The June Rose: Saturday 6 August 2016

At last we had summer today! We left our nice mooring and made our way to the Foulridge Tunnel. When we arrived the lights were on red so we waited and two widebeams came out. The second one said I can see another boat behind me. Our lights turned green but we could see the headlight coming towards us so we waited for them to exit the tunnel – they confirmed what the book said about the roof dripping liberally – pac-a-macs at the ready.

It took about 20 minutes to get through the 1640 yards and once outside the beautiful countryside resumed. We stopped to have a bite of lunch at Barnoldswick where the Rolls Royce factory that carries out experimental work on aero engines is.

We carried on through Salterforth which, in the book, is described as “one of the more remote sections of the whole canal and probably the most beautiful” – agreed! Although our whole journey in the sunshine today took us through some stunning countryside. Just three locks today and we started our decent even though we have yet to reach Gargrave which is the northern most point of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It made a change to go down in the locks – feels like we have been climbing for a long time.

We were spoilt for choice as to where to moor today, every bend (and there were lots) in the canal opened up to another stunning view.

Up early and it's a misty...

moisty morning! but I'm pleased to say that the sun had burnt through by the time most people got up.

Approaching Foulridge Tunnel and the first widebeam coming towards us.

The lights are green but there is a boat coming towards us - he claims he didn't jump the lights!

Once inside you can just see the other end.

And we emerge - Foulridge Village is very pretty.

A patchwork quilt of fields.

Interesting choice of name!

Parsley In!

Venison.

The Rolls Royce Factory at Barnoldswick.

We don't like seeing cows in the canal! There is a story that says Foulridge Tunnel sprang to fame in 1912 when a cow fell in the canal near the tunnel mouth and for some reason decided to struggle through to the other end of the tunnel. The gallant but weary swimmer was revived with a bucket of beer at the Foulridge End!

Making our way down the Greenberfield Locks.

It probably looks very different in the depths of winter but today we can enjoy it in the sunshine. The locals here are very proud of their countryside views. In fact one said that you don't see anything like this in the South do you - we put him right!