Summer Autumn Cruise 2011 (2-2)

Tuesday 30^th of August 2011.
Day 9 Salts Wharf, Saltaire to Bingley 5 Rise

We had a leisurely start to the day and were up and about for 9am. A short walk into the town centre to visit a few shops before returning back to the boat. In the town we were accosted by Derek a gentleman of considerable age who was attracted to the dogs. It was quite an enjoyable conversation which was made even more entertaining when we found out that he had worked in the days of the coal boats on the Leeds Liverpool canal. In his younger days he worked as a casual and helped to empty the boats of coal onto the Wharf. We had a good natter about the traffic on the canals in his younger days and he remarked that many of the boats had dogs on them and for some reason most of them were wire haired fox terriers.

Back to the boat in time to set off at 11am and head further along the canal. One surprising thing is the number of boats with for sale signs in their windows. However, the prices being asked for some of them beggars belief.



We were the last boat up the 5 rise before the locks were closed for the day at 3:30 in the afternoon. On our way up, we were entertained by a Spitfire and Hurricane pair doing a fly past. They were obviously flying on VFR and below the cloud base. There is something quite unique about the sound of the Spitfires Merlin engine. During the war the Merlin engine crankshafts were forged and machined in Sheffield.

We decided to moor up for the night at the top of the 5 rise. Later I went out with the bat detector. It was a chilly 11C and overcast so the numbers were restricted to a few Pipistrelle and Daubentons.

Daily Total
Miles: 3
Locks: 11
Swing / Lift Bridges: 3
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0

Engine Hours: 1813.7