Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds city Centre
26-04-1994 6.40 pm
It’s strange, we are in the heart of Leeds city for our Tuesday night stop, yet although we are besides the main Railway station, it green and quiet. The landscape here is open, all the old buildings gone or transformed, with a low level horizon.
The weather has been kind today, yesterday cold with heavy rain. I had a long stretch on the tiller today, no major disasters as yet.
We are waiting while Simon's Chilli Con Carne is re-heated, he is adding the chocolate as I write, we have 9lbs to get through, I am sure we will manage.
I have had a quick walkabout, after 3 days on the canal it is all too fast for me. The City Council have really tried hard to improve this area and make the canal an important feature without changing its character at all. In fact I get the feeling they are very proud of their heritage.
So far (fingers crossed) non of the vandal problems that the guidebook refers to, BUT the DOG SHIT on the towpath problem is the same as ever. When will the local authoities take action, when will local people stop spoiling these wonderful regeneration projects by using the canal towpaths as dog toilets.
I am really hungry we did not stop today so that we could get a safe mooring for tonight. Last night we stopped at the top of the Bingley Flight and went to the Brown Cow, famous for its live jazz and real Yorkshire Puddings. I had so much delicious beef in mine with many vegetables that I couldn’t take Adrian up on his offer of extra meat, he could not finish his meal. That’s a first, he really met his match. You see, we had Fish and Chips at lunchtime in Skipton, after Eggs, Bacon and Beans etc for breakfast. The beer was good too, but could not do it justice, not surprising is it.
(Ed note, Martin is this THE pub)
We are now on new territory for us, the canal is so interesting. In the distance I can hear the roar of the Leeds rush hour along with the M1 but it is all very special.
So we have reached the halfway point already just the rivers to come now.