Calder and Hebble
Saturday – 28 June 2008
Calder and Hebble, Bingley Arms, Horbury
Early start – set off at 7.40am!! were through four locks by 9.00am. Both flood locks were open. Arrived at Shepley Marina at 11.30am, not bad going, filled up with water emptied the loo. Was surprised as there is no longer a chandlery there. Also, if you moor up at the BW sanitary station, you cannot exit as locked and it is not a BW key.
Left Shepley at 12.30pm, only took us 20 mins to reach Mirfield. Moored next to Lidl. Helen, Keith and George were shopping there, noticed us so they popped on the boat for a coffee. Lots of ducklings. Two swans with two babies, although they kept attacking the ducklings.
Went to an Indian restaurant ‘Al Nawab’ on the High Street where you could take your own drinks, excellent food would recommend to others. Shared onion bhajis starter and had main course each with Nan and rice, came to £14, excellent value….
Sunday – 29 June 2008
Left Mirfield at 8.20am. When we arrived at Cooper Bridge (the start of the South Pennine Ring), had a toast at Bridge Lock…..the challenge has now begun!!!!
T Kirklees Low Lock, Helen went to empty the lock, however then realised that the top paddle had not been lowered by the previous users. Then once the boat in, nearly opened the top paddle as Helen did not notice the ground paddle, luckily Chris noticed in time. Quickly used the hand spike but didn’t put it far enough in and it swung back pulling my thumb with it!!!!!!youch!!!!!! A few expletives later and a couple of tears, sorted everything out….Hopefully I have learnt my lesson and will always check the paddles are down. Not all boaters are considerate for the next lock users, must remember this.
Arrived at Brighouse Basin at 12.15pm
Pam and Natalie came to pick us up and take us home, called in at the Three Nuns at Huddersfield on the way home for a meal… family pub, noisy and busy.
Chris stayed most of the week on Coventina at Brighouse Basin as both working
Saturday – 5 July 2008
Arrived with Pam and Natalie at 1.30pm, Coventina ok as Chris was away, so she had been on her own Friday night.
Went into Brighouse, nice little town, with a few charity shops, bought some new tops. Had a look at the restaurants on offer and decided on an Italian for the evening. Sun came out in the afternoon, sat out with a glass of wine chilling.
Went for the meal at ‘La Romantica’. Wonderful meal, good atmosphere, friendly staff, a lovely warm and cosy authentic Italian not like a lot of the modern loud clattering ones you see nowadays. House red/white £12, meals average for an Italian Spent nice eve on the boat, had some more red wine to finish the evening!!!!
Sunday – 6 July 2008
Had a sleep in till 8.45am, then got ready and went to Wetherspoons for brunch, decent full English breakfast, £2.59 worth it.
Popped into Sainsburys for some shopping – rain, rain, rain all day, did not let up at all. Pam and Natalie went home and Helen stayed and waited for Chris.
Saturday – 12 July 2008
Departed from Brighouse at 8.15am – nice journey through to Salterhebble, arrived at 11.45am. The lockkeeper was due to open the guillotine lock at 12 noon, however there had been an accident and he was a bit late. Went through the lock and then up the two further locks with another boat.
Stopped for lunch at the top, unfortunately next to a wasps nest – not a good idea, turned out to be the quickest lunch ever shared with several wasps!!!!
Filled up with diesel at Sowerby bridge and then up the locks including Tuel lock. The lockkeeper is new and brilliant, we even got a chew for Bisto. Moored at the top of Tuel Lock at 4.00pm. Had an Indian for tea and then heard some live loud music from down the hill. Went to investigate – a band were playing at the ‘Puzzle Inn’. They made ZZ Top look young, brilliant evening.