Hoping to explore further

With some 6 or so days available we were hoping to explore a bit further beyond Leeds.

Saturday we made it as far as Ferrybridge Lock for the night and set off Sunday towards Leeds. Here we are passing what is left of Ferrybridge 'A' power station. It was closed in 1976 but the turbine hall seen here was kept as a turbine workshop, currently used by RWE.

The industrial landscape continues as you pass the coal plant of the Ferrybridge 'C' power station. This equipment originally lifted entire barges to tip out the load of coal.

On the outskirts of Castleford we passed one of the coal loading basins used right at the side of one of the mines. You cannot help feeling sad at this country's industrial decline.

The busiest I've seen the River Aire and nice to arrive at Lemonroyd lock to find it manned today.

We soon arrived at Woodlesford and as the weather was warm walked off into the village to find a local hostelry.

Cleaning and first run out.

We spent all day Saturday cleaning the boat and replacing some furnishings. Sunday arrived and we took a run out to Goole. Some of this run is a little featureless but a nice run nevertheless. 

I have found out this chimney which I have never spotted from road routes around here was once part of a tar distillery.

We stopped at the Canal-side put in Rawcliffe Bridge for Sunday dinner and were pleasantly surprised. The only shame was we had hoped to visit the waterways museum however all the adjacent visitor mooring were taken. 

I have since found out from another boater based in Goole this is currently a bone of contention as there are a number of boats here which have greatly outstayed their welcome!

Getting ready for the season

Things didn't work out well with the electronic ignition so I decided to revert to the original set up using OE specification but these took an age to arrive. Once they did, however, I refitted everything and set up the timing and it started and ran beautifully. So hopefully we will clean and prepare bombardier ready for a test run this weekend. I have also spent some time on electrical issues which were preventing the domestic water pump from running, and the horn and navigation lights from working correctly. Most of these issues are now resolved but I am now awaiting a new light fitting.

Attempt at making Bombardier run a bit smoother

I had been feeling that the distributor maybe needed a bit of an overhaul as sometimes the timing appeared to drift and the idle could be poor at times. I suspected the mechanical weights maybe needed cleaning and lubricating and the weight springs etc. checking. So I removed the distributor for inspection.

Although it was found to be in not too bad a condition and service parts such as points, condenser, rotor and arm and cap had already been replaced by myself last year, the internals were found to be quite dirty but serviceable. So it was dismantled and cleaned and given a fresh coat of paint.

Whilst out of the boat I have now also replaced the points set up with an electronic ignition module and whilst at it purchased a new coil which matches the set up.

I know these modules do get mixed reviews  but I fitted one to my MGB a couple of years ago and found it to be quite an improvement. I will just keep the points etc. onboard should the module ever give up the ghost.

Hopefully early next week when I'm not working I will get chance to refit and see if it makes any improvement.

Getting ready for the year ahead

Well it's that time of year to start thinking about using Bombardier again. I had visited the boat fairly regularly but if I'm honest the mild weather made me worry less about leaving it so much. Each time I have visited I've swapped one of the batteries for a freshly charged one and left the bilge pump switched to that fresh battery. With being away at Christmas it was around a month since last visiting and I found the selected battery was completely flat and the bilge was a little fuller than usual but not alarmingly so.

 I connected a fresh battery and emptied the bilge then switched to the starter battery and attempted my first engine start of the year. No joy. It would appear the starter was sticking. After giving it a clonk with a hammer I did get some action from it. Typical solenoid symptom so removed the tatty looking starter to examine at home.

Although it looked tatty I bench tested and found the motor itself fine but the solenoid was defective. A new starter was available at £240 but I opted to just replace the solenoid at a cost of £25 and it arrived 2 days later. Whilst off the boat I have also given the start a general clean up and a fresh coat of paint and its looking much healthier now!

On refitting, the boat started first time but it is running lumpy as it was on the last outing. I am suspecting the distributor mechanical advance is sticking and hopefully will take a look later today when I've got home from work and had some sleep. Hopefully it will be serviceable as a new one is costly and may have to come from California.

Selby Bound

A tricky Journey from Naburn as far as Cawood due to low sun straight ahead. By around Kelfield the sun was above the level of the windscreen making thing a little easier.

Lock keeper preparing Selby lock for our arrival.

Arriving at Selby at fair speed.

Turning into the tide to assist our passage into the lock.

Safely in Selby Lock.

The Ouse in flood

I spent last night at work watching the Ouse rise on a York webcam and also on the EA website hoping all was well with the boat. I had already moved Bombardier onto a floating pontoon on Monday in anticipation of rain on the Tuesday and Wednesday. Sure enough the river came up around 6ft in York. To access this pontoon you normally have to climb down a ladder around 5ft but today you were able to step straight on.

This is where we usually moor in Naburn. Missing from the picture is a 2ft retaining wall and the riverside footpath which itself is usually around 3ft above the waterline.