The second video was also taken in glorious weather. It is sunny hot and calm. This time Maggie was steering and I took the video from the well deck. We are going more slowly along the delightful section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal just above the Wigan Flight near Haigh Country Park.
Showing posts with label Aire and Calder Navigations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aire and Calder Navigations. Show all posts
Northern Canal Videos
I took two video clips whilst we were on our northern cruise on two quite different waterways. The first is on the wide "commercial waterway" - the Aire & Calder. The video is of Albert, in company with other boats although they are difficult to discern, travelling between Pollington and Whitley . The Knottingley & Goole Canal is wide straight and deep and we are travelling quite quickly. It is good to see that its sunny - we did have a spell of good weather.
The second video was also taken in glorious weather. It is sunny hot and calm. This time Maggie was steering and I took the video from the well deck. We are going more slowly along the delightful section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal just above the Wigan Flight near Haigh Country Park.
The second video was also taken in glorious weather. It is sunny hot and calm. This time Maggie was steering and I took the video from the well deck. We are going more slowly along the delightful section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal just above the Wigan Flight near Haigh Country Park.
Rodley
Leeds Bridge, River Aire
We left Leeds today to start our journey along the Leeds and Liverpool canal and it was a bright mostly sunny day with the odd shower. Leaving Clarence Dock and going up the River Aire, we got to River Lock, the start of the canal at about 9:30.
Typical Leeds & Liverpool Canal Ground Paddle Mechanism
Ruins of Kirkstall Abbey
Newlay Three Rise
The lock keepers met us at the risers, as promised. With the heavy mechanisms and tight dimensions their help was welcome. The ground paddles, in particular, are often very difficult to move. We had wondered how Albert, at 60ft, would fit into the L & L locks . It wasn't that easy - we had to lift our stern fenders, move our tiller so that it wouldn't foul the gates, and then put Albert at an angle. However, once in the lock all is straightforward. Discussing how we fitted into the lock with the lock keepers, they didn't appear too bothered about Albert's length stating that they used to regularly handle 62ft boats by placing them diagonally across the lock.
Whitecote House, Rodley
The route the canal follows along the Aire Valley out of Leeds is suprisingly rural and is quite a contrast to our more familiar Southern waterways and other city routes. Close to Kirkstall the lock keepers reported seeing a stag running along the towpath. After Newlay we started meeting the swing bridges that are an L & L feature. We will meet a lot more.
Moored up at Rodley
We stopped late afternoon in Rodley at visitor moorings near the swing bridge. It was sunny and we enjoyed pottering around and visiting the local pub. The canal runs close to the centre of the village so shops, pubs, restaurants and buses are near by.
Leeds
On Sunday morning the weather was again bright but it was windy. Attica left early to get through Leeds to their base at Apperley Bridge. Red Admiral, Mrs Nippy and Albert left together for Leeds.
Thwaite Mills, Leeds (River Aire)
The journey was very pleasant, with the weather fine, and we arrived at Leeds Lock late morning. We had passed a group of boats going downstream. It turned out that they were stuck in Clarence Dock because of high river levels. BW had closed the gates to the dock.
Mills by the River Aire, Leeds
Leeds Lock & Royal Armouries
Albert moored up outside the Royal Armouries, Clarence Dock, Leeds
We found a good mooring in Clarence Dock. We had a choice of two and selected the on at the end of the floating pontoon. Later we found out that it was a mooring allocated by BW to a new trip boat that was coming down from Skipton. There was no sign indicating that the mooring was not available and by then no other moorings were available in the dock. We went for a walk into the town and on the way found the said trip boat (NB Apollo) coming out of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal onto to river. We introduced ourselves to the operators who were charming about us being, inadvertently, on their mooring. We sorted out the problem by breasting-up overnight. The basic problem in Clarence Dock is not the shortage of moorings, but the shortage of those available for visitors. There are loads of moorings behind the two movable bridges but they are not readily available because the bridges are rarely operated.
NB Apollo at Leeds - the new Clarence Dock trip boat
We explored Leeds for the rest of the day and enjoyed its superb facilities. Maggie particularly enjoyed the fashionable shops in the arcades. We had tea at Harvey Nicholls!
The wonderful Country Arcade, Leeds
River Aire emerging from the Dark Arches under Leeds Railway Station
River Aire, Under the Dark Arches
Former offices of the Aire & Calder Navigation Company
Crown Point Bridge, Leeds
Today, Monday, we spent more time in Leeds. We had lunch at the Dock Lane Market. In the afternoon we helped Hugh, from the trip boat Apollo, move moorings and also acted as his first passengers on a practice run up river to Victoria Bridge.
NB Apollo breasted-up against Albert at Clarence Dock
NB Apollo
Hugh steering NB Apollo on the River Aire, Leeds
This afternoon we also met the owner of Apollo, David Lowe, who we met in Manchester with his boat Swallow. We found out a lot about its history, but more of that another time. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Leeds. Tomorrow we depart for the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
Woodlesford in a flotilla
On Friday, when we boated to Pollington, we didn't see another boat on the move. Early in the day we had passed wideboat Woody at Bramwith Lock. The owner had indicated that he was going up to Pollington later in the day.
In the early evening narrow boats Mrs Nippy and Red Admiral arrived, closely followed by NB Atticus and finally widebeam Woody who had to moor on the water point since there was no space.
On Saturday morning (13th May) we all set off together going through Pollington Lock. Because we couldn't use the full length of the lock all the narrowboats went through together and Woody had to follow; although thet caught up later. All the other locks towards Castleford could accomodate the whole of our convoy (or should it be flotilla). We must have appeared like a cruising club.
Progress was good, including passing through Ferrybridge where there can be strong river flows, and we reached Bulholme Lock with no problems except for some little b....s throwing stones at Woody from a railway bridge.
The landing stage at Bulhome Lock is short and both Mrs Nippy and Red Admiral moored abreast and tried to operate the lock - but to no avail. It appeared that the lock keeper had disappeared and left the lock with no power available for boaters to operate the mechanism. Phone calls were made to BW and we all moored up - that was four narrowboats and a wide beam. By the time the lock keeper eventually arrived and operated the lock (with no explanation) there was also a Dutch Barge and five plastic cruisers all waiting. The locals appeared to find the chaos great fun.
We got to Castleford Flood Lock to find that the traffic light was flashing red. A narrowboat moored near by, Purple Emperor, joined our flotilla and the crew provided the explanation. The flood lock relies on some automatic sluices that are some distance away from the gates and two were up, effectively stopping lock operation. All six boats locked through onto the river and Woody dissappeared down the Calder.
We progressed well up the River Aire with Arthur from Mr Nippy providing much of the lock operation. At the recommendation of the crew on Atticus we moored up just above Woodlesford Lock. It is an excellent spot to moor with a charming village, quite moorings and good views over the River Aire, including a bird hide. There are some houses with imaginative architecture close to the lock.
In the early evening narrow boats Mrs Nippy and Red Admiral arrived, closely followed by NB Atticus and finally widebeam Woody who had to moor on the water point since there was no space.
Pollington Lock
On Saturday morning (13th May) we all set off together going through Pollington Lock. Because we couldn't use the full length of the lock all the narrowboats went through together and Woody had to follow; although thet caught up later. All the other locks towards Castleford could accomodate the whole of our convoy (or should it be flotilla). We must have appeared like a cruising club.
Mrs Nippy overtaking
Whitley Lock
Our flotilla
Ferrybridge Lock
The landing stage at Bulhome Lock is short and both Mrs Nippy and Red Admiral moored abreast and tried to operate the lock - but to no avail. It appeared that the lock keeper had disappeared and left the lock with no power available for boaters to operate the mechanism. Phone calls were made to BW and we all moored up - that was four narrowboats and a wide beam. By the time the lock keeper eventually arrived and operated the lock (with no explanation) there was also a Dutch Barge and five plastic cruisers all waiting. The locals appeared to find the chaos great fun.
Moored up at Bulhome Lock waiting for a lock keeper
We got to Castleford Flood Lock to find that the traffic light was flashing red. A narrowboat moored near by, Purple Emperor, joined our flotilla and the crew provided the explanation. The flood lock relies on some automatic sluices that are some distance away from the gates and two were up, effectively stopping lock operation. All six boats locked through onto the river and Woody dissappeared down the Calder.
Leaving Castlford Flood Lock
(junction of Rivers Aire & Calder)
We progressed well up the River Aire with Arthur from Mr Nippy providing much of the lock operation. At the recommendation of the crew on Atticus we moored up just above Woodlesford Lock. It is an excellent spot to moor with a charming village, quite moorings and good views over the River Aire, including a bird hide. There are some houses with imaginative architecture close to the lock.
Pollington, Aire & Calder Navigation
We are on the move again. Yesterday we returned to Staniland Marina via train. We refuelled, bought gas, and had a pump out - ready to go. We shall miss Thorne.
We hoped that water levels had dropped sufficiently to continue up the New Junction Canal towards Leeds. The trip down to Bramwith, and the junction, was uneventful except it was windy. When we got to Bramwith looking over the bank towards the guillotine flood gates we found that one was up and one was down - all very confusing. A discussion with a moored up boater ensued. They had been closed earlier in the morning so they were in the process of being raised. The double chambered Bramwith Lock was confusing to operate (manually) and it appeared to have leaky bottom gates making it difficult to fill. However, with some local advice from BW staff and a passing boater we go through with no real problem.
The River Don flowing under the aqueduct was still high, only a few feet below, and spray was coming off the upwind (and upstream) structure. There was an enormous pile of debris held upstream of the aqueduct. It must be dramatic when the aqueduct is over topped.
Turning north, the wind was less of a problem and it also abated as the day progressed. The journey was punctuated by the swing and lift bridges and the Sykehouse Lock.
Sykehouse Lock has a swing bridge crossing the lock chamber - similar in concept to Fenny Stratford Lock on the Grand Union. Because it is automatic the procedure for operation is complex. Once a BW key is placed in a central console the swing bridge can be opened. Then the rest of the procedure is controlled by other consoles at either end of the very long lock. All very different from most locks.
As the weather improved through the day we turned onto the Aire of Calder canal and mooring up just short of Pollington Lock on the visitor moorings.
We hoped that water levels had dropped sufficiently to continue up the New Junction Canal towards Leeds. The trip down to Bramwith, and the junction, was uneventful except it was windy. When we got to Bramwith looking over the bank towards the guillotine flood gates we found that one was up and one was down - all very confusing. A discussion with a moored up boater ensued. They had been closed earlier in the morning so they were in the process of being raised. The double chambered Bramwith Lock was confusing to operate (manually) and it appeared to have leaky bottom gates making it difficult to fill. However, with some local advice from BW staff and a passing boater we go through with no real problem.
Fishlake near Stainforth
Stainforth High Bridge
The River Don flowing under the aqueduct was still high, only a few feet below, and spray was coming off the upwind (and upstream) structure. There was an enormous pile of debris held upstream of the aqueduct. It must be dramatic when the aqueduct is over topped.
Don Aqueduct, New Junction Canal
Turning north, the wind was less of a problem and it also abated as the day progressed. The journey was punctuated by the swing and lift bridges and the Sykehouse Lock.
Lift Bridges on the New Junction Canal
Sykehouse Lock, New Junction Canal
As the weather improved through the day we turned onto the Aire of Calder canal and mooring up just short of Pollington Lock on the visitor moorings.
Crossing the River Went (in flood), New Junction Canal
Power station near Snaith from the Aire & Calder Navigation
We took a late afternoon walk into the delightful village of Pollington. We managed to pick up some vegetables and rhubarb from a stall at a local farm. We hope that tomorrow levels on the River Aire are low enough that we can continue towards Leeds.
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