A hard day's work

Today has been a hard day, it started with the Five Rise at Bingley, it looks very smart with the new lock gates that were put on earlier in the year but I think they are harder work than the old ones were.



Part way down Bingley Five Rise



We breasted Merlin up to Morgana to make for easier and quicker journeys through the locks and it worked well. After the Five came the Three then Dowley Two. We reverted to towing Merlin after that as the towpath changed sides and we only had one more lock to do. We really wish we hadn't, we had all sorts of problems at Hirst Lock, in future we will breast Merlin up if we are going through these short locks on our own.

I was kept busy with the locks and swing bridges, I needed help at Hirst Mill swing bridge as the locking mechanism was so hard, and I'm no weakling. We had hoped to be able to moor overnight at Saltaire but the canal edge was so shallow that I ran aground and the only official mooring is restricted to six hours with no overnight mooring.  Saltaire is impressive, the mills tower over you as you cruise through, one side is now occupied by the local NHS trust and some apartments, the other is an art gallery and retail outlets.

Saltaire

The next mooring point was in Shipley which I really didn't fancy, when business premises are protected with razor wire on their walls and roofs it doesn't encourage me to stop. So we carried on going until we reached Bridge 211, a bit in the middle of nowhere, it's called Buck Hill swing bridge and if anyone wants to find it it's about a mile east of Baildon and the same distance northwest of Idle. I could see a nice place to moor amid the woods the other side of the bridge. I pushed, I pulled, I jumped on the bridge (that sometimes frees them when they are stuck), Ray joined me and pushed and pulled, a helpful walker joined us, all to no avail. I was just about ready to give up. Then Ray went and got the towbar which we no longer use for Merlin, I pushed and he levered the free end of the bridge with the bar, it worked!! It is now no longer a redundant towbar, it is Ray's patented bridge opener!!

We are now moored in my nice wooded spot, we may stay here tomorrow as we travelled further than intended today, we are only about three hours from Rodley now.

We learnt today that Ray's nephew, Kevin , became a dad last Friday, welcome to the world Harvey Kevin Tofts!!

Today's journey 5 miles, 11 locks and 6 swing bridges

So far this year we have travelled 401.4 miles, 243 locks, 35 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 1603.1 miles, 1329 locks, 91 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels

Bingley

We have reached the top of Bingley Five Rise Locks after another lazy day. We set off this morning for the short hop to Puffer Parts to buy our new battery, then carried on to the top of the locks.


We thought it was going to be a bit of a chilly day compared to the past week but this afternoon the clouds cleared and we were back to brilliant sunshine. We managed to get some primer onto the bits we rubbed down yesterday so we are looking rather patchy. We considered putting some undercoat on so we didn't look as patchy once the evening had cooled a little but last time we did any painting on a cool sunny evening we had hundreds of midges stuck in the paint as it dried.

Life aboard is pretty hectic as the kittens are now very active, mischeveous and getting into everything.

We are now reaching the slightly more industrial area but there is a brief respite between Shipley and Rodley. Hopefully tomorrow night will see us at Slataire


Today's journey 3.8 miles and 4 swing bridges

So far this year we have travelled 396.4 miles, 232 locks, 29 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 1598.1 miles, 1318 locks, 85 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels

Swing bridges and more swing bridges!

We both woke early this morning  and were on the move before half past eight, five minutes later we were at the first swing bridge of the day. This one is more interesting than most as there is a memorial to the Polish Air Force crew of a Wellington bomber that crashed near it during the second world war.

It was another gloriously sunny day today and we cruised along the canal enjoying the solitude,at times feeling as if we were the only people about. It was relaxing drifting along with only the cows and sheep for company,feeling sorry for the people rushing to get somewhere in their cars in the distance. We only met four other boats on our journey,two of which had perfect timing for them as they approached a swing bridge just as I was opening it.

We stopped just short of Riddlesden as from there to Bingley it looks as if there is housing beside the canal all the way, not good for the cats! By lunchtime we were moored up by the woods west of  Riddlesden. We spent the afternoon rubbing down some of the paintwork on Morgana and attacking the rust spots, the joys of boat ownership!

Today's journey 6.1 miles and  10 swing bridges

So far this year we have travelled 392.6 miles, 232 locks, 25 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 1594.3 miles, 1318 locks, 81 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels

Farewell to Skipton

We have spent a very enjoyable few days in Skipton, I'm not sure the cats were very impressed as they had to stay onboard because of the traffic.

I'm not actually in love with Skipton but I do like it a lot. Unusually for these days virtually every shop in town was in business, with far more independent or small local chain shops than the big national companies. A superb range of butchers selling excellent sausages and pork pies, plus local meat, bakers that sell real bread and a market three days a week that lines both sides of the High Street. My favourite, however, has to be The Russian Tearoom with its range of 156 different teas. There are also Tesco and Morrison for the boring necessities of life.

On Wednesday we had a stroll round the market then went to explore Skipton Castle. Compared to many such places admission is relatively cheap and my opinion it is worth a visit.

Skipton Castle

The view from the castle

Thursday was the day for a trip out to Embsay Mill, which houses a needlecraft centre, unlike the castle the bus fares are not value for money in my opinion, over four pounds for a round trip of less than four miles. The visit to the mill was enjoyable and as the buses were only one per hour we took a stroll to the station where the steam trains run. Apart from school holidays they only run Tuesdays and weekends but we still had a look round.

We did consider moving on Friday but the combination of a very windy day and not being able to spot a good place for a picnic on GoogleEarth meant we decided to stay in Skipton until Sunday so that we could see Tim, Margaret and Nicholas again on Saturday and go for a picnic in the park.

Saturday was gloriously sunny, like the rest of the week, the wind made it a bit cooler which was good in some ways. Nicholas loves to climb so was very happy to find a children's play area at the park.

Nicholas having fun

After our picnic we went for a stroll, then back to Morgana for a cuppa before they had to head back to Leeds. We then enjoyed a drink with our neighbours Jim and June before settling down to watch the footie.

We didn't move very far today, just far enough to get into the countryside so the cats could enjoy some freedom. We moored near Low Bradley and I had to take this photo of the quintessential English Sunday afternoon.

Sunday afternoon cricket in the shadow of t' mill

Tomorrow we aim to reach Riddlesden and visit Puffer Parts to buy a new battery, we used to have five batteries for our domestic use and one starter battery but have been down to four domestics for a while so it will be nice to have the extra power again.

Today's journey 2.3 miles and 2 swing bridges

So far this year we have travelled 386.5 miles, 232 locks, 15 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 1588.2 miles, 1318 locks, 71 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels

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

Into the teeth of a gale!!

Well alright, it wasn't a gale but it felt like one. Ray spent the morning sorting out the stern gland and doing a few other bits then we set off for Gargrave. The wind was very strong and bitterly cold and because the canal twists and turns so much you barely have time to get used to which direction the wind is coming from and you have turned about and it's hitting you from a different angle.

We endured a couple of miles of windy travel before we reached our first of the nine locks of the day, the distance is only about three quarters of a mile as the crow flies which gives you an idea of how much the canal meanders. For most of the locks the wind was blowing us towards the towpath which meant that if Ray stopped before entering the lock he struggled to get Morgana away from the bank but on the other hand trying to hold the boat in midstream was equally impossible. The best option was for me to open the gates at the next lock before Ray left the previous one so he could cruise straight in. This meant lots of walking for me as I then had to walk back and close the gates at the previous lock.

There certainly wasn't any shortage of water in the canal today, at one lock the water came up over the lock sides when the lock was full !

I had the pleasure of spotting a couple of curlews at almost the same spot as I saw one when we came through here two years ago. No chance of a photo this time, I don't think I would have been able to hold the camera steady enough.

Considering the weather conditions we made reasonable progress and the journey only took us about half an hour longer than I would have expected. I was very glad to reach the moorings at Gargrave between Anchor Lock and Higherland Lock. We will be here until Monday as Tim, Margaret and Nicholas are coming to visit on Sunday.

Today's journey 3.2 miles and 9 locks.

So far this year we have travelled 378.8 miles, 229 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 1580.5 miles, 1315 locks, 64 swing bridges, 39 lift bridges and 51 tunnels

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