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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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 Posted -
09/01/2008
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12:36
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This now supercedes the earlier topic and is specifically aimed at all who are involved, Plus I do not like making spelling mistakes. First of all the current weather forcast for Skipton is: Saturday; showers, high 5, low 2. Sunday; showers, high 7, low 3. Not brilliant, but not like last night when for the first time ever I saw snow being driven horizontaly and illuminated by violent lighting!. With the lack of traffic on the cut at this time we may not have to empty locks before entering. A few tech, bits next. Summit - the highest section of a canal, ours is the highest of all twixt Greenberfield and Barrowford. Top of flight, section above flight, bottom of flight, that section below. This of course becomes in turn the top if you are going down. The section between locks in a flight are called pounds.. Locks have a head; top, and a tail; bottom. Each lock has six "paddles" two of these are ground paddles and are situated at either side in the canal banking above the head gates. These allow water into the lock at low level and are always opened first, some are opened with a lever and the rest with a rack and pinion, operated with a windlass NOT TO BE DROPPED INTO THE CUT, Two more paddles are one in each of the head gates and should not be opened until the water has risen above them, windlass operated, the remaing two are in each of the tail gates. These two need not concern us on this trip When using a windlass, after raising the paddle, engage the "Pawl" on the gear before doing anything else. Never let the weight of the paddle take charge. Safety is paramount, know what you are doing first. Sadly a dropped windless was the cause of multiple deaths at Gargrave a few years ago. Swing bridges, there are quite few between Silsden and Gargrave, some are often open. To open these, first cross the bridge and using a "necklace key" remove the chain device which secures the bridge beam. push the beam to bring the bridge parallel to the cut reducing the effort before helps to prevent the bridge from bouncing back into the path of the oncoming boat, hold the beam until the boat is clear, this caution also aplies to lock gate beams. Returning the bridge is the reversal of this operation. Someone on a bike can be very useful when attempting a "fast passage" but if there are other people about, take your bike over the bridge with you, its not funny when your iron is off down the towpath in the hands of a stranger. Someone on a bike can go ahead and ready the bridge or lock two is even better. I hope that this is of some help to whoever comes along and is unsure of events. But to all who come, Welcome and thank you. Keep safe and as warm and dry as is possible.
thomo
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frankwilk
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 11:32
Tiller Flat closed up sir, Throttle Jockeys waiting to go. Engine Room Obey Telegraphs has been received, and repeated
Good Luck
Edited by - frankwilk on 12/01/2008 2:09:39 PM
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy  |
Big Kev
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 13:00
quote:
frankwilk wrote:
Tiller Flat closed up sir, Throttle Jockeys waiting to go. Engine Room Obey Telegraphs has been recieved, and repeated
Good Luck
Sounds good to me (whatever it means)...........
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Rossie
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 16:28
Where are you guys?
The weather looked set fair this moring so I packed Kallie the dog into the car and set off to see if I could find you, but no joy at all 
However Kal and I have enjoyed three splendid long walks - one at Gargrave locks, one at Bank Newton locks and another at Greenberfield locks. Back home now with one very muddy dog.
Hope it has all gone well.
Gill
Kalh mera oi filoi mou
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moh
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 16:49
Us too - where are/were you? We waited at all three points thinking we were early - thought you were coming but it was a narrow boat - our Sam is like a bklack dishcloth but he enjoyed it.
Say only a little but say it well |
Ringo
Site Administrator
3793 Posts
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 17:10
They should now be moored up above the top lock at Bank Newton. They were running about an hour behind schedule but I think all went well.
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Ringo
Site Administrator
3793 Posts
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 17:12
Did we walk past you both???
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Rossie
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 17:46
Apologies if I walked past you Ringo and Moh - I had a muddy, hairy black and (normally) white dog with me.
Gill
Kalh mera oi filoi mou
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gus
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 18:04
I went as far as bridge 158 the one over the canal at ghyll brow, stood about there for a while, until the light started to go, and i felt like cheese at fourpence, so went home. are you doing the last lap to-morrow ??
Gus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusbrennan/
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 18:35
Yes Gus, the girls are at the top of Bank Newton, pitch black when we got there. We knew there must have been another boat up in front as all of the locks were full, fine if we had been going the other way. Still we had nine hours without incedent, all went quite well and they will soon be home. Time for a nice hot bath now, so good night.
thomo |
frankwilk
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 20:07
If that's finished with main engines congrats to all of you.
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
panbiker
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 20:09
A good time had by all, I had a jolly good walk too. Dropped Thomo in Silsden then drove back to Bank Newton to check the locks. Left the car and walked the 6 flight from bottom to top then turned round and set off to check the 6 at Gargrave flight and on to meet the boat. From Bank Newton top down, the 12 locks were Full, Full, Empty, Empty, Full Full, Gargrave, Full, Full, Full, Full, Empty, Full. The bottom lock at Gargrave had a waterways tag on one paddle "Do Not Use" so we only had one paddle to empty the lock with. The boat was travelling towards me, so I kept on walking and met them at the swing bridge at Niffany at Skipton. I was welcomed aboard where I reported my advanced reccy to Travis and Thomo. I sailed back to the bottom lock at Gargrave while a strategy was worked out. We had 9 out of the 12 locks to empty so Thomo and I disembarked and walked ahead to empty them and open the gates. We saw Ringo and family just below the bottom lock. We wanted to keep the boat moving as much as possible so we worked about two locks in front of the boat. The boat crew closed the gates and filled the locks. Sorry about leaving the paddles open on the third lock Wendy!  The strategy worked very well and we made good time. Just got the boat above the top lock at Bank Newton as we ran out of light, it was propper dark when we were tying it up. I think some of the swing bridges on the run from Silsden to Gargrave were a bit problematic and took a little longer than anticipated. On the home stretch now though, full steam ahead to Barlick tomorrow. I certainley enjoyed it and on the whole we did very well with the weather although the towpath was pretty boggy most of the way. I bet everyone involved sleeps well tonight, I know I will!
Ian |
Julie in Norfolk
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 20:25
Well done all, we wait for a successful conclusion.
Measure with a micrometer.
Mark with a pencil.
Cut with an axe. |
Big Kev
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 20:30
A message from Cally, currently moored at that well known wireless internet black hole, Bank Newton.
Cally would like to pass on her thanks to all who made today run smoothly. The plan is to set off around 10 tomorrow morning.
Once a wireless connection is re-established Cally will personally thank you all and provide an update on progress.
I'm going to crawl back in to my sickbed, good luck to you all for the final stretch.......
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 20:37
Quick message - Internet connection intermittent - huge thanks to all involved and huge apologies for missing those who turned up on towpath.
More to come when better connection established.
Cally xxx |
Travis
Regular Member
91 Posts
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Posted - 12/01/2008 : 21:01
Well that was a good day!. There was a little rain early on, but it turned out nice later, perhaps a liitle cold. Gawd help us tomorrow, awful day forecast.
No problems to worry about with the boat, it runs a treat. It moves along a mite slower than a narrowboat, hence the reason we were a teeny weeny bit behind schedule.
We were hoping to set off tomorrow around 9am. BUT...my car died on the Skipton bypass on the way home tonight. I'm towing it in early in the morning and after consulting Cally we have decided it will be about 10am when we leave Bank Newton. That means a two hour or so sail to Greenberfield Locks will get us there around lunchtime, 2pm will see us at Lower Park marina.
Peter,Ian,Frank and Jane, Heather and Elaine, you all did very well today seeing it was your first trip as a crew. I hope I didn't drive you too hard! I know where to look the next time we need a crash crew for Travis.
Night all, Andy.
Deeds not words. |
FRABJOUS DAY, the homecoming.
