Up to Bingley

Having just got the boat back after the alterations there was not any time for a "shakedown" before our weeks holiday so we had to hope all would be OK.

Trevor has renamed the Emily Jay the Melora and whilst on the cruise we fitted the new name.

I created the design in Xara X and it was printed locally.

We spent the first night moored up at Great Heck an old haunt of ours and had a nice meal in the Bay Horse. We had originally thought we would go to look at either the Huddersfield or Chesterfield canals but at Castleford junction we, on the spur of the moment headed for Leeds.

That's what I like about the canals you have little need to plan you can just go as the mood takes you.

It seemed really weird passing through a major City on the canal. If I had not known I'd have had no idea we were in Leeds, a City I've been to many times.

The Royal Armouries can just be seen on the left. It has it's own basin for visitors arriving by boat.

This is the lock into the main Leeds basin, River Lock I believe. It is the first lock where you need a "Handcuff Key" which of course we did not have!

An 8mm hex socket got us into the lock with a little difficulty. It is quite a leaky lock and there was a fair amount of turbulence.

We managed to buy a handcuff key at a barge selling sandwiches moored in the basin. Quite a nice sideline for them I expect. We also found out at this point that one of the crew had left our windlass at Bramwith lock helping the Melora through.

Although we did not stop for long Leeds basin looks a good place to stay overnight. I was told by another boater there is a security guard on the mooring during the night so it should be safe.

A stop for shopping at Saltaire

Saltaire again

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