York for the Weekend

Fiona's sister and family brought their caravan up to Yorkshire and stayed at Naburn Lock Caravan Park so we could meet up for the weekend. Here is Bombardier moored at Naburn Lock.

On the Saturday we all had a run into York for a wander around the city. The only difficulty we had was in getting Molly the Labrador on board as she wasn't very keen!

We departed Naburn Lock on the Sunday morning and headed back to Selby.

The journey was a tricky one being close to a spring tide. As we approached Acaster Selby the tide was coming in fast against us bringing much debris with it. We pulled in towards the bank and just held water at the main flow of debris went past before pulling out and heading back.

Our return to Naburn

The tide was a fairly late one on this occasion. 

We left Selby Lock around 5pm and headed up to Naburn ready for a trip up to York later in the week. 

For something different we decided to video the journey as we hadn't found any other videos of this trip on YouTube.

Part one is from Selby to Cawood 

Part two is Cawood to Naburn

Only one day free this weekend

Well we have only one day free this weekend so have decided to stay on the boat Friday and Saturday night and just have a run up to Wakefield and head in town for a few beers. Here we are moored at Barnsley Road after being thrown around at Fall Ings Lock which is quite ferocious!

Back to work

We left the boat at Woodlesford due to the adverse weather and came back on Thursday and decided to have a run up to Stanley Ferry. Here I am waiting for the lock to empty at Woodnook Lock at Whitwood.

Unfortunately we had a mishap at Birkwood Lock. There was a severe cross-wind which took hold of the boat slamming it sideways into the canal side and from this point the engine began running very roughly so we had to limp on to Stanley Ferry and investigate there.

Once moored up I investigasted what may have gone wrong. Nothing was obvious but I worked my way through the ignition system being my hunch of the problem. It appeared on refitting the distributor I had not tightened the pinch bolt enough. This allowed the distributor to move when we hit the side of the canal putting the timing out. I retimed and it is now running fine.

Return to Leeds

With the weather forecasts looking decidedly poor going forward we decided to only go as far as Leeds on this occasion as wind and rain was looking like it would spoil the next few days but it did remain pleasant for the run into Leeds itself.

The old mill buildings now converted into accommodation beyond Leeds Lock Moorings.

The busy Clarence Dock.

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!