Tuesday 16 August 2016

Oh what a beautiful morning – yes the sun shone….all day!  After yesterday we decided that we are better first thing in the morning so we pulled pins at 8am.  As I walked up to open the lock, the two ladies on Lazy Aitch asked if we minded if they came through the locks with us – of course not – the more the merrier, well two boats and two lockies!

Heather and Alison are sisters – it’s Heather’s boat but her husband doesn’t like boating so every other weekend she brings her sister to help move it.

Thankfully the locks today were not quite as difficult as yesterday – we used our home made handspike and there was definitely at least one lock where we did need it as all the paddles needed the spike rather than a windlass.

We were heading for the Huddersfield Broad Canal and the girls were heading for the Rochdale even though there is a problem with a bridge at the moment so navigation beyond a certain point is closed. We pulled over at lunchtime so they could work out whether they were going to chance the Rochdale or come with us down the Huddersfield. 

They decided on the Rochdale so we said our goodbyes and set off again on our own.  We had to make a hairpin turn to join the Huddersfield Broad Canal – fun in a narrowboat!

Back on a canal, although this one looks like nobody has been on it for a while!  We went through the first two locks and moored up surrounded by industrial buildings – no TV signal for the second night so I went for a walk and reported back that there were some open playing fields a mile and two locks further up the canal so we set off again and hey presto 146 channels!

We passed only one boat going in the opposite direction today on this canal!

One nice thing about waking up early - you get to see the mist on the river.

Looking ahead but you can see the sun trying to burn through - it makes the trees look like Autumn - no not yet we're not ready!

 

In the first lock of the day and the front of the boat is being pushed over - Don't squash Lazy Aitch! 

There seem to be a lot of disused railway bridges here - you can just see the small trees growing on them!

The river is really wide in some places - There's Lazy Aitch coming round the bend looking very small!

Looking out across the weir - the geese and ducks are enjoying the calm waters.

Not the most convenient facilities station!

Ahoy - there's a boat full of pirates!

Some more pirates in need of chocolate - let's see what we can find!

It takes both of us to get this paddle open with the handspike!

We've just said goodbye to Heather and Alison - they turn right and we are turning left.

Our hairpin bend!

Opening the first lock on the Huddersfield Broad Canal.

As we chugged past this factory Steve recognised the sound of the staple gun - he was right - looks like they could be upholsterers!

Our first mooring - it would have been nice to stay here but Heb Hill is just to the left and there's no TV signal getting through that hill!