The Flotilla

While helping a couple of boats up the Johnson flight, I tried to get some "publicity" shots of the Navvygator.

Of course, by the time we got to the top of the locks, the bottle was empty!

Then it was off to Blackburn to have  some food at the Calypso

It was a lovely misty Morning in Rishton, before I set off to deliver the "provisions" of Navvygator  to Kennet.

I drove into Leeds, straight onto Granary Wharf where Kennet was waiting, next to the Knitted boat.




There were four other boats waiting by the Candlebar to join on behind Kennet at the start of the flotilla.  I would join them a couple of days later in Burnley.



Tuesday evening, the flotilla arrived at Burnley Wharf, spent the evening there and set off early Wednesday morning.

 
Pretty soon we were in Gannow Tunnel, I bet this tunnel hasn't seen this amount of traffic in years.







There was a bit of a pile-up on the approach to Rose Grove Services, when some boats stopped for water

 

But soon, we were in open water and the Flotilla spread out into a more orderly line





 



 

 

 As we passed church, and the half-way point, there were crowds of schoolchildren on the banks, cheering and waving flags.

  


Then we were approaching Blackburn

Just by Whitebirk, Ribble stopped, with something jammed in its prop








Which left me directly behind Kennet on the final approach to Blackburn

 


Just before Eanam Wharf, we all slowed down to allow the historic boats to the front of the flotilla

  


and then the flotilla had arrived at Blackburn






  
The welcoming committee of the town mayors was first

Then the crew of Kennet (plus the Brewer) had some Navvygator

Blackburn was another overnight stop, and time to get smartened up to go to the Dunkenhalsh for the CRT Centenary dinner, where I had to don dickie bow and all to present the Enterprise award.








On the Thursday morning, the flotilla left Blackburn.  There was a lot of water coming down the Blackburn locks, overflowing the gates.



The next stop for photos was at the top lock of the Johnsons flight

We continued down the flight sharing locks

and we were met at the bottom by Kier with Eendracht.  Amazing to see a 100 year old boat taking part in the 200th year celebration of the L&L.



When we got to Botany Bay I moored up at the boatyard.  That was as far as I was going in the flotilla, as I had to go and present a "meet the brewer" evening at the Shepherd Ale House in Chorley.

This morning we decided to go down to Wigan to assist the flotilla down the 21 locks.

 

 Pretty soon they were all at the bottom, and while the flotilla were heading on to Liverpool, we used this as an excuse to go and drink several beers in Wigan Central

Car Shuffling and learning to swing

In the morning I sailed the mile and a half to the bottom of the Bingley flights.  Bingley is a typical Pennine town, with the Railway, Road and Canal all following each other.


I walked back for my car, which was still at the Fishermans, and drove to Skipton.  On-line it only cost me £10 to park in Skipton Station car park for a week.  I then got the train back to Bingley to get the boat.

The classic Bingley photo looking up the locks











Again, the staircase locks look huge when going uphill.  I suppose going downhill, you get to see the view.

There was a lot of water coming down from the summit, and the lock gates were overflowing







When I got to the top of the five rise, Kennet was there.  I stopped to fill up with water, and had a chat and an ice cream in the mid-day sun.  They were on the way to Leeds to start the flotilla to Liverpool.  I arranged to drop them off supplies of Navvygator when they got to Leeds, and I would join them in the flotilla from Burnley down to Chorley.


Further along from Bingley, there is a plastic boat which has been painted to make it look like it is made from wood!







I moored up at Silsden for the evening and had one or two excellent pints of Tetleys in the Robin Hood.  Although I am not sure why Robin Hood is in Yorkshire




The following morning on the way into Skipton, and I am finally getting the hang of swing bridges. 

Slowly creep up to the bridge, and go into neutral when the boat is all but stopped.  walk down to the front of the boat.  If you have judged this right, you can step off the front of the boat directly onto the bridge while holding the front rope.  Tie the rope to the bridge leaving about 15 to 20 feet of slack.  Open the bridge,  as the bridge swings open, the rope tightens and pulls the boat through.  The slack gives you time to then walk down the open bridge, untie the rope, throw it onto the front, and guide the boat through with its own momentum.  As the boat passes, grab the rear rope, which you have previously positioned in a convenient position on the roof, and use this to slow the boat down.  Tie this rope to the opposite side of the bridge, close the bridge, and this pulls the boat back towards you.  You can then untie the rope and step onto the back of the boat.

Impressive when it works.

I spent a night in Skipton, restocked at some of the shops, then decided to carry on.  All through September I had sunshine and blue skies, and I have a better tan now than I had all summer.  The weather was due to change, and I wanted to get over the summit before it got too bad.

It was plain sailing through Gargrave and Bank Newton, then the sweeping bends down to East Marton.  The clouds were coming in, but I only had the three Greenberfield locks to do and then I was at the summit.


I entered the first lock in late sunshine, closed the gates and opened the paddles.  The heavens opened, and I was drenched in a torrential rain shower.  My coat was on the boat, still in the lock.  By the time I could grab it I was completely soaked, and then the rain stopped as quickly as it had started!
I did the last two locks in a soggy fashion, and had started to dry out when I reached the top.
 A quick cruise through Barnoldswick, and I reached the Anchor.  Pub, warmth, fire.  The moorings outside were full, so I moored up just past them in a not-exactly-ideal spot.  At least the 45 degree bank would give me some exercise getting on and off the boat.

The following morning, the sun was back again, as I headed down to Burnley.

I then got the bus back into Skipton to fetch the car before my parking ticket ran out!