Left Apperley at 9am, after receiving a phone call from BW, to say that The Aire and Calder navigation was now open, as the river level had dropped.  Well, when we left the Leeds/Liverpool canal at River lock, Leeds, you are then on the River Aire and it was only just in the green.

The next lock , then leads on to the Aire and Calder. BUT, just before this lock you turn right into the lovely Clarence Docks and The Armouries. A great place to stop, and they have a flood gate, so if the river rises, they shut the gates to keep us safe.

Outside the ASDA headoffice( I once went trawling off here with all my shopping bags, only to find it was full of office wallahs !), you can see the sand bags.  Now if the river reached there that would be a rise of 12 foot. !!!!   oooeeerrr.

I am trying to be concise with details here as I am aware that NB Renaissance is following behind, and reading notes from my blog, to help them on their way.  I hope I am doing a good job, John and Jan, and Snoopy the dog. !  ;)

Anyway the trip down was uneventful, but it is a long day.  Once you leave Rodley, you then have to go straight to Leeds.  Definitely,  no stopping overnight, especially Kirkstall. There are lockies at some of the staircase locks, and they make sure that you know you are to carry on to Leeds.

Swing bridges are very heavy, but all the locks work well, although there is a lot of unlocking and locking of the hand cuff locks attached to the paddles.

Everyone you see on the towpath is very friendly and helpful, so it seems stange that all these bad things happen. I guess the “ferals” come out after school to do their mischief.

At one of the lock flights, they had decided to burn the lockies shed. !

Then, just as we came into Leeds, we met this lovely group. They are from Toronto, and are a group of 15-16year olds. And they from part of the youth wing of the research-art-atelier Mammalian Diving Reflex. Their idea whilst in Leeds, was to organise Nightwalks with Teenagers, for adults and local teenagers, to get together. A great idea, they were a great bunch as well. I would have been interested to have ago at this, but I think we may be gone by Thursday, which is the night that they are walking.

It would be lovely if all youngsters were like this bunch.  Good on ya !  and have a great time visiting the UK.

So, we are hooked up to leccy and water. BW office is just across the river, so we will go see them tomorrow, to see if we can get a Chart for the River Trent, etc.

Mick is going to haunt The Armourys, whilst here.  I may go and find the Henry Moore institute and Museum, its free. !  and then I may do a little window shopping. Etc..

Having trouble loading pics, so will try tomorrow.