Beginnings of 2012

An important year this one - Glad I 'll have enjoyed 2 years on the water by the time things come to an end. :-)

Christmas and New Year was all good - and best wishes to you all - although plenty of time was spent at work but did have a few days before & christmas day off .  However it seems winter hasn't really arrived and in it's place we have windter which for me is way more problematical.  65mph winds in the new year (when scotland nearly blew away), and 55mph again last weekend.  I've lost another Chimney Hat (now wired to chimney - and I have a big magnet to retrieve anything else I may lose overboard!) , worn away part of the cratch cover with ropes and snapped a fairlead due to the Wind.  On the leisure moorings a pontoon was damaged and subsequently removed - and our resident submarine had their Aerial snapped in half!

Merrion Gardens besides St John's Centre early on Boxing Day:

As well as the windy weather we've also had a couple of weeks locked into Clarence Dock with the Aire being high.  Highest I've seen it since arriving last April, over the footpath at Crown Point Bridge and almost over Leeds Lock and back into the Aire

Terrible picture but note the water spilling over the left back into the river.

Aire in flood just below Leeds Lock

Finally managed to visit the Royal Armouries at Clarence Dock.  It is worth a visit, but doesn't really create the same atmosphere as the Tower of London.  Still need to visit again to take a look round the upper floors.

Aerial View of Annie on Visitor mooring from Armouries:

As you can see I never made it back to my official mooring - at least until last Tuesday.  Thought i'd try and get back incase everything froze over.  Of course after arranging to have the footbridge opened to get back in, I woke up to a few centimetres of ice on the side of the boat, and a quite sturdy sheet of ice across the dock!  Beautiful calm morning but  SUPER cold.  I had fun reversing slowly through the ice into my spot.  The crackling, gurgles and popping noises from the breaking ice was really quite fun - but did make getting past Lyra (hard not to call it lycra) sticking out on the pontoon an interesting maneouvre as I can't steer in reverse and the ice pushed me off course!

The scene of devastation following my manoeuvres through the ice. (Lyra to the right)

Back under the footbridge into the residential arm

Annie back on my official mooring - Frozen Cratch (ouch!)

Mines the water level flat!

So far no alien objects on the roof (been back in 1.5 weeks) - just a bit of noise as expected friday/saturday night.

I have a new neighbour due to arrive soon too which should nice - no details yet but hope we're talking about a narrowboat rather than something huge!

Grounded for 2 Months?

I've arrived back at Clarence Dock Visitor Moorings today after 2.5 weeks up at Granary Wharf.

At the free BW side - Granary Wharf

Last friday I moved over the canal to the stepped moorings outside the Mint Hotel to get water and top up with power.  Was a windy few nights as the gales blew and Annie rolled and slammed against the dock wall!  But at least it meant water (hot as well) and a weekend of iplayer!  

Annie has now moved outside the Mint hotel (far left of picture beside Bonnie)

Thanks to the crew from the Kirkstall Flyboat (http://www.tripboat.co.uk/) who helped me move back over the canal to a safe mooring late on Tuesday with more high winds forecast.  Give them a call if you fancy sampling the Leeds Waterfront or have any party requirements!

Last Sunday we drove (by car) to Donna Nook in N Lincolnshire after reading  http://nb-triskaideka.blogspot.com/ and checking out the fab pictures.  Wasn't sure what to expect - would there be anything there?  After a 2.5 hour drive it was a case of fingers crossed!  Pictures to follow shortly.

As it turned our there were over 1100 pups born this year, most of which had been left by their parents to fend for themselves by the time we got there.  A most impressive sight and nowhere else have I managed to get this close to wild seals on land.  Can't recommend it enough but do remember they are likely to have all left by the end of December until they  arrive back on the beach in November for another go.  Fat, cute, furry friends they were.

Well I'm back at Clarence Dock - final manoeuvre is to get back into my residential arm.  Will probably leave this until after my nights on Monday.  Hopefully it'll be a nice calm day and the residents of the flats will not be too disturbed by my presence, and refrain from bombarding me!  Big apologies to the NB in front of me who I rammed whilst mooring up.  Lost my reverse power just at a critical time - I've since retrieved a hoody and an anorak from my prop - I wonder how it went round at all! Guess I'm likely to be stuck here for a couple of months, especially if things freeze over again as per the last post.  So far just a bit of sleet, and those strong winds - little to get too excited about.

  

Winter Arrives

Annie finally managed the short cruise up the river Aire through Leeds City Centre on Thursday(skippered by colleague Paul) and has now pulled up at the BW side of Granary Wharf.  A nice quiet spot and it means not getting charged and harassed by the lovely people at the Estate Office!

View to Bridgwater Tower from above Office Lock

However this morning I ran out of water and wood having totally forgot to fill up before leaving the dock last week.  This causes a couple of issues including lack of shower and also risking breaking the water pumps when I turn a tap on!  So decision to be made - back to Clarence, or up through Office Lock to the water point.  Neither seem like an attractive proposition following a 12hr shift, getting back at 7.30am, and feeling zombified.  So maybe a shower at work will do, and a few litres of tescos finest water!  At least until friday when I'm done.

Last couple of weeks we've been over to Cumbria(St Bees) to visit Pete and Michelle and the little nephews.  Great timing as York City were away at Barrow, which of course finished 0-0 much to my annoyance.  Baby Edward and James were in good form though.  Nice walk to the beach and back.

James discussing the meaning of life with Katy and Pete:

Now it's December and the wintry weather has finally arrived - Frosty this morning and nearly as bad inside the boat.  Took 3hrs of central heating to get things warmed up and still needed full thermals and extra blankets to get off to sleep.  Have a delivery of wood and coal on the way so only temporary.  With the stove going it gets too hot sometimes, but does mean a nice warm glow - even after a few hours sleep.  I have some good shots of Clarence Dock all locked up with ice from last christmas when I did my recce on the mooring.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens this time round.

Clarence Dock or the Antarctic?

The cut to Leeds Lock & Clarence Dock

River Ouse from Ouse Bridge in York last year:

All Christmas shopping still do - but plenty of time yet right?

Oh and check this link out - A rather amusing wiki about Narrowboats!

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Narrowboat