A day off in Hebden Bridge

29 September - Rest Day

A rest day , a slow start with blog for the last 2 days posted. Had a sleep in till 12 don't have many of those on this trip.

A walk around the town in the afternoon for a few hours, a pretty town with lots of cafes and pubs.

http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebden_Bridge

Millennium Clock

 Janet went to the Ironmongers and brought a clothes rack and firewood and I got a calendar from a book shop.

Back on board and Vicki went off to the pie shop we saw earlier to get pies for dinner, it was shut so it was curry instead. that done some TV and bed a good down day .

TOTAL - 0 miles, 1 explore of a historical town

Todmorden to Hebden Bridge

28 September - two boats and 3 crew

Off at 10am after a supermarket shop, a load of washing and boat tidy. Through our first lock which is quite amazing. Lock 19 is a guillotine lock. you still have wind the paddles open manually but the gate is electronic and you need your BW key.

 http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/rochdale/rc7.htm

 Once through the our first lock we stop for water and rubbish. Then we are off for a day of locks, majority further apart with longer pounds.

 A steady day with Vicki on locks till lunch and then Pete for the rest of the day, the odd heavy gate but plenty of water and well geared winders made the job go well. We cruised through picture postcard Yorkshire with stone houses, bridges and some big chimneys - reminders of the areas industrial past.

A late finish at 4.30pm and we moored 2 abreast in the center of Hebden Bridge, a rest day tomorrow which will be a sleep in for all and then an explore of the town.

TOTAL - 11 locks, 4 miles

Winterbutlee Lock, Walsden to Todmorden

27 September - a quicker descent into Todmorden

Up and about to find both boats on a lean but the pound not to low and a push got them into deeper water and on the way. The 2 boats we spoke to yesterday passed us as we got going so we were filling locks as we went but soon got into a rhythm. Vicki drove Grumble after 3 locks and I set while Nick and the girls closed.

 And we are off, cool misty morning we only have Nick until lunchtime

 Two locks down and we have water and an opportunity to do quick finder repairs

We reached Todmorden by 12.30 and moored just above lock 19 after 10 locks, some very low pounds but good water flows above which we brought down with us, not many boats up here 2 in front of us and 1 coming up, a very quiet canal.

We moored for the day opposite the great wall of Todmorden which holds up the railway and is said to contain 4 million bricks.

Matt and his dog Alfred arrived to pick up his brother Nick who has work tomorrow and we went to The Golden Lion for lunch, I had a Roast Lamb Sandwich with salad 5/10, " why can't they toast a bun in this country" and Vicki had the same with Chicken 8/10, and Janet had the vegetarian option 10/10.

The boys went home and the girls went to explore the town and I went back to the boat via a micro brewery so that's the beer sorted for a while.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todmorden

 http://todmordenunitarianchurch.org.uk/  

Janet on walked up to the Unitarian church which is quite spectacular.

Our view for the night looking at church and the great wall of Todmorden

http://southpennines.co.uk/explore/todmorden/

Thank you for your help Nick, we only did 15 miles but had 49 locks, what are cousins for.

Total - 10 locks, 1 mile and 3 small aqueducts

One border crossing

26 September - Benthouse Lock 47 - Lancastershire to Winterbutlee Lock 30 - Yorkshire

Up and off at 9am and up the 11 locks to the summit of the Rochdale.

 Some locks need to be done solo due to subsidence bulging the walls making the to narrow for a pair of boats. This makes for more work and uses lots more water so some of the shorter ponds were looking very low crossing.

 We stopped at the summit and Nick and I checked the pub only to find it was closed. Local lady said that was it for pubs and we had lunch on summit and started the downwards run. We also crossed the border into Yorkshire to the joy of the crew.

We descended several locks and 1 swing bridge and moored up for the night at 4pm in Walsden. A trip to the pub was moved and seconded. We went to The Border Rose a short walk away, drinks and dinner - pub grub. no pretentious. I had gammon steak with spuds and salad, nothing fancy but 9/10. Good value, Yorkshire portions. Vicki had steak and ale pie 8/10. A few more drinks and a chat with Nancy the owner and back to the boat for the England v Wales game. Say no more

TOTAL 16 locks (actually 19 as we had to double handle a few), 3 miles, 1 movable bridge, 2 small aqueducts and spectacular scenery