Midnight

They are there to tell 'wor ladz' when the pubs are open red = closed green = 'howay man areya ganning doon the pub'

The lock chambers, gates and walls seem to be reasonably intact. It's getting the water course dredged, the by-wash areas rebuilt and some resilience to prevent further flood damage that's going to be the bigger problem. Maybe possible to get restricted passage sooner than they are predicting. (where's the praying hands emoji when you need it?)

It's not the burning of heather that's the problem it's the ripping out of trees, hedges and shrubs, the construction of drainage channels creating access roads for all shooting party vehicles and clearing tributaries of willows and sedges. That's what contributes to the rapid rise in levels lower down the river systems. I live in the moors and when burning takes place, it is in small patches just a small proportion of the moorland. Somebody in authority, please join the dots up.

I think in this case dredging would have achieved very little. Figure of Three locks are so named because the adjacent River Calder winds past the locks on a path resembling the figure 3. Where it meets the river bank of the final loop is at an acute angle and just yards away from the towpath which gets washed away regularly. CaRT have been fighting a continuous battle, using dolomite and rubble to refill the scouring each time. The flood of February 9 reached new record heights in the vicinity and clearly washed out a huge portion of river bank allowing the raging flood to get across to the non-towpath side of the locks and scour away the by-washes. Not easy to think of a long term solution and it's possible the work required to either straighten out the river or build a resilient wash wall would not be CaRT's responsibility.

Aspley Wharf ... ... hmmm I think I'll going there for my summer holidays (Rat & Ratchet, The Grove, Head of Steam, Sportsman's Arms, Spoons ... actually now you mention it...)

from CRT "As a result of damage caused by Storm Ciara, Figure of Three locks will be closed for the foreseeable future. Our teams are working to fully assess the damage caused and design a programme of works to bring the locks back into operation. Our initial estimates are this may take up to a period of 12 months. We will provide further updates as our programme of works becomes clearer. You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/17144/figure-of-three-locks" With the Rochdale also closed for the foreseeable future and the Huddersfield Narrow closed due to a land slip (and closed regularly in a good year). The good boaty folk of the calder valley may not be going anywhere this year. I wonder if CaRT will consider a restricted cruising license for 5% of the regular fee which is possibly about the same percentage of our cruising options.

I have the video - full marks to RCR on this one. Just one winch and a couple of scaffolding poles. The high water level no doubt helped keep it all relatively straightforward and safe.

Would have made a great story but no RCR pulled in back in using a winch across from the other side of the cut.

Back in the canal although the canal is back on the towpath

Fairly relaxed up here in South Pennine Boat Club land. Watching the monitoring stations upstream and so far so good. E.A. predictions suggest high water levels but hopefully not as high as last weekend. There's been a bit of a lull and the River Calder water level is falling at Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and down to Elland (10.45pm). Keeping an eye on the River Colne which comes down through Marsden and Huddersfield still going up.

If it got flooded enough to refloat 'Scouting Venture' I doubt they would they get up river past Wakefield & Thornes Flood locks and a raging River Calder?

Thanks I'll pass that on to my colleague.

Been in touch with my mate who's one of the scout leaders - The crane is not an option. He has enquired at Portland Basin but the manager wasn't in and so far no contact. Is that the boatyard you suggest? If not do you have a name/contact for the boatyard mentioned?

Yes I think it could be done using a work boat with a hiab or maybe just dragging it off. I'm not sure the boat is licensed so maybe CaRT won't be too sympathetic I don't know what their policy is in such matters.

Following yesterday's storm a boat 'Catherine Ann' was found this morning partially submerged in Battyeford cut on the Calder Navigation. Looks like it drifted above the towpath when the cut was high yesterday and appears to have been empty as there was nobody onboard this morning. It's been moored down the cut for awhile. If anyone knows the owner please let them know. CaRT have been informed. The adjacent River Calder reached a new record level almost a foot higher than Boxing Day 2015 causing serious flood damage to the clubhouse at South Pennine Boat Club.

Calder reaches record levels at some monitoring stations - Battyeford Lock at Lunchtime river still rising

Beware of the Linton tattoo

???

There is some confusion regarding the length of boat that can get through Rhodesfield Lock. I remember when I helped Jim McDonald, despite having a folding rudder Elizabeth was about six inches too long to clear the bottom gates. He mentioned that he had previously been though so couldn't understand the situation. When Julie the lockie arrived by chance, she informed us that the lock had been shortened slightly when a new top cill had been installed she also mentioned the published max length of 57ft. Several 59ft boats from in Ripon marina occasionally went up diagonally and relatively stress free.

Yes you can get a 60ft boat up to Ripon but it's extremely tight especially in Westwick and Rhodesfield locks. Some years ago now Jim MacDonald managed all but Rhodesfield Lock in NB Elizabeth 63ft.

The locals have added flood safety poles since that terrible Boxing Day... ... and the pub is probably better than the one at Stanley Ferry. Even better I heard Ossett Brewery is refurbishing the Bingley Arms at Horbury Bridge.

There's a lot of options for moorings around Wakefeld. Online at Stanley Ferry and Woodlesford, Lemonroyd if you want a marina berth just to name a few. PS There are some very nice folks at Broad Cut. It depends what you want.

^^^^^^^ ditto ... ... except for the chap on the bench I gave him a sandwich

?? The Ouse is tricky but hardy "Dangerous" and there hasn't been any big ships since the rice barges stopped about 10 years ago. I certainly wouldn't suggest a novice do Trent Falls and getting into Selby Lock may be challenging first time, but I've never heard of anyone sinking a boat trying to get into the lock. There's plenty of advice available on this forum, if Jason is determined to go that way. I would also suggest picking a neap tide in good weather and visiting Selby beforehand to see how it's done.

When I started fitting out the boat I put a similar question to the boat builder "How do I get a level in a boat?" "It's easy" he said, "How?" I said, "Come on you must know" he said, "I don't please tell" I said. "Just do what we do" he said, "What's that?" I said - "guess!" he said.