarborough. Taking the bike would make this more possible, but should a ship be entering or leaving the docks at the wrong moment, he’d end up missing the train and have to spend the night on Oleanna. So instead he headed to Goole the following morning, a light dusting of snow having appeared overnight. We hoped that the Wolds wouldn’t get a major dumping so that the route would stay open. Thankfully the east coast only got sleet.

Photos were the last thing on Mick’s mind as he put the sides back on the pram hood, it was far too cold! I’ll just have to wait to see the new window first hand. He was back safe and warming up in the house mid afternoon and Oleanna was now snow and wind proof once again.

A while ago I answered an online survey to do with C&RT. I can’t quite remember what it was about, but did remember ticking a box to say I’d be willing to take part in more market research. This led to a phone call inviting me to take part in a zoom focus group this evening. I had to answer some questions prior to the meeting all to do with my relationship to the waterways and how I felt about Canal and River Trust. Some of my answers were short, others far longer, especially the one about the Trust’s strengths and weaknesses.

The focus group this evening was made up of five liveaboard boaters. I was the only one sat in a house! We introduced ourselves, two boats were on the Grand Union, one on the Mon and Brec, the other I can’t remember where they said they were. Ages ranged from twenties to sixty five.

We were asked about many things to do with the waterways, what they meant to us, wellbeing, nature, the environment, history and our thoughts on C&RT. Tag lines were discussed. The drop in funding and reduction of maintenance. The big thing that came across from all was C&RT communication skills and at times how bad they are. Yes there were the comments regarding maintenance and facilities, but there was also very much a feeling of let us boaters help, involve the boating community, encourage us to respect what we have and to help keep it in good order. Looking after the waterways will then bring nature, wellbeing along with it.

The lady conducting the focus group said that there were other people being brought together from different user groups, presumably different types of boaters, paddleboarders, fishers, swimmers. All being asked to comment on the same tag lines. It would be interesting to hear how the different groups commented.

We then had a rushed evening meal before settling down infront of the laptop again. This time we were joining Kate Saffin for a talk about the Boaters Strike in 1923. On 13th August 1923 the canal in Braunston made the national headlines. The traffic on the canal was brought to a halt after Fellows Morton and Clayton had announced that the boaters were to have a pay cut of 6.5%.

Boats blocked the arm, an attempt to remove tons of tea and sugar cargo from the boats by FMC was thwarted on the first attempt. Police were drafted in for a second attempt, which was very noisy but three boats were finally unloaded.

The strike continued for 14 weeks. Children got to attend the village school (now the village hall), the longest they’d ever be in class. Socialising was possible with friends and family they’d only normally get to see passing on the cut.

Fifty to Sixty boats blocked all routes into Braunston. The population of the village swelled from just over 1000 to 1300, putting great pressure on the local facilities. Back then the boaters didn’t use elsans or pumpouts, they normally emptied their potties behind their boats as they set off, the prop churning it into the water. With no boats moving for weeks, it must have been horrendous.

Alarum Productions have been awarded funding from the Arts Council to produce a ‘full-on’ community project in Braunston to mark the 100th anniversary of the strike. Braunston 1920s : 2020s. Telling stories from the 1920’s which has a lot of parallels with the 2020’s. Writing and drama workshops, local history research will all come together in June to produce promenade performances around the village, telling stories where they happened coinciding with Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally.

Decorating and other jobs continue in the house. I’ll be glad when I don’t have to climb up and down a ladder to sand, paint or paper. Next it’ll be curtains.

0 locks, 0 miles, 6 months flea, 12 months worms, 1 extra month, 1 travel sickness pill, 5 boaters opinions, 1 Eat Me brunch, 300 strikers, 1 bedroom nearly papered, 1 onion, 4 knobs, 1 more shade of blue, 1 contract, 1 weather tight Oleanna.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna