Huddersfield

After the challenges of the past few days, today's target was much more modest and is expected to take just four hours. We need to be in Huddersfield tonight as Mike has to leave early by train to Kings Cross where he is collecting Alice and Jess who are staying with us on the boat for the next week.

Former Cooper Bridge mill, now apartments

Christine had spotted a Spar shop attached to a petrol station just a short distance from Leeds Bridge where we had moored overnight. Mike popped out before we set off just to but today's paper and to take a few photos to complement those Christine took last night from the same vantage points!

Entrance to Huddersfield Canal

 Just after nine o'clock we set off - the first few hundred metres is along the River Hebble before we begin the Huddersfield Broad canal just above a weir which has recently been upgraded with what looks like a fish leap.

60 footer just fits in short locks!

The nine locks on this canal are broad but about as short as those on the Calder and Hebble so the same operation is needed each time. For the sake of our memory and any future visit, more than for our readers interest, here is the ascending ritual.

Open one gate and taker the boat in as far as it will go, keeping it straight along the same side as the open gate. Once the bow is right against the upper cill, tiller hard across and the stern fender just passes in front of the closed gate. The opened gate can now be closed and the boat brought back to the side with the opposite lock on the tiller.

Whilst the gate is being shut, throw the bow rope onto the bank and then the stern rope once the boat is alongside. Steerer can then, if possible, get off the boat and secure the the ropes so that the boat is kept as far forward as possible. This is to avoid the tiller being caught under the platforms attached to the bottom gates. On this flight they are only half length leaving room in the middle but if the boat is kept fully forward then the tiller should always be clear of the platforms. Some Calder and Hebble locks have platforms that are the full width of the gates. The ropes will needed to be adjusted as the lock fills to keep the boat safe. Sounds more complicated than it is but the procedure is just that bit special in comparison with most lock operations. (If we had thought about it we might have made a photo tutorial as well, but we did not!)

Huddersfield gradually came into view but nature has continued to soften the canal surroundings and the towpath has become a popular walking and cycling route, especially with families in the school holidays.

The Himalayan Balsam may well be decried as an invasive weed, but it does do a good job of covering up the industrial activities alongside the canal.

Creepers, almost like some sci-fi creature, is gradually trying to overwhelm this former mill building (now used for hot tubs and storage) - another wall is even more solidly covered by the growth.

Lock 5 and half way. The scene here seems very rural even though the town is almost upon us.

That mill again - the line of the canal follows a gentle curve, skirting the hills to one side.

The canal makes an almost surreptitious approach to the town, narrowing somewhat as it passes the huge 'energy from waste' plant.

Turnbridge Loco Lift Bridge

Our final obstacle today is the Turnbridge Loco Lift Bridge with its unique mechanism for lifting the roadway above the height of boats. It is a busy crossing, with many pedestrians also criss-crossing as they went to or from their lunch break. (At least they have a footbridge when the main access is closed - cars have to wait!)

A few minutes later we reached Apsley Basin where we moored by the water point and service station. Whilst Mike carried the usual range of tasks - it is three days since we last filled with water - Christine checked in with the marina office and sorted out a place where we can moor for the next two nights. We managed to be sufficiently far away from the pub and the main road to be quite quiet.

After lunch we walked into the town centre. Christine had heard that there was a food festival on at the moment at that it was worth visiting. It took a while but eventually we found it, outside the railway station where Harold Wilson's statue is normally the main sight.

Harold Wilson in front of Huddersfield Station

We wandered around the stalls selling an amazing variety of different foods. The great majority sold food for immediate consumption but we did find one selling some local cake called Brack, made without any fat or oil. Three different recipes and we opted for a fruit one together with a plum tea bread and some biscuits.

Lion Buildings

Britania Buldings

Several of the formidable buildings around the open square have intriguing and ornate decorations. It seems that there is a legend, "Leo the lion is said to get down from the building and walk around St George's Square when the station clock strikes twelve - but the clock doesn't strike". Another source claims this happens when the clock strikes thirteen.

Huddersfield Parish Church of St Peter

On the way back to the boat we called in at the parish church for the town centre where a very pleasant curate chatted to us at some length. This, the third church on the site, dates back to 1836 and the time of Henry Venn who preached very much in the same style as Wesley. Later the church changed its emphasis and the three decker pulpit was replaced and the church re-ordered to place much more emphasis on the altar and the celebration of communion rather than preaching.

After tea we replenished our stores in the light of food orders from the two girls by visiting the adjoining Sainsbury supermarket.

3.8 miles - 9 locks