Over the Summit

With 11 miles and 10 locks to do today to keep up with our plan, we set off in good time - there were no locks for a while and so there was then time for Jess and Alice to have showers after they had finished breakfast.

This next section is very winding, following the contours around valleys and hills. It is not obvious why this route was followed as the direct route would not have involved much more excavation - they had the skills as a little further on there was some quite serious rock cutting and later we will pass over the huge Burnley Embankment. There is, no doubt, a story to be found but as yet we have not heard it! In any event, it now means that there are several places where the canal ahead can be seen a few hundred metres away but perhaps 15 - 20 minutes boating!

The scenery remained definitely remote and Pennine for much of the day - if only we had had more sunshine the photos would have been better (or so we claim!)

Bridge 162

The fixed bridges all have a white mark on the arch. Whilst it looks strangely off centre that is so that it indicates the centre of the water channel and gives steered something to aim for! Rather more important for wide-beam boats than narrow boats as they have less spare room.

Double Arch Bridge (photo by Alice)

A well known-landmark is the Double Arch Bridge - a somewhat obvious name when it appears. The road level across the valley is higher than usual and it does look as if the double arch was original. The details of the stone work do not reveal any alteration.

Below Greenberfield Locks

The three Greenberfield locks arrived just after a couple of tight bends through an accommodation bridge. These locks took us up to the summit pound - it will be all downhill from here!

Top Lock Ground Paddle

The top lock ground paddles have a distinctive brake which we do not recall having seen anywhere else. Since the paddles do not wind down on their own it is now a bit redundant but, hey, who knows, maintenance might arrive any day soon!

Original Bridge

We stopped at the service station above the top locks - it was a couple of days since we filled with water. We also made the first of several fruitless attempts to acquire some more blue-top milk for the girls. An information board explained that originally these locks were built as a two lock staircase but, because they used so much water they were re-designed in the 1920's and the canal slightly re-aligned. An original road bridge now looks almost buried.

Water supply for any canal is vital and several reservoirs feed the Leeds and Liverpool along the summit. Although the building at the top of the locks was supply plenty, we could not see from where it was coming! Dated 1893 it is unlikely to be a back pump (at that time this would have involved a steam engine). More research needed!

Barnoldswick is, perhaps surprisingly for what seems to be a small, remote town, home to two famous names: Silentnight and Rolls Royce aero engines.



County Boundary

Shortly after Bridge 150 we spotted a sign telling us that we were passing over the Yorkshire-Lancashire border. At there were no wars of the roses today!



Foulridge Wharf

Foulridge Wharf, contrary to the information in the latest Nicholsons, is now a stylish cafe and bistro - the promised musem disappeared at least five years ago!

However, there was also a small shop selling local ice cream and some interesting flavours were selected all round. Christine, Alice and Jess walked the short distance to the entrance of the tunnel. The traffic light was showing red and although there was no information posted about times, a local person told us that it would turn green on the hour. Meanwhile, the ducks had a good feast!

Foulridge Tunnel - just entered

Although the tunnel is wide, it has to operate a one-way system because numerous wider boats use this canal - it seems that there are are now than when we last came this way five years ago.

Foulridge Tunnel South Portal

Dr Who and the Tardis have landed

Barrowford Reservoir

Finally we had the seven locks of the Barrowford flight to negotiate - now we were going down hill and had to be particularly careful of the cill - we only have a little distance to spare and some of the gates leak badly. Barrowford Reservoir looked somewhat empty - strange after all the rain we have had so perhaps there is some other explanation.


M65

After passing under our first sight of the M65 (tomorrow will bring many more glimpses) and the final couple of locks we moored for the night on a quiet off-side mooring place.

Barrowford Bottom Lock

Alice's Blog

 

In the morning I took pictures of boats and scenery. We got some ice cream from a shop and we went to the tunnel entrance but there was a red light so we had to wait. I fed the ducks and then I took photos of them. We had fun in the tunnel.

11.3 miles - 10 locks