Enjoying the dizzy heights

This morning was showery so we stayed moored until nearly midday then as the sky brightened even though it was still raining we decided to move on. We made a brief stop at Lower Park Marina to top up with diesel and buy some stern gland packing as we have a rather frequent drip from the prop shaft. Only about five minutes after leaving we got a very strong plastic bag wrapped round the prop so we had to stop and free that.

At long last we reached Greenberfield Locks, only just over three miles and it had taken us nearly two hours!! We had to take it fairly slowly down the locks as they are a bit too short for Morgana and Merlin in a straight line so we have to go in diagonally, then because the lock gates open inwards we have to "jack-knife" Merlin in order to get far enough back in the lock to open the gate!

Only three locks and we were following the twisty route of the canal that follows the 375ft contour to Bank Newton and the next locks.

We have been hoping to meet Narrowboat Elland, a horse-drawn boat that is making the journey from Leeds to Liverpool and today we saw her but not on the move. She was moored at East Marton.

When we moored in a very pleasant spot on the edge of the moors I could see hoof prints on the tow path, they looked quite fresh so I don't think we missed her on the move by much.

We will see what the morning offers, weatherwise, before we decide whether to move on tomorrow or wait until Saturday.

Today's journey 6 miles and 3 locks


So far this year we have travelled 375.6 miles, 220 locks, 8 swing bridges, 1 lift bridge and 11 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1577.3 miles, 1306 locks, 64 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels