Just too much, all change!

Tuesday, 29 June 2010 20:17

We change waterway again!

The day started out overcast after heavy rain in the night. Bulholme Lock was our first lock of the day. it was operated by the Lock Keeper who warned us of commercial traffic ahead on its way up from Goole.

Bulholme Lock cottage

The cottage is on stilts as the area is prone to flooding. Below the lock are remains of spoil heaps and basins as reminders of the Fryston and Wheldale Collieries. The area is gradually returning to the "wild" with new trees.

The other side of the Navigation, all the way to Fairburn, are the "Ings" or water meadows.  This has been a nature reserve since 1957; owned by the Coal Authority, it is leased to the RSPB. Over 250 bird species have been identified and 170 have made it their home.

Once past Fairburn, the looming Ferrybridge Power Stations take over the scenery. All this just for the sake of electricity! Originally they were powered by coal and the Coal terminal is still there.

Coal terminal and dock

It was past here we met the large commercial sand barge Fusedale H. It was just exiting the flood lock as we reached the 18th Century Ferry Bridge, which once carried the Great North Road.

Fusedale H and Ferry Bridge

We hung back briefly to allow the barge to navigate the central arch and then went on under Ferry Bridge; then we went through the A1 bridge that has superseded the Great North Road and into Ferrybridge Flood Lock. This lock takes the Navigation back off the River Aire and past the huge Kings Flour Mill to Knottingley Junction. The "cut" continues all the way to Goole, bearing right at the junction.

Kings Mill

We, however, were going straight on and back onto the River Aire via Bank Dole Lock, which we shared with hire boat "Devon" from Shire Cruisers. We had overtaken them ages ago as they chugged along! We ladies emptied the lock and pushed the very heavy lock gates open and shut. The Pontoon below is parallel to the lock so John needed to reverse back to pick me up. Devon, being much shorter, was able to do a 360° turn to pick up his crew!

In Bank Dole Lock

 On the stretch to Beal Bridge we met four narrowboats coming down stream: two just after Bank Doles and two leaving Beal Lock. At Beal Bridge, just before the lock cut veers off to the right, the evidence of the high flood tide was obvious!

Under Beal Bridge

Once through Beal Lock, the River Aire curves around, then curves around again, then again ..... Were we back on the South Oxford? No, it was far too wide! However, Eggborough Power station and its "pots" kept appearing around corners!

Power station

There are warning signs at Beal Lock that water ski activity is possible. Hmm .. does that mean mad fools on speeding boats or speed boats with mad fools on skis? The only "activity" we saw were empty short pontoons where I wondered if the water skiing preparations were made.

Soon after this (and a few more curves) we reached Haddlesey. The Flood Lock means a sharp left hand blind turn and then we entered a different world!

Haddlesey Flood Lock

The sun was shining, it was warm with a slight breeze and there were lovely moorings waiting for us! We were now on the Selby Canal - a brief respite before tackling the River Ouse!

Moored on the pontoon beyond the flood lock

We were joined by two other boats - a wide narrowboat (Isambard) and an ex Norfolk Broads wide cruiser. We are on the (1 boat) 72H mooring, Isambard is on the 48H (1 boat) mooring and the cruiser is on the (1 boat) 1H mooring! There is "no more room at the inn"!

Aire and Calder Navigation, Castleford to Selby Canal, Haddlesey

3 hours 26 minutes, 12.93 miles, 3 locks