Tuesday 27 September 2011

Summer Autumn Cruise 2011 (6-2)


Tuesday September 27th

Beal Lock to Knottingly
Day 37

A late start as we only have a short distance to go. First we washed down the roof of the boat which has been neglected for some time. It made a significant change because there was a light covering of dust and the first of the autumns falling leaves.

What can you say about the weather, it was sunny and hot from first thing in the morning. However, the breeze on the canal helped when we ambled on tick over up the River Aire to Bank Dole Lock. We passed a small cruiser on our way up river. At Bank Dole both of the bottom gates were open and the paddles still up.

A pair of Kestrel were alternatively play fighting and hunting on the flood banks. I hoped to see the Little Owl that we saw on our Easter cruise at Beal Lock but it did not turn up.

We visited the boatyard where the boat in front of us in the queue was being blacked. With a bit of luck we will be on the slipway tomorrow and the weather will hold good to get the job done. It would be good to be back on our cruise before the weather breaks again.

Later, we observed a couple of Common Pipistrelle that were our hunting very early, well before sunset. Later I detected a Daubentons which we identified by illuminating it with the high power torch.

Daily Total

Distance: 2.5 Miles.
Locks: 1
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1949.1


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