Calder & Hebble

Off along the Calder and Hebble today agter a long walk up through Sowerby Bridge to Tesco for shopping! A very pleasant canal and probably the most remote in places that we've been all trip. Truth be told, we prefered the C & H to the Rochdale! A very interesting and varied canal. Unfortunately dads carefully wittled stick just wasn't man enough for the job and so te mooring spike was used.

Actually we found the mooring spike worked well and certainly well enough for all the locks we needed it to work for. Very strange paddle gear configurations and every lock seemed to be different.

I have to say, we're getting a bit fed up with wide locks though and won't be sorry to get back onto the narrow system after the tunnel!

Saltershebble Guillotine Lock proved uneventful and we managed to get through easily and without breaking it which was good!

I love passing the evidence of old industrial and historical architechture and this old wharf frontage proved particulalry attractive.

and out onto the River section which was a lovely break and gave the chance to 'exercise' the engine a bit.

Our final mooring for the day is just Kirklees Top Lock. We didn't fancy mooring in the middle of Huddersfield today so stopped at a pleasant section of visitors moorings just before the lock. The motorway hum is a constant reminder of how close we are to the city but the sun is shining, (and has been much of the day - wow!) and a BBQ is planned for this evening.

Tomorrow it is set to rain all day - perfect weather for city cruising as it keeps the hoodlums away! On through Huddersfield and either a mooring in the centre, (anyone know if there is safe and pleasantish visitor moorings or a basin in the centre of Huddersfield?) or on the other side somewhere before heading through the final locks on Wednesday and Thursday to report at the tunnel on Thursday for passage on Friday morning.