The sky had started to clear by the time we were ready to go at around half past nine, and by lunchtime it was a pretty good day, warm and sunny.
There was a boat on the water point above Woodlesford Lock, so we waited for them, sharing the lock before we filled with water below.
In Woodlesford Lock with NB Owl
![IMG_2143 IMG_2143](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tmItgDsNkx4/WBeb_PzHZ0I/AAAAAAAA7Z8/90FMyvdO1uc/IMG_2143_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The lock area is still well kept 10 years on…
![IMG_2144 IMG_2144](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3VAA7kqYNqU/WBecAqtYddI/AAAAAAAA7aE/E_UJQoElAyo/IMG_2144_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Autumn colours below the lock
![IMG_2148 IMG_2148](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uvs-vorvMNA/WBecCAhF1SI/AAAAAAAA7aM/eRgZuM8IvaI/IMG_2148_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Lemonroyd Lock is only just over a mile downstream, past the now abandoned Fleet Oil Terminal.
![IMG_2151 IMG_2151](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X2TKyyrnTHg/WBecDh1DQaI/AAAAAAAA7aU/h5cdyBV2wrY/IMG_2151_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The basin and arm to the left led to a lock down onto the River Aire.
The fisherman just above Lemonroyd Lock was complaining that his neighbour hadn’t got a permit!
![IMG_2153 IMG_2153](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A2p7pKjhBMw/WBecFS3hdPI/AAAAAAAA7ac/1YFI_poeQTg/IMG_2153_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Owl had pressed on and was moored above Lemonroyd, and the lady member of the crew had set up the lock ready for us. Not only that but she insisted on sending us down too!
It’s a very deep chamber, over 14 feet.
![IMG_2157 IMG_2157](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NaL1COcU2-s/WBecHIrXykI/AAAAAAAA7ak/vSEc3dAuMm4/IMG_2157_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
We rejoined the river below the lock…
![IMG_2161 IMG_2161](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j_RggurU9pM/WBecJCPTAEI/AAAAAAAA7as/6tk4-9uVLTg/IMG_2161_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
…but this isn’t the original route of the navigation.
Following a major breach in 1983 the route was realigned and Kippax Lock removed, the change in level accommodated by the new, deeper Lemonroyd Lock.
![IMG_2162 IMG_2162](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hbb1Tg0a7io/WBecKmDOBnI/AAAAAAAA7a0/MozOakIzgmo/IMG_2162_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I spoke about this when we came up here earlier in the year.
Easy cruising on the wide and deep channel takes us to Castleford where we left the river for the short Castleford Cut, with Castleford Flood Lock at the top end and Bulholme Lock at the bottom.
I don’t remember seeing that in September…
![IMG_2164 IMG_2164](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RA1bQFGdbGM/WBecMCF1PrI/AAAAAAAA7a8/5IUuW64YU4Y/IMG_2164_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The wharf was there of course, but the painted sign is new. Now there’s little or no commercial traffic on the navigation it’d be OK to stay here, although the edge is a bit high for narrowboats.
CRT workboat on a mission…
![IMG_2165 IMG_2165](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8veRoKUXA1g/WBecNjXfNAI/AAAAAAAA7bE/rliWreDxd5g/IMG_2165_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
…and a bit of high-level maintenance work
![IMG_2168 IMG_2168](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pPgfvY_8I9I/WBecPP9jsmI/AAAAAAAA7bM/SsNWtwWaVHc/IMG_2168_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I didn’t expect the flood lock to be shut, but was still pleased to be able to cruise straight through.
![IMG_2170 IMG_2170](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dPe_3eg1t9c/WBecQl3IEzI/AAAAAAAA7bU/uMt6CYm8NW4/IMG_2170_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Castleford Cut
![IMG_2171 IMG_2171](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cgGJtVwbddA/WBecSN31u4I/AAAAAAAA7bc/cznt1ZE8a4Q/IMG_2171_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Concentrating on lunch
![IMG_2172 IMG_2172](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KmxUMODu3Dw/WBecTiC46HI/AAAAAAAA7bk/_ExungLDa40/IMG_2172_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
We pulled in just before the old coal chute, at about a quarter to twelve.
![IMG_2173 IMG_2173](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ph8t3xm-u1A/WBecVAZ4ZvI/AAAAAAAA7bs/7LfGXfZULJs/IMG_2173_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
It’s open and sunny a bit further up, but there was a cluster of boats already there. Still, we’re only here for tonight.
We’ve a week to get to Keadby, I spoke to the lockie there this morning and he’s got us booked in to pen out onto the Trent next Monday morning. It struck me afterwards that in the several trips we’ve done on the Trent we’ve never headed upstream on the tideway. First time next week, then.
The eagle-eyed amongst you might have noticed that John Sage is no longer on the roof. Now we’re clear of the short Leeds and Liverpool locks he’s returned to his normal position on the rack over the rudder.
![IMG_2150 IMG_2150](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TPiyECB_75s/WBedN4UwPgI/AAAAAAAA7b4/_Js3JdRmKfk/IMG_2150_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I’m hoping I’ll soon be able to fill the vacated roof space with some firewood…
Locks 2, miles 5