The Big One (2-7)

Saturday 14th of April 2012

Mirfield to The Navigation Broad Cut Top Lock.

06:00 Up in time to watch the F1 qualifying from China. The change around in the teams who are performing well this season, comes as a bit of a surprise. But its still quite early in the season and things should begin to settle down quite soon. So fingers crossed for Jensen to do well in the race.

Yellow Wagtail

08:30 The weather - rain wise - looks much improved this morning, but the wind has a cold edge to it. The wildlife highlight for today was watching a yellow wagtail hunting insects at the waters edge. Most people are familiar with the Pied Wagtail and the Grey Wagtail is often confused with the Yellow Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail

09:15  We get under way. After leaving Shepley Bridge Lock going onto the River Calder, the wind changed strength in an instant and it was so strong it was almost impossible to point the boat in the right direction without doing a 270 degree turn.

13:00 At Thornhill Double Locks, we were caught up by wide beam (Cloud 9) with three crew working the locks. However a bit later at Millbank Lock, we ran into Ken and Marie from our home marina. They were going in the opposite direction. So it was nice to have the next three sets of locks set in our favour.

14:30 By the time we had reached the "Navigation Inn" at Broad Cut Top Lock. The wind had become very blustery with an even colder edge to it. Mixed in with sharp heavy showers of rain, we decided that we had had enough for one day.


So I shall get a bit more time today to play around with the laptop-a-mabob. And the "Navigation" should be good for a pint tonight!

Daily Total

Miles: 7.1

Locks: 9

Swing / Lift Bridges: 0

Tunnels: 0

Pump Outs: 0

Engine Hours: 4.1

Accumulated Totals

Miles: 617.3

Locks: 633

Swing / Lift Bridges: 102

Tunnels: 6

Pump Outs: 8

Engine Hours: 2062.6

Later.....