During a couple of days rest from cruising, we discovered the beauty of Selby Abbey and also spent fruitless time searching for a launderette. Selby town was an interesting stop over and worth another visit if we get up to that area again.

It was now that we were getting confirmation that our planned trip would be curtailed. There was a culvert leak on the Leeds and Liverpool at Kirkstall stopping any move beyond Leeds City centre but more drastic was the CRT notification of closures of the western Leeds and Liverpool, the Macclesfield and the western end of the Trent and Mersey – all on our route and shown as A, B & F on the chart.

We pressed on up the R Aire and then the Aire & Calder Navigation as we had the mooring at Leeds Dock booked. A Pleasant but unremarkable journey saw us arrive in Leeds and, after a first night breasted up, were tied up to the floating pontoon outside the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds Dock.

The museum was fascinating in the range of weaponry from around the world that they have on display. A trip into Leeds with a return on the water taxi was followed by a visit from Pam's sister and brother-in-law who live in Leeds. We were now approaching the week when the weather forecasters were all predicting the hottest ever temperatures in UK; our Plan A, staying in the air-conditioned museum was scuppered by them not being open on Mondays or Tuesdays so Plan B was actioned – to stay in the adjacent Holiday Inn, it also being Pam's birthday, the food was unremarkable but the air-conditioning was much appreciated that night.