Today's forecast was for wall-to-wall sunshine with some of the hottest conditions yet - it was correct! We ended the day a little earlier than some of us believe is consistent with our strict (oh yeah?) schedule but others claim heat exhaustion!
We lifted front and rear fenders in preparation for the Calder and Hebble short locks - or as we claimed to a number of bewildered onlookers (there were plenty today) the Magic Boat Rope Trick - How to Fit a 60 ft Boat into a 56 ft Lock. The first lock is pehap the very shortest - it seemed so on the way up in 2017 and we followed advice to go in backwards. Hence the tiller is at the downstream end. (We did all the others the conventional way round)
Many of the locks today are in very rural scenery but, as it was a fine bank holiday nowhere seemed to far for at least someone, walker, jogger, serious runner of cyclist, to be ready to stop and watch what was happening.
Many distance posts on canals are modern additions, often by canal societies, but this one has the look of being rather older, at least by the typeface used.
Elland Bridge is beginning to fit into its surroundings even though it was newly rebuilt in 2017 after the 2016 floods which caused extensive damage in this area.
Just a little downstream is a modern style bridge that carries Calderdale Way, a dual carriageway trunk road. Plenty of room underneath even if it is very different from the original canal bridges.
At Elland Lock this one of only three of the original lock keepers cottages still standing.
In this lock we had a minor fright - the boat started to list despite Mike trying to back off, in the little space available. Suddenly it righted with a sharp drop - it seems that a rubbing strake just caught on a notch in the corner of the gate recess. We have left our mark!
This could go into our Unusual Boats collection but we have seen things a bit similar, though usually bright orange. It has quite an early registration number - did someone think it would do as a nuclear bunker in the event of the Cold War becoming serious!
To the left of Brookfoot Lock is a short cut that once connected via a lock to the river that we join later.
This major climbing wall makes some of us pale just at the sight of it but we have not yet seen anyone trying it for real. Perhaps it is only their to look at.
W paused for lunch at these moorings in the centre of Brighouse. Whilst Christine popped to a nearby supermarket Mike and Andrew pulled the boat forward to fikllk up with water. A little awkward as the service mooring, just around the corner to the left, was occupied by someone 'waiting for his woman to come back from shopping'. That's the polite version of his explanation)
The lower Brighouse Lock descends to the river. Today we have advanced analogue river level markings but in the old days they used digital.
Several of the cuts off the river are at a sharp angle and very close to the weir booms. Takes a keen eye to spot them from a distance. Two years ago we had to wait overnight for Anchor Pit Flood Lock to open after heavy rain.
Cooper Bridge Junction - turn right for the Huddersfield Broad and left - for us - to continue down the Calder and Hebble.
Nearing Batte Cut End, the weir boom looks impossibly close to the bridge - is there room for the canal to turn right?
Here is a modern analogue device - are we OK and in the green? Not easy to tell - looks more like in the brown . . .
At Mirfield we tough about mooring before this bridge but ended up the other side - both have visitor moorings but the further one was part shaded.
9.3 Miles - 20 Locks (inc 3 flood locks/gates)
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