WAKAROA2015: Shipley to Dowley Gap

6 May

Shipley to Dowley Gap

Slow start of the day to catch up on chores. Inverter playing up as we had not done enough hours over the last few days and could not handle washing machines.

Did a trip to Aldi, strange supermarket but it has everything.

As we had just started we did not stop at the famous Saltaire model town built by Sir Titus Salt to house his workers and mills. Also missed out on finding the famous custard squares but we probably didn't need them. http://www.saltairevillage.info/

Only did 3 miles in drizzle but still managed to get to go through 3 locks and successfully built our engine hours.

Dowley Rise which is 2 was supposed to have a lock keeper but I think he was in hiding as it was no longer drizzle but real rain. We managed to get through on our own and tied up outside Fisherman Inn. We had been told you get good food there and being wet and 2pm thought fantastic we can have a warm lunch and dry off. No such luck - chef had had an emergency and kitchen was closed. What is it with English pubs and not serving food, this had better not become a habit.

After a couple of drinks we went back to boat almost dry and made Roast Chicken for dinner.

TOTAL – 3 miles, 3 locks (1 + 2 Rise) and 2 swing bridges

7 May

Dowley Gap to Silsden

Glad we stopped at Dowley last night as we made the Bingley Rise 3 and 5 in overcast but fine weather, would not be fun in rain. Definite bonus is that they have lock keepers, I would have been dead if I had to do it all by myself. Interesting guys, thoroughly enjoyed talking to them.

Top of the 3 rise - note the chimney height

Start of the 5 Rise Bingley

look how little Pete is through gate

At the top - note Chimney height - have risen 61 feet

Gates badly need to be repaired on 3 Rise and the lower 2 gates on 5 Rise also need repairing as they had been put in 1990 and were definitely getting to the end of their lives. New gates had been made and guess what they got them down there and couldn’t put them in, wrong size altogether. They had used wrong plans and no one had gone to measure. What ever happened to measure twice and cut once.

The country side has changed dramatically as we are now more in the moors having raised over 61 feet and has become beautiful.