Nb Huffler - Nb Jola No6 - Nb Charlotte

Rochdale Canal Summit to Littleborough

2013-06-18T16:47:00.003+01:00

Setting off from our moorings on the summit pound this morning and the beautiful scenery the weather was promising to be excellent.

This is the old lock keepers house at the West Summit.

Looking at the front door we saw this - "West Summit Lock - No 37" in the front door panel to the left of the building

The locks come thick and fast and several of them are 'narrow' locks where only 1 boat at a time can use them due to the lock walls bulging inwards.

by lock 42 the water was really flowing over the gates

the beautiful weather,and scenery continued as did mine and Chris's walking ....... From Hebden Bridge we have only ridden one lock pound and across the summit !

At lock 46 we all had to get on board to go to the Sanitary Station which is NOT accessible from the towpath or roadway. CaRT can get in through locked gates but we cannot.
Jolas cats really enjoyed Littleborough. Here is Brandy on the wall

Soon it was chairs out and enjoy the sun and local people walking past.

Trevor and Chris had a friend visiting them for the day and he had come to the summit on his motorbike. Once we arrived in Litleborough he walked back and got his bike and brought it down to here.
The men all went to see it when he left

We have done 9 locks today total 231

Rochdale Canal Summit;

2013-06-17T17:33:00.000+01:00

So today it is up to the Summit (and the village of that name)
There were some beautiful reflections in the water when we left our moorings near lock 30 this morning. It was so still and calm

The mile post says it is still 20 miles to Manchester.

Because of Tony Huffler having a bad back it took longer than usual to move of this morning and Trevor had to wait for him in the first lock. Many of the non tow path sides of the locks are on private ground and you often have to walk in peoples gardens to operate the paddle gear. This presumably from when the canal was unused, and private.

Trevor on his way to the next lock

Yet another private house and garden lock side
Next up was lock 354 - a lock which has bulged inwards over time and will now only take 1 narrow boat at a time. From here on in to the summit we had real water problems. Think about it - this is a broad canal and generally the locks are all very similar in depth. Suddenly you come across a lock that takes only 1 boat so 2 lock fulls of water have to come out of the pound and hey presto the second boat cannot get across. So this is where the 2 way radios really come in useful - radio up to the lock ahead "we're stuck - need more warter". The lock operator then lets more water down. By being in radio contact we can let J.. U., S.. T enough water down to get the boat across the pound to the next lock without overdoing it

Huffler exiting,, or trying to exit lock 34. He got stuck 4 times trying to get across . By lock 35 the water situation was dire.
Jola and Charlotte still needed 2 lock fulls of water to get them across. They had to wait whilst we went ahead and let water down to get Arkholme and Huffler through this one before they could leave lock 34

A lot of water management here but we all made it up to the top.

Here we are approaching the East Summit Lock

and here is the sign to say we are 600ft above sea level on the highest broad canal in England

Om the summit looking back towards East Summit lock

This is probably the most beautiful and most underused canal in England

6 locks today - total now 222

Anniversary week

2013-06-16T13:07:00.000+01:00

Today is Fathers Day - so "Happy Fathers Day to all Dads"

Tomorrow it is our 38th Anniversary and on Wednesday it is Trevor and Chris's 3rd Wedding Anniversary.
Oh dear did we really look like that 38 years ago ? Tony probably still has that suit in one of his wardrobes !

On Wednesday it our friend Val's Birthday - Happy Birthday Val.

We are sitting here today,( STILL- moving tomorrow) and watching part of a vintage motorbike trials. Run by the Yorkshire Classic Motorcycle club all their events are held on private land like this one is.
This is part of the land being used

Not very clear photos as taken from a long way away in a hurry but it gives you an idea of our entertainment today. The men have realky enjoyed it. .

Excitement - a boat is moving.............. Nb Leicester, a Shire Cruiser from Sowerby Bridge, has just passed us.

So tomorrow its another 10 locks to the Summit and then its downhill all the way to Manchester !

Rochdale canal - weekend

2013-06-15T13:31:00.000+01:00

Trevor has his family coming this weekend and so we are all moored up on the pound between lock 27 and 28. More like a small lake than a lock pound.
The sky early this morning did not bode well for the weather, dark clouds tinged with red patches

Sure enough the weather today has been mixed I think is the correct word. Beautiful sunshine one minute and torrential rain a few mins later and everything else in between.
Jola has gas again and when Tony Huffler lifted Daph's gas on to her boat to fit it for her his back went !
Now he is in bed with ice packs and doing his exercises and attempting to get it back into some sort of travelling order before Monday. No point of even thinking of an Osteopath here we are in the middle of nowhere. Walking is a good exercise so overcoming the pain he got up and dressed and it was a major job to get him of the boat but he managed it and went walking with Daph and Jazzy. He cannot bend to pick up poos ! MUST see Hannah when we get back

This is the type of weather we are having

then down comes the rain again

Suddenly a couple of days ago the remote control for. Hufflers TV stopped working. Put new batteries in but still nothing. Remote has not been dropped or damaged but on opening it up we find that the circuit board has a crack in it.

On turning it over we see that the crack breaks several circuit lines affecting how it should work and obviously it no longer send the right messages.

You can see the crack by my finger. As there are no marks on the Remote we feel that this has probably always been like it since new and it has taken this long to fail. Hey Ho get on to company who supplied the Tv's. Jola, Charlotte and ourselves all have the same so we are borrowing a remote to record and play back as necessary.

Ring Company, buy new one at a cost of £20, and arrange to have it delivered to Rose of Lancaster Ph where we will eventually be.

Rochdale Canal - a little bit further

2013-06-13T16:24:00.000+01:00

The song "I'd walk 500 miles................" is constantly on my mind at the moment. Chris and I have both walked from Hebden Bridge to where we are moored at the moment.!!!! Probably going to walk all the way to Manchester

A hive of activity this morning unpinning ourselves from our overnight moorings near lock 27

The overspill weirs are part of the towpath. Walkways, very narrow ones, are there but VERY difficult to walk over

The weather this morning is very mixed. Mizzle, then rain then sunshine. However this is relatively normal around here on the moors

The scenery is magnificent. It is so beautiful that we decided not to spoil our journey by dong it in rain and mizzle but to moor up and wait for better weather.
The last time we came across this pound Huffler had to accept a tow when he got well and truly stuck

A problem we did NOT have that year was water. It was coming over the gates like waterfalls

compare this picture above from 2008 to this one in 2013 below

Also when we came over in 2008 Huffler and Barron No 1 got pinched in a lock, No 47) that was not signed as being unsuitable to take 2 narrowboats. Lock 26 did have a sign, albeit lying on the grass unmounted

Guess what ? The books and Waterscape Boaters Guides STILL do not show lock 26 as taking 1 boat at a time but they do say:-
Quote Narrow locks on the Rochdale canal Lock 5, Lock 34, 40, 41 and 47 No mention of lock 26.
However on page 2 of the Boaters Guide it goes on to say that lock 26 is only 13.16 ft at its narrowest point This information is nowhere near the actual page that lock 26 is on,
IT DOES NOT SAY ONLY 1 NARROWBOAT AT A TIME Our boats are 6 ft 10 inches wide and so is the narrow boat we are travelling with. This is standard narrow boat dimensions. When I went to school, a long time ago I admit, 6ft 10 inches and 6 ft 10 inches = 13 ft 8 inches. So why is lock 26 without signage and also not listed in their guide.?

Here is lock 26 yesterday - obviously the sign never did get put on to the post

Jola has just rung and said he has 2 empty gas cylinders !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thinking caps on.... a quick call to Bronte boats in Hebden Bridge and wow... what a fantastic company they are - 2 x 13kg cylinders will be with us around 5pm AND no surcharge for delivering them.

4 locks today = 216 in total

Todmorden to Walsden

2013-06-12T16:12:00.001+01:00

There is a guillotine lock at Todmorden and twice whilst we were moored there we had to go and let water down as the pound we were in was leaking so badly. We knew this would bode ill for the morning but had no option. Hopeful that the pound above just might fill with water again overnight.

Our hopes were not fulfilled and we were met with empty pound after empty pound today.

Arholme and Huffler were first up and it was immediately obvious that they would be unable to get out of the lock. So a 1/2 mile walk to the next lock to let water down. Not just 1 lock full but 3 lock fulls. They still got stuck and it was only with the help of the wonderful Rambling group that they eventually got across.

This old sunken boat became visible at the bottom of the wall. Once 3 lock fulls of water reached them it was a bit better and they set off from the lock alongside the great wall

Soon Trev got stuck and luckily this group of ramblers gave a more than welcome pull on the ropes

Thanksfolks........................

Eventually they made it to the first of the 7 locks today

Once we had enough water to get the first 2 boats into the lock above Todmorden then we knew that Jola and Charlotte would be able to make it. They waited in the lock until we radioed back and said we were up and were emptying the lock for them. The next pound was just as bad, well obviously I had taken water out of it to fill the previous pound ! This is quite normal on this canal and you get used to it. Here water is going down to Trevor to help him across the pound

Moore wheelie bins..............

and another one

and so it went on lock after lock.... but it was dry and the scenery was wonderful and we were gradually having to let a little less water down with each lock we went through Chris and I got a system going. I would go ahead and let water down, open the gates. She let them out of the lock and then closed the gates and reset the lock for Jola and Charlotte.

By lock 24 the worst of our worries for the day over water were over - there was a by weir bringing water into the canal........... we all cheered

these cheeky chappies were looking over the wall at the lock 24

Both Chris and I both loved this old mill conversion -the boat archway is now a lounge with a large plate glass window.

We ended our journey at just before lock 27 and all had lunch at Grandma Pollards Pie Shop at Walsden. Wonderful

As we were sitting eating our pie and chips in their canalside picnic area we glanced across to the wonderful roof lines of the old terraced cottages opposite. How did they ever build that one in the background ?

So only 7 ( and it seemed like 70) locks today total now 212.

(PS - . only another 21 miles to go and 56 more of these locks to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Todmorden part 2

2013-06-11T17:38:00.001+01:00

So today we moved off and on to Todmorden,where we wanted to be yesterday ! Not to worry we are in no hurry.

Only 4 locks to Todmorden and Morrisons. This obstruction right in the middle of the canal had to be negotiated. The canal pounds are very low and progress was slow.

Wonderful scenery. This is lock 17. We have come 9 miles from Sowerby Bridge (where we were last Wednesday !) and it is 23 miles to Manchester and another 65 locks. However the last 40 locks are done over 3 days !!!!!

The old Mill Chimney has the obligatory tree growing out of the top of it

A large and a very vocal gaggle of geese here. My turn to drive boat todayand himself on locks

Glad it was himselfs turn on locks as he had to go up the ladder here as it was impossible to get off
the boat before entering the lock

Here are Arkholme and Huffler on the 24 hr moorings, also a water point ! Jola and Charlotte are on the other side of the canal just beyond the red and green boat.

We've been to see 'The Great Wall of Todd' and will take pictures when we pass it tomorrow.
There are some wonderful information boards along this canal and this was taken from one of them

It is an amazing canal. Mostly because of the terrain it covers.

4 locks today - total 205

Todmorden

2013-06-10T18:51:00.001+01:00

So today, being Monday we are leaving Hebden Bridge and onwards and upwards towards Todmorden and the summit where plan to be for the weekend.

Had a wonderful time here and it was so lovely to see Bronte Boats, who we were moored opposite, doing great trade with their day boats. They really impressed us They took the hirer's to the first lock and showed them what to do and also offered life jackets to any that wanted them

Before leaving we all planned to fill with water, get Diesel from Bronte Boats, (who sell it from the Sanitary Station pontoon ). Well the water was evaporating almost as quickly as it was going into the tanks it was so slow.

We went over at 9am and it was 10 before we were full enough to leave. Not completely full Arkholme did the same, another hour, then Jola and then Charlotte. It was lunch tine before we moved off.
At the first lock there were some wonderful pictures on a notice board of how /Hebden Bridge was in 1974

Where the truck on the right of the picture is right where we were moored.

and this one showing that the canal was still being filled in in 1963

The locks are leaking well

Here Trevor on Arkholme passes one of the many chimneys in Hebden Bridge which unlike so many mill towns has preserved its heritage.

We moored just below lock 15 and sat in the sun

poor Ollie, who got attacked by another dog in Hebden Bridge wearing his protective head gear.

Mooring on the Rochdale is not easy and here it is a case of getting the front or back into the side, depending on which part of the boat you need to get on or off of and to hell with the rest of the boat

There are so few boats moving that it really does not matter

Tomorrow we look forward to The Great Wall of Todmorden
The embankment wall was built to carry the railway along the valley edge and it was calculated at the time that about 4 million bricks were used in its construction. Following completion of the Summit Tunnel the line was opened from Manchester to Normanton on 1st March 1841.

7 locks today total 201

The Pack Horse Inn Widdop

2013-06-08T21:03:00.001+01:00

Today we took the 906 bus, which only runs at weekends, up to Widdop Reservoir. Our intentions were to have a look at the reservoir, have a walk about and then have lunch in the local pub, The Packhorse Inn Well as usual this did not quite plan out. We passed the Inn about 2 miles before the reservoir. The bus only turned round at the reservoir and waited 3 mins before going back to Hebden Bridge. The next bus was 2 hours later, after the pub had stopped serving food and we didn't fancy walking 2 miles!!!
So we decided to stay on the bus and go directly back to the pub.

What a wonderful, remote place. Not another property within miles

Situated only 300 yards from the Pennine Way Long Distance Footpath near the Gorple Reservoirs is this absolute delight of an inn. Here on this tract of moorland, sandwiched between the industrial areas of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire the Pack Horse Inn is a converted 17th century laithe farmhouse. with freshly made food and hand pulled ales in a traditional atmosphere.

The bar has several pictures of the Hardcastle Crags Railway which served the construction of the Walshaw Dean Reservoirs in the early years of the 20th century. It also boast over 100 single malt whiskeys

Full of historical pictures, the inn displays information with regard to the technicalities and engineering involved in constructing the numerous reservoirs in the immediate area.

The food was out of this world. Tony Jola had Liver and onions, Tony Huffler and Jenny had Pheasant pie and Daph and I had a Chicken and Broccoli bake topped with cheese and garlic bread. All home made and SUPERB.

This couple had burgers and they were enormous.
The beer was good too

All too soon our bus was due and we had to cross the road to await its arrival

A very enjoyable day out.

Rim Nam , Thai in Hebden Bridge

2013-06-08T09:49:00.000+01:00

Wonderful evening there last night.

Its not cheap with most dishes, without rice, being in the £10 price bracket. There were 7 of us and we opted for a mixed. set menu of mixed starters, mains, 2 sorts or rice and tea or coffee afterwards for £18 a head.

First there were mixed starters all beautifully decorated with Orchid flowers 2 plates of these. one at each end of the table. 6 different things including satay, prawns, goujans etc and several dips and wonderful deep fried noodles which tasted wonderful but were impossible to eat without making a mess !!!

Then it was on to mains - well the food just kept coming - there was so much of it and so varied. Chicken, beef, prawns, duck

After I took this picture another load arrived...................... it really was superb and excellent value. We like to eat like this when in a party as it means you can try lots of different dishes.

When it eventually came to dessert Ice Creams and deep fried ice cream were chosen by Tony Jola and David

Several choices of tea were then offered and coffee. We do not normally have tea and coffee in restaurants but as we had friends who had come by car we did on this occasion.

Tomorrow we are off to Widdop on the bus..

Click on any Picture

2013-06-07T13:09:00.001+01:00

to read more about it
Where we were and what we did

Heptonstall

2013-06-06T16:22:00.002+01:00

Today we all went on the bus to Heptonstall .One of the prettiest villages in Yorkshire. Hidden away on the hillside above Hebden Bridge. One of the most fascinating things its the size of the old Church. It held 1000 people.
Heptonstall's original church was named after St Thomas a Becket, founded circa 1260 and was altered and added to over several centuries. It was damaged by a gale in 1847 (and is now only a shell), so a new church, St Thomas the Apostle, was built in the same churchyard. This suffered a lighting strike in 1875
The church is used for the annual Pennine Spring Music Festival, held every Spring Bank Holiday week.
The old church ruin is now carefully maintained and occasionally open air services are conducted there.

This is the new church seen through the arches of the remains of the old church

After a good look around the old ruins we went walking around the village itself. The old Grammar School which is open now as a museum at Weekends and Bank Holidays

The White Lion Pub where we planned to have lunch

and the exquisite courts of cottages with pretty clematis growing over them. Originally these were loom weavers cottages for the heavy Mill industry around here and the cottages had larger upstairs windows for the weavers needing light to work than down stairs. Most have been altered over the years. We also saw this wonderful example of 'elf and safety !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The main High Street

Obviously 'dustbin day' - it is amazing that these vehicles can get up these streets

The old stocks

an old lister single cylinder engine next to the well

This used to be the local garage

We had a superb lunch in the pub and all the dogs were made more than welcome.

Then it was time to catch the bus back to Hebden Bridge

We had all had a most enjoyable day.

Rochdale Canal - Sowerby Bridge to Hebden Bridge

2013-06-05T18:23:00.001+01:00

The Rochdal Canal starts at Sowerby Bridge, is 33 miles long and has 92 locks. Not for the faint hearted. All double locks, except for about 6 which have bulged inwards over the years and you have to take 1 boat at a time. Heavy paddle gear and even heavier gates.

Here is our Rochdale travelling partner coming into the first lock. Our friends Christine and Malcolm Richardson were in Sowerby Bridge yesterday and looked for us but we did not arrive until after 4pm and they had left by then.. However they will have seen' Arkholm,' a red and cream Dutch Barge style narrowboat who is our travelling partner over the Rochdale. We know Trevor and Chris from the Lancaster Canal.

Here are Arkholm and Huffler in the No 1 Rochdale Canal lock at 9.30am

This is the gate paddle gear made by James Garside of Halifax. Nowadays complete with 'anti vandal' locks

Huffler and Arkholm rising in lock no 2 before the Tuel Lane Tunnel

Jola and Charlotte rising in No 1 lock

AS Tuel Lane lock is emptied a 'tidal wave' of water comes towards you. Tuel Lane lock replaces 2 locks, nos 3 and 4. At 19ft 6 inches it is the deepest lock on the inland waterways.

This boat exited the lock and tunnel and it was our turn to proceed. This is the plaque over the tunnel entrance. For many many years the Rochdale ended at lock 3. A main road and a car park had been built over the infilled canal and locks 1 and 2 were in isolation in Sowerby Bridge.

The canal opened through to Manchester in 1804. This made it the first trans-Pennine canal route, as the Huddersfield, experiencing much difficulty in the Standedge Tunnel construction, did not open until 1811. The Leeds and Liverpool, with a much longer route, was not fully opened until 1816.

In 1830 a railway surveyed by George Stephenson was proposed, following closely the route of the canal. When the Manchester and Leeds Railway opened in 1841, the canal company had to reduce tolls to retain business. The company resisted take-over bids from railway companies but leased the canal to a consortium of railway companies in 1855. The canal remained profitable for some time but by the twentieth century the tonnage being carried was in sharp decline. In 1937 the last boat made the through journey across the Pennines on the Rochdale Canal.

In 1952, the canal was closed apart from the short section between Castlefield and the Ashton Canal junction at Piccadilly. The Ashton was abandoned in 1962 and by 1965 the nine locks on the Rochdale through Manchester city centre were almost unusable. Enthusiastic supporters re-opened the Ashton in 1974 and the Rochdale Canal in Manchester was made good.

The Rochdale Canal Society was formed to promote the restoration of the canal and in the 1980s and 1990s small scale work began to re-open stretches of the canal between Todmorden and Sowerby Bridge. This involved restoring bridges and locks to navigable condition.

The most major project was the construction of the new Tuel Lane lock and tunnel in Sowerby Bridge. The lock replaced two locks in an infilled section and, with a fall of almost 20 feet, is the deepest lock on the inland waterways system. In 1996 the canal was opened to navigation once again between Sowerby Bridge and the summit level.

Tuel lane is AWESOME. You enter the tunnel and then...........

......... just round the left hand bend you come to this..............

Trevor and Chris, exit the tunnel and enter the lock

Once you have ascended up the lock it is a long slow haul to the first lock after Tuel Lane. So much water has been drawn off the pound that it is really low.

The first lock we come to, no 5, is leaking like a sieve. It is one of the locks where only 1 boat at a time can pass through.

Jola and Charlotte arrive just as we are about to enter the lock. Trev and Chris having gone on to set the next one for the pair of us.

Not only do the gate paddles have anti vandal locks the ground paddles have anti vandal locked boxes over them

The tail of the locks also have this cross bracing to stop the lock gates from bulging open .

Trev passes on to the next lock whilst we reset it for Jola and Charlotte.

We are all confused here. Maps say it is a bridge at Falling Royd Bridge. This is now a short tunnel but it is not straight.

You can see how sharp the curve is. None of us were prepared for it. On exiting we see going towards Sowerby Bridge there is a road type 'bend' warning sign !!!!

Charlotte lost her fire chimney, lucky she bought a new one at Thorne.

So here we are at Hebden Bridge.

and that is the Rim Nam Thai Restaurant we are going to on Friday with more friends, David and Rosemary.

Beautiful Rhododendrons in the park along side the canal.

Tomorrow is off on the bus to Heptonstall.

7 locks today total 194

Calder and Hebble to Sowerby Bridge

2013-06-04T22:49:00.002+01:00

Today was the last day of having to use the 'spike . At the first lock , Park Nook lock, we all had to use it. Slow progress but we made it. It was one if the locks where only 1 boat at a time, of 60ft, could get into

The next lock took 2 hours to get through. It was busy with a broken down boat coming down who panicked when he saw 3 boats waiting outside.

Then it was old factories , long gone, and this one complete with tree growing out of roof

Islands of reeds where you have to decide which way to go

Charlotte had gone ahead and got this lock ready for Huffler to enter

Huffler exits and goes to set the next lock

The River Calder is alongside us all the way

At the Salter Hebble bottom lock there is a tunnel under the main road. This picture of a man entering it shows how restricted it is

No we are not on the River Nene. However it is a Guillotine gate

The pretty lock cottage at the top of the flight

Huffler exiting the guillotine lock on his way to the middle one

The girls could not have cared less - just a quick nap in the shade

The top lock is the shortest on the Salter Hebble and Huffler, at 59ft 6 inches had to struggle to get into the lock

Next it was Jolas turn. He is only 59ft but had a similar problem

Huffler ascending to the top of the top lock

It is a sharp 90 degree left at the top.

Charlotte exits safely, Jola already having done so. So now it is on to Sowerby Bridge

Beautiful wooded glades enhanced by the sunlight

The superb Copley Viaduct Railway viaduct crossing the River Calder, the Calder and Hebble Navigation and
Wakefield Road. c1851. For the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. Snecked
rock-faced sandstone. 23 arches in all on tall piers: 15 semicircular, with rock-
faced voussoirs brought to course and 4 at each end, wider, segmental, with similar
voussoris in Ashlar. Easternmost arch over Wakefield Road considerably flatter.
Plain band at impost and cornice level with parapet above. Mostly in the parish of
Halifax. The Sowerby bridge to Halifax Branch line was opened 1 January 1852.
Sowerby Bridge Chamber of Trade and Commerce Official Tourist Guide

This is the view as we pass under it.

Beautiful reflections as we proceed towards Sowerby Bridge

Here we all are ready for tomorrow morning/

Beautiful views back over Sowerby Bridge

What a wonderful sign from BW. What it really means that if the pound is full when the Tuel Lane lock is emptied it floods the pub adjacent to the pound !

Lovely evening with Chris and Tevor who are joining us across the Rochdale

Today we did 7 locks total now 188 for year so far

Calder and Hebble to Cromwell lock via Brighouse

2013-06-03T18:45:00.000+01:00

No we have not gone off our trolley we really are at Cromwell Lock but the one on the Calder and Hebble not the one on the River Trent

The first lock we come to, Kirklees low, is a 'spike' only on the top paddles
Robin Hood is reputed to be buried in the park here. He was at the priory here and just before he died he shot off 2 arrows (and he is on his death bed ?) to denote his burial place. One fell into the River and floated away and the other marks the spot where he is buried. A nice story.

Jenny and Tony awaiting us to exit the lock before it is their turn with the spike.

Tony Jola on spike duty they really are easy to operate, much easier than some of the paddle gear.

2 locks and you are into Brighouse. - lock number 1 from river into pound

lock number 2 into basin

The warehouse to the right was the home of Sagar Marine and where the white boat is moored our friends Bob and Andra, in Florida used to keep their boat Puffin which Ron and Daph almost bought. Small world isn't it ?

Then it was time for watering up and a quick dash into Sainsburys for anything we had forgotten in Wakefield

Jazzy came to join us whilst we were there and it was 'bums together girls'

Huffler has developed a slight oil leak from the head gasket on the Gardner Engine so whilst the ladies were in Sainsburys Tony phoned around to get a set and then to get somewhere to have them sent to.
Walshes had the necessary parts and Bronte Boats in Hebden Bridge would accept them for us This took a little while to organise so we did not make Sowerby Bridge as we had planned today.

We travelled on a couple of locks and moored up it now being 4pm.

I was steering the boat through this lock, Cromwell lock, and looked back and saw this on the bridge

.This is the heavy gate paddle gear on the Calder and Hebble - give me a 'spike' please every time, much much easier.
As our parts are going to Hebden Bridge, Tony will 'do' the necessary there. It will take about a day.

So today we did 4 locks to Brighouse and 3 locks after Brighouse to our mooring. total 7

Grand total for the year now

Calder and Hebble - to Coopers Bridge

2013-05-31T21:50:00.001+01:00

Beautiful day today. It is my daughter in laws birthday today and she lives in Saudia Arabia. I traded her some of her sun for some of our rain. Well we got the sun but she is still waiting for the rain !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what we woke up to and it continued all day.

Soon we were at the figure of 3 locks where we had to use the spike for the first time. Very easy to use and much better than trying to lift the heavy paddles.

This is the spike alongside the enormous paddle gear which is very hard and stiff to operate

The Calder and Hebble runs in and out of the River Calder with lock cuts It is extremely pretty especially on a day like today
At Horbury there is an old disused arm and it is now a BW Sanitary Station

This is Thornhill double locks. 2 lovely locks with a round pound in between them

The river to the right goes to Savile basin in Dewsbury

This is the almost round pound between the 2 locks

There are large weirs as you go in and out of the river sections

Here Tony had to go up the lock wall

These gates although new were leaking terribly

The Calder and Hebble is meant to take boats of only up to 57 ft 6inches. We are all 59ft 6 inches. This means that you have to put the boat in the lock on a diagonal If you get it wrong you catch your tiller arm on the lock walkways Lots of boats have done this

Tony using the famous spike to operate the ground paddles

The remains of an old railway bridge support still standing in the river

Almost there......

Tony and the girls sitting in the sun on the lovely moorings at Coopers Bridge

10 locks and lots of flood locks today total 174

We will be staying here until Monday morning when it is off to Brighouse

.
.

Wakefield

2013-05-30T18:22:00.002+01:00

This morning we al had pump outs of our toilet tanks at Stanley Ferry Sanitary station. Moving on towards Wakefield, (where should have been yesterday), for shopping in Sainsburys.

First off was Huffler, then Jola and then Charlotte

Only 1 lock between Stanley Ferry and Wakefield and the old BW yard which is now elegant 3 storey town houses and on the other side a new Marstons pub, The Ruddy Duck.

A number of flood locks were passed through today.This one is Broadreach When the river rises these gates are shut to help hold back the flood waters.
Soon we were at Fall Ing lock, once again going off the river through a canal cut.

The local boater who opened the gates for us said only 2 boats could use it at a time. We believed him. However one we were in the lock it was obvious these wee still 120ft locks and we could have all 4 fitted in.

10 mins later and we were in the centre of Wakefield A call to a taxi firm and hey presto for £3 we are at Sainsburys.

Back on the boat it is unload and stow away purchases before moving off towards Sowerby Bridge.
On through Wakefield flood lock and once again on to the River Calder We pass under the M1, close to junction 39

Then it is off the River again and on to another cut.
The Cader and Hebble only takes boats of 57ft 6 inches but by being careful and going diagonally in locks you can do it in a 60footer.(we are all 59ft) You also have to use a 'spike' to operate some of the paddles on this canal.

Thats the 'spike' on the roof and this is where you use it. You put the square end in and ratchet the paddles up or down., SLOW.... SLOW... SLOW

Once off the river we moored up at Broad Cut top lock visitor moorings.

3 proper locks (and 3 open flood locks today) total for proper worked locks 164

Stanley Ferry

2013-05-29T17:13:00.001+01:00

Woke up to a beautiful morning

Reading on Facebook how everybody was having cold nasty rain we realised how lucky we were to have sunshine albeit not too warm

Soon Ferrybridge lock comes into view, dominated by the Ferry Bridge A, B and C power stations.
The locks from Castleford to Goole have 3 sets of gates enabling the locks to accomodate different sizes of boats. There is some variation in lock sizes, with the smallest being at Knostrop, which is 203 by 22 feet (62 by 6.7 m) with a water depth of 8.4 feet (2.6 m) over the lock cill .Euro barges are 200 by 20 feet (61 by 6.1 m), and when fully loaded with 600 tonnes of cargo, have a draught of 8.2 feet (2.5 m). Locks on the Wakefield section can accommodate vessels which are 141 by 17.6 feet (43 by 5.4 m) with a draught of 7.5 feet (2.3 m), while the locks below Castleford have three sets of gates, so that a 200-foot (61 m) section can be used, rather than the full 457 feet (139 m) required by the compartment boats.

We all needed water and decided Huffler would water at Castleford and Jola and Charlotte at Bullhome just prior to Casstleford and only about 1/2 mile apart

Once this was a hive of working boats bringing coal to this enormous power station. Now sadly all in the past.

Jola and Charlotte duly stopped above Bulhome lock and Huffler went on to Castleford. At Castleford the water and sanitary station are on one side of the river and the rubbish at the other !!!
After watering up we pushed over to get rid of our rubbish in the skip. At that moment we get a call from Jenny, "there's a sand barge coming up". So we stay where we are and decide to watch it through the flood lock.

Castleford is an interesting lock at any time as it is on a bend ! Yes it has a bend in the middle of the lock. The lock is some 450 ft in length. From the photos you will see that a 200ft barge, by 20ft wide has to head straight for the lock wall, then power the stern round to get the front pointing to the exit of the lock.to the right of the picture.

There she goes

out of the lock and on her way to discharge her cargo at Whitwood. We did pass her later on waiting to be unloaded at the wharf..
The weather had started to break and the clouds were very threatening... By the time we came to Birkwood lock the heavens opened and very cold rain, almost hail, was falling. We decided to stop at Stanley Ferry.

Here is Charlotte crossing the aqueduct and we are all going to the Stanley Ferry PH for a meal this evening..

6 locks today total 161

South Yorkshire Navigations

2013-05-28T13:52:00.001+01:00

Up early this morning, dogs wanted a 'wee' and Tony took this one of the sun rising over the New Junction canal

Thick mist and red sky.....mmmm.... wonder what the weather is going to do today. Was nice again yesterday but everybody is saying bad weather is coming AGAIN.

We set off around 10 as usual and turned left towards Castleford.

Sharp right is towards Goole, where we would have come from had we not turned off the River Trent at Keadby. We have never been round Trent Falls as it is known as it is at least 9 hours on the boat and there is no stop for the dogs. So that trip is still in the future

We were lucky at Pollington Lock it was manned. These are really enormous locks. They have these large yellow markers on them so the boat crews can see them from a long way away. When you are in them they seem big and then........ you realise you are only in a part of it ! The rest of it stretches way ahead of you !

After rising out of the part we were in this is also part of the lock. Clever usage of intermediate gates allows vessels from small, like us, to very large.

This is why the lock was manned.

It had come from this CaRT depot

The next lock was Whitley, just before the M 62. Again an enormous lock but we had to operate this one ourselves.

Power station abound round here

Kellingley Colliery is one of only 3 deep mines left in the UK. In my 1972 Nicholsons its says that "over 30 collieries supply the Ferrybride C power station" There are also strong warnings about the volume of commercial traffic hereabouts. " Long queues of craft with their trains of coal laden pans" It must have been an incredible sight. Sadly all this has now gone and all of the coal produced at Kellingley is handled by train

The old wharfs where the boats tied up are still there but are gradually being taken over by slag heaps.
We stopped where we usually do on the 'island' between the Aire and Calder and the River Aire .

2 locks today total 154

New Junction Canal

2013-05-26T16:03:00.002+01:00

Leaving Thorne this morning - on a SUNDAY and a Bank Holiday Sunday at that - but it was busy on the green and not suitable for the cats so we moved on. (sounds like the Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood song if you are old enough to remember)

A quick visit to ~~Staniland Marine for a new fire chimney and off we set in glorious sunshine. The buying of coal has worked its magic yet again
There was a nice sunset last night with the street lights reflected in the water

This PH was filling up rapidly and it was only a few mins after noon

Soon Bramwith lock is reached.

It took ages to level the water and 4 people on the gate.

We eventually got out and shortly after Bramwith lock it is a sharp right hand turn on to the New Junction canal. There are lift and swings bridges ever 1/2 mile or so but luckily they are all electric operation.
The first 'thing' you come to is the aqueduct over the River Don.

Looks quite forbidding

passing over the River Don

Jola and Charlotte cross the aqueduct

First its shut and then its open

Margaret with her thumb on the power button operating the bridge

some boats are prettier than others !

Sykehouse lock is 230ft long and 20ft wide with the added problem of a swing bridge over the middle of the lock. This has to be swung open before you can do anything else to the lock. It is a very slow lock and takes ages and ages.

Jenny and I leaving Skyehouse lock - it just does not look real does it with all that blue sky.

Here we are at the junction with the Aire and Calder. The cats were really pleased to be off the boat. They did not think much of Thorne not being allowed out as it was too close to the road..

Here are Tuppence, Flash and Brandy off to do some hunting

We have seen more boats moving today then we saw in the whole time we were on the Chesterfield Canal !!!!

3 locks today total 152

Stainforth and Keadby Canal

2013-05-25T16:56:00.001+01:00

A crossing of the Stainforth & Keadby Canal by the railway was first made in 1866. The previous bridge was a swing bridge with its pivot located at the other side of the canal to the drawbridge. Some of the remains of the foundations for the swing bridge can still be discerned. One of the main reasons for using a sliding bridge was to facilitate replacement of the old swing bridge, minimising disruption to rail services.

The sliding bridge was constructed in 1925 by Sir William Arrol of Dalmarnock (Glasgow). The structure and much of the mechanism remains original. An interesting feature of the bridge is that it is battery operated. Whilst the bridge is not in use a set of 64 batteries, similar to those used in submarines, are being trickle charged. The bridge is operated using electrical power provided by the batteries. The batteries act as a back up system and they provide DC power to the motors which was originally controlled using a tramcar type of controller.

The bridge comprises an open riveted steel framework which is rectangular on plan and which the railway passes over on a skew. In the railway opened position it is supported on the nose abutment, the front wedges and the rear wedges.

Control of the bridge is by a railway signalman from the adjacent signal cabin. An interlock with the railway signalling system ensures that the bridge cannot be opened unless rail traffic is prevented from crossing the bridge.

The main actuators of the bridge are a set of hydraulically driven lifting jacks, two sets of electrically driven wedges and an electrically driven winch haulage drive which operates through an open gearbox with a six foot diameter differential gear.
However today the line is not operating due to massive work being carried out on the concrete structure Just had a text from Malcolm Richardson who tells me

The railway line has been closed for 3 months following a landslide at the colliery tip near Stainforth. NR are taking advantage of the closure to do the work at Keadby. Both railway lines through Thorne are currently closed, possibly until September. on Stainforth and Keadby Canal

There are 7 swing bridges between Keadby and Thorne all using a BW key to release the bridge and 4 of them being manually swung. The newest one, replaced in 2005 is tempermental and only opens and closes when it feels like it !!!

Here it is Hufflers turn to do the first bridge after Keadby Junction - the name on the signal box in the background

The weather was really superb today and we are so pleased we did not travel yesterday.

This man, in the yellow jacket, is working at the top of a wind turbine - rather him than me !

There is a large wind farm on these flat Lincolnshire fens

You can see how wide and straight the Stainforth and Keadby canal is

On arrival at Thorne we were surprised to see this old Romany caravan on the green and his horse nearby

So here we are all tucked up for the Bank Holiday weekend. The Co-Op in Thorne has 'gone' since we were last here and it is now a frozen food outlet.

Having bought coal at West Stockwith, for which we have been thankful over the last 48 hrs, lets hope we are now in for some decent weather.

Staying here tomorrow before moving off towards Wakefield (and Sainsburys) for later in the week.

Keadby

2013-05-25T09:50:00.001+01:00

I know Chicago is the 'windy city' - well Keadby is even worse today! So glad we decided not to go anywhere. It is 10 miles in almost a straight line, open countryside on both sides and 6 swing/lift bridges. These bridges are never easy even without the wind assistance.

It was so windy we had to take the pot plants off the roof. Even the Lifebelt, which thankfully was tied on, blew away.

What a difference today. Beautiful sunshine and we are off to Thorne for the Bank Holiday weekend.

This dutch barge is also going to Thorne as he is, like Daphne, single handed.

Just ahead of us is one of the wonders of the water/railway systems. A sliding track !

2 locks yesterday total now 149

The leaving of the Chesterfield Canal

2013-05-22T21:52:00.002+01:00

Today we leave the beautiful historic Chesterfield Canal and head off back on to the River Trent to Keadby.

The weather was not bad, bright with a hint of 'mizzle' in the air.
9.30am prompt we exit the lock

Well the weather did not hold. It ranged from bright sunshine to hail which really stung our faces in the strong wind. The hail storm, the heavy black clouds have just passed over us

Charlotte and Jola just passing under the M 180. We had to sit outside in the Trent for a while as there was already another boat in the lock
The journey took just under the 2 hours and we all were very pleased to be in the lock. One of the advantages of the River Trent silting up over the winter is a nice sandbar across this lock entrance. As you turn to enter the lock you catch it, the boat stops and then just you just power round into the lock.

Been looking at the weather forecast and its even worse for tomorrow so we have decided to stay here and move off on Saturday when it looks better.

As you exit Keadby lock this is the first of many swing bridges - but the lock keeper operates this one.

Now time for some hot soup to warm us up.

Chesterfield Canal Day 30

2013-05-22T15:19:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow it is out on to the Trent and off towards Keadby. We have had a wonderful time on this canal with some of the friendliest folk you could ever wish to meet. (apart from a certain gentleman on the unrestored section who threatened to throw us in the cut if we took pictures of his property without his permission !!!)

Today has been busy. Jola and Charlotte went for toilet pump outs and diesel early this morning - well 10ish but that is early when we are not moving. Then around 12.30 our coal delivery arrived.

We are moored right at the road bridge so it only took a few mins to get it back to the boats.

About 12 30 some folks we met at Shireoaks who moor their boat here popped in.

Then it was the Tesco Home Delivery.
Tonight we have been to the White Hart Inn in West Stockwith. We were going to the Waterfront In but did not fancy their food. The White Hart Inn, slightly further into the village was superb.

The White Hart Innis also home to the Idle Brewery

the bar had 7 (yes seven) of their own beers on tap. We were unable to sample them all but what we did try were superb.

The food was as good as the beer and an excellent evening had by all.

Now its off to bed ready for the next phase of our journey.

Chesterfield Canal Day 29 - Drakeholes to West Stockwith

2013-05-21T20:21:00.000+01:00

I do not know really why we bother to make plans. They always change. This morning we had planed to leave around 10am. Get a text from Jan " we've found 3 calendars for you. Friends who have them will ring you." Ring ring...... " if you stay at Drakeholes for another few mins we will pop them down to you". Thank you. So after a bit of a chat we are once again ready to leave................. Hi how are you ? More friends we met up here, local farmers. Lovely people. Another 1/2 hour chat and eventually we are ready for off. We were hoping to see some ladies we had met in the Brewers Arms around 12 noon near their home at Misterton.

The weed cutter was doing a grand job and working hard to clear the 90 degree bend. Trouble was there was not much weed to clear !

The calendars duly arrived and we were thrilled to have these souvenir's of us on the Chesterfield, albeit they were taken when we were last here in 2011 - well we could not be on it if they had been taken this year !

There we are 'Miss July 2013'

Then Mr and Mrs H came to see us.

Mrs GH also took a picture with ME in it - yes I'm the one with the eyes closed as usual

The lovely twittering sounds in the short Drakeholes tunnel was Swallows flying up and down the tunnel. Superb reflections were to be seen as we exited the tunnel

The woods were carpeted with wild garlic and white wood anemonies

At Shaws Bridge, by Shaws Lock there is this interesting stone set into it. I assume it is the original builders and date of 1830

We all had a surprise when we saw another boat coming towards us.

Shortly afterwards we cane to Misterton top lock, where the lady we met in The Brewers Arms at Clayworth lives. Surprise - she was also running late as as friend had been round to see her. A quick chat and off to the last lock before West Stockwith.

So we are all moored up here now until Thursday morning.

Tomorrow we need diesel. Coal is being delivered by Logs Direct and Mr Tesco is also making a Home Delivery of wine, dog food, cat litter and any other essential or heavy items we might need.

This afternoon ,around 5pm 2 boats came through the lock from the Trent making a total of 3 moving boats today

Moving bots 3 - total 25
locks 4 - total 147
moored boats - 1 total (I think is 110 of which 70 (35 each way) were at Retford Boat Club.