Lizzie-Jean's 2011 Log

November	First enquiries for cruise bookings in 2012 led to updating of this website with available dates etc.  Roll on April.
October	Lizzie-Jean made her way (with help from skipper and friends) back to Niffany Farm just outside Skipton, with a number of stops along the way.  It felt good to be "home" again, and someone had cut the grass along our mooring too!  The main job to do was to fix both sources of heating before any winter voyages.  This was done with no help from the local Webasto agent (who failed to answer phone calls or messages) and with the installation of a new flue pipe and chimney for the wood-burning stove.  All systems go now!
September 7th - 25th	On the Wednesday before the Festival started we hosted an induction day cruise for the team of volunteers who have offered to help with stewarding aboard Lizzie-Jean this year. Festival Cruises began on Thursday 8th and continue until Sunday 25th (but with a few days' rest along the way!)  An item of great excitement has been the spotting (on 2 days) of a large terrapin sitting beside the canal in Hirst Wood, just watching the boat go by.  A kingfisher was also seen near the Fisherman's inn one lunchtime.
September 3rd - 6th	Lizzie-Jean made her way from Skipton to Saltaire for the start of the 2011 Saltaire Festival on 8th September with overnight stops in Kildwick, Silsden and Bingley.
August 6th - 29th	10 days of cruises successfully completed including a 30th Wedding Anniversary and a double birthday cruise for Kathryn (50) and Matthew (30).  Several groups completed the 201 i-Spy Quiz and the winner was announced on 30th August.  We saw our first kingfisher on the canal for two years.  This marked the end of the 2011 Skipton Cruising season.  Off down to Saltaire for September!
30th July - 2nd August	Kathryn and Lizzie-Jean's skipper continued along the canal for a short break over four days.  We got nearly as far as Greenberfield Locks especially enjoying the wiggly canal and beautiful countryside around East Marton.  Lovely to have quiet time away by ourselves with plenty of time to talk, eat well and have a glass or three, as well as sharing locks with some very friendly boaters.
30th July	Dave and Angela brought four Chinese friends for a fun-filled international cruise day to Gargrave.  Thanks to Yong, we were all treated to the most wonderful boat-made Chinese lunch, eaten as a canalside picnic just above Holme Bridge Lock in hot sunshine. Later we explored the village including the stepping stones across the River Aire, but unfortunately the sweet shop was closed when we got there.
29th July	Marion and Barry came boating with family members from Kent.  They travelled down from Hawes for the day and a great time was had by all - including a 7 month old who was the first baby to use the large red comfy bed for an afternoon snooze!  Two very promising young "sailors" in that family.
17th July	Once again the dreadful weather forecast didn't turn out to be true.  Suzanne and her family from Leeds came anyway and all we had to put up with were a few showers.  Sophia and Sam made excellent steering companions at the back of the boat most of the day.  Another case of ignorant boaters at  Holme Bridge Lock, but not boat hirers this time!  Fortunately no damage done to Lizzie-Jean nor to their boat.
16th July	A late afternoon cruise to Kildwick and back with Catherine, Steve, Rebekah and James (from Knaresborough making a return visit).  Despite the forecast we didn't get at all wet, and had a lovely meal in The White Lion too.
10th July	Today's "crew" came from Poole-in-Wharfedale and Kendal for a long day cruise to Gargrave for a pub lunch and back to Skipton in the afternoon.  5 children on board made for a very lively day but everyone joined in safely and competantly.  Hopefully the planned canal holiday next October will go as smoothly - despite all the locks on the route they have chosen (near Birmingham).  Good luck !
8th July	Wikus brought his family from Nab Wood and South Africa for a cruise to Gargrave and back.  Despite the poor forecast, the weather wasn't too bad and all went well - very competant steering from Lizzie-Jean's new crew!  Hopefully a good memory for Ali from her first visit to the UK.
3rd July	Liz from Harrogate booked again for a cruise to Gargrave with family and friends.  Last year's trip was disappointing as there were restrictions on using canal locks due to water shortages.  This year nothing got in the way of a lovely day out.  The sun shone all day and the lock was enjoyed both going up and down, as were the canalside picnic and visit to the sweetshop in Gargrave.  The four children did nearly all the steering plus much of the swing-bridge pushing - a good rest for the skipper's aching shoulder!
25th June	Another "first" for Lizzie-Jean - a Silver Wedding Anniversary cruise from the Rendezvous Hotel at Snaygill to Gargrave and back for Jeremy & Janet with six friends - complete with special decorations.   What a lot of lunch, including the best decorated cake seen on board ever - very scrummy too!
24th June	No boating today, but a very successful evening meeting in Saltaire with prospective volunteers for this year's Saltaire Festival.  It now looks like we have plenty of helpers to ensure that all the proposed Festival cruises in September can go ahead.  What a relief!  Last year the trips from Saltaire sold out - so don't delay if you're planning to book.
19th June	The weekend's second decorated cruise - this time for Aisha from Holmfirth to celebrate her ninth birthday.  This was her family's second cruise on Lizzie-Jean and hugely enjoyed by the three older children (the parents enjoyed their "time off" too!)
18th June	A 90th birthday celebration for Dorothy organised by her daughter Susan from Silsden.  This was a return trip - their first having been in 2009, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all including the newest addition to the family who spent much of the return voyage asleep on the bed!
12th June	Linda, Olivia and Vivian from Tulsa, Oklahoma came to Skipton just for a canal cruise on Lizzie-Jean.  They were so excited that we started half-an-hour early !   We had a lovely sunny morning and then a rainy afternoon, but this didn't dampen their spirits at all, and Gargrave provided the long-awaited traditional English Sunday lunch too.
10th June	A team from Walker, Morris in Leeds came for a team-building awayday aboard Lizzie-Jean.  Following their train journey to Skipton we then set off (dodging the showers) to Farmhill Wood before stopping for lunch at The Slaters Arms in Bradley.  A record was set going through 7 swing bridges and only having to stop for 1!
8th June	The Skipper and granddaughter Poppy (3) had their first voyage together.  Poppy was "as good as gold" in her newly-fitted rooftop seat!!!
3rd June	Gary brought his family from Alfreton in Derbyshire for a "birthday surprise" day cruise to Gargrave.  We enjoyed a leisurely picnic above Holme Bridge Lock followed by a walk into Gargrave before returning to Skipton.
30th May	Today's cruise celebrated two birthdays and two wedding anniversaries!  David from Harrogate brought family and friends for what was a rainy morning but much brighter afternoon.  Everyone especially enjoyed the locking  - where we also "tutored" two Silsden hire boat crews!  Several flying curlews spotted on the return voyage.
28th May	Stephen and Susan brought Mollie (7) and Sadie (5) for their first ever boat trip.  Feeding the local cygnets was an early treat.  We all had a lovely day going up to Gargrave where the "crew" enjoyed lunch at the Dalesman Cafe, before we returned happily to Skipton. The skipper was well entertained all day - thankyou!
2nd May	First decorated Birthday Cruise of 2011 season for Hilary and family from Salford, Manchester and Bingley.  In very strong winds we cruised to Kildwick for lunch at the White Lion PH and back again - particularly enjoying the bluebells in Farnhill Wood.  Lots of ducklings and first heron of season observed today.
1st May	Skipton Waterway Festival Illuminated Cruise started at 9 p.m. in the dark (see Photo Gallery).  The 20+ illuminated boats all put on a great display for the canalside onlookers.  Kathryn, Tracey, Martyn, Judith, Angi and dog Mollie joined in.  Thanks to Martyn for the afternoon labours trimming up Lizzie-Jean, and to Tracey for delicious Banana Cake.
29th April	Zoey brought friends for a: "6 girls get away from the Royal Wedding and go to the pub" cruise.  A cold wind made things more interesting, but the sun shone and a good time was had by all.  First sighting of 2 moorhen mothers with their tiny black chicks.
24th & 25th April	Lizzie-Jean made her way back to Niffany Farm with an overnight stop in Skipton.  Unfortunately we found the canal-side publicity A-sign had been severely damaged by vandalism on the Saturday night and will need to be replaced next week.
23rd April	The first "international" cruise of the season.  Our 'crew' today came from N. Ireland, Scotland and nearby Clitheroe - and brought two lovely little dogs too.  The sun shone, the food was good and everything went along smoothly all day.  We saw our first families of tiny, squeaking ducklings, plus nesting swans and moorhens. Later the 'skipper' took Lizzie-Jean along to Bradley where 'First Mate' Kathryn joined him for a pub meal and quiet Easter-eve night aboard.
17th April	First cruise of 2011 season.  A Tuition Birthday Cruise for Pete from Riddlesden organised as a surprise by his wife Julie.  They brought daughters Naomi and Jasmine and friend Aaron too.  Both Pete and Aaron are working on finding their own canal boats.  Having done nearly all the steering etc. they are now even keener than before!  A beautiful sunny day's trip up three locks and back again to Skipton.  We even managed to rescue a broken-down vessel on the way home and gave it a tow almost all the way into Skipton.
January -  March 2011	Lizzie-Jean was almost unaffected by the very cold winter - just a frozen water pump to fix. New lounge/aft cabin carpets fitted and various bit of painting finished off after dry-dock work last autumn. Change of seating in lounge makes space look much bigger.