The Great Adventure day 3, Saturday 11th April. Aground again!

Up and off by 9. The locks were OK but we got grounded again in the middle of the Figure of Three locks (although strangely there are only two locks) near Horbury Bridge. Knowing what to do we again had to open the lock we had just come through and managed to get enough water to refloat, very worrying as we had been at quite a tilt. On down through the second lock and as we settled back on board Karen said that she had heard a lot of crashing noises as we were grounded. Down into the galley and greeted by the sight of a floor full of broken glass. Most of the glasses were broken but luckily there were six left, the biggest diaster was the caffetiere (I hate instant coffee). I had stored the glasses on the second shelf up (the few left were quickly transferred to the lowest shelf I could find).
We nearly had our first casualty as Neil almost didn’t make it back onboard after pushing off one time. A mighty haul from me and he managed to get aboard with only his knee and his dignity hurt. He later nearly had a heart attack when he was pushing open a lock gate when a large duck came flying out from inside the gate beam. The beams here are hollow steel with sections open on the top surface and Neil had disturbed a duck that had found a very cosy sleeeping place inside the beam.

Neil and friend


We got onto the Aire and Calder Navigation which is a delight, lovely wide river with electric! locks. No pushing and shoving just turn a key and push a button. Needless to say I volunteereed to do the locks now.




The Aire and Calder.


The part between Castleford and Lemonroyd lock was full of swans, most of which came straight at us in an attempt to attack and protect their territory. Luckily they know to get out of the way at the last minute, but lots of pecking at the fenders ensued. They weren’t after food because my bits of bread were completely ignored. Good photo opportunities though.


Coming in for a fight.


Two swans in a row, not the same as three ducks in a row though.

Everytime I went down into the galley to make tea or bacon butties I missed a kingfisher (or so the others told me) I also apparently missed the ‘moonies’, some local lads trying to say something it seems.

The last lock was the Lemonroyd. This is a fantastic piece of engineering and is about 300 foot long 30-40 deep and at least 20 foot wide. Tormentil is 56 foot long but looked like a matchstick in this lock. Luckily it is electronic but does take some time to fill.

Lemonroyd, deep and long

Tormentil looking tiny

I had lots of time to talk to the locals and even the local constabulary were interested.

Me helping the police with their enquiries.

We stopped at Swillington and found a good local pub, but ate onboard again.
14 locks and 19 miles today.