Sat 14th
May Wakefield
Our first
stop today was a visit to the Hepworth Gallery, which has Henry Moore and
Barbara Hepworth sculptures. Very
interesting displays, in a very ugly building.
Hepworth Gallery
Barbara Hepworth Sculptures
Winged Figure
From a
rare window in the gallery we had a good view of the weir and the barrier which
had been washed out of place. Later we
saw that another boat had drawn alongside the stranded craft on the weir, and
we guessed they were attaching winch lines.
Later on Monday we saw from a bus that the stranded craft had been
retrieved and moved to one side.
Flood results
Securing winch lines?
We walked
into town via a new footbridge from the gallery, and saw the collection of boats
moored just above the weir, including a floating dry dock where a man was
painting a narrowboat.
Floating dry dock
We took a
free bus to the town centre, and after exploring the streets of Wakefield for a
while, we had a large lunch in the Chinese Buffet. We then made our way to the
museum, which is housed in a building called Wakefield One, which gives no clue
that it houses a library and the museum. We had already been past in the free
bus, and not realised it was the museum. The museum turned out to be very small
in the end.
We
returned to the boat using the free bus. We saw Rosalan go past, a boat that used to be on the Wey Navigation. Sadly they didn’t stop so we couldn't chat.
No boating
today
Sun 15th
May Wakefield
Pentecost Sunday
We had
found the New Life Christian Centre on a website, and James thought he had
identified it on Google Earth, spotting a huge, church-like building with Zion
written on the front. We didn’t leave
much time for error, and discovered that the building was now converted to
apartments. The real church was further
along the same street, and we arrived ten minutes late to find it very full and
lively. They sang a Matt Redman song
which was new to us – Unbroken Praise.
The talk
was very good, partly about what a good church should be like, and partly about
the day of Pentecost
New Life Christian Centre
Unbroken Praise lyrics
We met
lots of people, and were invited for breakfast the next by Graham, who runs the
cafe where we had had a coffee earlier, and had seen us there.
We
wandered back towards the boat, and had lunch at the Ruddy Duck, where we also
saw Tom and Jan from Waiouru.
We went
for another service later at the historic Chantry Chapel on the bridge.
Chantry Chapel and bridge
Chantry Chapel from the front
Blue plaque
Inside the chapel
We had
discovered a facilities block near Fall Ing Lock, but when James tried the
doors we found they were not the usual key, so we could only use the dustbins.
Presumably they are for the exclusive use of the eight boats moored there
permanently.
No boating
today
Mon 16th
May Wakefield to Dewsbury
We turned
up for breakfast this morning at Othello’s Cafe, hosted as promised by Graham.
He showed us round, including the room upstairs where they hold outreach
events. There was a place on the wall
where people put handprints when they became Christians. It was good to see
Graham’s business being used to bless and touch others in this way
Inside Othello’s Cafe
We made a
last visit to Morrison’s before returning to our boat and setting off on the
Calder and Hebble. We cruised past Sunday’s pub, and through the flood lock
onto the river, where there is a fine view of some restored warehouses.
Our mooring in Wakefield
Moving
upstream, we passed under a railway bridge with very ornate decorations at each
end. There is a viaduct here called the
99 arches, but our Nicholson Guide says there are only 95! We didn’t bother to count them.
Ornate railway bridge
We left
the river again at Thornes Lock, where we encountered the unusual steel boxes
that house two paddle gear mechanisms. We also had the first opportunity to use
the handspike.
Thornes Lock
As is
typical for this navigation as far as Brighouse, we were soon back onto the
river again through a flood lock. Although the levels were equal, for no
apparent reason the gates were shut. James left them open, to make it easier
for everyone.
At Horbury
Bridge we found that the facilities block was in a small side arm that used to
go through a lock to the river. There are now boats moored there, so it is not
easy to get in to use the facilities. We
had to moor up using a centre line, and James had to trundle the two cassettes
along the towpath and in through the main gate past a “private” sign. The Elsan hut had a sign saying “No Fishing”.
Horbury Bridge
No fishing in the Elsan!
Further on
there are two locks together, confusingly called “Figure of Three Locks”. These
were the last locks of the day before we moored up by a disused railway bridge
before Dewsbury.
Figure of Three Locks
6 locks, 6
miles
Tue 17th
May Dewsbury to Huddersfield
Morning mist near Dewsbury
After a
misty start, we went through Mill Bank Lock, where we saw an incredible sunset
in 2000. It was quite a tight fit, as our boat is 59ft, and the official
maximum length should be 57ft6in.
Next came
the side arm to Dewsbury on the right, while we carried straight on through
Thornhill Double Locks. These have a
circular pound between the two locks, and they are the first locks we
negotiated on our RYA helmsman’s course in 1997.
Then off
the river through Greenwood Lock and back on through Greenwood Floodgates,
before we arrived at Shepley Bridge Lock.
Here the ground paddles were operated by handspike, but they were too
tough for ours, which snapped in two.
There were lots of special needs youngsters being shown the lock, so we
had lots of eager help.
There was
a lifeboat that had been converted into a home for someone. It looked upside
down.
We passed through
Ledgard Bridge Flood Lock and saw the weir and the building where Ledgard
Bridge Boat Builders used to be, where our first boat was built in 1997. We
also recalled the time in 2007 when we came the other way in flood conditions,
and found the flood lock closed, and nowhere to tie up to open it. Thankfully we were able to throw a line to
someone on the bank.
Ledgard Bridge
There was another lock and flood lock
at Battyeford before the river section leading to our final Calder and Hebble
lock, at Cooper Bridge. Here there was
an assortment of unusual creatures, including geese, a chicken that was rearing
baby ducks, and a goat.
Then
through the final flood gates onto the river, with a sharp turn to the left to
reach the first lock on the Huddersfield Broad Canal.
The final flood lock
These
locks were also a tight fit, particularly lock 6 and lock 8. It took us three
hours from Cooper Bridge to negotiate all nine locks, and reach Huddersfield.
In
Huddersfield there is a very unusual lift bridge which doesn’t hinge from one
side, but lifts up vertically, keeping flat.
Thankfully it is hydraulic and powered electrically.
Turnbridge Locomotive Lift Bridge
We arrived
at the visitor moorings, and were helped in by Alan, a chap we had met two
years ago at Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal. Then he had brought his guitar
and joined us in a folk club, with Canal Ministries friends Roger and Mirjana,
and Peter and Lin. It was good to see him again.
The boat
in front of us was Rosalan from the
Wey Navigation, and this time we managed to meet Andy and Jane. We discovered
that they were booked through Standedge Tunnel two days before us.
After a
very long day, we decided to have a meal at the Aspley, a pub overlooking
Aspley Basin.
It was
fairly quiet, although there some reflections from neon signs.
Night reflections
16 locks,
9 miles
Wed 18th
May Huddersfield
It was overcast
this morning as we saw Rosalan set
off towards Slaithwaite and Marsden. We were moored a little out from the bank
as it was shallow at the edge, so we utilised our plank.
Rosalan departing
Our mooring in Huddersfield
It was
Hazel’s birthday, and we went shopping.
We must have visited at least 15 clothing shops to buy a top to match a
jacket she has. Success in the end. We had lunch at a Russian cafe in the
market. It was very tasty. We finished
the day by having a decent Italian meal at San Vito, which James had found on
Trip Advisor. It was excellent.
No boating
today
Next week:
Huddersfield Narrow to Slaithwaite for church on Sunday. Standedge Tunnel on
Wednesday.
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