Once again heading back to Leeds

It's been a while since I posted but I've not been up to much as the weather has been a bit wet and windy. Spent the last 2 weeks moored up at Apperley Bridge on the L&L and having a few trips out on my new electric bike which I'm really enjoying.  I was planning to continue up to Skipton for a few weeks but decided that single handed boating on the L&L it's just too much hard work.  The locks are quite heavy but the real problem is the many swing bridges which are mostly operated from the off side of the canal making it very difficult on your own.  I've decided instead to head back down the canal to Leeds where I'll spend the next month or two moving between Leeds basin and various moorings on the Aire & Calder Navigation.  After Christmas I'll begin the journey back down the river Trent to the midlands before the winter stoppages block me.

Today I had a short 4 mile cruise in the afternoon sunshine from Apperley Bridge to Rodley where I'll spend the night.

 
In the morning I'll make the trip down to Leeds city centre where I'll moor up for a while.

Back on the Leeds Liverpool Canal

After an few weeks around Leeds I've headed back onto the Leeds Liverpool canal where I'll spend the next few months.  After much uming and ahing I decided to take the plunge and buy an electric bike. After much research I decided on a Cube model with the Bosch motor and would certainly recommend it.  The saddle was a bit thin for my mature posterior so I added a Brooks leather saddle which I'm currently trying to break in. The bike is great and makes light work of riding uphill. For anyone who knows the area I rode it up Hollins Hill, a 2 mile steady climb with ease.

While in Leeds I visited the original M&S stall which is still open in the Kirkstall Market.  Couldn't find anything for a penny despite the sign.

Had a bad day moving in the strong wind which pushed the boat against a lock gate smashing a window.

Surprising how difficult it is to replace one of these quickly.  Replacing just the glass would take several days as it needs to be toughened glass and this has to be cut to size and then treated to toughen it.  Laminated was too thick. Called the original manufacturer who could not supply a replacement for at least 3 weeks.  Finally found another manufacturer in Newark who had replacement windows in stock but these were silver and had a different ratio between the upper and lower panes.  I decided to buy two and replace both sides to have matching windows.  Thankfully my brother had the day off work so drove me to Newark and back and helped me replace the window.

Having returned to the Leeds & Liverpool canal I made my way up to Apperley Bridge where I'll spend a week or two and am enjoying exploring the local area on my new bike which certainly helps my old knees up the hills.

One of the local cycle tracks was more suitable for a 4x4 - I spent a happy hour afterwards cleaning my bike.