From suevbutler@compuserve.com Wed Jul 7 15:34:25 1999 Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1999 18:23:48 -0400 From: sue butler Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report - Jemima D goes from Bingley - Sowerby Bridge - Day 3 [ The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] Trip Report - Jemima D goes from Bingley - Sowerby Bridge - Day 3 Monday 21st June 99 Leeds - Stanley Ferry 9 locks, 15 miles, 7 hours Waking up to a Leeds which is full of people and cars rushing to work I really feel that I am on holiday despite being less than a mile from work! It is bright and sunny, but very windy. A quick visit to the dark arches confirms what I had expected. The much heralded revitalisation of this area has removed the some of the lovely quirky little shops that used to exist under the dank arches that hold Leeds station, and it is turning genteel. The good beer shop still exists though, and I hope they don't ruin the area completely, as it is still worth a visit. The car park attendant bemoaned the fact that few boats moor here now, and that the character of the place was being lost. We took advantage of the clean loos, and acquired a bit of much needed ballast from the building rubble. Neil sorts out the anchor and lifejackets in readiness for the river Aire. A boat rises up through River Lock, and we ask about the wind. They assure us that the river is OK, and that the wind is not a problem, so we lock down. Onto the river, the waterfront of Leeds comes into its own, old warehouses vie with new buildings, and bridges old and new sweep impressively across. We are soon out into the wastes of Stourton, passing effortlessly through the electrified locks, avoiding the laden sand barges as they make their way upstream. The sand barges are amazing, they are literally loaded to the gunwales, and they surge along with a terrific bow wave. But we have read The Book, and know to turn into the wave, and they pass without incident. There are plenty of swans along this stretch, and plenty of interest as we pass the old wharves. At Lemonroyd the police diving team is out searching the Marina - presumeably looking for a missing person. Jemima looks small in this giant lock. We wend our way to Castleford, where we turn left and moor up just beyond the flood lock. We are impressed by the guys who moor up beside us - with 3 coal pans being pushed along - they moor into a spot that is just long enough with barely a nudge on the bank. Neil is determined to buy postcards here, as we are so close to home, and so we walk into town for cards and provisions. It is sobering to see the broken remains of a barge on the weir. It has been there for many years now, and serves as a timely reminder to ensure you turn the right way at Castleford junction! A brief visit to the Britannia (a Rugby League stronghold) and we are back out to the junction, heading straight across for the Calder and Stanley Ferry. After 2 days of dropping down we now begin to rise again, and before long we are crossing the impressive aqueduct at Stanley Ferry. We spurn the plastic delights of the Millhouse this evening, preferring the more down-to-earth atmosphere in the Ship. Good portions of plain pub food, and a warm welcome. Even here, there are plenty of visitor moorings, and we are surprised how quiet it all is. Even though all the locks have been electrified today we are still tired - it must be all that fresh air! Day 4 to follow^Å Sue and Neil Riparian were we on Jemima D --- The UK Waterways Network - http://www.ukwaterways.net/ * bringing the inland waterways community together * You are currently subscribed to canals as: george@adiva.com To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-canals-407N@ukwaterways.net