Monday 24 July 2017

Day 5 - To Leeds 13 July

Waking up with a groggy head caused me to think that perhaps my restraint had been a tad lacking. I didn't want to let on but I was tired and not looking forward to day 5, our longest day at 29 miles from Skipton to Leeds (then a bit more as we would have to paddle the first part of the Aire & Calder to reach the Leeds Marina, adjacent to the Royal Armouries).

There's nothing like a fried breakfast to help clear the head and if the fried breakfast is one from the Woolly Sheep Inn then all to the good. The pub had done us around the evening before and their breakfast was of a similar pedigree with a slight wait while everything was cooked to order. We all recommend the pub very highly.

The plan had been to be away by 8.00am but we confidently thought that if we were a bit late setting-out we would make up time en route and get back onto schedule (generally we were able to cover the distances faster than our timing-schedule allowed).

In the event we were ready for off by 9.00am and we prepared for launch under the Swadford Road Bridge in Skipton watched keenly by a family of swans. It may be that they had heard that Andrew had exhausted our supply of swan food (see FB vid https://www.facebook.com/pg/2men1boat/videos/?ref=page_internal) or it may be they got bored as we got ready. Whatever the reason they swam off and left us unmolested.

This, as previous viewers will know, has not always been the case with us having been attacked on a number of occasions, especially by the grump swan at Silsden and the equally grump Skipton swan. These attacks had subsided in recent weeks and this had perhaps lulled us into a sense of false security as we paddled away from Skipton heading toward Bradley. We had not gone very far when a large swan glided towards us, head and neck tucked within arched wings, looking decidedly narked at us using his/her bit of canal.We paddled by and it dropped back and whilst it would be possible to think the bird had called off any engagement the creatures do this before entering into a lumbering take off to see the kayak off their territory.

We are unable to turn round far enough to see the animal, the first we hear is the wings beating slowly on the surface of the water as it starts its crash-course. Having passed by the swan, a few seconds later we heard the sound of wing-beating and a moment or two later the bird arched into my back and left arm. (No vid of this but once you've seen one swan attack then others are all similar). Thankfully, it didn't try again and we saw no sign of the Silsden grump. This was to be our only attack of the entire journey with the majority leaving us in peace as we paddled by them.

There are very few pics of the first half of our fifth day. The reason for this is primarily the fact that we were concentrating on pressing on, trying to catch up with the fact that we were chasing the schedule to arrive at 5-Rise Locks at noon. Also we were struggling, for some inexplicable reason, to keep the boat in a straight line, it being prone to veering off one way or the other which become very frustrating after it has done it for the umpteenth time.

We finally paddled toward the 5-Rise Locks an hour behind schedule so we had caught up no time and were tired, very tired. After a lunch stop we set off again, having largely given up on any idea of keeping to schedule and just hoping we could get to Leeds. We did have a Plan B which was to get David to collect the boat some way short of Leeds and then make up the distance on Day 6. We didn't relish this plan as it would seem as though we had "failed" to achieve our goal but it was looking very likely until the cavalry arrived.

Even meeting Caroline from the charity and her ever present enthusiasm was struggling to lift our spirits  but that fact that she was planning to be with us for the rest of the day would give us a spur to carry on, after all it was she who essentially the driving force behind our wish to raise funds for the charity.


Caroline, always enthusiastic and rarely stops smiling (I must take lessons)

We persevered to Dowley Gap Locks and my phone rang - the cavalry were on the phone in the shape of Tim Heaton and Bernie Connor, old friends of mine who had, some days earlier, said they might be able to come to assist and would tied it in with a bike-based-beer-crawl. They turned up and proceeded to help us through every lock from Shipley right through to Leeds. Although they may not have realised they were are saviours during the afternoon with their lifting the boat around each lock.

Our enthusiasm was rejuvinated by them providing yet another random act, and we pressed on to arrive at Apperley Bridge Marina Cafe where, although now 2 hours behind schedule, friends had waited patiently for our arrival, with cafe owners Vicky and Rob who had opened their cafe especially for us. Even though it was now after 4.00pm their presence on the wharf, and the cups of tea and Mars Bars, strengthened our resolve to get to Leeds without using Plan B.

Thank you Tim and Bernie and Rob and Vicky, without your support it would have been likely that our fifth day would have had a different outcome.


The cavalry, Tim and Bernie helping at Newlay Locks

Whilst our venture may have seemed like hardworking, even foolhardy, it paled when compared to the guy we met who was pulling his canal boat by hand from Liverpool to Leeds as part of his overall aim to get to London. He was 2 miles short of his destination for the day when we met him and if he was still smiling then so could we. His exploits can be followed on FB - the Piano Raft.


The Piano Raft with our reflection in the craft's mirrors.

Not only did Tim and Bernie stay with us to the end of the L&L Canal but they also helped with the very delicate manoeuvre of transferring the boat from the canal to the Aire & Calder Navigation, a tricky portage that had us struggling some weeks earlier when we were fresher and hadn't just paddled 127 miles and had a very long and tiring day.


The difficult task of transferring the boast from the L&L Canal to the Aire & Calder

Once in the Aire & Calder it was plain sailing to get to the Leeds Marina where once again Tim and Bernie were with us to port the boat to the steps of the hotel. We unceremoniously left the boat on the steps while we adjourned to the bar to buy own new team team members a beer (or two) before they cycled off to the station to get the train back to Ilkley.

After our rewarding sit we finally thought we had better put the boat away until morning, an action which also required some deft footwork to get round reception and down the corridor to where the boat could be stored overnight. (Just a word of warning if you are ever checking in a 16' kayak).


An awkward check-in at Leeds Armouries HI Express

There was one final act of kindness left waiting for us as we made our way to put bags in the room. The hotel staff had gone to the trouble of writing a personal card to each of us welcoming us to the hotel and leaving a carrier in which was a can of "Red Bull" and some protein biscuits. 


A wonderful end, to receive a welcome card from the HI Express, Leeds Armouries

On that Thursday we found ourselves surrounded by people who, perhaps without appreciating it, had given us the drive to be able to get to the end of the day. The day might have been very different without their input and our sincere and heartfelt thanks are due to all.











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