HOLIDAY SNAPS!

A BOAT TRIP

Three leisurely weeks in September to Skipton via Wakefield, Castleford, Leeds and bits in between.

So some holiday snaps!

The tranquillity of the Calder and Hebble navigation near Kirklees Top Lock.

If you are stressed out queueing in stationary traffic as one often is, on the road from the M62 to Cooper Bridge, bear in mind this peace and quiet is just over the river from you.

Relaxed and taking the sun - September has been brilliant this year. 

CASTLEFORD

Castleford was a mining town.  Henry Moore the sculptor was born here, son of a miner.  There are no mines now.  There is a lot of industrial land clearance going on to develop Castleford.  These allotment buildings are slowly being reclaimed by nature.  There used to be a few pigeon lofts here and it was good to walk on the high river bank that curves around this area and watch them swooping around in a group.  This year there were non.

This metal sculpture is on the roadside on the way into the town from the canal.

And obviously this one is outside a scrapyard

The reason I enjoy Castleford is the Englishness as though the atmosphere stopped somewhere around 50 years ago.  The town may look a bit down at heel, as maybe some of the folk do, but it has a sense of honesty and is so sociable.  Sit around and chat with anyone here.  It must also have the record number of geriatric and disabled appliance shops in any one town.  Many walk with sticks or are in battery driven disability scooters.  But it is a small shop and market town full of life and activity and seems a great place to me as a passer-by.

I suppose one has to mention Castleford Tigers as Castleford is a rugby League town.

Leaving Castleford on the river Aire one starts the Aire and Calder canal at Lemonroyd Lock and this is the approach to this very large deep lock designed for commercial craft which sadly no longer run as far as I know.

Near Leeds there are some picturesque moorings below Thwaite Mills.  Originally a fulling mill, the historic mills were last used for crushing flint and china stone for the potteries as well as for other products.  I was told that many tons of chalk were sent to Wakefield gaol in the past to reduce the content of flour when making bread for the inmates there.

 

 About to pass Thwaite Mills showing the millowner's house.  Worth a visit.

A boat passing through the opened road swing bridge at Kildwick below. 

Swing bridges abound on the trip from Leeds to Skipton  Some are mechanised and some require ‘britches arse power’.  Of the latter most are pedestrian or farm bridges, but one that carried traffic to a site over the canal was so bad it required four helpers and a crowbar to get it to swing.  Fortunately this was repaired by the return trip although a couple of others requiring a crowbar were not and one was still terrible from last year.

Kildwick

Kildwick

Many heron about.  Usually they wait until the boat draws near then swing up and away in front for 100 yards and settle then repeat until finally after three or four goes they turn back to where they started.  But then, like this one, some don't.

The moon and the swing bridge at East Riddlesden

Skipton

  

Skipton

Boat dogs at Skipton

  

1950's commercial broad beam boat converted to live on leaving Skipton

 The horse boat Elland being towed breasted up leaving Skipton

The old horseboat Elland moored further down the cut.

Mayoral party of Skipton in a Royal British Legion memorial service parade

Having left Skipton to return home, this is the scenic Leeds and Liverpool canal at Silsden

 A Silsden garden

Bingley Three Rise - Not everything works on the canals - broken ground paddle gear.

Going down the 'staircase' of Field Locks near Apperley Bridge.

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LEEDS

Granary Wharf in Leeds with the noisy passenger and restaurant boat, the popular Kirkstall Flyboat, turning. (I think the noise emanates from what looks like a big generator on the stern).  Before it was developed, Granary Wharf, like Clarence Dock by the Armouries had free visitor moorings but now on the left hand side some fees have to be paid to the hotel there for temporary mooring.  Clarence Dock has very limited visitor mooring facilities and a large expanse of available space inaccessible.

 Looking down the canal towards Granary Wharf at night

Leeds river taxi service - A couple of Taxi boats started this year, plying between The Armouries and Granary Wharf.  It is a good boat trip along the river and well worth it if only to enjoy the riverside scenery.   It is also more convenient for the city centre from Granary Wharf and an interesting walk under the gloomy old arches of the railway where the river runs tumbling through below..

An 'abandoned' bike and a 'neglected' dog.

No neglect here!

Leeds has some fabulous old arcades.  This one is the County Arcade

This beauty salon in the arcade above had a very dramatic window and interior display last year so I was quite disappointed with this one.  Looks like some village powder room.  Matter of taste I suppose.  Maybe more relaxing.

Naturally Leeds has its selection of buskers and beggars.  

I have a theory that in order to collect the most money one should have a large open soft bag lying flat with a good selection of coins and maybe one low denomination note exposed.  Having a cup like this busker suggests expectations are low  It is also an effort and therefore a deterrent for potential contributors to have to bend down and try to get money in a cup - so they don't.  

My advice is make it as easy as possible to cast the odd coin in unobtrusively with no effort, to catch those who are more timidly charitable and influence everyone by the visible collection to think that this charitable cause is popular and well supported - so join the herd..

Generally, unless they are talented, and some are really good, I am not attracted to them but this poor chap absolutely stunned me, not least as he played well.  He moved around locally on a short skateboard.  Tragedy there somewhere.

This sort I tend to put in my beggar category as they just stand there waiting for money, but I suppose they amuse the children – maybe. 

And this one who sits quite comfortably with the metal support up his sleeve and down inside his coat to his seat.  I would be more impressed if he could do it without the pole!  How is it done - see YouTube Levitating man

AFTER LEEDS

Boat entering Fishpond Lock on the Aire and Calder

Woodlesford Lock.  There used to be a chap doing chainsaw carving here but he was not evident the occasions I passed this year.  Pity as he really captured the essence of animals.

The tranquil scene above Woodlesford Lock on the Aire and Calder navigation.

The end at last!