Stanley Ferry to Ferrybridge. 5 Locks.

We chugged up to Stanley Ferry yesterday to go to the boatyard to top up with diesel as we want to head towards Ripon from here.

This has now turned out to be the fifth boatyard on these canals that either does not exist, is closed to passing boats or does not sell diesel anymore.

Two and a half hours each way wasted going there then.

This problem has come about by Mr Brown slapping a tax onto red diesel that is used for propulsion purposes and leaving no tax on red diesel used for domestic purposes.

This diesel goes into the same tank aboard your boat and is issued from the same pump, you have to legally declare how much you are going to use for propulsion and how much for domestic use. (IE: charging your batteries by running the engine and not moving) ...........are you with me so far? try and relate this madness to filling up your car.

"As I left our mobile home running on the drive to charge up the battery, you owe me some tax back on the fuel" your honour

The diesel that you declare to be for domestic use is charged at a lower (untaxed) rate.

Red diesel is red for a good reason, it was untaxed diesel to be used in tractors, heating systems and boats, the red dye can be easily identified if it is used in road going vehicles and fines issued.
White diesel is taxed and is what you buy from the forecourt.

This whole piece of ridiculousness creates a mountain of paperwork for anyone who sells red diesel leading to them just not being bothered.

Therefore our current problem is:

Do we chance the run to Ripon and back on three quarters of a tank hoping we will find a boatyard still selling fuel up here? or do we give up and go back down south where we know there are yards still selling fuel.

No question really, if D has to pull her up there by rope, (or we get a horse or something) we are going.

This is Ferrybridge power station, not all that inspiring you may think, why has he put that on here you may ask?

It was for this bit, this is where the barges loaded with coal were physically lifted forty feet out of the water into that building, turned over to empty them and then replaced in the dock, now that would have been something to see.

The whole process being overlooked by that old sandstone church now surrounded by new builds.


Hows this for a Weeping Willow in the right place? Better than in any garden.

Until tomorrow..............................