From suevbutler@compuserve.com Sun Aug 29 11:29:42 1999 Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 14:40:02 -0400 From: suevbutler Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report - Bingley to Sowerby - Day 5 [ 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. ] Day 5 Wednesday 23rd June 99 Shepley Bridge - Elland 11 locks, 8 miles, 6 hours Those of you who remember my trip report of 22nd June will know that we had a shopping list yesterday! So we visited the boatyard at Shepley Bridge first thing this morning. We needed to have the engine bilge pumped out. During our 'unfortunate incident' engine oil spilt from the oil tray into the bilge. We also need a new mooring pin and hammer, as ours have walked somewhere during the winter. And I want to buy a Pearson's Guide before we go much further. The helpful people at the yard are happy to pump out our engine bilge, leaving Neil to run amok with the pump! Meanwhile we take on Diesel, water, and postcards. The chandlers offers none of our other requirements, so we move on. Once we are through Mirfield we are into new territory again, and enjoy a pleasant run through to Cooper Bridge. (The footbridge over the cut here has been done up, and looks very good. Last time we came this way we were on an IWPS walk, and were concerned to see that it was in a state of disrepair.) We passed by the Huddersfield Broad, it would have to wait for another day, and headed under the M62, where they are repairing the motorway bridge. I'm glad no one dropped a spanner as we were going under, as it is a big drop! We stopped in Brighouse for lunch. I have heard that this isn't a great place to stay overnight at the weekend, but we thought it very nice during the day! A friendly pub (the Barge?) and a handy Sainsbury's, a pleasant basin, and lots of boats to look at. After a serious stocking up of groceries and liquid refreshment we move on to Elland, which is a recommended stopping place. It is a very pretty run through here, and as we approach Elland we are joined by some kids at the locks. They are larking about, but are not a problem. They want to know about the boat, they want to help with the lock gates, and they are generally OK. One lad decided to climb down the ladder while Neil was filling the lock. As we were not roped up I politely told him, in no uncertain terms, that if the boat swung across the lock he would be badly hurt. Fortunately he took me seriously, and as the current eventually caught me and pushed me across the lock he appreciated that I hadn't exaggerated. I hope that is a group of kids who will treat the locks with respect from now on! Elland is a nice place to stop, the Barge and Barrel has handy mooring rings outside, and there is plenty of room here. There was only one other boat, a little cruiser that looked as though it had not cruised for quite a long time. The Barge and Barrel is a great drinkers' pub - it has its own brewery, and manages to be large and barnlike with plenty of character. However, they didn't do meals. In fact none of the pubs in Elland did evening meals. We ended up at the local Chinese Restaurant - and it was Banquet night - as much as you can eat for 8 quid. Just the job for hungry boaters. We return to the Barge and Barrel, sitting in the bar just above the cut, and then back to Jemima. Day 6 to follow^Å Sue and Neil Well fed were we on Jemima D --- The UK Waterways Network - http://www.ukwaterways.net/ * bringing the inland waterways community together * You are currently subscribed to canals as: george@adiva.com To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-canals-407N@ukwaterways.net