UK Canal Path Photos: Part 12 Final

To see the other posts in this series Click Here or click on the label "Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the bottom of this post (or any other in the series).

This is part 12 and the last part of this series taken along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Enjoy!

Google Maps Link

Another one of those God-awful cattle gates meant to keep motorized vehicles out.  They do not work and are a major pain for anybody on a bicycle and heaven forbid you have a child trailer attached to your bicycle. 

Google Maps Link

Rather dramatic eh?

Google Maps Link

Filming for a movie was taking place in the courtyard outside during my visit, I was able to sneak a picture while everybody was on break.  I have no idea what the film was but I believe it was a documentary taking place during WWI.

That's it! (well for this series at least)

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 11

To see the other posts in this series Click Here or click on the label "Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the bottom of this post (or any other in the series).

This is part 11 of the series taken along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Enjoy!

Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link

Another more colorful bicycle route marker

Google Maps Link

I love these little markers.  They are the original markers along the canal when it was first built.  This one has been restored.

One more part and we will be in Saltaire!

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 10

To see the other posts in this series Click Here or click on the label "Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the bottom of this post (or any other in the series).

This is part 10 of the series taken along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Enjoy!

Google Maps Link

Another four locks and some cyclists taking a break.

Google Maps Link

The tour jumps quite a distance to this image most because there was really nothing terribly interesting that I decided to take a picture of.  Though overhead wires are not that exciting either really...

Google Maps Link

Just entering the more urbanized area of the town of Shipley, Saltaire is just on the other side.  The stone bridge on the left leads to the abandoned stone building you see without a roof.  I explored a little bit but there was not much to see unfortunately.

We are almost at Saltaire!  I will not regal you with pictures of my return since it was more of the same but I will mention some more about Saltaire once we arrive.

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 9

To see the other posts in this series Click Here or click on the label "Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the bottom of this post (or any other in the series).

This is part 9 of the series taken along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Enjoy!
Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link (approximate)

There are a number of these markers on the trail, a photo can not do it justice you simply have to find one and look at it up close.  It also gives distances to nearest cities along the route (cycle route 66 in this case) We are going to Shipley, another 4 miles.

Google Maps Link

Without a doubt this is the worst section of the trail.  Not because it is bad or dangerous but because it runs next to a sewage treatment facility.  You can see the fence over to the right, but technically it is on both sides of the canal.  The place sticks!  Zoom out a bit in Google and you will see what I mean.  I recommend passing through her are quickly as possible, seriously it was pretty bad.

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 8

To see the other posts in this series Click Here or click on the label "Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the bottom of this post (or any other in the series).

Part 8 of the series taken at the end of May 2009 along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link

Another section of British Waterways operated locks up head.  There is a rest and filling station for boats, with water and electricity available on the other side of the locks.  It is also one of the branch offices for British Waterway which I imagine they use to dispatch personnel to open various locks in this section of the canal.

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 7

To see the other posts in this series Click Here or click on the label "Leeds-Liverpool Canal at the bottom of this post (or any other in the series).  To keep excess text down I will not be linking directly to other parts of the series in each post but will instead post the link to the appropriate label with which you can browse through the entire series.  I imagine there will be quite a number of posts in this series so hopefully this will help in finding them a bit.

Now on to part 7!

Google Maps Link

This section was rather rough if you were riding anything less than a full mountain bike.  The bike I used had front suspension so it was not bad.  This was the worst "improved" section I came across on this trip.

Google Maps Link

Quack.  Yes British ducks still say quack.

Google Maps Link

The path becomes nicer and opens up again.  Note the two horses on the right and the just turning yellow fields of Rape Seed on the upper left.  If you look into the distance to the right of the cyclists in front you can see a couple masses of people coming along the trail.  I didn't get any pictures of them but they seemed to be on some kind of fundraising/awareness walk.

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 6

Part six in the series.  As a reminder these photos were taken at the end of May 2009 on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.  The previous parts of the series can be found below.


Part 1          Part 5
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Google Maps Link 

In certain areas the path becomes very wide and smoothly surfaced, it was always nice when that happened.  This approaches one of the major boat tie-up areas which you can see in the background.

Google Maps Link 

One of the narrow boats approaching a bridge.  They will have to pull up and have somebody jump off to move the bridge out of the way manually.  Also note one of the many idiotic gates to prevent cars/motorcycles from using the paths, these things are the bane of many UK cycle campaigners and are uniquely a British thing.

Google Maps Link

It is always slightly depressing when the trail changes to little more than a smoothed dirt path.  This was one of the better sections, it gets worse at other points along the trail.  Note the sketchy tied plastic bag on the fence...

Until next time thanks for viewing.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License -John

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 5

Part five in the series.  As a reminder these photos were taken at the end of May 2009 on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.  The previous parts of the series can be found below.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Google Maps Link

Some of the wildlife seen along the path, mostly birds or aquatic animals.  In this case I am not sure what bird species this is, but it is Heron or Egret like. 

Google Maps Link

Street View of the bridge

The canal bridge actually serves motor vehicle traffic and is on a pivot.  The right side swings around to provide clean passage through the canal, see the street view link above for a better view.

Google Maps Link

The canal obviously does not just go through idyllic countryside, it does go through towns, cities, and in this case a small commercial district facing an A-class road on the other side of these buildings

Until next time.  If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License -John

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 4

The series continues with part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link

The first marina and long term "parking" area for the narrow boats (or other craft).  There are a number of these facilities along the route and typically are set up like RV parks in the US, with water, electricity, gas etc.  There are also numerous short term moorings along the way, you saw one earlier before one of the locks.

Google Maps Link

There might have been locks here at some point, but they are long gone now.

Until next time.If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License -John

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 3

The series continues.

Part 1
Part 2

Google Maps Link

Second manual lock section I came to.  These are operated by the maintenance staff of British Waterways.  Passage is by request (with significant notice).  The white truck on the hill is from British Waterways and is waiting for a boat to arrive.   Note the Catenary system to the right for one of the British Rail main lines.

Google Maps Link

If you look closely to the right of the canal you can see the mooring spots for boats waiting to go into the locks.  I didn't know there were locks at this spot until I came around the corner, they were quite well hidden.

Google Maps Link

Third lock, also operated by British Waterways.  Nobody coming when this was taken though so most likely a boat was coming from the Leeds area heading north, and the worker at the previous lock would drive up here to get it ready once the boat had past.

Until next time. If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. -John

UK Canal Path Photos: Part 2

For the second in the series of canal photos from my 2009 study abroad in Leeds.
Part One

Google Maps Link

A very small field of what I presume is wild Rapeseed.

Rapeseed oil (modified into Canola in the US) is grown quite a bit in the EU for bio-diesel but also for cooking.  It was grown all around Yorkshire and I was able to buy locally produced and processed rapeseed oil for cooking  from some of the farmers markets in Leeds.

Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link

Until next time, If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. -John

The first in a planned series: UK Canal Path Photos

As I slowly work back into putting up a couple posts a week I want to start out with the basics of some of my most popular posts over the past couple years.  That of Photography of Infrastructure.

Now as writing a huge piece (blog wise) for each set of images and taking you through the area being featured is quite a bit of writing and research and still a bit much for me at the moment, I will instead feature a photograph every couple days or so that is part of a larger trip or series.

On some of them I will add a few notes and I will try to get Google maps links for the approximate location in case you are visiting the area and wish to see more.

I will start out with some of my more enjoyable trips in the UK (ok pretty much all of them were enjoyable, even my commute to the university if you didn't mind playing leapfrog with the buses and lorries or getting squeezed at the intersections when the bike-lane became way too narrow)

Lets start out with a trip I took to the town of Saltaire a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just north west of Leeds in Yorkshire England.  I took this trip at the end of May in 2009. Enjoy.

Starting out:
Leeds (Kirkstall) 10:22am
Google Maps Link

Note the helmet which I did not wear for the entire trip.

Google Maps Link

Google Maps Link

The first of many manual locks I would see on this trip.  The Canal is active as you will see later.

Until next time, If you would like larger copies of any of the pictures in this series please send me an email or add a comment and I will gladly provide.  All images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. -John

Friday Feature, End of the Line

welcome back! For today I am featuring one of the problem spots I found when cycling around West Yorkshire. The trail is the National Cycling Route 66 or the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, which also happens to be part of the thousands of miles of restored canal work by British Waterways. It also turns into cycling route 69 around the town of Saltaire, which is known for the Salts Mill art complex, some really good stuff up by David Hockney, whose photography happens to have inspired a number of my works, as well as a wonderful café (if a bit pricy, but its local and some organic bits so worth it). The Saltaire rail station is right next to the cycle route and the Salts Mill complex as well so makes for ease of mode transfer if so desired.

Back to the image though, (sorry I get easily distracted by little tidbits and such) this is taken a little bit after route 69 goes on road for the official route part. The section I am on is part of a continued purposed (car)traffic-free rout to replace(I think) the on-road section of 69 into Silsden. This traffic free route is purposed currently to continue all the way north to Skipton following the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. I should note at the time I made this trip I was not aware of Sustrans live map feature (so useful) and thus didn't really know where I was going, or how the route split off at this point, or where I would end up either. I had cycled a bit of the route down the hill from where I lived in Kirkstall, so I knew it went north but had no idea how far. I took the southern route later on in the spring, but that's for another time.

The plan for the day was to ride until about noon or 1:00 or until I reached a town in that time window. I left around 9:20 that morning so by noon a café for a nice healthy lunch was in certainly in order. luckily I was able to do just that! I found This café around 12:30 after spying a rather large collection of houses along the waterway. needless to say a wonderful fresh made sandwich on hand-baked bread with local ingredients ensued finished up with a fresh crushed oh so amazing fruit smoothy. After taking about 30 minutes to eat and rest and look at the pictures I had taken so far I headed back home, still not knowing where I was as I had somehow missed any and all town signs.
Cafe Address

the route off the official path is about a mile and a half long and goes right between some very friendly sheep and the canal. It is very very very bumpy, I took the bike very slowly along this, she held up wonderfully though and was quite a champ! I do not recommend taking this "short cut" until they can make it officially part of the network though. Silsden is a small Yorkshire town, so the on road section did not look that bad and I think it would have been just fine and safe to cycle on it. For those of you looking at the route and are confused, you will get to the point where it says route 69 and an arrow pointing off the trail in nice official form to the left as you cycle north from Leeds, take that on road bit and follow it, it will lead right into down town Silsden. if you continue along the canal you will pass under a bridge, turn back before you do so unless you really enjoy bumps.

a collection of images I took along the official network of route 66 and route 69. I should note that it was not as quiet as it looks, while there were stretches where I didn't see anybody, I just don't typically take pictures of large groups while on my bike since I am busy making sure I let them know I am there and don't run them over.


out for a nice ride, a lock in the background
full size

never too old
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Lunch!!
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typical quality of the trail
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almost home
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Google Maps
Sustrans Map just look where the green line turns into the royal blue line near the bottom right of the screen.