Well folks over the last few days we’ve had it all and we’re being put to the test.
We are currently moored up in Huddersfield and awaiting the arrival of family including the best present that can be brought, our gorgeous granddaughter Lily. We happen to be directly opposite the hotel that we’ve booked Mum and Dad into whilst we keep Lily to ourselves, can’t wait for the chaos.
To get here we’ve had a few days of mixed travel. We set off from Horbury Bridge and a very pleasant few hours of gentle cruising. No drama or problems and we moored up outside Lidl at Ledgard Bridge to do a most welcome shop. However, nothing lasts forever, and we found that one of the mooring spikes that we had to use had been ripped from the ground by the wind and into the canal. An emergency tie up of Daisy ensued and only once she was secure that we went looking for the spike. Luckily, Annabel had brought me a magnet fishing line last year and this was the chance to use it. Unfortunately, like most fishing experiences, it was no good and we lost the spike to the deep below.
The following day we set off nice and early and the video below shows a serene exit onto the river once more.
We came out to a famous junction named Cooper Bridge. It is a divide for the Huddersfield canal and the Rochdale canal. To come out of it we had to do a port turn onto another river section but we got caught by the wind and we couldn’t turn. Staying calm we decided to use the wind and so we did a reverse 360 degree turn and used the wind to correct ourselves. Our Helmsman course really came into its own and we thought we were done until, some ¼ mile further down river our exit into the Huddersfield was only achievable by performing a sharp 90 degree starboard turn into the lock entry. This was made worse by the presence of another set of buoys indicating a weir. Jo assisted by curling up and closing her eyes!
Once on the Huddersfield canal we had a flight of 9 locks before we got to where we are now. We did too much in truth and by the end of the day we were exhausted and sharp with one another. However a few days R & R before family come is most welcome.
Not to be left alone by the Gods of canals and rivers we have received further bad news today. The intended canal system east of Huddersfield is 4 miles and 42 locks in length before the entry of Standedge Tunnel, which Jo has booked for May 20th (earliest date available). We were really looking forward to going through this iconic tunnel but have now been told that the canal between the 1st and 5th lock, east of Huddersfield, is dry of water. Apparently there is a boat stuck there already having bottomed out and in need of rescue. The CRT have said that a pump is being delivered for the 13th May and have given a date of the 19th before this stretch is pumped back with water (no guarantees on this date).
If the 19th is correct it means we don’t have sufficient time to reach the mouth of the tunnel by the 20th so we’ve had to cancel the whole thing. As we sit here we are reviewing our options (not many left) as how to circumnavigate this particular headache. Nothing decided yet but we’ll keep you all updating.
Stay safe and happy cruising to everyone, except us apparently 🙂
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