Old Whitley Bridge

Here I am Rune

Distance 16.5 miles

Total 2809 Locks  130 Tunnels

Running total mileage 3974.4 miles 

The original plan was to stay in Selby until Sunday morning but on Friday we’d decided that we had ‘done’ Selby so the decision was made to move on Saturday morning instead. A fairly straightforward sort of day, the Selby Canal had less weed in it than it had when we came down it so the passage through there was without incident. I’ve counted the Haddesley Flood Lock this time (I didn’t count it going up since it was open at both ends) since we had to actually operate the lock, although the difference in levels was mere inches. Out onto the River Aire was again a comfortable trip, no real flow against us to speak of, averaged about 3.8 mph most of the way through to Beal lock where we met a group of 4 boats coming down (1 narrowboat and 3 cruisers). After the lunch stop at Beal it was then through to Bank Dole lock and then up and back onto the Aire and Calder Navigation. My plan had been to moor at Whitley Lock but, finding the moorings full, we returned back about a third of a mile to Old Whitley Bridge visitor moorings. 

Since it is Bank Holiday weekend it is possible that my mooring plans may be subject to change but the current hope is to moor either at Sykehouse Junction or Sykehouse Lift bridge, so tomorrow will be a fairly short day’s travel.