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Now that we’re on the Aire & Calder we run into enormous locks that seem to dwarf us, but at least there were these little electric control panels which do all the hard work. All Pauline had to do was turn a key and push a few buttons!

We wish they were all like this!

Lemonroyd lock! We couldn’t hang around to share even if it does use a lot of water.

Going up – Mike & John enjoy the ride while Pauline does all the difficult button pushing.

Off again, should we leave or pick up the button pusher?

And so the journey continues on into Leeds, through now very picturesque redeveloped and doubtless very expensive waterfront areas. Do they really need this many apartments – apparently so, but at least they look OK. Back on the water we turned into Clarence dock to find the last mooring space just big enough to take us.

Good views even if it is expensive living.

Moored overnight under the “Armouries” – it was closed.

That was 7.30 in the evening and we’d recorded 10 hours cruising, 21 locks and 29 miles. That left us with enough time to sample a pizza in the town centre along with just a couple of beers.

17^th September 2004

An early start – Mike was the slave driver – up and away at 0750! Only to get a short distance and onto the Leeds & Liverpool canal (bye-bye river and down to 4mph) to find that having negotiated lock no. 1, the 2^nd was locked off and we had to wait for the lock-keepers to arrive at work.

Entrance to lock no.1 Leeds & Liverpool canal, early in the morning!

Well the early start wasn’t wasted because when the lock-keepers arrived we were told that the lock was due to close for several hours to allow Police divers in below lock no.1 to search for a murder weapon.

Then we were informed that vandals had been at work and had managed to drop the level in the long pounds from Oddy locks (4&5) to Kirkstall lock (7) and we would have to wait for them to fill a bit. Well we waited at the top of lock 5 for nearly an hour for the lock-keeper never to re-appear so on we went but slowly with a forward lookout. One or two groundings were felt but we managed OK. The hospital silencer seems to work – one fisherman commented that he’d never heard such a quiet narrowboat.

But it was about this time that our infamous rattle re-appeared. We’d noticed this on the first few weekend shakedowns, but the source hadn’t been found and Lyle assured us it wasn’t the engine. So onwards despite the annoyance and speed selection often governed by peace or rattle.

More mad dashing, just not so fast, and many locks and swing bridges. The first electric bridge we encountered (Apperley Bridge) was a surprise with all the flashing lights and sirens going off when the key was turned. All went well with the traffic stopped and with the bridge opened. Now Pauline & Mike were wishing John would hurry up as the traffic jam was building fast. Well with Betty through the buttons were pressed and the bridge swung into place. Then the gates (manual this bit – oh what hard work) were pushed closed. Now disaster struck. No matter what was tried the key wouldn’t turn back, so whilst the traffic could pass, we were stuck. If we left we’d be without the essential BW key! A phone call to BW emergency produced a fantastic response although the question “which canal are you on?” was initially worrying. The BW maintenance yard was only ¼ mile away and within 5 minutes two men arrived and decided the best thing was to give us one of their BW keys and they would sort it out later. Thanks guys.

It was whilst we were waiting here that “Eric Pollard” and Lorraine Chase jogged past and commented “a very fine vessel you have there”. Maybe Keith & Gary could get another sale here.

So onwards through Shipley to moor up in Bingley at the bottom of the 3 rise. Again that was 7.30 in the evening and we’d recorded another 10 hours cruising and 21 locks but this time only 16.5 miles. Still, with the 3 & 5 rise closed for the night we felt good progress should be rewarded with a visit to the local pub. An excellent meal and good drinks were found in the “Brown Cow”.

18^th September 2004

0815 - Wake the lock-keeper again, well he was in his cabin brewing up. The 3 rise was negotiated with us trying to help only for Pauline to be told “hold on to that rope and pretend it’s a big dog” and Mike to be told when he asked what he could do to help that he “should hold that rope for the lady”. Well these must go down in writing as the smoothest lifts we experienced. The lock-keeper was excellent and Betty barely moved in the lock with the excellent control of the water flow. If you’re going through here let him get on with it.

A few hundred yards later and we’re at the 5 rise. These lock keepers work together and the gates were already set. Altogether we were through both the 3 & 5 rise in an hour and ten minutes.

In we go.