On to Burnley

Well we made Barnoldswick safely leaving Falcon there while we headed south by car!  After a busy 10 days catching up with family, including a trip to Isle of Wight to see Lorraine and family we set

View from the window, frosty morning

off back on the cut on Sunday.  Just a short cruising day! Mooring at Foulridge for coffee we ended up staying there for the night.  We did have a walk around the village, but after a hectic couple of weeks I think we were glad of a quiet afternoon.  Yesterday, a beautiful morning, much bluer than the picture left shows, we set off through Foulridge Tunnel.  We got going early as the passage is controlled and there is only a window of 10 minutes from the hour where you can enter.  Else you have to wait for the next hour.

Exiting FoulridgeTunnel

Barrowford Reservior with locks just visible

It was a short cruise then to the top of Barrowford Locks.  We had intended to spend an hour there before descending the 7 locks.  However a boat had followed us through the tunnel and they were continuing.  We decided it would be best to join them in the locks.  Wide locks always easier with 2.  Also with 2 crew from their boat and a lockkeeper we made good time arriving and moored at the bottom by 11.30.
After lunch we went for a walk.  Back up some of the locks to the Barrowford Reservoir.  This is one of several reservoirs which feed the canal.  At the start of the day we were on the summit of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
You can see from the picture how low the water is.  This is why this stretch of canal was closed from July until October.  Although reopen there are still time restriction on many of the locks.
Next stop will be Burnley. Maybe today or perhaps tomorrow!

Stormy weather!

Filling one of the Bingley 3 Rise, the boats are a long way down.

Bottom of Bingley 5 Rise

Moving on from Shipley our next stop was at Saltaire.  This is a village, much like Bournville, which was built for the mill workers by Sir Titus Salt.  He was so appalled by his workers living conditions that he built a whole village for them to live in.  The only thing missing was a pub as he wanted sober workers! Wednesday last was a busy day for us.  A short cruise brought us to Bingley.  A larger place than we were expecting found the lovely Butter Market in the town and had a look around the Damart  Factory shop.  No bargains there!  Then after lunch it was time for the locks.        Quite famous in the canal world. First the Bingley 3 Rise, closely followed by the Bingley 5 Rise.  We were very lucky to be joined by another boat.  The 3 had a lock keeper, then when we got to the 5 there were 3 of them, so I hopped back on board and came up on Falcon with Paul.

Bottom of the lock!

Not only are there quite a few locks on the Leeds and Liverpool, when you get to a reasonably lock free stretch there are swing bridges!  Most fairly easy to move, but a couple were almost impossible.  Luckily on the whole I was able to enlist the help of a dog walker or gongoozler!
From the top of Bingley to Skipton there were 15 opening bridges!  There were some other boats about, so I didn't have to do work them all.On Friday we went for a walk around Skipton, some lovely old building and alleyways.  After lunch we thought we would move on despite the wind.  That was a mistake, we managed the first 2 swing bridges, but when we got to the third I got it open, but Paul couldn't get the boat off the bank because the wind was just blowing him back!  In the end I knocked on the farmers door and he allowed us to spend the night on his bank.

As it says on the post, moored at Skipton

We were up and moving just after 8 on Saturday morning through the bridge with no problems.  On towards Gargrave where we stopped for lunch and ended up staying the night as the wind had got up again.  We were trying to press on to reach Barnoldswick for Monday to leave Falcon in the marina there while we have some time away visiting various family members, but not as far as Plymouth.  So  we had another busy day on Sunday, leaving just 3 locks for Monday and into the marina.          

East Marton double bridge

Sunday we had the last 3 locks of the Gargrave flight followed by the 6 locks at Bank Newton mooring at East Marton.  When we left on Monday morning we went through the double bridge.  The solution when a bigger road bridge was needed.

Now we are in Taunton with Paul's cousin, Alison.  At the weekend we are off to the Isle of Wight to meet up with Lorraine and family, then off to Bristol to see my cousin, Carole.

Other side of double bridge

Visiting friends and moving on.

A get together with Pauls RAF fellow apprentices
Dave, Joyce, Graham and Pauline

On Wednesday we got the train to Durham where we were met by Graham and Pauline.  We are staying with them for a few days.  On Thursday they took us to Beamish Open Air Museum where their son works.  After a lovely day there looking around we the went to the near by pub where Dave and Joyce joined us for a meal and a catch up.

With Graham and Pauline at the Angel of the North

It was just a short trip away so the next day as Graham was taking us back to the station we made a detour, completely the wrong direction, and he took us to see the Angel of the North.  Back in Leeds on Friday night we were in time to visit their Light Night.  It was amazing different displays around the city.  Unfortunately it was raining on and off, but that didn't seem to be putting people off as there were people everywhere.


On Saturday we moved out of Leeds.  Spending Saturday night at Rodley.  Many of the locks here are staircase, with the top gate of the first lock being the bottom gate of the next.  Also some are very deep.  Yesterday we managed to pair with another boat for 2 separate staircases.  This makes life much easier.  Not only for there being 2 of us working the locks, but the boat is much more stable with the water coming in when there is less room to move about.  As well as challenging locks there are several swing bridges along the way.  So no time to be bored!
Also the scenery is stunning, especially now as the leaves are turning.
Last night we moored in Shipley.  Unfortunately or travelling companions have carried on.  Still we may meet more.

One of the many displays at Leeds Light Night

In Dobson Staircase, these locks are deep.

Just off now to have a look around Shipley and to get some supplies.


Keep

scrolling

there

is

another

picture!

On to Leeds and Liverpool Canal

This plaque was on a wall near to our first mooring in Leeds

Well Dave arrived safely on Wednesday, so on Thursday we continued on towards Leeds.  Only a few miles and 3 locks and we moored on a pontoon, still on the River Aire but now on the outskirts of Leeds.  Having a walk around the area we found this plaque which I thought was interested as many of you will be very familiar with Smeatons Tower!  It is amazing how places link up.  Especially in those days when Leeds would have been a very long journey to Plymouth!
We also had a short look in the Armouries Museum.  It is a huge building with suits of armour, many types of rifles, pistols, swords and many other types of

Looking down on Leeds Lock from the Armouries Museum

weapon.  Friday found us on a short cruise of about a mile, with 2 locks which brought us right into Leeds, near the train station.  Don't think we realised what a big city it is.  We have walked a few miles looking at the various buildings.  Some lovely old architecture.  The arcade below is just one example.
Dave went home on Saturday, then on Sunday some friends we made at Stafford Boat Club back in April came and took us out for the day.  Sarah and Ade live in Leeds and they said to get in touch when we made it their way.  They took us to Kirkstall Abbey and Museum.

Central Arcade Leeds

A lovely day out.  Allowing us to visit a part of Leeds we wouldn't other wise have seen.

It is definitely a time for socialising for us as yesterday our friends Sheree and Alec, driving from Scotland to Plymouth made an overnight stop here in Leeds so we could all meet up for a meal.  It was lovely to catch up.  The last time we had seen them was in May when they stayed with us on the Chesterfield Canal.  

Today we have been back to the Armouries for a better look around.

So think you are all now up to date.