Saturday 27 August 2016

Heavy lock day today – it started off overcast and chilly – boots and jumpers in the morning, warming up for T-shirts in the afternoon!  We left our mooring at 7.30am and got through the first two locks and the CRT were waiting for us when we arrived at the guillotine lock.

This canal is so quiet we didn’t see a single boat going in either direction all day. 

By 1.00pm, 18 locks later I was famished – the locks are so close together on this stretch that I walked the whole way, going ahead to get the next lock open and depending on how quickly the last lock had filled I either went back to close the gate or Steve got off and closed the gates and paddles down.

When we got to lock 38 the pound above it was so low so I went ahead and opened the paddles and gates on lock 39 to fill the pound.

We got through lock 39 and there was a bit of a gap between here and the next lock so we decided to stop for some lunch.  At this point the heavens opened! 

After we had eaten and the rain stopped we walked along the towpath to lock 42 where we had been told to moor until 5.00pm on Sunday evening when we can make our way to the tunnel mouth to moor for the night to be ready to go through at 8.30am.  I’m glad we walked along as there were no moorings left!  We went on to have a look at the tunnel mouth and had a word with the “tunnel officer” who said if you get here first tomorrow after 5.00pm you will go through first in the morning.

There was no point in going any further so we stayed where we were – only one boat passed us going in the opposite direction so we weren’t in the way! 

We took a walk into the town and couldn’t believe it you turn the corner and there is the high street with about six pubs, two restaurants and a few cafes!  There is a station in the village/town and people come in droves (some in fancy dress) to go on a pub crawl from Sheffield and Huddersfield.  We were amazed at how many people there were in every pub and it was only 6.45am.  A guy that lives in the house at lock where we are moored said it is a real problem – they come every weekend and get smashed then set about smashing things…

We were only woken up twice in the night by drunks shouting!

Leaving our mooring in Slaithwaite.

The canal runs through the middle of town - can you see how narrow it is.

Cars to the left - narrowboats to the right!

The Shoulder of Mutton where we had a quick drink yesterday.

In the guillotine lock - mind his head!

Under the bridge.

Enjoying the Pennines.

That's what you call a house on a hill!

We all know this badge.

How nice!

The mouth of the Standedge Tunnel.

Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera when we walked into town - back on board and guess what it's doing outside!