Gargrave Show.

For once we were in the right place at the right time,today was Gargrave Show. After breakfast we walked into the village and asked directions to the show which was held in the grounds of Eshton Hall. If we'd have asked the night before we could have walked down the canal two locks then turned right up to the show ground,saving ourselves a walk to the village.The show had all the usual attractions of a agricultural show,cattle Heavy horses,Vintage Tractors and Cars,plus Falconry,fancy dress for the children and craft stalls and Refreshments. The weather stayed warm and sunny,we had a very nice day out.Unfortunately we have no photo's from the show as I forgot to take the camera. Gargrave it's self is a lovely village spoilt only by the A65 running through it. It's history goes right back to the Roman occupation. British Waterways allow us 72hrs at the mooring which are very picturesque with the hills in the back ground.

Nine Little Visitors.

After a walk round town we returned to Doublefracture, just ready to cast off when the heavens opened. This was to be the pattern for the day.At lunch time we moored up in another down pour,with thunder this time. Four swing bridges out from Skipton then the first lock since leaving Bingley Five Rise. True to form another shower. I could become paranoid that some one switches on the rain every time we come to a lock. Three locks and we moored at Gargrave, just below Anchor Lock and the Anchor Inn. A short walk along the tow path then back for tea. As I tried to position the satellite dish we were visited by nine ducklings and mum. They came very close to the boat and didn't seem nervous, or perhaps it because was Marlene feeding them. Now we are moored for the night the showers have stopped, Typical.

Memorial to Polish Airmen.

Moving on we moored at Kildwick and Farnhill last night. Called at Silsdon Boats for Diesel on the way, they had stopped selling it. Thanks to the new tax on red diesel nobody wants to have anything to do with it,well done Mr Brown.
This morning we set off for Skipton. At the second swing bridge there was a memorial to seven Polish Airmen killed on 23rd September 1943. They were in a Wellington Bomber serial number HZ251,on a training flight from 6(c) training unit Silloth Cumberland. The crash happened at 12-50pm at a place called Winfreds Cafe. One Airman had a small memorial on his own, his name was Jan Czyzewski age 23yrs.
Our luck was in today we found a Boat yard that sold diesel,this was Snaygill Boats at bridge 181.
We arrived in Skipton just before lunch,had a quick walk round town then had lunch.
Skipton has a very well preserved castle which we had a look round this afternoon. This is Louise and Megan's last day with us, Gill is coming to collect them tomorrow.

Puffer Parts.

Leaving the locks behind we started a lock free stretch which will take us to Skipton. Although it's lock free there are quite a number of swing bridges. The first was open,then at the second the key appeared stuck in the control box. The BW emergency line was phoned,then a man living in a house over looking the bridge came and suggested that the barriers may not be fully locked back,this proved to be the case and we were on our way again, after phoning the emergency line again.The weather was sun and showers, some heavy.We moored near Puffer Parts Chancellery where we Bought some things we needed. After lunch we walked into Keithley about a half hour walk. We then went two swing bridges further on and moored for the night in a rocky and wooded area(see pictures).

Bingley 3&5 Rise Locks.

Our Richard and Gill came today with Louise,Megan,Aaron and Duncan.Then after lunch Mali Heath and Charlie arrived.They came to watch us go up the 3&5 rise locks at Bingley,although Louise and Megan are stopping for a few days. First was the 3 rise taking us up 29ft 11ins.We had a slight delay while the lock keeper helped a man who had fallen off his bike. Paramedics came and took him to hospital.Next were the 5 Rise, these would take us up another 60ft. The 5 rise attract alot of people watching the boats going up and down. It took about one and a half hours to complete the whole operation, by then it was time for our visitors to return home and for us to moor for the night. Marlene and I took the two girls on a short walk and collected some blackberries. Apple and blackberry crumble tomorrow.

Sir Titus Salt.

Morning arrived bright and sunny. We were heading for Apperley Bridge. Passing through two swing bridges we were in wooded country side. Marlene did a big wash while we were moving(the washer only works with the engine running). The next swing bridge was on a road(the others were on tracks) so the barriers were put across the road stopping the traffic,the operation was all electrically controlled.Doublefracture passed through followed by another boat, stopping the traffic for longer.
After the bridge we went up Dobson 2 locks. At the top we topped our water up then carried on till lunch. In the afternoon we did Field 3 locks rising 25ft,we then moored up to dry the washing.There were woods opposite our mooring and in the evening we could here the natives shouting and being merry, but we never saw them and they didn't attack.
This morning after a short walk we went into Shipley were we did our shopping,then on to Saltaire the Utopian dream of sir Titus Salt the wealthy Victorian mill owner. Walking up Shipley glen(the Tramway wasn't working)we returned by another track part of the Millenium Way.
Finally we pushed our luck and carried on to Bingley, getting soaked in a sudden downpour while passing up Dowley gap 2 locks. Tonight we are moored just below Bingley 3 rise locks, next to a main road and the railway. Big day tomorrow with the 3 rise and the 5 rise locks.

Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Yesterday we entered he Leeds Liverpool Canal at 08-30hrs. The lock off the river looked more like the entrance to a dry dock than a major canal. We were on our way on our second crossing of the Pennines, this time from east to west.Our aim for today was to get as far as Rodley before lunch. Stiff lock gates and paddles made progress slow,our first double lock came at locks 4&5, then Spring Garden Lock.
Once through here we could not stop till we reached the top of Newlay 3 Locks,this we were told was bandit country. On a sunny morning this seemed a bit dramatic,the people we past were friendly and the area was quiet and peaceful.Passing the abbey at Kirkstall Lock we carried on to the first set of 3 locks, Forge 3 Locks rise 23ft
6ins. As we arrived a hire boat was just coming to the bottom of the three.
We entered the bottom lock as they left and another hire boat entered the top lock, with us rising and them falling we passed in the middle chamber.
The second set of 3 was Newlay which rise 26ft 11ins. There are lock keepers on both these sets making life much easier.
Having mentioned that my life belt had disappeared while moored in Clarence Dock, the lock keeper at Newlay gave me a replacement and would take nothing for it.
By the time we arrived at Rodley it was 2pm, so we had a late lunch.
We stayed the night at the visitor moorings,this morning we are going to walk round the nature reserve. Being a pleasant mooring we will spend a second night here, then onward and upward.