Today was still cooler but we escaped any rain. Our aim for today only included one lock, right at the end.
However, there would be plenty of swing bridges of varying conditions and types. The first, just after we set off, was mechanised.
Thereafter, almost all of them were manual, such as this one. After work in recent years, all those that carry significant traffic have been mechanised, but there are variations.
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We were gradually working our way up Airedale, mainly following the contour well above the river level.
Sometimes we were shaded by by trees but at other time we had glimpses of higher ground in the distance.
The lawn in this garden was well trimmed - perhaps that is why they keep two sheep!
In a couple of places we spotted du k ramps that have their own special Armco protection.
There is a substantial hire boat operation is at Silsden. There seemed to be quite a few boats at the base with a couple of them being prepared for their next hirers. However, we did encounter many more during the day, most seem to be taken on short hires.
Although the clouds occasionally darkened and we feared getting wet, in the event no rain actually materialised.
We gradually could see more of the distant hills.
At Bridge 183 there is a memorial to a Polish aircrew that died during the war when their plane crashed into a nearby hill. It seems that the plane suffered a structural failure and one wing fell off.
We stopped at Snaygill Boats to refill our diesel tank. As a result of the short length of their main wharf space we had to turn the boat around so that the diesel filler was close to their pump. Afterwards we had to turn yet again to face the way were originally going.
This former mill at Low Bradley is typical of many villages we could see along Airedale. A single major employer dominated the development of that village. This building was converted in the early 2000s to residential accommodation.
We stopped in Skipton to have lunch and then to use the service block. Whilst Mike and Andrew did the filling and emptying,. Christine popped to the shops for a few items
This modern bridge has an elegant shape to it.
A long length of the towpath is being upgraded. We followed a small tug with a team of five (seemed impossible for them all to hang on!) from where they had been working back to the main base and road access where the pans are loaded with materials.
A nearly derelict barn alongside swing bridge 173 is being marketed with planning permission to convert into a splendid 4 bed house. The agent';s web site gives an asking price of £350,000. Although water, electricity and phone line have all been installed, there is a lot of work to be done before anyone can move in.
We arrived at our first lock for the day, with two hire boats ready to come down. The first was on its way in. They had enjoyed their sort break,even if some of it was a steep learning curve. They were not afraid to ask for advice when they needed it. We then came into the lock at crew from the second oat came to help but kept trying to open paddles when asked not to. It became little fraught as at one point they were opening a gate paddle in to an empty lock with a full length boat below. It took some sharp words to get them to stop. They claimed to be expert and knew far more than we did. alas they did not seem to have done the training section about how it is the boat in the lock that is in charge!
Above the third lock, Christine saw that the door to the Canteen was ajar and she had a lengthy chat to the chap inside. The site, it seems, needs the presence of a night security guard.
The adjacent three day mooring was, alas, full with quite a number of local hire boats using this as the place to turn around (there is also a winding hole). We did try to come alongside just after the mooring but found it very shallow and we ended up stuck for rather a long time until we could work ourselves free. This meant continuing up the locks. Eventually we found a mooring, although it did need us to deploy our ladder plank for access between boat and shore.
16.2 Miles - 5 Locks
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