Thackley

Most of today was very good - until the end that is but, dear reader, you will just have to wait to find out what happened.

ABC Footbridge

St Aidan's, Crossflats

We moored just short of the Bingley Five Rise at Crossflats because we had identified a church service at 9.30, just five minutes walk away. St Aidan's is a daughter church to the main parish church and was built in a housing estate some 40 years ago. It was a small, elderly congregation (we probably reduced the average age!) but very welcoming. It was a familiar Common Worship communion led by the parish priest Rev Beverley (as the notice sheet denotes her). She has been there about a year and seems a very live wire - her sermon was effective and a good balance between the amusing personal anecdote and the message she wanted to express. It was done in a very positive way that drew her congregation into the subject. Alas we could not talk with her as she had to leave during the final hymn with - as is so often the case these days - yet another service to take. Actually that plus a baptism and a wedding before the day is done! As we so often find, it is the smaller churches that offer the warmest welcome.

Above Bingley Five Rise

We were able to set off to the locks well before eleven o'clock and Christine quickly made contact with the lock keeper. She had to negotiate down from his initial estimate of an hour's wait. In fact it was not long before he came and told us that he was setting the locks for us to descend. Whilst waiting we used the services and our water tank just filled when we were called into the lock!

Looking down the flight

The lock keepers, seasonal, full time and volunteer on these flights are all very friendly and helpful and we completed both the five rise and the three rise smoothly and in good time.

At the five rise there were plenty of visitors and Mike had to explain about ground paddles at least four times! It is good that so many people want to know how the locks work and do not just stand and look!

As our boat length just fits in the lock, it was necessary in most case to position it on the diagonal, especially if trying to avoid the torrents of water shooting out from each lock gate! In most cases the steerer had to stand inside the closed rear doors to keep reasonably dry and to deflect as much of the water from ending up in our bilges as possible.

Below Bingley Five Rise

Damart Factory, Bingley

Converted former mill buildings

We wanted to make good progress so took our lunch 'on the run' but with plenty more swing bridges and several locks there were plenty of interruptions.

New gates at Dowley Gap

We were pleased to see two sets of new gates at the Dowley Gap two rise.Last year we had considerable difficulty with leaky gates at these locks - although it was not helped by a boat coming down.



Salt Mill, Saltaire 

We passed through Saltaire where we had such a good time with Alice and Jess last year.

On the outskirts of Shipley we passed the junction with a canal that was never completed - but it lent its name to the adjacent mills whose tower still says Junction Mills.

Junction Mills

Not a gap!

Bridge 211 proved as difficult as we recalled from last time. However, on this occasion even with the help of a passing walker we could not move it and had to apply a gentle nudge from waterborne motive power. (This has to be done gently to avoid making the problem even worse, but we understand that it has been reported on numerous occasions yet has not been fixed) The problem is that there is no gap between to edge of the bridge and the abutments. (The photo is looking down at this non-gap)

Field Locks

Field Locks are another three rise and also manned. We recognised the seasonal keeper from last year and heard about the interesting job he had over the winter, helping a friend create a new woodland

Below Field Locks Staircase

We failed to capture the moment on camera but the keeper spotted a boat wanting to come up an to save time and water he suggested that we pass in the middle lock. Although we have done this before (but not frequently) it was a fresh experience for the other boat.

We were now almost at our target for the day (just below the Dobson Locks two-rise) and Christine opted to tackle this swing bridge (Mike assured her that he recalled it as being quite easy) With a little help from a couple of walkers to get it started, it opened and shut with Mike keeping the boat in position. Asd he prepared to pick Christine up again a problem arrived: no power!

Going nowhere tonight!

A broken throttle cable was quickly diagnosed and Christine phoned RCR (the rescue and repair service) who arranged an engineer to attend as he was already going to another boat nearby)

Meanwhile we set about emptying out the engine bay bilges which had been quite substantially filled from the locks earlier (see above). We have a small electric pump which will empty the sections not emptied by the automatic bilge pump. Mike soon realised that the built in bilge pump was itself not emptying out and so that had to be cleaned up first (it had a blocked filter). Eventually, and with the additional help of our hand pump) we cleaned up to our satisfaction - these areas are never wholly dry - but it also prompted us to clean out the deck drains as well!

Time passed and no engineer on the scene. A further call suggested that the engineer was ready to come on to us but was have a problem identifying where we were. Mike walked down to the locks where he was supposed to be - about 15 minutes along the towpath - but no sign. Meanwhile he was beginning to have doubts and rang Christine to wonder if he was confusing Apperley Bridge (near Shipley) with Appley Bridge (the other side of Wigan) With the rain tippling down, he set off back to the boat.

After several phone calls it transpired that Mike's fears were well founded: that indeed was where the engineer had gone and so we will have to wait where we are until the morning when we hope to be a priority case! At least he knows what parts to bring with him and will go via a chandlery first thing.

By now our roast dinner - much delayed - is almost ready. However, you may find that the pictures may not be uploaded until later or even the morning!

6.5 miles - 14 locks