Full Circle

The Aire and Calder is our home canal and we were pleased to see the familiar control panel at Knostrop Fall Lock which along with all the other locks on this canal, is electronically operated.   At the touch of a button the sluices are raised and when the lock has filled or emptied another button opens the heavy lock gates.  

The control panel for locks on the Aire and Calder

The locks on this canal have been built to accommodate 600 tonne sand and gravel barges and are considerably bigger than most locks on the canal network.  Some locks have an extra set of lock gates so the full lock only needs to be used for the commercial barges.

Looking down Bulholme Lock from the top lock towards the centre lock gates.   The orange marker for the bottom gates can be seen just above the tree line on the left of the canal.   The building houses the controls for the lock-keepers.

We moored up at Woodlesford for a few days and enjoyed sitting out in the sun for a change.  The new butcher's shop, next to the Co-Op, was excellent so we called in again before leaving.

Our next stop was Castleford, a small town with all the facilities for boaters.  The plentiful moorings are a short walk from the town centre and as the Bank Holiday approached boats started to arrive.  On Saturday morning Cath, John and the kids joined us for the weekend  followed by Lynne, Gary and their friends.  

The weather was glorious so we were able to sit out all day, enjoy our first barbecue of the year and chat around the fire until the early hours.  Bess was pleased to see her old friends Roxy and Shanti and sat outside Lynne's boat waiting for Shanti to come out.  

We're often asked about our arrangements for health services.  In common with many boaters we've remained registered with our existing dentist and doctor.  The time has come for our check-ups but a secure mooring is needed for Brent III so we can stop over in Rotherham.   Luckily Sue and John at Viking Marina are able to accommodate us.  

On our return journey to Goole we passed two very different types of boat.  As we left  Ferrybridge we came across a Dragon Boat Race.  

Dragon Boat at Ferrybridge

Near Goole we passed the commercial barge Battlestone loaded with sand.
  

Battlestone creating waves as it passes.

  Mooring up at Viking Marina felt like coming home.  Since setting sail from here we've travelled 644 miles and come through 354 locks.  

Our journey from River Lock, Leeds to Viking Marina

Industrial Yorkshire

From Skipton the canal follows the River Aire and although there are no locks there are plenty of swing bridges to keep us occupied.   Between Skipton and Bingley there are 20 of these bridges, most of which need opening manually by pushing at one end.

The swing bridge, a familiar sight on this stretch of the canal.

In 2006 we came to Skipton on one of our first boating holidays so this part of the canal is familiar.  It's been interesting to look back at our log to compare notes.  On that first trip we travelled for long days to complete the return trip in a fortnight but this time our journey has been at a more leisurely pace.  

At the top of the famous Bingley 5 Rise Locks we stopped for a few days and avoided travelling in the wet and windy weather.   The 5 locks, with each lock emptying directly into the one below, form the highest staircase lock in Britain.  We teamed up with narrow-boaters Trev and Sandra for the 60 feet descent with lock-keeper Barry in charge.   Barry was awarded the MBE for his work at the Bingley 5 Rise so we were in good hands.   The lesser known Bingley 3 Rise took both boats down another 30 feet. 

Bingley 5 Rise Locks, the white railings are on the bridges over each lock.

The canal took us through industrial Yorkshire towns with their vast stone mill buildings.  Salt's Mill flanks the canal at Saltaire and nearby in Shipley there are restored mill buildings and warehouses which now have modern day use, mainly as offices.  We moored up at Shipley and introduced Bess and Brin to Trev and Sandra's 2 dogs, an alsatian and a patterdale/yorkshire terrier cross who is half the size of Bess!  

We continued to travel with Trev and Sandra sharing the work at locks and swing-bridges.  I was especially glad of a hand with the swing bridges which are heavier in the towns.  Dock Swing Bridge was unusual.  After dropping the road barriers I had to go back onto the bridge and use my windlass to operate the turning gear.  It felt odd to be standing in the middle of the bridge turning the windlass as the bridge pivoted round me.

Rodley is the last safe mooring before Leeds and as space was limited we breasted up (tied the boats side by side) with Trev and Sandra.  After leaving Rodley we passed through picturesque stretch of canal with woodlands and views over the River Aire.  It's hard to believe this area is unsafe for mooring but apparently it's proximity to a local housing estate makes the canal an attraction.  As we entered Leeds the canal became busy with lunchtime  joggers and near Leeds railway station we came to the end of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.  River Lock took us onto the River Aire and the start of the Aire and Calder Navigation. 


Our journey between Skipton and River Lock, Leeds

Skipton Waterway Festival

We timed our departure from Barrowford to ensure we arrived at the nearby Foulridge Tunnel when it's traffic lights were in our favour.  The lights on this 1640 yard tunnel are green for just 10 minutes every hour.  When we entered the tunnel the exit appeared as an indistinct spot of light in the distance. In between we passed under 3 air shafts giving us a quick glimpse of the sky, dripping sections with colonies of stalactites and some unnerving dips in the roof which appeared to squeeze the tunnel.  After 15 minutes we emerged into daylight and moored up for a walk around Foulridge Wharf.  

Emerging from Foulridge Tunnel, the lights for oncoming boats are on red.  The red and white bar shows the maximum boat height and indicates the depth of the dips in the tunnel roof.   

After Barnoldswick we came to the first locks which take the canal down off the summit level.  Then the canal snaked towards the Yorkshire Dales, occasionally turning back on itself to keep a level.  During a series of tight bends we looked across to our right and saw a bridge we'd just come through.  

On Tuesday we intended to stop at Gargrave but boaters advised us most of the moorings at Skipton had been reserved for the Waterway Festival.  To ensure we had a mooring we kept going and covered 7 miles with 12 locks and 3 swing bridges.  Then we stopped for a well-earned rest.

Skipton is a bustling town with an interesting range of shops and a street market on alternate days.  We were tempted into several purchases including some material for a patchwork quilt I've started.   A small branch of the canal leads out of the town centre and into a steep valley overlooked by Skipton Castle.  The path, elevated on decking, led us passed the canal and up into Skipton Woods for a pleasant walk. 

Skipton Castle overlooks the canal which is to the left of the path.  Eller Beck flows parallel to the canal on the right 

While we enjoyed pottering in Skipton preparations were underway for the Skipton Waterway Festival organised by Pennine Cruisers.  The theme for the festival is cartoon characters and boats bearing giant stuffed toys, displays on the roof and a lot of bunting start to arrive on the moorings.  A stage, stalls and various activities materialise next to the canal basin.  

During the 3 day event there is a brass band, pipe band, morris dancers and various groups, some singing golden oldies which we enjoyed.  On Sunday night an illuminated cruise sailed into Skipton Basin.  The boats were decorated with lights and glided through the dark creating quite a spectacle.  

Illuminated Gromit and Shaun sheep sail passed on top of a narrow boat

     

A decorated narrow boat - the reflections in the water add to the the display.

On Monday we enjoyed a visit from Shaun and Laura.  The weather was perfect for another visit to the Waterway Festival and for the kids to try out the trampoline and rock-climbing wall.  

The Waterway Festival drew to a close on Monday but the warm weather continued so we stopped for another day in sunny Skipton.

Our journey from Barrowford to Skipton