From user@twaldron.softnet.co.uk Wed May 5 21:46:08 1999 Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 09:55:20 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: mailing list Subject: Trip Report: Calder & Hebble and Huddersfield: Part 2C [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] 4 May Went into the chanderly and bought a Calder and hebble handspike, got a shock had to pay 8.50 pounds, it was however hardwood and shaped, they offered to rebate 4 pounds on our return. Talked to them about boatbuilding, prices reasonable but did not have the chance to look at one of their boats to see what you get for your money. Plenty of water points on the moorings after the aqueduct. Through Wakefield still many old warehouses, Fall Ing lock treated with extreme caution as had been warned the flow from the paddles viscious, it was evident that it would be easy to swing open the paddles and sink a boat, even when treated with care the force of the water was high. 'One notch at a time'. Aimed to stop at the Navigation, Calder Grove but it was not open when we got there so had a few beers from our store. Needed water and pumpout so went up into the Dewsbury Arm, about 1/2 mile and then a sharp right turn into the basin, full of boats and not a very wide passage. Moored breasted up to the trip boat, Neil disapeared only to come back with the beer from the trip boat. Pumpout on first occasion not good, managed to get a guy to strip down their fittings so it could be screwed in, much better now. While I was washing my hands Sue reversed the boat back down the basin, I understand she did extremely well, completely in a straight line and not touching any other boats, she usually complains that i do all the more tricky manouvres, to turn in reverse was very tight, lucky our boat only 47ft and there was an empty mooring - well done Sue. Owlet (Stewart & Jo) moored in the basin, no signs of anyone onboard. We made a young boys day when we saw him at Thornhill Locks, he was stood looking at the boat in awe, we took him onboard up through the locks, have a nice photo of him on the tiller which I will send on to him, his sister was too shy to come aboard. Moored bridge 18 Mirfield, after a very nice meal (thanks Sue and Neil) it was time for Sue and Neil to get the train back to Leeds, we enjoyed having them with us for our Trip GIG. 5 may Today very grey and overcast, other than going through the Wigan Flight this is the worst weather we have had, intermittent rain all day. Moored Batteyford to await Sue's sister, her first time on our boat, she enjoyed her day. A sharp left turn (nearly 360 degrees) at Coopers Bridge and onto the Huddersfield, like many of the locks on the river it is a 90 degree turn to get into the lock and only a very small stage for dropping off crew. Huddersfield No 1 lock, water pouring over the top gate, hardly any need to open the paddles, they were stiff when we did open them. The 4 miles and 9 locks to Aspley Basin took 2 1/2 hours, most paddles stiff to operate, most top gates had water running over the top, a lot of gates had leaks, some from the gates some from the paddle area. We grounded on entering Lock 6, used the boat pole and could feel movable rubble, moved as much as possible, fished out a 3ft x 3ft x 3ft canvas bag which had originally contained rubble, (about 10 more of these on the lockside) reported by locals that the 'little darlings' had had a bar-b-q and then thrown in the 45 gallon oil drums, them got grapnels and would fish out after we left, with the amount of rubble in the lock the only way we could get in was to open both top paddles to flush water through and at the same time get the boat in and then close bottom gates, this worked well. The canal runs through open countryside until the outskirts of Huddersfield, the mcAlpine Stadium prominent and about 1/4 mile from the canal, the Locomotive Bridge requires a BW key, all interlocked, put across the two road barriers, pull the handwheel interlock and turn the handwheel, the bridge rises vertically on the four chains, it takes a little effort biut is not difficult. Sainsbury's on the canalside with plenty of moorings directly after the locomotive bridge. Only two boats moored in the basin, looks like they have been there ages, moored alongside the Aspley Restaurant. Went for a walk up the Huddersfield narrow to see if it was navigable, under the road bridge there were numerous traffic cones and large wire rubbish baskets, winding could be easily achieved by the University, we walked onto the next lock, towpath obstructed with boarding but lock has water in. Established we could navigate to the University provided one crew on the bow, due to the amount of rubbish and that it was 1500 we decided not to try. Back down the locks, the canal is reasonably shallow at its sides and needing a plank in places, the lock mooring points you can get right alongside. Lock 6 no problem going down. Back to Batteyford to drop Sue's sister, wind and moored Coopers Bridge, the nearby factory must work all night but the noise is minimal and does not disturb you. Had to stop numerous times today to clear weed hatch, lots of plastic bags, banding tape and heavy duty polythene along with some weed. 6 May Mostly open countryside to Brighouse where we stopped for water and a look at the Sagar Boats, very impressed with their steelwork and their cabin paint finish, however, priced more towards the top of the range. Sagar very helpful in showing me their boats and answering my questions. Just before bridge 9 there is a nice mooring with pretty gardens, convenient for two pubs and the market, it however gives me the impression this may not be the safest of moorings at night, and mooring would be safer between the two locks. On approaching Ganny Lock we could see the gates were partially open and boats in the lock, the mooring stage here very small, found Ultima and it's butty Thule in the lock and their owner Ken on Gill Thorn having a cuppa with Mick, they had rung BW as there wa something preventing the gates from shutting. Got a keb from Midama and Ken went fishing, he pulled up what appeared to be a pallet, but when we got a grapnel on as well and got it clear of the water it was evident it was a garden seat, wrought iron and wood, isnt it nice of the 'little darling' to think of boaters and putting a seat in the lock for us. Just as we got the seat clear the BW men arrived and they took the seat away. Aimed to stop at the Colliers Arms for lunch, the pub looks very nice but unfortunately two boats moored, one a small hire boat taking up 3 moorings, we could have moored and moved him but decided to go onto Elland and the Barge and Barrel, but they had stopped serving lunch when we arrived, they do however serve a very good range of real ales and are a very boater friendly pub. The Woodside Lock/Longlees Lock area gladed and very nice, we met up with nb Elizabeth, over 100 years old and 61'9" coming towards in reverse, and looking to be one of the very early narrowboat conversions (i am sure I have seen recent photos in one of the mags.) they had found it was impossible for them to get through Salterhebble locks. The first of the 3 locks is a guillotine and operation takes about three times that of other locks, the next wo locks, in particular the middle one are a bit shorter than the rest of the locks we have been through, we had to let Midama go through on their own as they are 60ft and when coming back down they would have to come down these backwards. Moored at the top of the locks and went for a walk down the Halifax Arm. It did not look as though many boats use the arm as there was a lot of green settled on the top and quite a lot of rubbish all of the way down to the winding hole. Two new pontoon moorings have been put in with rings on, at the bottom of the arm there are long term moorings with bollards and with road access. There is a Motel with restaurant at the winding point and just across the road a garage and another pub. 7 May Got up later than normal, went down the Halifax Arm, very cautiously and winded at the bottom, many traffic cones in the winding hole, quite a few now damaged as they hit my screw. On to Sowerby bridge, very difficult getting into the boatyard at the basin due to the high wind and it's direction, took water diesel and pumped out, moored on one of the hire boats and went for a walk. Had a look at Tuel lane lock, no passage Tuesday or Thursday, 100 to 1700 on other days, so if you are going this way take note for planning your trip. If stopping overnight then it has been reported the Java Thai Restaurant is the place to go, but must book at a weekend as it is very popular. Many boats moored but many more to come for the Boat Rally and Town Waterways festival, about 60 boats expected. Back to Salterhebble to moor for the night. 8 May Gave boat final clean inside and out ready to pass onto next owners, they brought my car from Acton Bridge, our holiday on Stella is now over. Drove the 65 miles to the Rufford Branch, a bit frightening after two weeks out, the traffic was moving so fast and my brain just could not cope, stayed in the inside lane of the dual carriage and on the motorway until my brain had adjusted, took about half an hour to get used to the speed. Reached Rufford and spotted Copperkins II moored at the bridge close to the Rufford Arms. Iain and Ann Street (and the three dogs) welcomed us. We had a well needed cuppa and a natter before being shown over Copperkins, a nice homely boat which, although a shared ownership boat, the layout is very good and could very easily lend itself to liveaboard. We ate at the Rufford Arms (see other posting) and back to Copperkins for the night. 9 May Anne kindly offered to take us up the Rufford Branch with them, we had to, unfortunately, decline as we had promised to go back to Midama at Salterhebble and go to the Boat Rally at Sowerby Bridge. The 65 mile drive back was not as bad as the drive over, my brain was now used to the speed. Onto Midama and up to Sowerby Bridge, boats are moored, breasted up, all the way to the narrows, we winded at the junction of the basin and the Rochdale, not easy, the boat being 60ft, there being a strong wind and there being boats moored, breasted up on both sides. Moored at the end of the line of boats and walked back, many boats we had travelled up with from Leeds were here, but not a Cutweb in sight, there must be 60 if not 70 boats in all. A craft fair being held beside the first of the Rochdale locks, many canal related items for sale, one stand with a lot of painted canalware, but it looked as if it had been mass produced and ,in my opinion, was not very good, I can do much better. Had a look at the Ledgard Bridge Boat that was on show, very impressed in particular after talking to the builders and looking at their photos, not the most expensive but not the cheapest, very friendly and helpful staff, they will go towards the top of my list of boat builders for my boat in the future. The pubs are open all day and there are a lot of people around most of them visitors but also many boaters. 10 May Aroused at 0630 by another boat, our front pin had been removed and we were across the cut, we dressed and re-moored the boat, the pin not in sight, we also found a wide beam dutch barge had aslo been cast off. We believe that revellers from the Navigation had let us go at about 0100 as voices had been heard about that time. Went for another walk to the craft fair and found two stalls selling canalware that we had not seen the previous day, one was very good and was giving demonstrations on'how to do it' and the other was excellent, his castles and the mountains were absolutely superb and probably the best I have seen anywhere - they put a lot of the canalware in chandleries to shame - my painting not to his standard but have picked up a few tips. Back to the boat and back down to Salterhebble, went for a walk along the halifax Arm and onto the disused part of the canal. The canal bed under the bridge is evident with the remains of a lock on the other side complete with what appears to be a sdie pound. We walked as far as the Shears Inn, in this distance there is evidence of 5 more locks, but after looking at the levels of the land it was more probably 6 locks. Many bridges are still intact and edging stones still in place. Lock coping stones still in place in many places. We met a lady who said she had an article on the Halifax, possibly from Waterways World some years ago and promised if she found it she would come down to the boat. We took Midama down the two top Salterhebble locks backwards, with stern fender removed, and this was a tight squeeze but manageable with care. Had to say our goodbyes and return to our car for our 6 hour journey home. As soon as we hit the Motorway the rain started, we had been lucky for our 17 days with only two part days of rain and inclement weather.