New territory

The Calder and Hebble was officially open this morning so we continued our journey. On some of the river sections the flood warning boards were showing amber but the flow seems reasonable. What was an eye-opener was seeing debris that had obviously been washed downstream in the flood caught in trees as much as six feet above the current water level. Most the landing stages were covered in a layer of silt.

We stopped in Mirfield for a quick shop, we were running low on coffee, that could have been a disaster. After that we completed our journey on the Calder and Hebble at Cooper Bridge where we made the turn onto the Huddersfield Broad Canal. I was a bit worried about the turn as you virtually double back on yourself but it was very easy as once Morgana's prow was into the flow of the river at the junction the current took her round nicely.

The paddle gear on the two locks we have done so far on the Huddersfield reminds me of the Rochdale, stiff to operate and lacking lubrication. Two down, eighty one to go before we reach Ashton-under-Lyne.

Today's journey 5.4 miles and 6 locks

So far this year we have travelled 444.2 miles, 285 locks, 43 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 1645.9 miles 1371 locks, 99 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels