NB Elland is making a journey along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal during 2012, taking part in various events along the way.
After a start from Leeds in torrential rain, demonstrations of horseboating were given at Saltaire to link with the World Heritage Site Celebrations there. It worked very well, with good audiences at the harnessing demos, especially in the afternoon when we had a sizeable crowd. The towpath was never too busy so we could operate with a horsedrawn boat fine. It was much appreciated by many people.
One person who saw the boat at Saltaire wrote:
More photos of the Elland on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal are here in our Photo Gallery.
Elland returned to Apperley Bridge for safe mooring, returning horsedrawn to Saltaire on April 20th and on to Bingley Five Rise on April 21st for more photo and filming opportunities.
We have been passing the b(o)aton (baton) from one community to another. At each travel day, we get a representative to hold the baton, which is a weaving shuttle. British Waterways in Leeds, Armley Mills Museum staff, Rodley resident boater etc. We are collecting a mixed cargo. Anything goes as they say!
• Leeds – horse’s jousting caparison (rug) with Tudor Rose symbols, worn in Royal Armouries tiltyard.
• Armley – leaflets to give out of Thwaite Mills and Armley Mills Museums as we represent them on our journey
• Rodley – beer glasses with logos of owl (local brewery) and music symbols on them
• Apperley Bridge – ?
• Saltaire – ?
• Bingley?
Elland will be towed by Bilbo from Bingley to Kildwick on May 2nd, Kildwick to Skipton on May 4th and will be present at the Skipton Waterways Festival from 4th to 7th May.