Leeds Liverpool for the weekend - East towards Leeds (photo heavy)

[steven wilkinson]

We have just returned from our prize weekend cruise on BearBOATING's JessicaBOO. This is the one we won with an entry into last years photo competition.

 

(It pays to keep your camera at the ready!)

 

To make a prompt start, an early finish from school was negotiated! It did mean I wasn't really dressed for boating, but not to worry!

 

 

The plan was to head off on Friday afternoon towards Leeds, stopping at Rodley overnight. We remembered about the angry woman from last year and took particular care not to rock her boat (which we noticed wasn't very well tied!)

 

 

 

We did like the Rodley visitor moorings when we were there in November - very close to a very nice pizza shop (there are some nice pubs and other take-aways too, but with us having Fizz the crew-dog, we opted for a take-away pizza back on the boat)

 

 

Saturdays weather was fantastic! We headed off into the sunshine towards Leeds

 

 

 

Then there be tales of woe - from the lock-keeper. Apparently the fine weather is likely to bring out the local kids who like swimming in the locks, and this can sometimes get a bit out of hand when there are a few of them! However, all was well and off we continued with no sign of Leeds answer to Tom Daley!

 

The only thing that got in or way was a boat that had taken up residence on a swing bridge landing, but we managed to work around it!

 

 

 

 

As we headed further East the environment started to change into a more urban one, with the mills giving way to industrial units in varying states of development.

 

One thing we did notice - was the poor fit of the gates or paddles! An awful lot of water was passing through.

 

 

As we approached Leeds, the scenery changed again and skyline took on a whole new look. Fancy high-rise stuff everywhere. Brick, chrome and glass. Every now and again, old met new.

 

 

 

 

 

Upon arrival at Granary Wharf, we had a look at all the available (free, and to-be-paid-for) moorings and decided to invest £6 in a mooring outside the hotel! We could have had a free one opposite, but that would have been next to a bar, on a Saturday night! Maybe not!

 

 

Hmm - this forum is adding them all together for some reason! I was trying to keep the photos/post down a bit to make it all a bit more connection friendly! Very odd!

We tied up and went for a wander!

 

They have some nice cars here, but it was a bit busy for Fizz the dog!

 

 

 

As the night drew in, the place changed. This Granary Wharf is a bit lively too! Loads of room, and loads of places to eat or drink. Spread out a bit, so not loud or bouncy!

 

The skyline changed too!

 

 

 

 

Despite being bang in the middle of Leeds, we were pleasantly surprised by the peacefulness of our mooring. We had chosen well! The hotel shielded the railway line, the bars were around a corner, and the restaurants emptied by half 10! All in all, a very nice place to be!

 

I did my best to keep the photo numbers down! I never thought that all my posts would be automatically combined!!

[8 Hairy Feet]

Ah Steve you do a good

photo-story !

Also making Leeds look good by

night(amazing)

Jessica-Boo looks like a lovely

boat (hmm might look into that)

Also had to laugh at your boating

attire... The Management.

[Naughty Cal]

Looks good. We chose to moor in Clarence Dock when we visited Leeds last year wish we had gone a little further and moored in Granary Wharf now!

[steven wilkinson]

After a traditional breakfast, we started to think about heading off - West bound, retracing our steps back to base! The one thing that caused us to seriously think about how we were going to turn around were the huge windows that looked out onto the canal from the hotel breakfast restaurant! There were dozens of pairs of eyes watching our every move! Now I am sure Mrs W could have executed another perfect about, but the wind, the trip boat, some other boat behind us all persuaded us that the safest way to turn was to use the ropes and pull the boat around the corner and drive out forwards! We didn't want to make complete fools of ourselves!

Successfully turned around, we eventually headed off.

 

At the first of the staircase locks we were joined by a boat that had been at Granary Wharf for the night too - Legacy! We shared locks and effort on the run back to Rodley, where Legacy stopped for a spot of Sunday lunch!

 

 

 

We continued back towards the marina - spotting wildlife along the way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there we go! A weekend trip to the centre of Leeds. A wide variety of scenery. A couple of cracking moorings. Some nice pizza. No sign of the Boat Inspectorate. And some good company for the return trip! (Now, back to school tomorrow, which cupboard did I put my suit in?)

 

[cheshire~rose]

What a smashing trip.

 

Thanks for sharing - I cannot find the wildlife shown in your penultimate photo in my reference book - can you shed some light on the species please?

[Pen n Ink]

What a smashing trip.

 

Thanks for sharing - I cannot find the wildlife shown in your penultimate photo in my reference book - can you shed some light on the species please?

 

A rare species - migrated all the way across the Atlantic from Alaska - Nome to be precise........

[Darren72]

nice suite Steve. What a coincidence, youve took a picture of my car in the picture. If I'd have know I would have taken you for a blast!

[steven wilkinson]

Pity I didn't see you pull up in it, I am rather partial to a nice Lambo!

[Matthew Dowson]

I believe that the right of the hotel to charge for mooring is in dispute, there's another thread devoted to the subject. Not sure what the latest is on this issue.

[JessicaBOO]

Great diary & photos Steven. Glad you enjoyed the weekend!