Thursday 12th of April 2012
Huddersfield Basin to Bull Bridge Mirfield.
08:30 I was wide awake only to find that the forecast of overnight frost was noticeable by its absence. The sky was lowering and had a distinct threat of even more rain to come. So a very leisurely start was on the books. I'm starting to realise that my joints are now a much more accurate weather prediction system than the Meteorological Office Weather Service.
10:30 Under way, at last. As we approached the Loco Lift Bridge, we were met by Paul off Nb Buttercup. So we had a chance to say goodbye. However by the time we made it to the first lock a trip down the weed hatch was urgently needed. Huddersfield broad canal for around the first half a mile after the Loco Lift Bridge is a disgrace. There is every kind of detritus imaginable in the water. We could feel objects under the keel and we had to make forward progress on tick over.
12:45 The rains came down and we moored up for lunch just below lock 6. Hail stones the size of a pea were bouncing off the roof. The noise was amazing. I even went to check on the solar panels to see that they were not damaged. But everything is just fine though I need to make a slight change to the panel mountings. As we decided to make the panels fitted permanently in place. Rather than to risk having them easily nicked if they were made easily adjustable. After taking care to ensure the panels were mounted level. The panels are now too flat and rain water pools on them. So I am going to tilt them ever so slightly to encourage run off of the rain water.
14:00 Under way again, and at long last the sun came out. We ended up having to take off layers of clothing it became so warm. Almost two hours of summer sunshine was most welcome. The pram cover dried out internally once again. No sooner did we talk about lowering the pram cover than the rains returned.
16:00 I most amazing sight was to greet us in the Battyford Lock just below the South Pennine Boat Club. As the lock emptied a Salmon was observed trying to swim up the cascade of water from a heavy leakage from between the lock gate mitre. I was stunned, I did not know that there were any salmon in the River Calder. Hopefully the salmon was washed back into the river when we flushed the lock to continue its journey. I feel quite chuffed to witness the event.
17:30 At bull Bridge we felt that we had enough for one day. As we moored up - another amazing downpour of rain which soon turned to hailstones churned up the canal. Water was pouring into the canal from the nearby street. A visit to Aldi to stock up on essential items and then we settled down for the evening.
Daily Total
Miles: 5.3
Locks: 11
Swing / Lift Bridges: 1
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 5.4
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 610.2
Locks: 624
Swing / Lift Bridges: 102
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 8
Engine Hours: 2057.6
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 610.2
Locks: 624
Swing / Lift Bridges: 102
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 8
Engine Hours: 2057.6
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please put your name to your comment. Comments without a name may automatically be treated as spam and might not be included.
If you do not wish your comment to be published say so in your comment. If you have a tip or sensitive information you’d prefer to share anonymously, you may do so. I will delete the comment after reading.