Hello everyone,
We were in Brighouse the last time we updated and Pamela said it was just like
being on holiday abroad! Very hot and we met some very pleasant people.
Thursday 17th July
Woke up to rain, but decided to set off from Brighouse knowing that we might
get bad weather all the way back. We needed to get back for a drink at the Pear
Tree Inn with the lads who built the boat. Luckily it stopped raining after
breakfast and didn't start again until we were at Cooper Bridge, Just enough
to get Pamela well and truly wet through (no point in us both getting wet!)
Friday 18th July
Woke up to see the bottom of the "Zambezi" this morning! This was
not a dream, but a new narrow boat on the landing above us. Well some of it
was on the landing - the rest was hovering precariously above our back deck.
ZAMBEZI'S BOTTOM...
Happened to spot even cheaper Carling Lager at "Bargain
Booze" 50p for 440 ml.
As it says on the back of their lorry "Making Life Richer for the Pourer"
Saturday/Sunday 19th and 20th July
Had an Open Boat weekend with some good company. I think Trevor Jarvis and myself
had a G & T drinking contest.
TREVOR & MARLENE...
Monday/Tuesday 21st and 22nd July
Spent some time doing odd jobs and Pamela went to the launderette. Had a visit
from Jim and Joan Russell about 8:45 am on Tuesday and one from Dave and Linda
Redfearn in the evening.
Wednesday 23rd July
Getting ready for the epic journey to Burnley via the Leeds/Liverpool canal.
Pamela arranged a shopping trip with Michael Walker who was to be "galley
slave" on the first leg of the journey.
MICHAEL "GALLEY SLAVE"...
Thursday 24th July
Set off at 9:30. Total engine running hours: 50.5. Seven locks later plus two
flood locks and we are at Calder Grove "the Navigation Inn"
Total engine running hours 55.9
Warning: 2 pints of Caffreys and ½ pint Carlsberg = £5.71 phew
!
Friday 25th July
Set off at 9:30 and arrived at Stanley Ferry (near Wakefield) at 13:05
We decided to stay the night as there is a good pub called "the Ship Inn"
FENDERS UP AT STANLEY FERRY...
Saturday 26th July
Set off at 9:20 and arrived at Woodlesford at 15:10. Peter Thorne arrived just
after us, he had been to Ripon and was heading the same way as we were towards
the Leeds/Liverpool canal.
Sunday 27th July
PETE'S MORNING CUPPA at WOODLESFORD...
Set off at 10:30 from Woodlesford heading towards
Leeds with Peter. Arrived at Leeds "Clarence Dock" at 15:30. In the
afternoon we walked up to the bus station with our galley slave and sent him
packing back to Mirfield.
Met John and Irene, their boat "Moët Chandon" was also built
at Ledgard Bridge.
Lots to talk about as they are off to France in the spring with their boat.
Pete and Edna came around and the six of us talked and drank wine till late.
A GOOD NIGHT WAS HAD BY ALL...
Monday 28th July
Slept in today, possibly due to the wine consumed the night before! Went into
Leeds to stock up with provisions and just managed to get out of the dock before
the fighting started!
LOCAL YOBS FIGHTING AT CLARENCE DOCK...
We left Clarence Dock at 13:30 and headed to Granary
Wharf which is the start of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.
NB: We must at this point offer our most sincere apologies to all our friends
in Leeds. I am afraid that we could not stop and let you all know we were about,
as we had an appointment to keep in Lancashire and unfortunately this trip is
taking about double the amount of time we had thought it would due to our size
(the size of the boat that is)! We do promise faithfully however to stay over
for a few days on the way back (whenever that may be!)
Tuesday 29th July
Set off at 8:55 with the intention of getting to Rodley by lunchtime. Peter,
who was half a day in front, very kindly walked back to give us a hand through
Kirkstall.
We made slow progress as the canal water level was a little low and at one point
we think we had someone's washing line (complete with washing) wrapped around
the propeller. Rodley has a barber's shop but you have to book if you want a
haircut!
The off license wasn't open at 8:10 am the next day and wasn't open just after
9:00.
It seems to me that, you have to buy provisions when you see a shop open, even
if you don't want any. Luckily we have a bread machine and it is probably one
of the best things we have bought.
Wednesday 30th July
Left Rodley at 9:30 and found some parts of the canal pretty but sometimes tight.
TIGHT FIT...
Arrived at Apperley Bridge and met up with our old next door neighbour "Robin" (who isn't old). Didn't stop at Saltaire and moored up at Shipley around 19:00
APPROACHING SALTS MILL...
Thursday 31st July
Did some shopping in Shipley, then on to Bingley and the famous Five Rise Locks.
Arrived at the Five Rise in the afternoon and took this picture.
BINGLEY FIVE RISE (JULY 2003)...
.jpg)
The picture was similar to the one David took 27
years ago on the way home in a boat he helped to make at work.
BINGLEY FIVE RISE (CIRCA JULY 1976) ...
.jpg)
Stayed overnight at the top of the five rise.
Friday 1st August
Set off at 10:45 leaving Bingley behind and headed towards Silsden.
Saturday 2nd August
Left Silsden around 8:35. Had a slight mishap at bridge 182 and knocked our
starboard navigation light off while the men's trip on "Adams Ark"
watched on as we knocked our boat through the tight bridges.
ADAMS ARK...
The chap in the next picture probably sticks to the middle lane of the motorway when he isn't hogging the canal.
JUST BARGING THROUGH...
Arrived at Skipton and moored at the "Gallows Bridge" 179. Nice houses here and very posh cats too!
CORNELIUS...
Sunday 3rd August
Richard Stead made it over from Mirfield and stayed to help us for a few days.
Had a lazy day shopping etc in Skipton. Managed to get a bargain or two on the
market.
Even solved another self sufficiency problem and,
YOU DON'T NEED TO BOOK HERE...
Last time I had a "Number 4" it came with fried rice !
Monday 4th August
Filled up with water whilst a bargee watched on
PETER ON REFLECTION...
Arrived at Gargrave about lunchtime. The weather was still very hot and called for drastic measures
GANDHI & CO...
Tuesday 5th August
Left Gargrave and headed towards the Yorkshire/Lancashire border. Four miles
on and we pass through "Bank Newton" a spread of six locks in a fabulous
setting which formed part of a sponsored walk we took part in a few years ago.
BANK NEWTON...
Stopped at East Marton overnight
Wednesday 6th August
Arrived at Foulridge at 13:50. Major obstacle here, the "Foulridge Tunnel"
FOULRIDGE TUNNEL ENTRANCE...
1640 yards long and, if we fit, it will be very,
very tight for headroom. We intended to try after tea but didn't - maybe tomorrow?
Went to the New Inn and noticed a local dish called "Stew + Hard"
on the menu.
Thursday 7th August
Now sat updating what you are reading, still haven't tried the tunnel. Will
probably go at lunchtime and try some "Stew + Hard" at the pub then
go to Burnley by bus to do some shopping. We'll let you know about "Stew
+ Hard", the tunnel and the return journey to Mirfield in our next update
which will be in September
All the best,
David and Pamela