Category Archives: Leeds Liverpool Canal

Crawling into Leeds. 6th August

Rodley Swing Bridge to Granary Wharf

Leaving our very close neighbour for the swing bridge

The voice of Houdini woke us up along with plenty of people already out and about on the towpath at 6. By the time we’d had breakfast and were rolling back the covers two other boats were pulling away from the moorings.

Well that meant there were three of us heading towards Leeds, one swing bridge each and we could leapfrog all the way. Moss Bridge Swing Bridge behaved, it was still a cool morning. Back in 2014 it was stuck hard, no chance of pushing it without the aid of a tractor, which all took some sorting as the bridge is owned by Yorkshire Water and not C&RT.

Our bridge was the last one, Ross Mill. I’d just got momentum going when a chap wearing blue came towards me. I quickly stopped the bridge and pushed it back closed to let him across, he was to be our lock keeper at Newlay 3 Rise. One boat was already at the top of the locks and then the three of us heading from Rodley. I had to wait a while to close the bridge, weed causing problems for most of us and numerous trips would be made down weed hatches today.

The last to arrive at the locks we were waved straight in by the Lockie. The other two boats were travelling together and we could team up with NB Barley, as they had been at the locks overnight they were to go first.

With two Lockies on hand the staircase of three was descended quite quickly. One of the boys in Blue knows NB Ellis so we had chats about Stanley Ferry and fridge freezers whilst we waited for the chambers to empty from one to the other.

Jenny from NB Barley and I walked on to Forge 3 Rise where another Lockie was expecting us. He was pulling huge amounts of weed out from above the lock and the chambers. Chatting with him it seems that things along this stretch are improving. The large groups who used to come to drink and swim at the locks do so less often, the increased footfall due to new housing developments and a new station seem to be putting them off.

The level below the staircase was really quite low, but whilst boats were coming down the staircase above they wouldn’t let water down. A glance before we emptied the bottom chamber at the levels suggested we might just make it the half mile to Kirkstall Lock, bumping our way along the bottom, so we gave it a try.

The Lockie now headed down on his bike to see why the level had dropped overnight. Someone had closed the gates with debris between them, so the water had just been flowing straight through the lock overnight. He cleared things and then returned. By now the bywash was running but more water was needed so he ran water down the flight too.

In the end it took us just over an hour to cross the half mile pound to reach Kirkstall Lock, the weed still a good few feet away from the bank. Once in the lock weed hatches needed to be cleared. Andy pulled out reams of weed whilst Mick pulled out t-shirts and a pair of pants.

We led the way through the next long pound. Under the arched footbridge that straddles between refurbished mills. Past Leeds Industrial Museum, maybe one day we’ll pay it a visit, but not today.

At Spring Garden Lock we waited for Barley to catch us up, their prop attracting so much more weed than ours. Here the bridge across the bottom gates is rotting through nicely, so no access across it. With one gate open, Mick nestled Oleanna behind the closed gate to wait.

Oddley 2 Rise needed setting the last boat through having come up. I emptied the bottom chamber whilst Jenny topped up the top one. Then with the boats in the top lock we lifted paddles. On the other staircase locks along this stretch there have been spillways to channel off excess water, the chambers not having been built to the same depth as each other. But here excess water seems to drain over the top of the bottom gates as well as flooding the surrounding area.

Below the raft boat was moored up on the offside. In the last four years it has continued it’s journey towards Leeds and I’m sure it has been extended by at least a third since we first saw it up near Skipton. An interesting construction built with all sorts people don’t want anymore.

Once down St Ann Ings Lock we had only one more to descend to reach Granary Wharf, Office Lock.

I walked down, disturbing a chap who covered the spliff he was making when he saw my camera. I was far more interested in a bit of graffiti than his next smoke though.

Right up against the canal new building work is taking place. This means that the water point just above the lock is inaccessible as it’s on the wrong side of the fencing. The offside gates have been left just enough room to work them and the foundations of the new building seem to stretch right up to the lock.

Jenny walked round to check on moorings and there was plenty of space for us to swing round onto one of the pontoons. We’d thought about continuing to find some trees for tomorrow, but by now we’d had enough. So a quiet afternoon and evening instead.

Office Lock

Tilly however had other plans. Yesterday I’d taken the opportunity to give her a spot on for fleas, not that I have any! This means no collar for a couple of days, therefore no shore leave. I knew she wouldn’t like it at Granary Wharf so this wouldn’t matter. Normally in places like this and BUMingham I let her out for her to make her own mind up, which usually happens quickly. But today without a collar this was not on the cards. Instead I sat out in the closed pram cover whilst she checked out the surroundings. This outside looked alright, a patch of grass, some tiny trees and a big curved wall that I started to make calculations to climb. Tilly tried any available gap in the cover with her nose and when one looked like she might just be about to squeeze out she was pulled back inside and the back doors closed. She is SO mean!!!

Yesterday I’d made a quinoa crust for a quiche and today filled it with the left over chicken from a roast, courgettes, bacon and onion. I did a trial custard using eggs and soya cream, this set thank goodness and was quite tasty, much better than previous attempts without proper cream.

12 locks, 3 of which staircases, 3 swing bridges, 7am push off, 4 boats going down, 1 very low pound, 1 sulking cat, 2 t-shirts, 1 pair of pants, 1 hour waiting for water, 1 water point out of bounds, 1 pair molegrips, 1 full water tank, 1 load washing, 1 tasty quiche, 1 noisy mooring for the night.

https://goo.gl/maps/sHoU4jc85icpsgbi6

Cousins And Mustard Legs. 5th August

Owl Swing Bridge to Rodley Swing Bridge

Maybe one glass of wine too much last night, but thankfully a lie in was all that was needed. A morning of pottering whilst Tilly had an explore then it was time to put on some smartish clothes and head to the pub, our first such outing since seeing the Margees back in early March.

Today we were meeting up with my cousins from my Mum’s side of the family. I’d last seen Julie at my Dad’s funeral eight years ago and last seen John at my brothers wedding fifteen years ago! Julie and I have been in touch over the last few years and it was way past time to meet up. My Aunty Audrey is 92 and now lives in a care home in Farsley, my cousins both live nearby.

We met in the car park of The Owl where Julie had booked a table. We followed the one way system in and were told to choose a table, there was only one other group in the whole pub. This was most probably due to them not having signed up for the Eat Out To Help Out discount.

There was lots to catch up with, both Julie and John are now retired. John has two daughters and Julie a son, all adults when in my mind they are still young kids. We reminisced about our Grandparents whilst we ate and drank. Mick having his first hand pulled pint, an Ossett Blonde.

Steak and chips, my onion rings were donated to Julie

I refrained from having a starter and saved myself for steak and chips, the chips being the best we’ve had in a long time.

After we’d eaten Mick and I climbed into the back of Johns car and we headed to Calverley to Aunty Audreys old house. They had sold this a couple of years ago to a friend of Julies who has done a lot of work on it, Julie was desperate to show it to us.

I can only just remember visiting a couple of times when I was young and I remembered more about the people than the actual house. A new extension out the back, modern tiled floors, breakfast bar and remote controlled electric fire all new additions to the house Audrey and David bought when it was brand new at the end of the 50’s, John was born in the house.

After a lovely few hours with them they gave us a lift back to the canal. Virtual hugs all round and promises to stay in touch better, which I think is happening with the help of social media anyway.

Pompom (my Grandad), Aunty Audrey, Lillian (my Mum) and Granny

Tilly was given a second pass for two hours. However we changed our minds and decided that when she came home we’d move through Owl Swing Bridge and moor nearer to Rodley saving ourselves about twenty minutes in the morning, it was going to be an early enough start anyway.

Then it rained, heavy rain, Tilly being Tilly stayed out! Oh well the alarm would have to be set for extra early. Then she came home, it stopped raining. Doors shut, trip computer on a change back into boating clothes and we were off.

We moved through the swing bridge and only just fitted into a gap one boat away from the next bridge, Oleanna kissing fenders both at bow and stern. The towpath was busy and it was getting on for cat curfew so the doors remained shut. As we settled down for the rest of the day, Oleanna dipped. We couldn’t be moored so close to other boats for their movement to affect ours surely. Then a pair of mustard trousered legs swayed past the galley window, maybe they’d swayed on to our stern by accident!

0 locks, 0.71 miles, 1 swing bridge, 1 insurance policy sorted, 1 loose wire, 0 test match special, 2 cousins, 2 new knees, 1 reinforced wrist, 2 garlic mushrooms, 1 chicken wings, 2 cokes, 1 pint, 1 glass wine, 1 spritzer, 2 steaks, 2 burgers, 0 room for pudding, 40 years ago, 1 house, 1 extension, 2 mirrored cabinets, 1 spelling mistake, 2 lots of shore leave, 1 defleaed cat, 1 mustard legged trespasser.

https://goo.gl/maps/Ztix8rL9coEQ9ew57

Out The Other Side. 4th August

Hirst Lock to Owl Swing Bridge 216

Paul the weatherman hadn’t mentioned rain this morning! We decided to sit and wait it out for a while hoping it would dry up. Three boats came past us before we were ready to push off, the last two were paired up. One of the ladies said that there was a boat following them, so we should have a partner for the locks today.

We waited for them to descend and then filled the lock back up for us. With the gates open I could now swing the bridge just above the lock, the other boat had just arrived dropping off crew as they came.

The swing bridge was easy to move, it was just when I pushed it shut that I had a problem, the locking latch didn’t want to lift back in to lock it. I tried pushing the gate again, but was needing to lift the latch at the same time, impossible for one person to do. Luckily I’d delayed a couple of walkers who I enlisted to push the bridge whilst I held the latch up, job done, thank you.

The smell from the bakery was wonderful this morning, the wind in just the right direction. We dropped down the lock and headed on our way, our locking companions said they’d be stopping in Shipley so we’d be on our own again.

On past the textile mills of Saltaire, now galleries, offices and residencies. The history of the Italianate alpaca mill can be found Here. Sadly mooring in the shadow of the mills is restricted to 6 hours during the day, no overnighting here, not that that was our aim for the day, we still had quite a distance to travel.

A few small cottages back onto the canal, their stonework still blackened from the smog created by industry long gone. These take me back to visiting my Grandparents house in Thornton, Bradford, an old school house with an outside loo.

Poolting on through Shipley we passed an old arm, crying out for redevelopment of the mill, it would create extra moorings too in a town where visitors only have a few places to pull in. Our locking companions managed to pull in opposite some permanent moorings were a Valley Cruises day boat was tied up, the company having stopped trading in Coventry last year.

Dock Lane Swing Bridge is now operated with the help of the key of power. Back in 2014 you had to drop barriers and then stand on the bridge to turn it with a windlass, very heavy work which I passed on to Mick. But today with only a couple of buttons to press the job is an easy one.

On through Oddies Swing Bridge to Buck Hill Swing Bridge which had just been opened. A boat on the other side was having difficulty manoeuvring to get through the bridge hole, but the lady managed it and the chap kindly held the bridge open for us. After we’d passed the penny dropped, NB Perseverance is the Minimal List vloggers boat. I follow them on Instagram so knew they’d been on the Chesterfield Canal earlier this year.

At Field 3 Locks we caught up with the two boats ahead of us. They were just descending the first chamber of the staircase. There was time for chats as the boats worked their way down from one chamber to the next. We waited for the boats to be in the bottom chamber before we lifted the paddles at the top of the staircase. A check of the level in the middle chamber to make sure it was in the green before we started to fill it from the top chamber.

The middle chamber has two overflow spills, the bottom has one. One of them is close to the top, skimming off excess water when the level reaches it, but the other two have openings a few feet from the top. This puzzled me for a while until I had a closer look at where they join the bywash.

These may start off low in the lock chambers but the spillway (for want of a better word) angle upwards towards the by wash. So as the chamber fills the water gradually rises up the spillway and once it reaches the top the excess water flows over into the by wash until both chambers are level and the gates can be opened.

With a good half hour before we’d reach the next staircase we decided to have lunch on the go, first though was Strangford Swing Bridge. This gives access to a large Yorkshire Water processing plant that stretches for quite a distance. I then ducked below to make a cuppa each and lunch. I’d just resurfaced (the quick boiling electric kettle helped) as we approached the next swing bridge which was open, hooray, my crispbreads wouldn’t go soggy. Except the bridge closed, oh well!

Dobson 2 Locks was busy. One of the boats from in front of us was waiting on the lock landing and explained that when they arrived there had been a boat waiting for a partner to go down, they’d been waiting an hour. So with the knowledge that we were following the pair infront of us split up.

C&RT chap blocking off a broken ground paddle

Two boats were rising, a C&RT chap was helping. One of the boats had been having difficulty, their well deck had been filling with water from the leaking gates. This had risen to such a height that it was starting to flow into the cabin!! The C&RT chap stopped them thankfully. He instructed them to remove the bags of coal and stuff that were blocking the drain holes in their well deck and to CLOSE the front doors.

As they rose the two chaps at the back chatted away to each other. Both myself and the C&RT chap spotted that one of the boats was right against the bottom gates and was about to catch his tiller under the paddle gear. Both of us shouted for him to move forward and quickly. The same thing happened in the next chamber to the same chap! Not a care in the world, one chap stood on his cabin roof to take photos as they left the lock, the other chap too busy chatting to notice he was steering straight towards Oleanna’s bow. Thank goodness the C&RT chap had been there otherwise there might have been a sunken boat or two!

Down we went with the assistance of the friendly chap in blue, he’d only come to the workshop above the lock to cut a couple of pieces of wood! Our two boats descended the staircase without incident and passed through Millman Swing Bridge holding up around 18 cars and vans, a record for this trip.

Mick had rung ahead to see if Apperley Bridge Marina might be open for diesel, but unless the caretaker happened to be about they were closed today. No rush to top up, we can last a while longer, so we carried on towards Rodley where we planned to moor for the night.

Moored up and tyre fenders deployed to keep us afloat, Tilly headed off through the fence with large signs asking people not to throw their dog pooh bags over it, we wondered if they’d mind cat pooh!

During the day we’d had a phone call from the Lock Keeper at Selby, dates for a passage up to Naburn were discussed and we are booked in. Here’s hoping the weather stays fine and the river behaves.

This afternoon we had passed out the other side of the Bradford covid zone where extra lockdown measures are in place. Mick popped across to the new posh housing estate on the other side of the River Aire to the convenience store for a bottle of wine. After an early meal we walked down into Rodley to meet up with our friends Graham and Tracey.

Tracey works in marketing and has been working through lockdown, Graham designs and builds theatre sets, is a lighting designer and production manager whom I used to work with a lot. At times Graham and I spent more time together than we did with our other halves. If the pandemic hadn’t come along we’d have been working together on a couple of projects this year.

Graham has kept himself busy during Lockdown and has built them a wonderful garden room on two levels with plants already climbing the posts and rope light back lighting a step. A lovely place to spend a couple of hours in very good company, drinking maybe a little bit too much wine, all socially spaced.

6 locks, including 2 staircases, 7.46 miles, 8 swing bridges, 18 held up, 2 swung for us, 1 hour shore leave , 1 cat not impressed, 1 bottle, 1 damp grey day, 1 lovely evening, 2 good friends, 1 garden room to covet.

https://goo.gl/maps/xkJcMxCmEhxxvCJc6

Five, Three, Two, Sixth! 3rd August

Bingley Five Rise to Hirst Lock

The alarm was set this morning, a cuppa in bed then we were up and dressed rolling back the covers. Clare the Lock Keeper came to check how long we were, 58ft 6″, apparently we look longer. We would go down the flight first with NB Barley, followed by NB Tobias , if another narrowboat arrived they would join them. Then bringing up the rear would be a late arrival last night Hotel Boat Lady Teal who had snuck in to moor at the bins.

So we were pushing off at 8am and entered the top lock of the staircase at 8.05. The lady from NB Barley was going to help along with two Lock Keepers. I could have hopped off to help, but then there would have been too many people, so I stayed onboard to enjoy the trip down.

Bingley Five Rise is the steepest flight of locks in the UK, climbing just over 18m in 98m, so a gradient of about 1:5. Each of the five chambers opens into the next one, therefore making it a staircase. Going down hill you take a locks worth of water with you into the next chamber, then the next until you reach the pound below. Going uphill takes a lot more water as each chamber above the bottom one needs to be filled before it can be emptied into the one below raising a boat up the hill.

The structure is Grade 1 and opened in 1774. The first boat to use the flight took 28 minutes, not sure whether that was up or down though. Today we made our progress steadily down the hill. Once we got so far down Clare headed back to the top to start bringing NB Tobias down, leaving us with the other full time Lock Keeper, didn’t catch his name.

Gongoozlers of the feathered variety seemed to be allowed, but they were the only ones as we made our way down.

The occasional nudge as we started to descend a chamber kept us away from the side and we were warned that as the water level dropped in the last chamber the gates above would leak like billyoh. They certainly did. Both Mick and the chap on NB Barley had already closed the stern doors to keep their legs dry. Oleanna’s stern certainly got a good rinse when we backed up for the gates to be opened in front of us.

A look back over our shoulders for The shot, sadly not with Oleanna in it, maybe I should have helped at the locks and then dashed down to take the photo! Oh well! Oleanna descended the five in 40 minutes, she has now bagged her sixth Wonder of the Waterways. Only one left to do to have the full seven, The Anderton Boat Lift, that will have to wait for a while.

We led the way to wait above the three rise another staircase. Here because of rights of way people can gongoozle. Below there were a couple of boats waiting, NB Elvira and WB nemoNoo the third hire boat from bearBoating.

Clare arrived along with NB Tobias and a volunteer, they set about working nemoNoo up the three rise. Time to chat with people and I decided to lend a helping hand this time.

This is only our second time down the rises, we’ve been up them three times. Barry Whitelock retired in 2017 from being a Lock Keeper here, we’ve come across him several times, a man of few words, but he certainly knew his locks. Talking to Clare today I asked how many Lock Keepers there were now. Four years ago there were four, this year due to the pandemic there are only two of them, plus volunteers. Some of the volunteers are wary of the public right now so on certain days crew from the boats are not allowed to help with the locks. On these days she misses the conversations and meeting new and interesting people.

Yesterday she was the only Lock Keeper on duty with a volunteer which meant only a few boats could go through the flight, others had to wait for today or next weekend. Clare and the other chap are doing their very best to stay safe as if one of them gets Covid-19 then both of them will have to self isolate as they work closely together, this could mean that the five and three rise would have to shut until it could be manned again. Also only having two Lock Keepers means that the other jobs that used to happen on the flight, painting, trimming the grass edges to keep the place looking tip top, just don’t get done as they are too busy with boats.

These trees look good, can we stop here!

We felt in safe hands today and as we came out of the bottom chamber waved a big thank you back to Clare and the volunteer. NB Barley headed off whilst we pulled in, cleared the prop of weed and settled down to a late breakfast.

By the time we’d finished Lady Teal had come past and all the boats waiting to go up had gone. The next mile took us past old mills, one where you can rent space for £1 a foot, but most have been converted into flats and offices. Weed lurked below the surface just waiting to gather enough of itself around Oleanna’s prop to become a problem.

As we arrived at Dowley Gap, a staircase of two locks, Lady Teal was just pulling away from the bottom. Here there are no Lock Keepers, but no matter which direction you are going in you need the top lock full and the bottom one empty. The top chamber has new gates, but one gate paddle was filled with weed, so it filled up for us slowly.

Downerty Down we went, the bottom gates closed behind us. A boat in a hurry was pushing its way across the aqueduct. We soon realised we knew the boat and it was Butch at the helm. Lady Nelson is one of those boats that stands out, having a trike sitting on the bow. We waved and said hello as he pushed onwards, if we’d been on Lillian he may have recognised us too, he smiled and nodded back though, suspect he was keen to get to Bingley for this afternoons passage up.

The mooring we’d hoped for was occupied when we arrived above Hirst Lock. Lady Teal had beaten us to it, we did our best to find deep enough water and pulled in behind.

Tilly had been patient all morning so was very keen to head off into the tantalising trees. A chat with the crew on Lady Teal and we found out they’d only stopped for lunch and would soon be on their way again. We loitered so as soon as they had finished we could pull up. A quick shout for Tilly brought her running as we pulled the ropes, she isn’t keen on us moving the outside whilst she’s in it, but at least she got to see us pull the boat 60ft and thankfully she didn’t jump on the cat walk for a ride.

I took a walk across Hirst Swing Bridge, spotting a family friends bakery by the cricket field. Sadly they don’t sell from the bakery, the smell was wonderful.

I then followed the road up and walked through Saltaire. The neat houses all in rows with their blue name plaques. The end houses more ornate built for those of higher standing in the mills. I continued up to Victoria Road to see if any shops were open, only a few today and most of the main buildings looked closed. But with the bright blue sky it had been worth the walk around the World Heritage Site, more info can be found here. And here is a link to our visit back in 2014.

Back at Oleanna, once Tilly had returned for her dingding, I applied a touch of fertan to the port side grab rail where I hadn’t finished touching up the paint work last year. Hopefully now the towpath is on the right side for a while I’ll get a bit further with it whilst the weather is fine, if it stays fine!

10 locks, 3 staircases, 2.22 miles, 2 swing bridges, 5 gongoozlers, 6th waterways wonder, 1 trike, 1 bakery, 1 lion, 1 plan coming together another sorted.

https://goo.gl/maps/hXKJg1KfwgnEDwM99

STOP! or Double Chocolate Chilled Medication. 2nd August

Booths Swing Bridge to Bingley Five Rise

For some reason we’d stocked up on eggs even though we had plenty already. With the use by date just passed it was time we used some. Time for a cooked breakfast. Mick had a master class in making hash browns and we managed to get our pandemic stock pile of bacon down to the half way mark. Very tasty. Tilly also liked it as it meant she had a couple of hours still exploring. I bobbed back in for a quick snack still with another four holes to inspect and what did Tom do? Closed the blinking doors!!

Ahead of us lay more swing bridges, our aim to reach Bingley today.

Leache’s Swing Bridge was first the last of the manual bridges. Some chaps walking their dogs said that nobody could close the bridge properly and that it clatters all day. With this local information I expected to have difficulty swinging it back so that the latch engaged, so I kept the momentum going, only for it to clatter closed with ease. I wonder if the chap was referring to the bridge just clanking as people walked over it, nothing much anyone can do about that!

A sign regarding social distancing lay on the ground broken in half. The towpath was busy but thankfully wide enough for everyone to keep their space. I decided to walk from here.

From here on the bridges are automated requiring the key of power and a good strong index finger. At Bar Lane Swing Bridge we held up 3 cars, a couple had turned round when they saw the stop sign.

Graby Lane Swing bridge was busier, holding up 8.

I walked on from here, just after Swine Bridge Lane Bridge two cottages are for sale. Sadly I can’t find any details on them on line, but they looked compact and characterful.

Morton Swing Bridge is a busy one, I achieved 10 delays to the local traffic, my index finger starting to ache a touch by now.

Here’s hoping there’s space at the top of the locks to moor as it’s a long way to reverse

On past the last place to moor before reaching the top of the Bingley Five Rise and round the bend to Micklethwaite Swing Bridge. Someone was already at the panel, the barriers to oncoming traffic closed, so my services wouldn’t be required. However!

The barriers may have been closed but the control panel had lost all of it’s lights. I asked the obvious questions that I knew Mick would also ask as soon as he’d tied Oleanna up. One barrier was locked in, the other you could move. This bridge is renowned to have problems, when we last came through it was being worked on. Extra pieces have been added to the barrier locks presumably to make sure they stay in place.

Please Drive carefully if you can cross the bridge

Mick had a go with the barriers too, this meant the one we could move then got stuck in the open position. A phone call had already been made to C&RT and we’d been told someone would be with us in half an hour, not bad for a Sunday. Cars arrived and as soon as you walked up to them they knew what you were going to say. They all turned round as soon as a half hour wait was muted.

But within about ten minutes a blue van arrived. The chap checked the panel, then crossed the bridge to open up the big box with all the workings inside. He did something and the barriers were released. They were opened then closed, then the buttons wouldn’t work. Time for him to operate it from the big box, we were told to get our boats ready, by now there were three of us waiting to go through.

The remote buttons worked thankfully, two boats came towards us and then we finally headed through, able to continue on our way towards Bingley. We paused at the water point by the ABC swing bridge to top up the tank before carrying on to see if we could find a space above the five rise for the night.

Several boats faced away from the locks, only one towards. There was space for a couple more boats so we pulled in, sitting a little bit out from the bank but we’d expected that.

Mick wanted to go and have a look at the five rise and see if any boats were heading up that we could watch. There were plenty of people about enjoying the sunshine.

At the locks hazard tape stopped anyone from walking up to them, in fact you could only stand on the swing bridge above or walk down the footpath alongside, not very good for gongoozling. Mick sulked!

Our timing meant that boats might be heading up the three rise so we walked down the footpath to have a look. Ahead blue t-shirts and life jackets could be seen and sure enough a boat was just rising up in the last chamber of the three rise. This was WB Little Duke a bearBoating hire boat.

Fortunately the view up the locks from the bottom is THE view of the five rise, so I managed to get a few photos of Little Duke entering the bottom, all the crew onboard and the Lockies working them up. Would it be the case that we wouldn’t be allowed to assist on the locks tomorrow?

Whilst we waited for the Lock Keepers to reach the top of the hill we decided it was time to partake in some chilled medication from the cafe. Double Chocolate Heaven was our choice and very tasty it was too. I think this is actually our first chilled medication of the year!

We checked in with Clare the Lock Keeper for the morning and returned to Oleanna. We had a new neighbour NB Tobias who were also planning on descending the locks in the morning. Tilly was let loose and she headed straight across the towpath for the big field, not to be seen for a couple of hours, returning just in time for dingding. I had a catch up with my brother and a plan has been hatched for us hopefully to meet up this month before my nephew Josh returns to school.

0 locks, 6 swing bridges, 1 left open, 1 stubborn one, 25 cars held up, 14 turned round, 2 outsides, 1 widebeam, 1 Lock Keeper, 2 volunteers, 1 cone, 1 tub, 27 crackers, 1 roast chicken, 1 plan coming together, 1 possible knitting commission, 1 hotel boat.

https://goo.gl/maps/pRGH3TgFQAFWXz62A

Eleventh Hole. 1st August

Lanehouse Swing Bridge 189 to Booths Swing Bridge 195

Tilly was allowed out whilst we had breakfast and then we settled down for the weekly Geraghty Zoom. Todays topics bacon and egg sandwiches, play dates, Tillys climbing trees (one with bruises aged 5, the other an expert at the age of 4.75), thieving foxes and growing pineapples. Good to see everyone as ever and today we didn’t have to curtail the zoom due to rain.

Tilly came home soon after we’d finished chatting to everyone so we could move on. Just as we untied NB Elvira came past, Mrs Elvira walking the towpath said they’d hold the next swing bridge for us. We pushed out and followed, the first two bridges were open.

The third, Cowling Swing Bridge crossed us over into Bradford where the new lockdown measures were implemented yesterday. We thanked Mrs Elvira and leapfrogged them as we headed on towards Silsden.

New houses have been built along the canal since we were here last, we’d watched a chimney being flown onto the old mill which has been sandblasted on most sides other than that facing the canal. We just managed to pick out an original house on the towpath side which has also had a good clean up, the stone older and more detail to the roof line and chimneys than the new builds that surround it.

Silsden Hire base was full of boats, 3 narrowboats and 2 widebeams being cleaned and made ready for new guests to enjoy a weekend or week afloat. We carried on a short distance further to a stretch of armco before tying up just as it started to rain. Mick headed off with a brolly and mask to get our weekly newspaper and a loaf of bread from the Co-op.

Lunch and then onwards back out into the countryside to find a spot to moor. The gardens along the cut are so well presented in normal times and I suspect they’ve had extra attention during lockdown.

Brunthwaite Swing Bridge came into view. We have history me and this bridge and today it wasn’t going to be any different. A cyclist was taking a rest and offered to lend a hand as did a walker who crossed the bridge and pushed from the towpath side too. With three of us pushing we got the b**strd moving but not open to it’s furthest extent. The wind had caught Oleanna and pushed her right over to the off side of the cut, so Mick fought a battle, back and forth to get a better angle to approach the opening. This took sometime and sadly the cabin side of Oleanna had a tussle with a branch.

Running away before anyone else needs assistance

Getting the bridge back to where it had come from was also a work out in itself. The cyclist had stayed to help, he normally cyles to Skipton but just helping with the bridge had made up for stopping short. Once the bridge was locked up (a very short chain made this frustratingly hard) the cyclist made a quick move off avoiding having to help anyone else!

Then Holden Swing Bridge had aspirations to follow the example of Brunthwaite! A couple had stopped for a rest there also, so the chap was enlisted to assist. luckily the bridge has someway to go to match the stiffness of the one before it.

Now we hoped to moor near to the farm before the cow bridge (Lodge Hill Bridge). I remembered coming the other way that depth had been an issue for quite a distance, but we’d succeeded after several attempts to pull in. So I suggested we should try sooner rather than later. Without being able to see where we’d succeeded last time on my phone we’d already passed it so were doomed to fail.

Try and try again, two foot out was the best we could manage. So we gave up and carried onwards hoping to find enough depth further on before arriving at Bingley.

Now into the thick of Low Wood we made the same mental note as we always do, ‘we must come through here when the rhododendrons are in flower’! One day we’ll manage it.

Booths Swing Bridge opened nicely, but then the handcuff to lock it would not line up. How? It had been locked when we arrived. Try and try again, no chance.

Mick managed to pull Oleanna in just a short distance on, spikes came out and we could settle for the remainder of the day. He walked back to see if he had any more luck with the lock at the bridge, but didn’t succeed either.

Second outside of the day. Well what was there to find? Who was there to find? I had a good look round on the towpath, She came with me for a bit and ended up picking me up as a woofer walked past me. She didn’t appreciate my hissing and spitting at the woofer, neither did the woofers owner! Apparently I’m not meant to bully woofers!!

I found a route down the wall to where the grass was short. Here Toms wheeled bags around and hit balls until they fell into holes. I had to check out what was down there with my arm, nothing much a little damp if anything.

I managed to check out a few more holes before heading back inside for a snack. She closed the doors! But hang on I’d only inspected eleven holes and I believe there are eighteen!

0 locks, 3.53 miles, 6 swing bridges, 2 left open, 2 obstinate ones, 6 zoomers, 1 newspaper, 3 handy cyclists, 1 stuck hire boat, 1st bearBoat, 2 shallow, 11 out of 18.

https://goo.gl/maps/qWku42saKWcG66A86

Hands, Face, Space. 31st July

Bradley Swing Bridge to Lanehouse Swing Bridge 189

Strange dreams for both of us last night, until I realised that the smoke/CO detector above our heads was beeping, announcing it required a new battery. Mick removed the detector from the ceiling and popped the battery out, deciding it could wait for morning.

Next thing we knew was boats going past at just gone 7am, two heading back to base at Silsden the other a private boat heading towards Skipton. Our mooring had some shade but it was busy with passing boats. Most of the day boats from Skipton came past us yesterday and winded a little bit ahead of us before returning. Maybe we’d be better off elsewhere to sit out the heat of the day.

After our cuppa in bed we rolled back the covers and pushed off, leaving Bradley Mill (an old spinning and weaving mill) behind us. Breakfast could wait until we were moored up again, hopefully in a larger area of shade away from the busy road.

Just around the bend was our first swing bridge of the day, Hamblethorpe. Easy to move and enough time to have a look at the memorial to seven Polish Airmen who died when their plane crashed near Skipton in 1943.

A fine wooded stretch follows, perfect for shade on a hot day but very close to the busy road below, we continued.

The next swing bridge is Milking Hall sat at the edge of the wood, a path leads up the hill away from the canal with a mossy sign pointing the way. I like this bridge, if it was snowy it could almost be in Narnia. One thing I did remember about it was how the landing has an overhang, this caught us out when passing through last time on Lillian, crunching off a chunk of paint on the top of a gunnel. Mick kept well away as I opened up the bridge, a hire boat with a 60th birthday party came round the bend so I let them through before walking on to the next bridge.

Redman Swing Bridge links the towpath to footpaths in Kildwick, a village that clings to the hillside, the road to the valley dipping under the canal. Mick now had to go very slowly indeed as I needed to get up ahead to take a photo I’ve been wanting to take for four years.

Four years ago as we passed through Kildwick I’d paused after letting Lillian (our old yellow boat) through Warehouse Swing Bridge to take a photo. At the time we were heading over the Pennines to spend that winter up on the Macclesfield, where we hoped Oleanna would get launched. The photo I took of the stern of Lillian passing through bridge 186 became the photo to keep of her, as if we were saying goodbye.

Since then I’ve been wanting to take the same photo but with Oleanna coming towards the camera, saying hello. It’s taken us four years to get back here, but today we finally managed it.

I couldn’t quite remember where I’d stood last time, so stood on the bridge to take the photo. This was maybe just as well, being at a slightly different angle otherwise the moored boats would have blocked the view of Oleanna. It is close enough for my liking, different seasons and a very blue boat, but the post box is still in view. Our four year mission now complete.

We now hoped to find shade and stop for the day. The first possible mooring didn’t have much in the way of trees, then the depth wasn’t sufficient. On through Grange Swing Bridge where a new stretch of pilling is being put in.

Is this Tumbelweed No 5 who used to write a blog?

Then we could see shade up ahead and a view to the off side. This would do us for the day. The back doors were opened, along with the front, hoping for a breeze. Tilly was given eight hours and we settled down to have breakfast at 10:30.

A text prompted Mick to turn on BBC1. Here was Mr Johnson confirming what had been mentioned on the news last night regarding local lockdown measures across the North West and West Yorkshire. Better to stand in front of the cameras rather than announce the new measures by tweet!

Our route ahead remains open, but no meeting friends or family other than on park benches until we reach Leeds! The next stage of lockdown relaxation has been put on hold for at least another two weeks. So the doors of any theatres that were about to reopen for socially distanced performances remain firmly closed for the time being.

The new three word slogan for the pandemic way of life was mentioned at the press conference. So we decided we’d have a look at where Mr Johnson was suggesting we should head using what3words

To reach our new destination, we would have to head back west over the Leeds Liverpool Canal to Wigan.

From here we’d have a choice, either all the way to Liverpool docks, out across the Mersey, round Liverpool Bay heading west, across the River Dee then follow the coast line westwards to LLandudno and the Irish Sea.

Or at Burscough turn onto the Rufford Branch, out onto the River Douglas, turning left onto the River Ribble continuing out to the Irish Sea to turn southwards to follow the coast to Llandudno.

Or into Manchester on the Bridgewater Canal, drop down Pomona Lock onto the River Irwell followed by the Manchester Ship Canal, joining the River Mersey at Eastham Locks.

Or the Bridgewater Canal to Preston Brook, down the Trent and Mersey to Anderton, down the boat lift onto the River Weaver, head westwards to Weston Marsh Lock where we’d drop down onto the Manchester Ship Canal.

Or the Bridgewater Canal to Preston Brook, down the Trent and Mersey to Middlewich, across the Middlewich Branch, turn northwards on the Shroppie to either Chester, dropping onto the River Dee (this route may not be possible due to the lock onto the Dee) or continuing to Ellesmere Port to join the Manchester Ship Canal.

Or at Barbridge Junction on the Middlewich Branch turn south onto the Shropie, onto the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal to Stourport, River Severn to Gloucester, Gloucester and Sharpness to Sharpness, then onto the River Severn again continue on past Portishead hugging the south coast of Wales, then head northwards until reaching the Irish Sea, up the Menai Straight and eventually Llandudno. But this route would just be silly!

Maybe we’ll not bother and carry on with our original plan, Norway. 😉

A very warm day followed, we were glad we’d found some quality shade. I headed out for a walk to stretch my legs. I headed along the canal passing two open swing bridges. Down a very rubbley footpath towards the River Aire.

From here I had to play cow pat hopscotch, then cross a field of sheep, the now fully grown lambs still wanting to suckle from their Mum, two of them so forceful they actually lifted her off the ground. Then back up onto the towpath, shortly before a cooling breeze and rumbles of thunder came past.

0 locks, 2.79 miles, 5 swing bridges, 4 years for a photo, 1 lorry, 1 tractor, Tumbleweed 5, 29.7 degrees, 1 hot day, 8 hours, 1 hot tired cat, 1 boat still heading eastwards, 0 roast tonight, 1 salad, 1 Mrs Tilly Stamp of Approval, 1 theatre designer in need of a job!

https://goo.gl/maps/kCvG49YCJSrRm8SS7

Keighley For Lunch. 30th July

Brewery Lane Swing Bridge to Bradley Swing Bridge 182A

Thank you to Anne, Jo, Debby, Christine and not forgetting Duncan (of course!) for the help in identifying our shrubs at the house. Maybe we should harvest some of the St John’s Wort and feed it to the seagulls so they sleep through the night.

Another Hypericum, Inodorum Elstead or Androsaemum

Anyhow, we woke to rain, so no need to rush anywhere. We took our time getting up and put a load of washing on. By the time breakfast was eaten and put away the weather was improving so we got ready to push off.

Photo of Oleanna as we pulled up at the bottom of the garden yesterday, cutesy of Robert

Which water point to use? Well the one just before the next bridge had just had a boat pull onto it, so we chanced a tap being free round the bend by the bus station, we were wanting to get rid of rubbish too. We waved goodbye to Margie and Robert even though they had most probably headed off before we’d had our morning cuppas.

It seemed like everyone had decided to move at the same time. A Slisden boat had sent crew ahead to work the bridge, we followed them through, being followed by at least a widebeam. On the other side of the bridge there were at least two more boats waiting their turn, the poor chap with the key of power would be there for sometime along with the cars wanting to cross the bridge.

Boats waiting to go through Brewers Swing Bridge

The service point was free so we pulled in, filled the water, emptied the yellow water, disposed of rubbish, cleaned Tilly’s pooh box and sorted our bucket. A little blue boat pulled up in front and busied themselves doing similar.

Just as we’d untied and were just about to push off, the blue crew came out from below untied and pushed off without even glancing over their shoulder. They soon caught up with a trip boat, their speed being commented upon by the chap at helm of the trip boat. Just how fast were they going!?! I’d heard the chap make a comment about Keighley and 11 miles, maybe they were hoping to reach there for lunch!

We pootled on at our more sedate speed, respecting the banks of the canal and moored boats. As Snaygill Swing Bridge came into view we could see the cloud being emitted from the exhaust of the blue boat as they sped off again into the distance. Oh well, we’d not be leapfrogging at the swing bridges with them then.

Snaygill Swing Bridge was an easy push and pull back to lock it. Onwards we went looking for a shady spot to sit out tomorrows higher temperatures. This stretch tends to hug the A629 quite a lot, every now and then it meanders away from the road in a loop, keeping to it’s contour. The first such loop heads towards Bradley. Before the swing bridge there was a line of boats moored up, we were hoping for space shortly after it where trees might just give us some shade.

I hopped off to operate the bridge but was just beaten to the job by a lady from a boat coming the other way. Two boats came towards us then it was our turn. Just through the bridge sat the blue boat moored up, they seemed to have paused for lunch.

We pulled up a little bit further away from the bridge, checked the surroundings and let Tilly out to explore for the first time in ~~days~~ a life time! The washing was hung out to dry on the whirligig and we pottered away the afternoon doing a little bit of research on electric hobs for the house. Should we go induction or not?

TV signal was bad so we caught up with the days news on line. New lock down restrictions for areas in Manchester, Blackburn and into West Yorkshire are to come in at midnight. Would this affect us? At the moment we are between covid hotspot areas, but we’ll soon be into the Bradford area. The new measures won’t stop us from moving so we can continue to head eastwards, we just might not be able to catch up with friends and family on the way.

Tilly seemed to have had advanced warning of the new measures, cat curfew came and went. The mad cat woman came out and walked up and down the towpath several times with no sign of our second mate. Another try just before our pizzas came out of the oven and she showed her head right at the other end of the big field we were moored by. Blimey it took some time for her to make her way back to the towpath, at least she’d had a good afternoon.

0 locks, 2.78 miles, 1 keep to the right, 2 swing bridges, 8 let through, 6 held up, 1 empty wee tank, 1 clean pooh box, 1 full water tank, 6mph maybe 7? 1 slighty shady mooring, 1 load washing dry, 1 cat out past curfew, 1 area of new measures ahead.

https://goo.gl/maps/sVX2SA5knqHJCUMc6

No Touching The Gunnels With Your Toes. 27th 28th July

The House, Scarborough

Tilly was right to sulk with us as we were heading away for the night, but we would be back, she knew that really. After six years and four days it was time for us to spend a night at our house in Scarborough.

With no Enterprise office in Skipton we’d had to look elsewhere for a hire car and Skipton Self Drive came up trumps. The depot was about a ten minute walk away from our mooring, so very handy and at £30 a day for a small car it was on a par with prices from Enterprise. Mick headed off before breakfast to pick it up and made use of the car park at Morrisons until we were ready.

The drive to Scarborough was a very slow one. The sat nav suggested a couple of hours, but our route around Harrogate and Knaresborough was plagued with road works and very long queues. But we arrived in Scarborough just gone 1pm and headed straight to Sainsburys were a click and collect order was waiting for us. We’d ordered essentials like toothpaste, garden waste bags, milk and of course to keep Mick happy cheese twists!

At the house the fridge was turned on, a bulb moved from the utility room to the downstairs toilet (we’d forgotten the bring the one we’d bought last time!) and we could have a cuppa with our lunch. It takes forever to get anywhere in the house. To go to the loo on the boat can never be more than 20 paces, but in the house double or triple that. Stairs too!

Mick sat and waded through the post, then spent much of the afternoon ringing around utility companies. I headed upstairs upstairs to find some bedding.

Six years ago we’d never imagined we’d be away for so long and even though my memory is pretty good I could not remember where things had been put. Duvets were easy to find, one bag even had been labelled, but the others were a case of opening them up and checking the sizes. Why did we have so many single duvets when we didn’t have a single bed?!

In the end I found a 15 tog king size duvet, one cover that would fit it, one fitted sheet and a couple of towels. To my amazement the vacuum bags things had been put in six years ago were still vacuum sealed, things smelt a little bit musty but an airing over the banister rails soon got rid of that.

The next request from Mick, did we still have a bread bin. Well the poor soul has had to live without a bread bin and a toaster for six whole years! I’d given him a whole shelf in a cupboard for bread on Oleanna too! Back up the windy stairs and I found it straight away.

Next gardening tools. We’d brought sheers from the boat and a tenant at some point had left a pair that looked quite good. Just where had the gardeny box gone? Soon found and there was everything that would be needed apart from a yard brush.

The canopy at the SJT . The restaurant opens this weekend and cinema back on in August

The afternoon was spent trying to tame a rose bush that used to send out a few shoots each year, now it was taking over the skyline of Scarborough. I managed to fill a sack and a half before the heavens opened and gave me a good soaking. Then with muddy wet hands I couldn’t turn the front door knob to get in so had to hammer on the door to get Micks attention.

By the end of the day, all utilities were back in our name, we could sleep the night and I’d made a big hole in the garden.

I made an order on line for some fish and chips from Cappleman’s who do gluten free and we headed off to collect them. They were very tasty and were accompanied by a bottle of white wine which had made its way into our essentials shop.

After a shower and a failed hunt for a hairdryer, a big list of jobs was written up as we sat on the sofa looking at a dining room table with a ladder resting on top just a few feet away, no TV for us.

Yum! Cooked in dripping just how they should be.

The 15 tog duvet was maybe a bit of overkill, but I suspect the summer weight one, if I’d found it, would have been too light weight. With a wider bed and space all round it in a huge room it all felt quite weird. No touching the other side of the boat with your toes or clambering over Mick and Tilly in the middle of the night to visit the loo. The seagulls woke us both up at 4am just as the sun was rising, they didn’t want us to forget they existed and serenaded us for a couple of hours. Oh how I’ve not missed those rowdy buggers!

Our neighbours trees have gone, we’ve nearly a sea view!

Just as we started to drink our cuppa in bed Mick’s phone rang, a plumber was on his way to talk about a boiler that wasn’t working. By the time Mick had quickly had a shower there was a knock on the front door and the chap who’d done work for us ten years ago was here to meet with us. The house has two boilers, one of which had ceased working a little while before our last tenant moved out. It obviously needs replacing before winter. We also had a short list of other jobs needing attention, including a gas pipe that had been put in after the kitchen floor had been dug up a few years ago and the builder had damaged it. The way the pipe had been done worked, but is not suitable as the pipe it passes through is a different metal. We can either dig the kitchen floor up again, or go for an electric hob instead. The latter will be the solution. Good we got to see the plumber as we can get things moving on that front if his price is okay.

A shopping trip to B&Q for a new mop and bucket, some window putty, a door mat and two brooms. One for the garden, the other for Oleanna.

The grass got a cut and all five rose bushes were trimmed back. I know it’s not the best time of year to be doing this and I have no idea really what I was doing, but they needed taming, luckily there was no Sleeping Beauty awaiting to be discovered in the flower beds.

Can anyone help me identify a few plants please?

This bush has tripled in size since we left, it has clusters/pompoms of little blue flowers earlier in the year. A huge bush with loads of yellow flowers. And one that at the moment has clusters of berries, it possible has red flowers earlier in the year, but I’m not sure.

Three small trees were removed/chopped back. A mass of ivy pulled out, the hydrangea dead headed from last year and Mick gave the forsythia a trim back into a better shape.The garden looks a lot better. Next time we’ll have to tackle the back gardens!

Six years ago houses on the street were being rented out, but now there seems to be more owner occupiers and a community feel about the place again. The chap two doors up came for a chat. Since Mick moved in back in 1991 he’s never had a conversation with this fella, turns out he’s the Town Crier! There will be celebrations in the street for VJ day when he’ll be crying for all to hear from the top of the street.

Once the kitchen floor had been washed, this is more floor area than we have in total on the boat, three windows liberated from sticky back plastic, the carpets hoovered and the car full of garden waste had been emptied at the tip it was time for us to head back west.

This time we took the back roads, confusing the sat nav, but avoiding holiday traffic on the A64 to York and most definitely avoiding Harrogate and Knaresborough road works.

Back at Oleanna Tilly was ecstatic to see us, sulking forgotten about and head nudges all round. We treated ourselves to an Indian take away as it had been a productive visit. Just a long list of jobs to work through on our next visits.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hire car, 2 routes, 1 big big house, 1 plumber, 5 sacks, 2 fish and chips, 1 bottle, 2 brooms, 1 mop, 2 buckets, 1 collapsible, 5 windows liberated, 1 tidyish garden, 1 happy Mick, 1 toaster, 1 breadbin, 1 loaf of bread left in it! 1 very happy cat, 0 poppadoms!

Illegal Green. 26th July

Gargrave to Gawflat Pipe Bridge, Skipton

Oleanna had a touch of a list on this morning, but once the boat in front of us headed to the lock above and emptied it the surge of water levelled us out. Well that was until the next boat came up the lock below which then came past at quite a speed, however that didn’t really matter as we were on the bottom anyway.

Around about 11am we pushed off hoping that any showers had passed, but keeping our waterproofs near by. A widebeam had only shortly come up the lock but it needed a good top up before I could open the gates. A chilled medication stand stood next to the lock a chap busying himself inside, but he wasn’t open much to my disappointment. It would have been hard to open and close gates and paddles with one anyway.

Ahead at the next lock there was a boat coming up, meaning gates could be left. Here there was a right gathering of eager windlass operators, one lady winding up the top paddle as the gates closed! She soon realised her mistake and dashed to the bottom gates. I didn’t have to do a thing other than chat.

Below a short boat and a couple of narrowboats were waiting so it was just as well I’d decided to walk on to our next and last lock for a while. NB Kindred Spirit was just setting up to sell chilled medication too and the weather vain was hoping it had hit a six.

Holme Bridge Lock 30 has the busy A65 crossing it just below. This is the first lock most hire boats will encounter after they have picked their boat up. I remember on NB Rosie walking round and unlocking all the handcuffs with a key attached to a small buoy provided by Silsden Boats.

The bottom gate beams have writing carved into them. This is one of the four sites that were chosen in the inaugural year of Canal and River Trust to have lines of commissioned poems carved into them. Here Ian McMillan’s words were carved by Peter Coats. The other gates in this series are at Hillmorton Locks 4 and 5 on the Oxford Canal, Milnsbridge Lock 9E on the Huddersfield Narrow and Farmers Bridge Lock 8 on the BCN. More information can be found here.

Down we went the leaky top gates getting the stern of Oleanna a touch wet. Just as I’d opened the gates a voice shouted up from below asking to leave them open, no problem, I’d be happy to. Below were two boats, one a hire boat with it’s novice crew, nervous of what was to come, the chap from the other boat suggesting their front doors should be closed, very wise.

The valley now is wider, fields roll off in all directions. The recently cut grass glowing out from all around. When I was at college I once designed a set of costumes for a ballet and included this colour in four of my drawings. But my tutor, Sue told me off. These four dancers (part of the corps de ballet) would totally pull focus, up stage everyone else and everything on stage. She called this colour Illegal Green and I was never to use it unless it’s natural abilities were required! So far I’ve succeeded in avoiding it.

Now with the locks behind us for a while, swing bridges take over. There are many along this pound of the Leeds Liverpool. In the past they have never got the better of me, but sadly this was not going to be the case today.

Highgate Swing Bridge just would not budge. A group on canoists were approaching from the other side, two had already ducked under the others waited for me to open the bridge. I explained they could wait ten minutes whilst Mick came to give a shove from the towpath or they could limbo underneath. They chose the latter, although one chap did give me quite a filthy look.

It took a while for Mick to tie up and come and assist. All it took was an extra push from the towpath side to get it moving, then I was okay. Under where the bridge sits when closed to boats there was loads of mud. As I shut it I could hear it sucking onto the structure and holding it firm again.

In contrast Thorlby Swing bridge was so easy, I could have moved it with just one hand. Two boats were coming towards us here so I waited to let them through.

Then Niffany Swing Bridge! This bridge sits alongside the A6069 on a bit of a bend. On the offside is a farm and caravan site so it gets used quite a bit.

I unlocked the handcuff and started to swing it, except it stalled after about a foot. I tried pushing it back to take a run up, but it was stuck fast on what lay below it. Mick would have to come and assist again from the towpath. He didn’t need to do much before the bridge started to move again. Of course just as we’d got it moving a motorcaravan turned up wanting to turn off the road. I was not going to close the bridge and have to reopen it.

A lady jumped out and waited for the bridge to close again. She crossed over as I started to try to close the handcuff again. As she stood and watched me, just a little bit too close, I felt under even more pressure to get the lock back in place. The chain didn’t play ball, then the screw didn’t engage. I was about to give up, but tried again whilst I was watched and commented at. At last it was locked. As I walked across the bridge the lady had to double check my work which I’m afraid got my back up. ‘It’s as locked as ever it will be!’ The bridge wouldn’t move anyway without a lot of sideways movement.

Now the gardens of Skipton joined us, someone has added a sign post to their display.

A new development of apartments sits by the canal just recently finished by the looks. Bland photographs of the interiors, but the building has a nice modern feel outside whilst sitting well in it’s surroundings. £159,000 will get you two bedrooms and a parking space, First floor £180,000.

As we approached Gawflat Swing Bridge, a busy pedestrian crossing, a chap stood up and pushed it open for us. It turns out that the bridge has become quite stiff and some people may have injured themselves so now C&RT are operating it, shame they weren’t doing this at the others we’d had problems with.

We pulled in to fill with water and I walked ahead to look for a space. We hoped the two Silsden Hire boats would maybe pull off before our tank was full. But both boats were padlocked shut and no signs of life, they’d stopped for more than just lunch. No other space available before Brewery Swing Bridge.

The towpath was very busy so in the end we decided to take the advice from the other boat that was filling up and to move back through the bridge behind us a little further out of town where there was plenty of space. So the chap at the bridge did his thing again. I stood at the front just incase we needed to push off from the bridge as the wind was pushing us about quite a bit.

Sadly for Tilly there is a road within 30 ft of us so no shore leave today. We’ll just have to cope with a sulky cat, or maybe go out and avoid her complaining.

3 locks, 4 swing bridges 1 twice, 1 motorcaravan held up, 1 annoying lady, 1 full water tank, 1 bucket on the roof, 1 illegally green world, 1 mardy cat.

https://goo.gl/maps/cXS2XYzTA2s24N466

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna