Leaving Leeds to Skipton

As you know we have been stranded in Leeds now for 4 days because of a lock gate at Newlay being replaced. this has meant that the marina here at Clarence dock has become quite crowded as we all await permission to go through. Now as you can imagine I would hate to be going last so for the last 24 hours I have had Noreen in on a 15 min standby ready to go there at least 30 boats here all going in my direction and if they all leave together it will take days to shift them thereby Noreen is on standby. Weds night I had two conflicting opinions the BW said it would be ready by 08.30 but the men doing the job said more like 14.00 anyway I was taking no chances at being last so at 07.00 Thurs we quietly slip our moorings and broke the blockade all went well the first lock as negotiated no problem only to be met at the next one by a BW lock keeper saying we could not go any further because the canal ahead was dry so for a second night we had to go into BW yard secure mooring, this wasn't so bad because I new I was still one up on the rest. Not to last the mooring soon filled up with others like ourselves breaking the blockade this now meant that I was the inside boat with two other boats moored along side me. In my impeccable politeness I explained that I would be leaving at 07.00 in the morning so they had best set there alarms. Friday morning we awoke now being on our way for 24hrs and covered less than a mile. that evening the lock keeper returned and told us everything would be fine for us to leave in the morning. Fortunately that we met another couple who were intent on leaving early so at 07.00 now two boats slipped quietly into the mist. now we were two we should be able to travel a lot quicker have two people to do the locks. However as we arrived at the next lock we were met again by our friendly lock keeper only to be told that the next pound was dry and it would take at least an hour to get enough water in it to get us through. Eventually we were on our way 30 hrs and cover three mile but now we were on our way out of Leeds for good

we put in a good 9 hours sailing and eventually moored at Saltaire next morning we had a quick look round the mill and village and by 11.00 we were off again the couple Gwen and Ken who joined us on the first day decided thank goodness to pair up for a second day without two many hick ups we made great time and arrived in Skipton at 19.00 hrs having knocked 4 hours off the time we all that to Gwen and Ken who made the harrowing journey a pleasure as yesterday was Buggerlugs Birthday we invited Gwen and Ken for a celebratory meal and had a great night even though we were all Knackered.

From her on in things should get back to normal though I have forgotten what that is.

Gwen and Ken Sorry about the photo its the only one I have