Merry Xmas
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
As the festive season approaches, we would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Thank you for supporting us over the year and into the future!
We are sure you enjoyed the scenic views, the company and , of course, Gina’s delicious food, including little round green things, pointy orange things….
You are not only our valued customers, but also our friends.
Lady Teal V2 may struggle with some of the bridges!
Lady Teal Posts
Apologies to those following the news posts on the website. I have not posted here for a very long time as I now post on Facebook and Instagram.
In future I will also post to the website as I know some of you prefer to see the news here.
2025 Schedule is now live on the site with very few vacancies for 2024 and 2025 already heavily booked by our lovely customers. Thank you.
A very Merry xmas and a happy new year to you all
2023 Live to the general Public
With 2022 exceptionally well booked we are now releasing our 2023 schedule to the general public. We always release schedules to our base firat to give them the first ick of cruises before releasing them to the world!
Posts and news
Well its been awhile since we put anything on our web page news. But we do post regularly on our Lady Teal Facebook and Instagram pages.
We have just finished a trip to Liverpool a lovely and very different cruise.
2022 Schedule
We are now releasing our 2022 schedule to the website!
With this year being somewhat unusual, understatement, we have already moved some peoples bookings from this year to 2022 and released it to our past guests. So please be aware there are already significant bookings for 2022.
Good To Go
We have been very busy looking at and digesting the government guidance for re-opening. We have carried out a risk assessment and put in place distancing and sanitation measures. As you can imagine this has not been a straightforward process and it is not a one off thing, we have to keep looking for new guidelines and making sure we continue safe operation.
Visit Britain have a self assessment scheme that we have completed and this has given us the Good to Go mark and certificate.
Celebrity Britain by Barge:Then and now
Celebrity Britain by Barge:Then and Now featured the Leeds & Liverpool canal last week. It was actually very good with lots of history, though it jumps around location a bit, but most wont notice that!
We did bump inot at Foulridge, but did not make the program.
Highly recomend watching it.
Charity Fundraising
We would like to pass on a big thank you to everyone on our cruises who helped raise £750 for Camsight.
I think most people enjoy the little quiz, and seem to do well enough to take money off us!
Camsight were thrilled, as a small charity this makes a big difference.
2021 Schedule now on general release
After awhile on pre-release to our regular guests the 2021 schedule is now on general release and is filling very fast.
Any queries please just ask https://www.ladyteal.co.uk/5-star-cruises/2021-cruises/
End of Season
At the end of September we finished our last cruise of the season and this is where we are today! We are already thinking about the boat maintenenace and what we want to do next year!
We would like to send a huge thanks to all those who have helped us this year. All at CRT for being helpful and looking after the canal, Ray Bowen who was so good at organising the very professional lift and transport of the boat, Bluepoint for putting us in at Liverpool, Gary OKeefe, GOK, for looking after the boat mechanics, Daniel our chauffeur at the Burnley end, William our chauffeur at the Leeds end, the Rendezvous in Skipton for always being there for us, St Mary’s marina, Bridgewater Marina and all at Reedley Marina, Feather & Gaskell at Burnley dry dock, Ian at Pennine cruises. Really sorry if we have forgotten anyone.
Then the behind the scenes support from Nicks sister George and our neighbours Sue and Roger.
Off course our lovely team member Glen, who is so dependable and so full of energy. Also Lady who is probably the best Hotel Boat dog ever.
But none of this would be possible or any fun without our wonderful guests.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ONE AND ALL.
So a trip to Greece then Gina got to see her two dance teachers perform.
Now wheres that wine?
Look What we got in the post today!
That was a nice surprise, we received our Five Star and our Gold Visit England certificates today.
Lady Teal Takes a detour!
Lady Teal has had a few interesting days on the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
The canal at Burnley, between Reedley Marina and Wigan, has a closure that is overrunning by a number of months. Instead of re-opening in March the canal will now re-open at the end of May. Normally we would look to reroute cruises and then make our way through the re-opened canal and catch up our schedule. But in this case the closure is so long, so disruptive to our schedule and only on one section that we decided to see if there were alternatives. We came up with the idea of lifting the boat out of the water and taking it to Liverpool where we could get it cradled back in.
Seems a straightforward thing to do? When you are trying to lift a 42 Tonne boat the options on where you can lift out and in are very very limited. We need a 220 Tonne crane that comes with two support vehicles, one carrying 80 Tonnes of balance weights and one a small crane to lift the pads. We also need a very large lorry to transport Lady Teal. In order to do achieve the lift we also need very solid ground very close to the canal and a crane company experienced in this sort of work so as not to damage either the ground or, more importantly, the boat. This really does limit where it can be done as the area the crane passes over cannot have drains that could be collapsed by the very large weights involved. Whilst lifting the boat the total weight will be approaching 200 Tonnes.
With some looking around we decided to go with Ray Bowern transport for a contracted lift and transport, they do a lot of boat lifts so know what is needed to successful.
Night before we were due to lift some ~@}{@~ gentlemen decided to take a JCB and destroy a bridge control unit just outside Liverpool , BBC Article , CRT initially thought it would be weeks to fix! But they pulled through and have figured a way to manually operate the bridge a couple of days a week till it can be fixed. CRT were brilliant in keeping us informed, but it was all a bit worrying.
Well we are now in Liverpool about to start our series of cruises down here with minimal disruption and change to our guests. This sort of excitement, and cost we could do without. Though one of our guests had the unusual privilege of starting her cruise in Leeds and ending it in Liverpool!
Waterways World does Hotel Boats
@waterwaysworld @Welcome2Yorks @crtcomms
Lookout for December Waterways World as it has a great article on Hotel Boats. Obviously everyone looking at this post is aware of Hotel Boats on the British Waterways but a lot of people are not
It is quite surprising how long we have been going as an industry and it is great to see new hotels in London, like the Boathouse in Paddington.
For no reason, other than I love them, I will end with the picture of a sunset on the canal
The mighty Trent
Not today. Looks a bit big!
Lady Teal Gold
Having achieved our 5 star and our Gold Accolade , of which we are quite ridiculously proud, we thought we should update the boat signs.
Big Boats
Well, we have been messing around on the Aire and Calder, South Yorks, River Don, Dun Navigation, New Junction Canal, Sheffield canal, Keadby Canal , Knottingley Goole canal and Goole Port, I think taht covers, oh yes the Rivers Aire and the Calder as well!
Seen lots of great things, a variety of locks and bridges, aqueducts and viaducts, so really good. But the most impressive in many ways are the big boats.
We are used to being the big player, 42 Tonnes with the other boats more like 20, but down here they over 400!! So we are definitely not the big boat here.
Great fun and all the guests love seeing true commercial boats carrying a cargo, oil in the case of Exol pride.
Lady Teal heads south!
Ok, lets not get carried away! In fact what we have actually done is gone the furthest South on the eastern side of the country that we have ever been . We have taken the opportunity to go down the Don, way past Doncaster.
Even the pig looks surprised at where we are. A really lovely run mainly on the River Don.
Then down toward Consiborough we see this!
Thanks to Railway Paths, www.railwaypaths.org.uk, for this description:
The magnificent Conisbrough viaduct is impossible to overlook with its 21 arches, 150 foot lattice iron girder span over the river, and 1,527 feet in length. Opened in 1909, it was part of a connection between the Hull & Barnsley Railway and those of the Great Northern and Great Eastern. It consists of more than 15 million bricks, and features some beautiful decorative brickwork. It is so vast that an aerial ropeway was built to carry men and materials across the valley during its construction
That’s a big bit of water for Lady Teal
It’s not often that we moor in such a large area of water. We are just off from the Aire and Calder, more precisely the junction of the New Junction canal and the Sheffield Keadby canal, actually at the Junction. It is a lovely evening and and a super spot.
Sorry I have not been posting here too often, I will try to be better. I do post a mooring shot on the Lady Teal Facebook page every evening so you may want to follow Lady Teal on Facebook too!
Lady Teal and our wonderful guests
#WTY #LadyTeal #rivercruise
We always say it but we are so lucky with our lovely guests. The picture is of a great card that one of our guests did for us. The Kingfisher was on the front because she really wanted to see one, but unfortunately we didn’t. We frequently do see them, but this year there have been far far fewer of them.
Lady Teal shares a crowded lock
Lady Teal does not share locks very often, not because we don’t want to but because there is not normally any room. However, today on the Aire and Calder we shared a lock with 6 other boats, really busy for us.
Lady Teal playing with the big boys!
It’s always fun to mix in with the big vessels, and make use of my marine radio license!
Exol Pride, formerly Humber pride, is a tanker built in 1979. is 60 metres, almost 200 foot, long and 6 metres wide.
She takes oil from Hull, via Goole down to Doncaster. Someone bigger than us!!
An interesting day for Lady Teal & her guests
Lady Teal is always willing to share and we are back on the Aire & Calder sharing the big locks! This is Knostrop lock near Leeds. For the nerds amongst you Sheaf is a Sheffield Class built 1938 by Dunston, Richard, Thorne, she has been beautifully restored by the present owners.
It was also a first for me when we got hit by a mini twister! All moored up for lunch and I was standing on the back deck , a sudden roar, water spraying everywhere, chairs flying around, me and the boat being buffeted about, then all over. It was gone as quick as it arrived, but a bit of a surprise. No damage to people or boat so all’s well, but a bit of a surprise.
Lady Teal is now 5 Star Gold
Lady Teal now Five Star Gold 
At our recent VisitEngland assessment we are pleased to say that for the ninth year in a row we again achieved our Five Star rating. This year was a bit more special than even that! We are thrilled and proud that we also received the prestigious and rarely given Gold award. This accolade is for those who go the extra mile for their guests. While star ratings are based on a combination of quality, range of facilities and level of service offered, Gold awards are based solely on quality. We really feel that this award cements our position as the premier canal and river hotel boat in England.
What wonderful weather and great sights for Lady Teal
All our guests on Lady Teal, and ourselves , can’t believe this weather, it has been super, but of course I start to worry about water! Haven’t seen the May rervoir report yet but I do hope there has been some rain on the tops.
There have been some huge storms around but they have passed us by. We have been basking in heat and sun forever it seems.
All the youngsters are doing well on it, see below, and it has been lovely, if a bit warm for some of the flights.
The new time limits on Wigan seem to be really good and we have to say the team there are superb, volunteers and seasonals.
Celebrating another lovely day
Celebrating another lovely day on Lady Teal on the Bridgewater canal.
The weather has been wonderful and the scenery gorgeous. What more could we ask for?
This really is a wonderful canal with scenery, villages and plenty of places to moor, loving it.
Lady Teal on the Bridgewater
Lady Teal has been sailing to waters new this last few days! we have ventured down the Bridgewater Canal past Manchester down toward Preston Brook, and we have to say it is lovely.
We were concerned that Sale, Altrincham and Timperley looked very built up (I lived near here when I was young) but it is all very, very nice. A definite positive addition to our routes, so much so we have added two trips down here on our 2020 schedule, soon to be released!
Of course the glorious weather helps, but I always keep an eye on the reservoir levels when it is like this!
Leaving Liverpool, and yes a sunset!!
Lady Teal leaving Liverpool again, such a great trip we do love it. Many thanks to Alison the keeper who gave us a hand at Stanley flight.
There is a new regime now for coming into and out of Liverpool and I have to say I think it is a lot better. It removes a lot of the time pressures that existed when you had to rush from bridge to bridge and to the locks, also you used to have to leave Salthouse at 8 but now it is up to 9.30, much more civilised.
So a lovely sail out and then a glorious sunset as we finished up dinner.
As those of you who regularly look at my ramblings know, and I hope there are some out there, I do love a good sunset.
There has been no post processing on this shot, though I do have to admit it was slightly underexposed in order to enrich the colours, I hope you like it.
Another Lovely run into Liverpool on Lady Teal
We had another lovely run into Liverpool today. They have change things a bit as it is a lot more self operation and the timings are a lot more relaxed, it does take a lot of the pressure off.
We were supposed to be coming in yesterday but a hydraulic hose broke at one of the bridges. CRT were amazing and on a bank holiday Sunday the fitters came out and the specialist van to make up a new pipe. They got it all fixed and we passed through spending the evening at Litherland and then coming down Stanley flight at 10 this morning.
It was lovely run through the docks and into our mooring in Salthouse Docks.
Every one is ready for Italian night on Lady Teal
New for this year, on 6 & 7 night cruises, we are now doing an Italian themed night.
So plenty of Italian food, Italian wine and Italian music, I even try to serve the dishes using their Italian names!
It’s fun to have a bit of variation and to challenge Gina with managing to put it all together.
Saluti
Lovely Worsely Bridgewater Canal
Lady Teal is off CRT water and on the Bridgewater Canal, owned by Peel Holdings, currently at Worsley. I have never been able to discover why it and the Manchester Ship Canal were not nationalised with all the rest, maybe it was something to do with it being part of the mining network, but then they were all nationalised too!!
Feted as being the first of the modern commercial canals, it opened in 1761 and set off the canal mania era. Whilst it was the first of the single cut canals not following an existing watercourse an argument could be made that the Sankey, St. Helens Canal, was the one that proved the point.
The Sankey canal opened in in 1757 and was the only canal project not to have anyone object to it. Whilst not a new cut canal, it followed the line of the Sankey Brooke, it was built as though it was a new canal. Its act of parliament said “for making navigable the River or Brook called Sankey Brook, and Three several Branches thereof from the River Mersey below Sankey Bridges, up to Boardman’s Stone Bridge on the South Branch, to Gerrard’s Bridge on the Middle Branch, and to Penny Bridge on the North Branch, all in the county palatine of Lancaster” (Thank you Wikipedia)
But whatever the rights or wrongs of that Worlsey is a lovely spot with some super architecture and now the addition of some lovely sculptures.
Has it really been that long, still loving it not stopping yet!
It’s very hard to believe that this is our ninth season running Lady Teal, so 10th season celebrations next year. We are still loving it and have no plans to stop, in fact we will be releasing our 2020 schedule fairly soon.
When I was on a barge holiday in the early 1980’s I never thought that one day I would be skippering a hotel boat on the Leeds Liverpool. Yes that really is my on a narrow boat in 1981!
We visited Worsley and came up Wigan flight, it was very different then.
in 2009 Lady Teal was being built and then in 2010 we had our first full season.
Nine years and still going strong, with no idea when we will finish. We even have guests still coming with us who came in that first season, it really is quite amazing.
So season nine well underway now, and it’s still fun.
Well it looks like it has aged us a bit, but I guess it has been the best part of 10 years.
Lovely Lunch Stop for Lady Teal
Lady Teal at what has to be at one of the best parts of the whole UK inland waterways, and we get to stop here for lunch, how lucky are we.
What glorious weather
Moored up near Gargrave last night.
Our season is now well and truly underway. We had a dampish start , that’s good it means full reservoirs, and now we have absolutely glorious weather as we pass through the spectacular Yorkshire Dales.
We have been down into Leeds and that has meant a lot of staircase locks, in particular the iconic Bingley three and Five rises. We never tire of passing through these fabulous locks, with the help of the very knowledgeable CRT keepers. @CRTContactus please thank all your staff for the great work they do in making this 200 year old canal keep on working.
It’s always interesting getting out for the first time to see if that particular paddle was fixed over the winter and what overgrowth has been cut back. So far pretty pleased with what has been done, but of course there is always that bit of annoying overgrowth that needs doing!
Here are a couple of pictures from last nights mooring.
Showers, Mud, wildlife and a good time on Lady Teal
Well a real mixed day today, we had some heavy showers and a very muddy tow path. In previous years we have been in shorts and t-shirts in April.
But that was all made up for with the 20 minutes watching a Barn Owl hunt in a field. How amazing, I have never watched one for so long. It swooped silently over the field, sorry too far away for pictures. I then moved on with the boat but the guests stayed to watch it land, presumably having caught something. This really is one of the magic things about this job, we get to see fabulous wildlife.
Then a bit further up the canal there were two mad March Hares on the tow path, once again too far and too quick to picture, but really lovely to see.
Certainly lots of water around in the canal, roll on tomorrows sunshine!
And we are off, Lady Teal starts her voyages
Well the start of the season for Lady Teal has arrived and we are now out and about. I can’t deny it has been a much damper start that normal but at least it has been warming up.
Kingfishers have been spotted and the ducks are getting frisky.
Coming up Barrowford locks we had a few boats coming the other way so it was almost as busy as the busiest times on the canal.
It takes us all, myself, Gina, Glen and of course Lady, a few days to get back into the rhythm of things, and to remember exactly how do I set the breakfast table!
The tunnel was damper than usual with all the water run off and high water levels always makes it a bit more challenging. Lady had to sit lower down to avoid hitting her head and every time there was some water flowing down on her she give me a filthy look, “for goodness sake can’t you avoid that”, she seems to be saying.
Last Little jobs
Ok, so of course you have to vacuum the lawn before your done!
Does look a bit like I am playing golf though!
The start of the season draws near
It’s a busy time as we continue to prep the boat for the new season. We have had our food hygiene visit and retained our score of 5, full marks!
The boat spent a week in dry dock and along with being blacked we have done a lot of less visible stuff. For instance the battery bank has all been replaced, not like changing the batteries in a torch! The old batteries each weighed about 280lbs, so getting them out was fun and we upgraded some of the associated electronics.
There have been a number of other things as well , but we will leave you to spot those!
A few more odds and ends and , weather permitting, another good polish then we will be ready to go.
View from the window of Lady Teal
Well not our normal view from our window. Lots of prep for the street of the season,v all on hold!
lovely sunrise at marina
What an incredible sky over the Marina.
Starting a few jobs on the boat as we begin to ready her for the new season.
It’s always amazing how quickly the new season comes around.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from Nick, Gina, Glen and Lady.🎅
Skippers night Charity Quiz
Gina presents Karen Weaving of Petal with a cheque for £550 raised from the skippers night quiz.
A huge thank you to our guests for doing the quiz and to all those who added top up donations.
Cruises 20 and 32 tied in first place, you know who you are, well done
As the sunsets……..
As the sunsets over Lady Teal it’s the end of the 2017 season. A big thank you to all our guests who made it so enjoyable for us.
Also thank you to CRT who managed the water and minimised any necessary stoppages.
It has been a season of generally good weather 🌞, rain at night and sun in the day.
A few things to do to the boat over the winter and then it will be time for next season.
Looking forward to seeing everyone next year. Have a lovely Christmas and new year.
Morning in Wigan evening at the top
This morning we were down in Wigan. A glorious morning then our last trip up the Wigan flight. Good weather and a good time for our trip up. Two picture of them both below
Wigan flashes
Another lovely, autumnal, morning on the flashes near Wigan. The flashes are large lakes.
Canning Dock
Canning Dock was built 1737 as an entrance sick to the now filled in Old Dock, this is under Liverpool one and can be visited.
Entrance to Albert dock is via Canning as is access to the two graving docks.
Another lovely day in Liverpool
Salthouse dock in Liverpool is such a great spot, and lovely weather. We do love being in Liverpool , great mooring and fabulous place
Glorious evening glorious spot
Another great spot to moor up for the night. Every time we go by here this horse is contentedly standing on the bridge, lovely. And what wonderful weather we are having so lucky
clearly time for another sunset
Ok, I know I do lots of sunsets, I can’t help it I am a real sucker for them.
Here is the latest one
Our mooring for tonight
Another lovely spot to moor, sorry to be boring
We are lucky on the Leeds and Liverpool with some many lovely places we can moor, so here is another one! A few showers today but none of the deluges of yesterday
Yet another lovely spot
Another lovely quiet spot for our overnight stop. Lovely light this morning.
We are on our final run along the canal across to liverpool before heading home to end the season.
The trees seem to be starting to turn and the nights are drawing in. Getting those lovely mist over the canal mornings.
Swanning Around
Sorry and easy pun but difficult to avoid. Another lovely day on the New Junction Canal, with its interesting bridges and aqueducts.
These two swans flew low past the boat and swooped in to land, a lovely sight.
Lady Teal to the Rescue
Well it was up early this morning! Splashing noises and plaintive yelps from the other side of the Stainforth & Keadby, all at about 6am!
On going out there was a poor dog scrabbling, and failing, to get out the other side, bear in mind this is a wide navigation. It was clearly in distress and very tired. We were worried that starting the engine may scare it more so, as it bobbed under the water, Gina managed to call it across, I don’t think Lady barking was the help she thought it was!
We coaxed it across and with my trusted rope skills I managed to lasso it, not sure if the dog or me was the more surprised! A few tugs and we had it up onto the bank, panting and looking tired, the dog wasn’t too good either!
It seemed ok and despite trying to find someone, RSPCA, council whoever, to pick it up no one was interested. It perked up and seemed to know where it was going and with a look at us and a wag of its tail it went on its way.
This helicopter was not part of the rescue but flew low over us yesterday, brilliant!
new junction canal
A glorious day on the New Junction canal in Yorkshire. Built in 1905 probably the last major canal built in the U.K.
A lovely quiet spot.
Lovely Leeds
A great run through the middle of Leeds, such a contrast from the countryside. It is such a lovely vibrant city.
So what better time could be to have a Kir Royal on lawn on Lady Teal!
on the Aire and Calder on the way to Goole
Starting with River improvements in 1704 and ending with the new junction canal in 1905 the Aire and Calder has a long history. In addition to being responsible for the creation of Goole it allowed improved links to York and Leeds.
It’s a lovely broad canal with huge automatic locks and lovely places to stop.
See the video on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/ZcsqSIVBiII
Off into leeds
Off into Leeds and down onto the Aire and Calder today.
Lovely run down the green corridor into leeds.
Absolutely gorgeous morning, another great overnight spot.
Another day on the Leeds & Liverpool
We set off form lovely Reedley marina yesterday and after making our way up Barrowford locks we we headed fro the tunnel. Unfortunately we picked up a tent up on our prop on the approach for the tunnel so went through on the 2.30. It really is a lovely sight through the tunnel, about 1 mile long and pretty straight, you have to marvel at the guys who built it.
Then on toward our lovely overnight mooring, photo below and video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OutCNzF999w
Barton Swing Aqueduct
Sorry I have been a bit remiss in posting anything.
We have been down to Worsley, lovely place and the wonderful Barton Swing Aqueduct.
The Barton Swing Aqueduct is the first and only swing aqueduct in the world. It carries the Bridgewater canal across the Manchester ship canal. It replaces the earlier unmovable aqueduct built as part of the original Bridgewater canal. The swinging action allows large vessels using the ship canal to pass underneath, the swing bridge opened in 1894 and remains in regular use .
I have uploaded a couple of videos to YouTube of it operating, we were lucky when we got there they had it open and we watched it close.
Wigan flight
We have had another trip down the Wigan flight after a lovely stop at the top.
Here is the video, overnight step before Wigan , it is great.
They have instituted some time limits on coming into and out of Wigan and I think they work very well. It means boats pair up and stay together, so that means keepers can be there and it is much better for all concerned.
Been lovely hot weather, with some overnight rain for the reservoirs, great.
Saw this boat sunk just outside Riley Green, i gather it is raised now, such a shame to see thinks like this, no pollution though which is amazing.
Wandering the Leeds & Liverpool
I am starting to post videos of our wanderings on YouTube, so please go to YouTube search for Lady Teal and subscribe to our channel to see them.
Meanwhile here is a shot of the lovely scenery we passed through today on leaving Burnley. The #Lancashire countryside really doesn’t get the credit it deserves, it really is spectacular
Surprisingly even as we pass over the Burnley mile and look down into Burnley it makes some great shots of chimneys with a lovely backdrop.
Youtube and Lady Teal & Lunch on the Leeds & Liverpool in the Dales
Stopping for lunch today at a great spot , see picture below, I also did a short bit of video and added it to YouTube follow this link Lady Teal Video to see it. We do have a YouTube channel, just look up Lady Teal and you can subscribe, we will add videos regularly for those who want to follow what we do and generally see the great stuff we pass through. Hopefully they will be interesting, and bear with me because I will get better at it, promise!
Cygnets & a glorious morning
This pair of swans are amazing. Every year they have 10 or more cygnets and keep them all.
Another lovely morning on the Leeds and liverpool in Skipton, gateway to the dales.
Heading of up into the dales today through more great scenery, this is the life!!
Brilliant Bingley Five Rise
Sorry a bit of a blurry image from way back with my phone, but I quite like it all the same.
The Five rise at Bingley really is quite incredible and great fun to go through.
The five is the steepest flight of locks in the UK, with a gradient of about 1:5 (a rise of 59ft 2in (18.03m) over a distance of 320 ft).
The intermediate and bottom gates are also . the tallest in the country.
Staircase, or riser locks, are where the bottom gates of one lock form the top gates of the next lock, so you pass from one lock straight into the next one.
When the locks were opened in 1774 a crowd of 30,000 people turned out to celebrate. The first boat to use the locks took just 28 minutes, they tend to run them a bit more slowly these days. Unlike regular locks an odd numbered riser set works most efficiently if kept going in one direction, turning them uses at lease a lock full of water. so they are inefficient and consideration was given to changing the five rise into an incline plane or even individual locks, but the solutions were always too costly, despite the huge water usage.
The technology of riser locks, was out-of-date by the 1770s, when they were built, due to the inefficiencies in the design.
Glorious morning
Lovely spot to stop and a glorious morning too. Who could ask for more
House boat in Goole
Rumour has it that it is going to the Isle of Man.
Certainly wouldn’t get it under any of the bridges on the Aire and Calder. It is great looking and will make a super house for someone. In the right place it well be stunning, not too sure that Goole docks is that place!
Beautiful Kellingley on the Aire and Calder
Out on the lovely Aire and Calder and moored not far from the old Kellingley colliery, sadly the UK’s last deep pit and it closed some 18 months ago.
But it does make a great picture, still can’t resist a sunset!
Vazon Railway Bridge
We finished our run on the Sheffield and South Yorks and Stainforth and Keadby at Keadby. Before mooring up we passed through the weird and wonderful Vazon Railway Bridge, one of only three in Europe. See this video I did of it Vazon Railway Bridge As they say on the CRT site:
A railway swing bridge crossing existed here as long ago as 1866. In time, this was superseded by the first sliding bridge at this location, built for the Great Central Railway’s Scunthorpe line in 1925. This bridge was designed by Sir William Arrol & Company of Dalmarnock.
The 1925 bridge was replaced in 2004 by the present, low-lying, sliding bridge. To allow boats to pass, the whole deck of the bridge which carries two tracks, slides sideways on rails and is pulled by steel cables. The bridge construction is an open riveted steel framework and incorporates two walkways, so that pedestrians can cross when the bridge is in open or closed position.
The modern bridge is powered by mains electricity, although interestingly the 1925 bridge was operated with a massive set of batteries.
Watch out for a train!!!
Well that makes you move out of the way
This is what I love about the South Yorks navigations, its not just the views, the aqueducts, the variety of bridges, its the commercial traffic.
Runing into, not literally, stuff luck this is brilliant. We all love seeing these boats plying our waterways.
EXOL PRIDE (IMO: 7803437, MMSI: 235065013) is an oil products tankerbuilt in 1979 and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom. EXOL PRIDE has 61m (200 feet) length overall and beam of 6m (19.5 feet). Her gross tonnage is 380 tons, deadweight of 620 tonnes.
In short a big lump of metal. We met her as we were about to go over the Bramwith Aqueduct, itself a strange thing as it is also a weir. The guillotine gates are to protect the navigation in case the Don comes up into flood.
Food Glorious Food
Many people tell us that one of the highlights of cruising on Lady Teal is the food, I have my wonderful wife Gina to thank for that.
Though guests do also say it means they have to make sure they walk a lot to make sure they can still get into the clothes they have brought with them.
Here are a couple of examples of what she produces, makes my mouth water!
lovely place to moor
Bradley on the Leeds and liverpoolBradley is such a lovely spot to moor on the Leeds and liverpool. So picturesque with the fields walls and old mill
lovely day on the Leeds and Liverpool
A wonderful, if slightly breezy morning on the Leeds and Liverpool.
Following a couple of grey days it is lovely to see the sun again. Sitting in the lounge looking out of the windows it is lovely and warm.
Whilst the rain has not been so good for the guests, or me out helming, it will have topped up the reservoirs.
The Aire valley will be interesting in these winds.
late cancellation sold
Thanks for your interest everyone, but the dales and the sea cruise is now sold
Late Cancellation – Offer
Due to an unexpected illness we have had a couple cancel a twin cabin on the The Dales and Sea, Goole to Skipton cruise.
The cruise is the 30th of June to the 7th of July.
This cruise combines the Cultural Wonders & the City & the Tideway cruises.
With the port of Goole at one end of the cruise & the gateway to the Dales, Skipton, at the other it encompasses a vast swath of Yorkshire.
Passing along large waterways to Leeds before stepping up onto the canal & making our way up into the dales.
Along the way we will ;
Have the opportunity to visit the Goole boat museum & historic port
See large open vistas across the countryside
Pass through Leeds city centre & stop at the Royal Armouries
Go through many staircase locks, including the iconic Five Rise at Bingley.
Visit the Unesco world heritage site of Saltaire with the Hockney gallery.
Climb up into the wonderful Dales scenery, with its array of wildlife
Normally priced at £1185 per person we are discounting it by £235 per person to £950 per person due to the short notice.
What a lovely spot
Ok, not the best weather ever today, but I think that’s been true across most of the country. At least here we didn’t have the winds that others had.
But it’s been good fun with guests out a lot of the time and helping with locks, the tunnel is always fun and everyone loves going through it.
Then what a great place this is to moor up, middle of nowhere surrounded by drumlins, look it up.
Grey sky but great view.
Buttercups Galore
It really does seem to be the year of the Buttercup, not sure what that means for the summer, though we seem to have a burst of them every few years.
They really are lovely.
Now time for a little rant, We were moored outside Blackburn yesterday and about 7’o’clock a boat went by, I had a quick chat and they said “oh we need to get through Blackburn early, heard lots of stories”. This folk memory of issue really makes us cross. We go through around lunchtime and afternoons, frequently, in bright hot weather and cooler weather, never had an issue. Yes there can be people around, its an urban environment, but we talk to the and have had no problems. Why do boaters love to think there are all these problems, are they scared of their own shadow. Blackburn is fine, in fact we frequently stop for lunch in the middle, a nice spot!
Rant over and here is a pretty picture
Thanks CRT
We thought we may have been stuck the wrong side of Whitebirk Aqueduct when CRT announced a severe leak and a 3 week closure to fix it.
Its a fairly small aqueduct taking the canal over a small stream and with a wash way, or was it and ice ramp?
But stars that they are the engineers at CRT and Kiers came up with a novel solution. They put pipes into the ground and injected foam, it worked the leak has been stopped and there will only be a few hours of stoppage on Tuesday as they complete permanent repairs.
Sorry no picture on this one
Swans and Cygnets
We passed this set of cygnets when they were just hatched and were with mum some days later we were going the same way and they were all out and about, lovely.
This is a great time of year with all the babies appearing.
We came up Wigan yesterday, 26 locks in about 3 and a half hours not too shabby!
Late Cancellation
Due to illness we have had a late cancellation and we are offering the upcoming Lancashire Gems cruise on a first come first serve basis with a £280 discount, so instead of £1780 it will be £1,500, for 2 people
The cruise is the Lancashire Gems, Friday 26 May 2017 to Wednesday 31 May 2017 New Springs Nr. Wigan to Reedley Marina Nr. Burnley, 5 nights.
Please give us a call or drop us an email if you would like to book it, as I say it will be on a first come first serve basis.
Well that was a very different day!!
A very different day today, many thanks to our guest Roy. Instead of cruising today Roy took me off for the day to play trains! We got to drive a diesel engine and a real narrow gauge steam loco! We fired up the engine, linked up to trucks, pulled trucks, set points, went forwards, backwards and even turned the engine round on a turntable.
What a fabulous day we had. Many thanks to Mike and Derek at the West Lancs railway. http://www.westlancsrailway.org/ do go their site and have a look and if you are up here please visit them. They are a great bunch with a brilliant friendly setup. If you get the chance to visit please do.
Nick Driving steam train
Nick Driving steam train
Leeds & Liverpool – Wigan
What is there not to like on a glorious day like today as we pass through Wigan.
Down on the Bridgewater
We are still on the Bridgewater moving back toward the Leeds & Liverpool at Leigh. It really is interesting to be on a canal that is not CRT and to see the differences, some good some bad, bt mainly just different. I really must investigate as to why the Bridgewater was not nationalised with the other canals at the end of the second world war. I suspect it was something to do with the ports.
The canal is still closed near the Bridgewater Marina as a new bridge is going in, it is supposed to reopen toward the end of May, but there still seems a lot to do.
As you can see the canal is dammed by a causeway.
We recently moored by Astley Green and the pit museum. An interesting bit of narrow gauge track has been renewed, it used to take caol from the pit to the canal, looks like there are plans to fire up some of the engines they have, as funds become available, that would be brilliant.
Liverpool
Well another great trip into Liverpool
As ever a great time in Salthouse with the added bonus of the steam festival satrting up. Some great steam trucks, steam engines and steam ships. Danny has an absolutely fab art deco interior designed for the directors of the Manchester Ship canal. Having been left to rot at Ellesmere port a group of enthusiasts have done a wonderful restoration job. With interiors copied from photos and as much original kit used as possible.
Guests always love a go on the helm and this old salty seadog was no different, with a clear mastery as soon as his hand touched the helm. Coming in and out of Liverpool is such a great experience and now that Tobacco Warehouse is being restored that whole end of the dock will have a great lift.
Thanks, as ever to all the CRT guys and volunteers.
completed
Big Swans, big water and big boats- short boat George
We are once again in lovely Liverpool home of giant swans & , at the moment, short boat George
But also large, all be it short, boats
We are moored next to the 1910 wooden L&L short boat. It may have been horse drawn or may have been towed by a stem tug or boat. She was built in Wigan and took coal from Leigh to Liverpool, an honour to share berth space with her. Sunk and abandoned in Worsley she was rescued and taken to the Ellesmere port boat museum. She has been in a number of colour schemes over the years but her brightwork is currently National Coal Board. She was taken to Tiverton in Devon, I know so sad nowhere nearer home, to have a fabulous restoration/rebuild, she does look good.
Here she is giving some kids a nice outing in 1943, much fancier brightwork than the NCB one she now wears.
Fabulous evening
Well last night was a lovely sunset and watching all the Black Headed gulls swooping over the flashes catching bugs, gorgeous.
Then one of those great mornings when the mist rises gently over the canal, we’ve not got a bad job!
Happy St Georges day
What a smashing day on the Leeds Liverpool
It really is a lovely day here today, suns out, ducklings appearing and the Bluebells starting in the woods, just lovely!
Lady Teal, Kennet & Wigan Flight
Well what a day, great weather and the Wigan flight, plus a few round the corner.
We also did it in a record time for us, 3 hours 15 minutes, sorry crew on the last record!
Lovely surprise to meet Kennet, the historic Leeds Liverpool short boat coming up the flight.
She is a great boat , built 1947, and kept in great shape by the Leeds Liverpool canal society.
We do enjoy doing Wigan as it is such a lovely flight, yes some locks are heavy but the views more than make up for it.
Glorious morning on the Leeds Liverpool
What a glorious morning it is here on the Leeds Liverpool.
There may be too many Canada geese around England but it is still fun watching them take off
Over the motorway and into the Lancashire countryside
A fun run today with an aqueduct over the motorway then into lovely countryside.
We really do feel that Lancashire needs to do some much more to market itself. The vales and countryside is just lovely and even the industrial stuff is interesting.
But it is the countryside and the great views that always amaze our guests, come on come to lovely Lancashire and be surprised, we were.
A cruising day free of locks but 3 swing bridges to give us something to do, apart from helming the boat of course, oh and preparing and serving meals and drinks, and giving the odd micro lecture on the canals!
Easter on Lady Teal in Lancashire
Well it was Easter with Easter eggs, bunny ears and Easter Chicks.
Bit of a damp Easter but then mooring up at one of our favourite places in Lancashire between Burnley and Blackburn.
Off up into the Dales
Heading off up into the dales today. Not such a great day today, weather wise, but the scenery and the lovely flight at Bank Newton more than makes up for it.
Also all the cute little lambs and ducklings.
Shouldn’t be too long now before we see our first cygnets up here in the dales.
We do love this time of year as the countryside all wakes up around us.
Has summer arrive on the Leeds Liverpool?
Well it may be too early to call summer but we have had some great weather.
Coming up out of Leeds on the Leeds Liverpool morning coffee and cookies was had on the roof deck. Next will be the cygnets then the Kingfishers will be back, that’s when it really is summer on a hotel boat!
What a wonderful day on the Leeds Liverpool
Following on from an incredible sunset in Leeds we have had a glorious day to climb up the various staircase locks out of Leeds to end up in great countryside. The green route out of Leeds is truly lovely. We are now just past Rodley in the countryside with cows sipping from the canal and Moor Hens making nests, it relly is wondrful, loving being back at work!!
Lovely lambs
Finished our first cruise of the season today. No ducklings but lots of lovely lambs. Many thanks to the guests who made it such an easy lovely cruise. Over the coming weeks I will post some pictures of some of the changes we have made. But for today here is a very contented lamb and is mum
Oh and here is a duck I rather liked
What lovely day to start the season on
The first cruise of the season starts today and it’s a glorious morning. Sun, ducks and plenty of water in the canal!
Glorious end to a busy day
A busy day sorting things on the boat, almost there! Thanks to Ian and Glen we we ticked off lots of stuff on Ginas list. Just a glimpse of canal in the picture
list.
Baby May born
Gina’s first grandchild, Nicks second, May, was born this week, 7lbs 7ozs(all the ladies always ask the weight!).
Mother and baby well, and Gina and Nick ecstatic.
A Lovely start to 2017.
A Very Merry Christmas from all of us at Lady Teal
Wishing you all a merry Christmas. We have decided that rather than spending vast amounts on posting Christmas cards we will donate the money to charity this year. A tough decision as we love cards but we think that on balance it is the right thing to do, we do hope you agree.
So, a very merry Christmas and great new year to everyone, plus a huge thank you for making our summers with you all such great fun.
Here’s to another great season and weather in 2017, with just the right amount of rain, at the right time. We need the rain to be at night to keep the reservoirs and canal full, but not too much rain, that makes the river too high. Ok I think that covers it!
Out of season decorating
Decorating Lady Teal end to end has begun! All part of the many off season bits of work that have to be done.
Glen and her husband Ian working hard to help us keep the boat looking good, thanks guys.
LTA16 Awards and Radio interview
#LTA16 @MarketingLancashire A busy day yesterday with a radio interview and the awards ceremony. Check out our interview at Radio Lancashire around the 3 hour 21 minute mark
Then it was off to the awards ceremony in Blackburn Cathedral, unfortunately no award this time, we were told we were close, and its good to be finalists!
