Terry Streeter wrote: > Tue Jun 17th - 46 miles, 2 furlongs, 13 locks - York to Wakefield > Total cruising time 13 hours. > > Set off from Lendal Bridge at 5.35am, arriving at Naburn at 6.45am. > Filled up with water while waiting for the lock keeper to arrive. The > fix to Naburn lock appears to have involved disconnecting the broken > paddle gear and getting the paddle seated properly in the closed > position. How long it'll stay like that is anyone's guess - the lock > still works, although a bit slower as there's only one bottom paddle. > Four plastic cruisers went out in the first locking, then five > narrowboats and one late arrival plastic cruiser in the second at > 8.40am. I was slowly pulling away from the other narrowboats and was > finally overtaken by the cruiser after a couple of miles. Passed > under Cawood Swing Bridge at 9.50am, as the flood tide switched to > ebb. The floating debris increased from this point on - not much of > a worry to me, but the cruisers must have had to slow down to pick > their way through it all. Coming around Turn Head, about 3 miles > from Selby Lock, I heard Selby Lock and the cruiser talking on the > VHF, and discovered he was only about a mile ahead of me. Called the > lock keeper as I rounded the bend by the Selby Swing Bridges at 11am, > and he said the lock was ready but mind the cruiser already in there. > Spun Arun around as I passed the lock and powered back up and into > the lock. I must be getting better at this, as there was absolutely > no drama about it at all. Once out of the lock, I went through the > swing bridge following the cruiser, and carried on down the Selby > Canal while they stopped to collect the crew member on gate duty. > They made slow progress along the canal, only catching me up at West > Haddlesey flood lock. Once out onto the Aire they passed me, but > were only just going into Beal lock as I rounded the corner. They > waved me in alongside as there was space. I let them go on ahead > while I closed up the lock, but was with them again just as they went > into Bank Dole lock. They were turning left at the junction, heading > to Great Heck, and I let them go as soon as the lock was filled > saying I would close up. Leaving the lock at 2.50pm, I went straight > on towards Castleford. Castleford Junction at 4.40pm and I went > straight on again heading for the Calder and Hebble. I finally tied > up for the night just before Wakefield Flood Gates at 8.05pm. Next > stop the Rochdale canal. > > ------------------------------------
I must say I do enjoy your trip reports, I can re-live them, as they are TNC style. Ah!...we thought that was where you were headed! (yes Linda asks after your travels) Have you got asisstance for the Manchester side?..if not you should fone up Martin Clark! -- Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest - Shannon Reg 7410...after a frozen start to the season, about to get 9 weeks of visits...now with twin Mikunis!!!
