Lizzie-Jean's 2012 Log

8 - 12 May	Boat Painting !  The Skipper and friend Mark worked on preparing and then painting the green section of Lizzie-Jean this week, now she's smarter than ever!
5 - 7 May	Skipton Waterway Festival.  On Sunday Lizzie-Jean hosted a family celebration for Frank's 70th birthday.  We managed to work our way through the multitude of decorated boats in Skipton and then left for open countryside on the way to Gargrave and back.  Once up Holme Bridge Lock we enjoyed a delicious canal-side picnic before making the return journey to Skipton.  Lots of young wildlife: lambs, ducklings, cygnets and rabbits on show today - all enjoying the Spring sunshine.
2 & 4 May	Lizzie-Jean's skipper and painter Mark became involved with The Horseboating Society.  We helped crew Horseboat Elland, pulled quietly by Bilbo, between Bingley and Skipton in time to take part in the Waterway Festival.  After the first day Mark said "Never have I enjoyed myself so much, yet be so worn out!" (Photos to follow.)
27 April	Kate and Rachel brought their friend Louise by train from Leeds for a secret birthday surprise day out on Lizzie-Jean.  Louise had only just returned from a holiday in Venice but she said that she prefered Yorkshire Canals!  Much bubbly consumed during a very happy day - despite a bridge problem at Bradley (sorted by BW staff).  We saw a heron, a rabbit and 8 eggs in a swan's nest (see photo above).
14 April	Lesley arranged for her "Foxy  Ladies" from Garforth to stay at the Rendezvous Hotel and come for a cruise this weekend.  8 sauntily dressed crew (see photo above) ensured a successful trip to Holme Bridge Lock and return - and enjoyed bottles of "bubbly" and M & S sausage rolls en-route.
10 April	Nichola and Danny (from Luddenden) brought their 4 children for a cruse to celebrate Danny's birthday.  Wind and rain did not dampen our spirits, and the Dalesman Sweet Shop did great business!
7 April	Jayne and Simon (with Merlin the dog) came for their 3rd trip on Lizzie-Jean with Simon's brother Andrew and his Australian partner Shannon. Simon did nearly all  the steering so the skipper had a very easy start to the season.  Thanks Simon!  Flock of Oyster Catchers and first duckling seen - and then 7 hot air balloons floating above the Aire valley in the late afternoon.  Altogether a great day.
5 April	Lizzie-Jean prepared for 2012 season.  Lots of cleaning and painting completed thanks to the help provided by Mark (another BW volunteer from  Leeds).
21-22 March	Did you see pedallo Grace The Swan on the L & L canal on TV?  Lizzie-Jean's skipper spent part of these two days helping her progress on the Yorkshire leg of the journey from Liverpool to Leeds (pedalled at 2 m.p.h. by Catherine and Adam of BBC Radio Leeds).  Over £40K was raised for Sports Relief on the 10 day "crazy challenge" - Well Done to all concerned!
23rd February	In his role as Volunteer Lock Ranger, the skipper took part in Hedge Laying along a stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near the former Kirkstall Brewery as part of Aire Action Leeds' Student Volunteering Day.  A dramatic environmental improvement was made - and useful new skills learned.
4th/5th February	Over this weekend the Skipper celebrated his birthday quietly because snow covered most of England.  The result was a short video promoting Airedale Cruising uploaded to YouTube:  Click here to see the film of Lizzie-Jean cruising on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal last August (with Kathryn at the tiller).
26/27th January	Bingley 5-Rise Locks Open Days.  In his role as a Volunteer Lock Ranger, Lizzie-Jean's skipper helped ensure the safety of visitors to the famous waterways landmark.  Over 7,200 visitors made their way through the empty locks to see the work done in replacing four sets of enormous lock gates.   Maybe some of them will come cruising on Lizzie-Jean this year having walked past the advertising boards while they queued to get into the locks!  (see PhotoGallery).