TUESDAY. We were awoken by Gary walking on the roof of the barge to which we were tied.
He said ‘We have had a flood warning, so you had better go through Battyeford lock and wait there, we can bring the glass and batteries to you’. We moved off against a slight stream, the level had risen some 4 inches overnight. We moored above Battyeford lock and watched two BW men from Castleford moving the grab pan and tug through the lock on their way back home. The stream indicator at the lock foot was on red. We stayed inside looking out at the rain. I checked with the EA website, and the Met office, there were no flood warnings out for the river Calder. That would enable us to move to Lidl at Mirfield to allow easier access to carry the batteries from the car park, IF they arrive today. Myra was at the sink (what a little treasure she is!) when she called out 'Look, a weasel!' It was running along the coping stones barely a foot away from the boat, it ran across the lock gates and around by the BW yard. (See poor picture) - it was actually a Stoat according to our book of these things. At 3pm Marie from Ledgard boats phoned, yes! The batteries had arrived and the glass was also there! Deep joy! I had a look at the river level which had not risen further, the stream was about the same as this morning. We filled the lock and I backed in to save turning around. I backed out and picked Myra up from the lock landing, and off we went, through Ledgard flood gates, where the stream indicator was only just on the bottom of the green. We tied up next to Lidl’s car park where Gary arrived with the batteries and the glass. He took the removable cratch panel back with him, it would be easier for him to replace the glass in the factory. I removed the old batteries and of course the new ones were the same size; but had the terminal posts swapped around. So, the replacement required all the links to be removed and changed to accommodate the different distances. Job done at last! And, they are sealed for life however long that should be. (I am reminded of the cheap windup watch with a lifetime guarantee – if the mainspring breaks, it comes through the casing and slashes your wrist.) We now have a repaired cratch board with very clean glass on one side. Thank you Gary, Mark and Marie at Ledgard Bridge Boats. A professional, friendly and helpful team. Their smiles helped to keep us from murdering each other during this last week of waiting. What a contrast to the battery company whose name will not feature again in this blog. After supper, we moved down to Shepley Bridge moorings from where we will make an early start tomorrow, aiming to be above Kings road lock in the afternoon.
The 2008 journey thus far: 183 Locks & 298 Miles & 19 Swing\Lift Bridges
Journeys using bus pass: 9
