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April 25 |
Bradford's Telegraph & Argus newspaper published an article by Emma Clayton about an afternoon she spent on Lizzie-Jean "learning the ropes" Click here for a link to read Emma's article. |
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April 26 |
Lizzie-Jean's first birthday celebration cruise for Airedale Cruising: to Gargrave and back |
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May
1-3 |
Lizzie-Jean participated in the Skipton Waterway Festival. The 2009 theme was Skipton at the Movies, so Lizzie-Jean became a Mary Popppins themed boat for the weekend - complete with a huge Spoonful of Sugar, Bird Table, kites, and music from the film playing to entertain the crowds. David and Kathryn dressed up as Chimneysweep Bert and Mary P. (of course) and were very surprised, and pleased, to win the boaters' fancy dress competition (see Photo Gallery) |
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| May 17 |
Full-day birthday celebration cruise to Gargrave and back |
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| May 19 |
David interviewed on Bradford Community Broadcasting (106.6 fm) about establishing Airedale Cruising |
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| May 24 |
Full-day cruise to Gargrave and back to celebrate a 70th birthday. On return journey to Niffany Farm an incident of "barge rage" by a drunken boater occured - police called to sort him out! |
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| May 30 |
Afternoon cruise to celebrate a Ruby Wedding.
Evening meal out at Boat House Restaurant for skipper and crew as prize for winning fancy dress competition at Skipton Waterways Festival in April (see Photo Gallery). |
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| May 31 |
Afternoon cruise to Gargrave and back. On return journey to Niffany Farm an old tyre wrapped itself around the propellor completely halting further progress. |
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June 2-9 |
Lizzie-Jean abandonned while skipper and crew flew to France to research the Canal du Midi (and enjoy some sunshine too!) |
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June 13 |
David spent 2-and-a-half hours cutting the tyre off Lizzie-Jean's propellor with a small hacksaw - "The worst afternoon of my life !!! |
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June 20 |
Full-day cruise to Gargrave and return to celebrate a 50th birthday |
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June 21 |
Afternoon family cruise to celebrate Catherine's 46th birthday |
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June 22 |
Lunchtime cruise to Bradley as part of farewell celebrations for Matt and Alice before their departure to New Zealand |
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June 27 |
Full-day cruise for family from Hull to celebrate 80th birthday, starting and ending at Rendezvous Hotel, Snaygill. Picnic lunch with champagne near Holme Bridge Lock. |
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| July 4 |
Afternoon cruise following canalside picnic at Gargrave to celebrate James' 30th birthday |
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| July 11 |
Full-day cruise to celebrate Emma's engagement (but Richard, the "intended" had to work!). First all-female cruise day (except for the skipper!). |
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| July 12 |
Morning "hands-on" cruise to introduce canal boating to David and Melanie from Allerton Bywater. |
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| July 17 |
Yorkshire Living magasine has illustrated article about cruising on Lizzie-Jean. Click here to read it. |
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| July 18 |
Lizzie-Jean's rear hatch cover repainted. |
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| July 20 |
Management Training Team (consultants for Bradford PCT) awayday held during cruise to Gargrave and back with lunch at Masons Arms PH. Four herons seen together in field near Gargrave. |
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| July 26 |
Afternoon cruise to Gargrave and return organised by Brenda for a family get-together. The first ever canal experience for John from the Shetland Islands, and the first cruise in 2009 to be rained on! |
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August
1 |
Lizzie-Jean's first charity cruise - contributed to raising £650 in aid of Bradford Cancer Support Centre. Buffet lunch with sparkling wine served by crew en-route to Gargrave, afternoon tea with scones etc. on return journey. First kingfishers (2) of 2009 season seen. |
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August
2 |
David and Melanie returned (with friends) for a full-day Boating Tuition Cruise before their intended hire-boat holiday, including hands-on experience of mooring, locks (6) and winding. |
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August
8 |
Sunny morning cruise to Gargrave and return to celebrate an 81st birthday (with family from Kendal, Bingley and Wakefield) |
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August
9 |
Second all-female passenger/crew cruise of 2009 to celebrate Caroline's 50th birthday. A great time was had by all (they said). |
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August
10 |
Possibly the first floating Swiss Cheese Fondue (see Photo Gallery) in North Yorkshire followed by home-made summer pudding !!! |
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August
11 |
Afternoon cruise for Bradford play-reading group. They ended their day out with an evening meal at Bizzie-Lizzie's. |
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August
12 |
3 consecutive short cruises for Chenobyl Children's Life Line with 5 children from Belarus (see Photo Gallery) plus their host families from Bradford/Halifax areas. A tiring but enjoyable day! |
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August
14 |
Afternoon cruise for Hayley and her family, we got nearly to Holme Bridge Lock and then turned back. On the way home a lost pair of glasses were successfully fished up from the bottom of the canal! |
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August
15 |
Full-day surprise birthday cruise for Shelley from Nottingham and her family from Warrington and London, including Lizzie-Jean's youngest sailor - Samuel aged 4 months (see Photo Gallery) |
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August
16 |
Lizzie-Jean's fuel tank filled. Full-day cruise to Gargrave and back with Kerri's family from Liverpool (it only took them 1hr 20 min to get to Skipton). A bit cold and windy but we did three locks, both up and down, and ate picnic lunch on board. |
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August
27 |
Afternoon cruise for Bob, Alison and their two boys who are now "seriously thinking about a canal holiday next year". |
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August
28 |
Manjit and Narinder brought 6 children for a great cruise to Gargrave and back - some very competant young steerers! |
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August
29 |
Bob and Anne from Salford arranged a surprise birthday cruise for Maureen who had flown in specially from N. Ireland. It compared favourably with their last cruise on the Panama Canal! |
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August
30 |
David and Gill from Nottingham brought family members for a day cruise. 10yr old Joel managed to pick up the steering very well by the time we returned to Skipton, and Gill completed the wooden cube puzzle (first time this year). |
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August
31 |
Paula and her family enjoyed a day cruise to Gargrave and back, but the weather was not as good as the forecasters had expected (again). |
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September
5th |
Tracey and family enjoyed an afternoon cruise they won as a raffle prize to support Aireville High School, Skipton. |
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September
6/7th |
Lizzie-Jean's 2009 Summer Voyage started: Skipton to Bingley 5 Rise Locks, and then on to Apperley Bridge. Thanks to Julian, Philip and John for crewing. |
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September
8th |
Lizzie-Jean's engine serviced, new gas bottle and battery fitted. |
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September
10/14th |
Summer Voyage continued mostly in lovely sunshine: Leeds, Allerton Bywater, Castleford, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Cooper Bridge, Brighouse and resting for a while by Colliers Arms P.H. near Elland. Thanks to Fiona & John, Gillian, Kevin, Rachel and Siobhan for their help - and to Kathryn for getting worn out! We don't like the lock mechanisms on the Calder & Hebble !!! |
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September
19/20th |
Lizzie-Jean successfully completed her voyage to Hebden Bridge (see Photo Gallery). The deep lock in Sowerby Bridge was awesome! Thanks for crewing help from Julian, Marco, Nichola, Mike, Seth, Jed, Lisa and Jude. Both Nichola and Jude enjoyed their birthday bunting, balloons etc. !!! |
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September
20/26th |
Lizzie-Jean made her return journey to Apperley Bridge with help from Kathryn, Kevin, Jonny, Rosalind, Judith, Angie, Pat and Rachel. A rather eventful voyage with a Despacho Ceremony held on board, and the skipper taking an unexpected (and very unpleasant) dip in a lock ! Thanks to friends at Swiftcraft Moorings for temporary mooring facility. |
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October
13/146th |
Lizzie-Jean continued her homeward journey from Apperley Bridge to above Bingley 5-Rise Locks with Kevin as crew, and then on to Skipton with John doing much of the steering while David pushed the swing bridges for a change! A lovely autumnal voyage. |
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October
17th |
60th birthday cruise for Trevor (from Bridlington) with members of three other generations of his family, including Harry (6) and Emily (8) - both very adept young boaters from Wilsden. |
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October
18th |
Surprise morning cruise arranged especially before Janine returns home to Australia. |
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October
25th |
Final charter cruise for 2009. Family from York/Liverpool celebrating an 80th birthday. Even though the weather forecast was wrong and we had lots of wind and rain the day was enjoyed by all (see Comments page). |
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October
29th |
Lizzie-Jean returned to her home moorings at Niffany Farm. On the way David and Kathryn made a detour via Gargrave from where 2 new (S. American) breakfast bowls were purchased. The voyage was notable because it was a lovely warm sunny day, and Kathryn did most of the steering, turned the boat at a winding hole, and negotiated two swing bridges on the way home. So, in future, David will just have to take turns with the bridge pushing!!! |
