Skipton

Yesterday we made the journey from Gargrave to Skipton but I was too busy enjoying the sunshine to sit inside and blog.

It was lunchtime before we got round to leaving Gargrave after dumping rubbish and filling our watertank. Going through the remaining three Gargrave Locks was relatively easy, the first was with us, the second against us but just as I had the lock full a boat arrived coming up so I had help from them and then at the third a boat was just exiting the lock as we arrived so it was ready for us to go straight in.

We are now back in the land of the swing bridges, only five between Gargrave and Skipton but lots more to look forward to!!

We managed to get what was probably the last available mooring at Skipton, a bit too close to the bridge for my liking but Destiny (not Kathy's one) who was moored in front of us left this morning so we were able to move a bit further from the bridge.

I spent the morning exploring Skipton, then this afternoon Ray and I went for a walk up the Springs Branch to Skipton Woods.

Skipton Woods

After our long hike through the woods we rewarded ourselves with a couple of beers at the Royal Shepherd on Canal Street. Ray had two pints of Copper Dragon Best Bitter and I had a pint and a half of Golden Pippin from the same brewery. The beer was well kept and tasty, Copper Dragon is a Skipton brewery. We had met Tracy and James the landlady and landlord on the towpath this morning, they are boaters with twenty years in the licenced trade but only took on the Shepherd eight weeks ago after it had been closed down for a few months. I recommend a visit for a friendly welcome and good beer.

Tomorrow is market day in Skipton so that should be worth a look, we might visit the castle or may go the Embsay Mill, or both! It will probably be Friday before we leave here.

Yesterday's journey 5.4 miles, 3 locks and 5 swing bridges


So far this year we have travelled 384.2 miles, 232 locks, 13 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 1585.9 miles, 1318 locks, 69 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels