Newsletter – 4 April 2024

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Strategy, Rules and Guidelines document up-revised

The Committee have updated our LGC Senior Section – Strategy, Rules and Guidelines document which has now been placed on this website. A hard copy will be placed on the Seniors Notice Board in the plastic folder provided. The document will be further updated prior to the Winter session.

Tee-booking schedule for today (Thursday 4 April)

Charlie’s Voyage

Yesterday I arrived safely into Doncaster Boat Club with fellow Yorkshireman Charlie Heath. Charlie sends his thanks to Bob and Paddy for their invaluable help on the ascent to east Lancashire. LGC seniors really is about, as we say in our rules, friendship and camaraderie!

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, including, at times, the hard work. I learned a lot about the fascinating history of the canals, some built in the late 1700s. They are of course the first infrastructure for moving large quantities of materials and goods without which there could have been no Industrial Revolution.

Here are a few snaps:

Early start from Skipton, in order to avoid nuisance day-trippers zig-zagging across the canal !
The beauty of God’s Own County
Entering the Bingley Five-Rise Locks, which had celebrated its 250th anniversary just a few days ago. The Five Rise is the steepest staircase of locks in the UK.
With a 62-foot boat in a 62-foot max length lock, Charlie had to use all his boatsmanship experience, not least because some of the lock gates were leaking badly.
Phew! Safely out of the Five Rise, but the steep and notorious Bingley Three Rise to follow, again with leaky gates
Entering Leeds (my home town), which is obviously the end of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Always a relief apparently, because we passed through some of the roughest areas of Leeds. Charlie was actually glad of the rain on this day, because it deters the scumbags from coming out to attack passing boats with stones.
Fortunately the River Aire was not quite in flood (although “Amber” level: “proceed with caution”) We passed through Leeds lock into the Aire, and cruised through Leeds.
Early start from Lemonroyd on the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal. An RSPB nature reserve neighbours the canal. I set off at 5am with my torch into the reserve (a former open-cast coal mine), and saw amazingly rich birdlife, including bittern, black-necked grebe (extremely rare) and a barn owl hunting in the half light.
The crew is reduced to just the two of us now, Charlie and me. All the locks and swing bridges are electro-hydraulic from Leeds.

I have developed a huge respect for Charlie in the past week. He’s a true friend for life. It’s amazing where senior golf can take us, hey!

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About markpickles

Scientific Technical Writer, Artist: Blog: https://markpickles.wordpress.com/ Blog mainly covers antisemitism, philosophical theology and the philosophy of science. In spare time fighting anti-Semitism/anti-Israelism, and writing book that synthesises monotheistic, philosophical and scientific worldviews. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mark_Pickles

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