With still some commercial traffic, the Aire and Calder is wide and well maintained, yet still very clean water. For some distance we were close to the huge Ferrybridge 'C' power station. We also passed the unloading station where each barge is lifted out of the water and its contents emptied into the process plant. Later on we passed another depot where there were also some of the tugs which are used to move long trains of the these barges.
This section also has mechanically powered locks which, once you have become familiar with the operating sequence, are surprisingly impressive bits of engineering! The Personal Mobile Radios, which Andrew brought along, proved useful and comforting in operating these locks where it is not easy to see from the boat what is happening with the operation. Most of the locks are so large that our boat seems quite diminutive!
Once in the safety of the canal bypass to the river at Castleford we took the luxury of mooring for lunch. Following this. Mike and Andrew walked into the town in search of a Calder and Hebble hand spike, a new lump hammer (the one supplied failed with metal fatigue last night) and wifi access.
Whilst they failed to find a hand spike (the BW depot was unsurprisingly closed) they succeeded otherwise and returned rather pleased that, for 99p each - the price of a latte - they both had 30 minutes high speed access parts of the internet which are unrealistic using the mobile phone link. Significantly, they acquired lists of wifi hotspots (which were left behind) and the locations of Wetherspoons pubs (who provide the special offer). And, by the way, the coffee was quite good! (Pictures from the trip so far are now on the Picasa web album)
We continued and were pleased to show a small group of interested youngsters at Castleford lock how the lock is operated. They seemed to enjoy being allowed to press the buttons to move the huge lock gates. Whilst the lock showed a flashing red light (which we later realised meant that the river was in flood) the static indicator board gave a level at the join between amber and green and so we were content to proceed.
By the time we reached the next lock, which took us off the river again, the indicator was in the red! The main concern now is for a short section tomorrow which returns to the river. We shall see. Still in need of the hand spike, we moored just before the boatyard at Stanley Ferry which is reputed to sell them. At least when we were on the wifi we could see what they look like!
