Another Scortching Week

Moored at Moore!

Emerging from Barnton Tunnel

Anderton Boat Lift, Trent and Mersey down to River Weaver.

First Mate having a mad moment.

Moored for the Weekend at Wheelock

Wheelock looking toward Kidsgrove and next lock in the distance.



Weather wise it's been a glorious week, and we are still basking in 27 deg temperatures now. We left Oldfield Brow on Monday and worked our way to Lymm, Tuesday found us mooring at Moore, and Wednesday we were in the country above Acton Bridge.

Leaving there on Thursday we stopped at the Anderton Lift for a quick look around, as we were mooring a lady walker who was passing spoke to Eiddwen in Welsh and it turned out she was from Boncath in Pembrokeshire, a mere stones throw from Crymych where we used to live, isn't it a small world, unfortunately before Eiddwen could find out her name, she had to run to catch up with the rest of her party. We left Anderton and moved on to stop near Broken Cross for the night. Friday saw us in Middlewich, for a tesco run and some of the best fish and chips on the cut. Unusually for us we moved on a bit on Saturday to Wheelock where we are stopping till Monday, this is to lesson the number of locks we have to do next week. This week we have covered 38 miles and done 10 locks.

That's all for now.

Back on the Bridgewater

Not big enough for dinner!!

After a very busy week we finally turned onto the Bridgewater canal on Thursday afternoon. We left Hapton on Monday morning, and by Tuesday evening we had cruised down to Adlington, Wednesday dawned wet and cold so we stayed put. Thursday was a long day for the girls with 9 miles and 23 locks, 21 of the Wigan flight and 2 round the corner on the Leigh branch. Friday, we sailed down to the marina at Worsley for Diesel and water, then on down to Oldfield Brow, Sale for the weekend. Last week we covered 55 miles and 36 locks.

That's all for this week.

Hapton, Lancashire

On our way up to the summit

One more lock to go

In the summit pound, the views are wonderful.

Part way across the summit pound.

That's a good sign!.

Looking into Lancashire.

First lock on the way down.

Summit reservoir. Rumour is that the canal could close by August if they don't get some rain.

Only two to go in this flight.

Moored for the night below the first flight of locks.



We have had a very good week, progress and weather wise. We left Skipton on Monday morning and went through the first flight of four locks, the next day we did the other eight. On Wednesday we crossed the summit and left Yorkshire, moving into Lancashire, Thursday saw us through Foulridge Tunnel (1640 yds long ), another seven locks and down to Barrowford.

As we went through the town, Eric spotted a waste oil bank, so we stopped and left them some, that's the first waste oil bank we have seen on the system. Just after leaving the recycle facility we came across a Summerfield supermarket on the off side, complete with it's own moorings and access gate, so the girls did a little shop. Through Burnley and Rose Grove on Friday and down to Hapton for the weekend.

Thats all for this week.

Skipton

St Anns lock Leeds.

Field 3 Rise locks.

Sir Titus Salts mill at Saltaire

Moored at Dowley Gap.

Looking down the Bingley 3 Rise.

Top of Bingley 3 Rise.

Probably one of the most photographed lock flights in the country, Bingley 5 Rise.

Half way up.

Bingley 5 Rise from the top.

Some parts of this canal are covered in Rhododendrons



We left Leeds last Sunday morning in warm sunny conditions, and worked our way up the first 13 locks as required by BW, ( they chain these shut at night ) the last two being triple staircases with lockies and a large number of the local youth intent on swimming in the locks as we were trying to get the boats in!!. The next day we picked up much needed diesel and some oil for a change coming up in the next week or so. The scenery as we move away from Leeds and climb up into the hills is getting better all the time now.

There are more staircase locks on this part of the Leeds / Liverpool than I've ever seen any where, 8 sets in the first 20 miles, culminating in the famous Bingley 5 Rise, most of them have lockies on duty to assist, so you tend to get through them quite quickly, the other thing is the fact that you climb quickly as well, 260 feet from Leeds to Bingley. There are also large numbers of swing bridges, 34 so far, the girls are getting used to them, however each one is different to the last, so you need to carry a Watermate key, a Handcuff key and a Windlass each time.

We arrived in Skipton on Friday afternoon, the visitor moorings here are 3 days max, in the middle of the town, next to the bus station and amongst the shops so are very convenient. The town is very nice with a market. As the weather forecast was for rain and colder temperatures this weekend we have decided to stay put till Monday.

Thats all for this week