Thursday 22nd June 2017

Yesterday evening the boat in front of us (where we had never seen anyone about) suddenly came alive and a group of young people gathered on the tow path playing Crossby, Stills , Nash and Young and having a drink and snacks. Graham and I went out to a well known Saltaire pub called Fanny's which looked like it was lit by gas lighting. When we returned to the boat the young people were packing up and asked if we wanted to join them at a Summer Solstice party along the cut at a boat with no engine which is pulling a piano round the system. We politely declined but were wished 'Happy Solstice'.

Today we left at 9.15 and passed the Salts Mill by water this time.

After the first lock we also passed the piano raft and it had very few sides and you could see people still asleep on the floor.

The next challenge was a 2 lock staircase. It was very hard work as nearly all the ground and gate paddles were broken. This photo shows a ground paddle with its strange turning mechanism.

This is the view which Graham has of me when I am on the bridge between the two locks.

These gates also had horizontal gate paddles which swing the paddles sideways to let water through rather than lifting up.

The paddles on this gate seemed to be new but the mechanism didn't work!

We reached Bingley at lunch time and moored in a very windy spot below the first 3 lock staircase. We walked to the cafe at the very top for lunch and realised that there was much nicer mooring between the two staircases. We had a chat with a lock keeper on our way down and decided to wait to see if another boat wanted to go up the first flight so that we could join them and moor between the sets. Luckily as we got to the bottom a boat was just entering so we were able to dash back to our boat, cast off and join them. It saves water and it is much easier in a double lock with 2 boats.

This is the view of the famous 5 staircase lock which we will do on Saturday with Fiona and Jon. 

Tomorrow we are off to Ilkley by train to explore there.