Wigan 21 - and father improving...

Important bit first.

After 4 days on the ventilator, they woke him up properly yesterday and in the afternoon when my brother took mum down to see him, he was able to talk and was still very poorly but  in good spirits.

Relieved doesn't come close.

Being on a boat, quite often in spots with no phone signal has been very frustrating and stopping  my mind obsessing about things has proven very difficult.

THAT said, yesterday's antidote was the Wigan 21 flight.

We began our descent dead on 12 - noon

Before we began the lock keeper who unlocked the gates wrote me a list of things to watch out for... leaking gates (well badly leaking ones), stiff /jammed paddles etc. and which gates open more easily etc.  It was really helpful and although I did get a bit wet on this one, fore-warned if forearmed. 

We excited the flight at 3.20

Yes I know the photo shows 3.15 but that was on entering lock 85.

I must say that although it's NOT his job to work folk through locks, the keeper on duty AND the volunteer crew on site did a marvellous job of easing our passage down - they were impressed at what good speed we'd made for a 1 on the boat and 1 on the bank crew and rather than making wait until the published opening times (5-6) to exit the flight, he let us STRAIGHT out so we could continue on our way in the sunshine.

THANKS FELLAS!

We chugged on for a while - passing the dry dock and "famous Wigan Pier" (which looks closed down) and ended up just beyond lock 89 - Crooke.

This morning I had a "Norman Collier" conversation with mum - the crux of it was that dad is much better and I'll phone her back later.

We're going to have a walk a little farther on at some point today to check out phone signals and suss out if it's worth moving on to Appley Bridge or spending a few days here in the sunshine... I've a LOT Of touching up to do and another engine service to do within a few hours so here is as nice a place as any to do it.

Until next time...

Family Crisis, modified plans and help from a stranger.

I've no photos to post today - just a quick update really so folks know where we are.

My dad has been enduring a long-term condition for a while now and at the weekend took ill.  In the end, after several days STILL at home in agony -he ended up in hospital having emergency surgery and remains in icu on a ventilator.

Now dad is a pragmatist (a bit like me) and whilst I know my mother would really appreciate me being around right now, HE'd be furious we put our new business  on hold so early on.  Having spoken with both mother and the hospital, whilst my initial plan HAD been to get a taxi home to pick up my car to make sure she's OK at home etc. then return to the boat, we decided to head off to Liverpool early -  for the better/easier train links etc.

When the bolts arrived at the post office yesterday afternoon (thank you ebay and "post restante"), we set off from Rose grove a little before 4pm... NOT the wisest of plans and we'd half an idea to moor in Blackburn at the bottom of the locks.

Having descended them in almost darkness (and looked around) we decided it wasn't a place we'd feel comfortable mooring... ergo, we put the lights on and chugged on for a while to Cherry Tree - where we tied up in front of a block of flats and some nice houses on the off side.

Having booked the Liverpool link yesterday for Saturday am, on sleeping (well tossing and turning all night) We've decided that there is JUST too much ground to cover ... including the Wigan flight.  SO this morning, I've cancelled it and we're going to plod on at our normal speed.

We've amended the website in case anyone decides to try and book the next 3 cruises (as we'll NOT be where we were supposed to be until our next pre-booked guests join us in a few week) but will still be able to offer shorter breaks in the general area if we get any interest.

MEANWHILE - having posted a comment on Thunderboat, I got a really lovely message from a fellow boater moored in Burscough (which we'll end up tomorrow night) to offer loan of his car and/or lifts if required.

Aren't people good?

I've set wheels in motion for a telecare/lifeline system to be installed at my parents house and have arranged with my niece to be there when they do it - so as to be able to explain it to my mum.

They'll still have to nominate someone local who can respond quickly but at least she'll have the comfort of knowing that someone is on their way to assist if she falls....my dad usually being around to get her back on her feet - and even when he does get home (which could be a long while) he'll not be able to do anything that might harm the surgery.

Until next time...

Sunday dinner for 5 at Foulridge, then Barrowford and Rose Grove...

Where were we? - Gargrave.  The water dropped a bit during the night but not enough to cause problems... bright and early (ish) after a lovely Banana pancake breakfast (they seem to be a hit) we set off for Foulridge on what HAD to be the coldest and windiest day for a long time...

We'd quite a bit of ground/water to cover (for us) but we wanted to end the day at the eastern side of the tunnel.  Leaving Gargrave and heading up through Anchor lock, we were a bit disappointed to see the lock landing is STILL in the same state as 2 years ago ....

As we climbed, we soon bumped into (not literally) another hire boat with a couple on who are in the early stages of planning//searching for their own dream boat.  They were going to stop and have breakfast but decided to come up Bank Newton locks with us. 

We'd forgotten there was a lock keeper on duty to help work us up through the locks so it took no time and once at the top, our new friends stopped behind whilst we continued.

The scenery up here is lovely  though - with lots of winding turns - sometimes doubling back on ourselves.  Of course you can guarantee you'll not see  another boat UNTIL you are traversing (if that's the right word) a hairpin bend and then it's everyone in reverse and bracing themselves for impact...  

WE were just pottering along but the few other boats we came across really DID seem in a hurry.  One of which really took um-bridge when I (whilst talking to the boat in front of her) might just have caused her to deviate from her desired route in order to avoid us kissing - she was travelling flat out though and although I can't repeat the words she bellowed in my direction, suffice to say I'd be a contortionist if I could do HALF the things she suggested.

HEY ho...  

By the time we'd gotten to East Marsden  (I think) we'd practically forgotten all about the earlier hostility AND spotted a first for us.. a Guinea pig hutch on top of a boat - WITH the door open but the aforementioned creature happily munching away in side.

When we pulled into for water later on, Patty shared a bottle of bubbly we'd bought her as a "thank you" for being our first booking earlier in the year. 

When we moored at Foulridge for the night, we were really pleased to see a boat we recognised AND had the opportunity to meet in the flesh a couple we've chatted with on the on-line boating forums.  Roger and Jane off Paneke

They very kindly invited us on-board for a drink and natter - sharing out some lovely Gin (people may get the right impression of me if I'm not careful here) and as we had a Sunday dinner cooking, I kept nipping back and forth between boats to turn roasties etc.  

Sir Robin of Locksley was my favourite... MAKE A NOTE OF THAT please dear reader!!!

On auto pilot, I invited them to join us for dinner and a short while later, we re-located to 'Ellis' where I dished up a reasonable Sunday roast - FOLLOWED by the apple-pie leftovers from the day before.  A lovely evening spent with lovely people.

NEXT morning, we topped up the water tank and headed through the tunnel.  I STILL don't like tunnels bit whilst Andy and Patty sat at the front, I had my Carpenters CD playing loudly at the back to soothe my nerves.

It only took 18 mins to get through and once out the other side into bright sunshine, we were soon heading down Barrowford locks... in the strongest most windy conditions you could imagine... to be honest, it was a bit of an endurance for all of us.  Still, you take the rough with the smooth.

Our descent was made more unpleasant by the grass cutters working at the same speed we descended...  meaning lots of shouting at each other in locks AND frequent faces full of grass clippings.  

As we got to the bottom, we plodded on in now calmer conditions and spotted an oil recycling point by the canal which will be handy on our way back... we're due an oil change in about 60 hours so I can keep hold of it to deposit on our return from Liverpool.

We'd planned to moor around Nelson so Patty could catch her train the following morning but we took a vote on it (looking at the area) and decided to continue a few hours and stop at Rose Grove instead...  a good decision judging by some of the sights we saw

We DID come across an interesting child transportation method - 

QUITE secure though, with ratchet straps holding down the bed carry cot thingy or whatever it's called.

Our cruise ended at Rose Grove services where we tied up for the night  in their secure yard and we escorted Patty to her train this morning.  

The end of a lovely week - despite the weather.

Until next time...

Riddlesden, Silsden, Skipton and Gargrave... and ongoing technical issues.

SO then... IGNORING the computing issues for a moment, lets have a quick re-cap on the last few days.

We'd spent the night moored Saltaire Side of the big aqueduct over the river Aire... woodland mooring with enough depth not to clonk into the rubble on the canal bed.  After a peaceful (if wet) evening, we chugged along to the bottom of Bingley 3 - where right on cue, the heavens opened and the wind blew a hoolie.

We had to wait it out here for a while as there was a boat coming down AND a widebeam in front of us to go up.  To be honest, the wide beam had tied on a bit too far back, meaning we couldn't access any of the bollards  and as the side was paved, couldn't bash a pin in either... that was a pain in the arse frustrating because it meant one of us had to get wet holding the boat alongside until he began his assent.

WHEN I say one of us, you'll gather it was the ginger one!

SUCH is my lot.  Anyway... after a while the sun returned and it wasn't too bad for long.

Once the wide beam was up, we began our climb and I made a note for future reference to move the plants off the gas locker BEFORE going into the lock

Once through the 3, we chugged on to the 5 where another boat was just leaving.

Still behind the fat bottomed girl widebeam, we thought we'd have to wait a while but once he'd cleared the 2nd lock chamber, the lockie arrived and began working us up.  

It took no time to get to the top (with Andy and Patty helping when they remembered!) and although the wind DID cause a bit of a problem as we excited the staircase, before long we were filling up with water outside the cafe again.

Onwards took us to Riddlesden where we tied up for the night and Andy began experimenting with Tofu.  We had a back up plan involving a local pub but in the end it turned out OK  and it was time to put our feet up.

After a wet and windy night, we cast off and headed towards Silsden.  LOTS of swing bridges on the cards today, with Andy and Patty behaving like naughty school kids on every one!

It really was a blustery day...  We popped into Snaygil boats as we approached Skipton for a pump out, handcuff key and top up the domestic diesel...  they tried to enforce a 60/40 split but at 85/1.30 something that was never going to happen.  I explained  that as we pay 64.9p "at home" for the domestic, there is no way we're paying  any more than 85 there.  The deceleration is of OUR intent and not for them to police.  You could  argue that even when the boat is moving, if it's moving to charge the batteries and heat the water it's NOT being used for propulsion....  

I'll leave that there for now...  Late afternoon, we arrived in Skipton and moored in the basin.

Not long after we'd done so, a returning hire boat moored in front of us for their last night...  we got chatting and it transpired they'd enjoyed it but NOT the hard work/bad weather or cold boat... Andy seized an opportunity to give them a leaflet and before long, we had 2 ladies and 2 dogs on board having a nosey around,

Once they'd left, Andy began another culinary masterpiece - well some kind of veggie pastry thing....whilst I made a lemon drizzle cake - FINALLY getting Patty roped in to helping out! UP until this point, she'd preferred to skive  supervise.

 unbeknownst to me, whilst making the butter icing, she doctored   improved it with a splash of wine.. which might have made it curdle a bit...  no matter, it tasted ok and didn't last long!

We spent a couple of nights in Skipton  managing to create a lovely leek and spinach  bake AND dessert (not spinach obviously)

and  Patty returned from her exploration of the town with a lovely bottle of  "local Gin" as a gift - it's 48 % so we'll have to take it steady!

Yesterday morning, (after buying some coal from Pennine cruisers AND watching 6 day boats go out), we set sail to Gargrave.  A bitterly cold day but  enjoyable non-the-less.

At Gargrave bottom lock, we met up with a hire boat doing a lock for their first time...  Oh how we remembered how panicking that feeling was.

we shared what we've learned without patronising them and hope they enjoyed the experience...  

Once moored up, we had a wander into town for a few bits and bobs from the coop AND pint in The Old Swan - it's changed hands since we last called in but the new folk are friendly AND have lovely (if chubby) old Labrador that was drooling over the barman's lunch.

Until next time...

AED put to good use...

Well, having fecked about with the laptop for way too long, I decided to try and "re start it"...  Finally the aed has come into it's own.

"stand clear"...

ANYWAY - it's up and running again although I've lost a lot of photos I'd not backed up in to the cloud yet... hmmmf..

AND as yet, I can't encourage it to talk to my phone successfully.... ffs....

Tomorrow, I'll try again.

Still here but Laptop has died on me...

Just a quickie - we're all still here, fit and well and enjoying our trip .... CURRENTLY moored in Skipton for our 2nd night but will be heading off early doors.

My laptop has thrown a wobbler and is currently attempting repair... WHEN it fails, I'll dig out my box of disks and start all over again.

Hmmf

I'll update properly when I get the ruddy thing woring again - meanwhile, rummikub and fire stoking duties are calling.

Until next time...

New Guest arrives and brings with her the rain...

After some lovely summery weather of late, winter Spring has returned and along with it Rain, Rain and more Rain...  We don't mind the rain too much but when it's with wind (of the meteorological kind) it's a bit pants.

Hey ho...  such is boating.  We'd returned from Apperley Bridge and spent another night moored in Saltaire - THIS time, accompanied by 4 other boats.. 1 lovely new (2 week old ) one and 2 of Bear Boats'... ALL of who were listing badly when morning came.  I'd been out in the night (3am this time) to loosen ropes even further and push us off whatever obstruction was causing the list...  it's not a shelf as such but "rubble" - presumable from the previously collapsed wall .  It wouldn't take a lot of effort to remove it - in fact, I'm considering buying a pair of waders to do it next time we pass through!

ANYWAY - moving on, we doubled back to Shipley to meet Patty at 12.30...  my PERFECT directions were ignored and she got (a little) lost finding her way to the boat.  I'd gone up to meet her only to discover there were 2 ways out of the train station.. doh... oh well, at least I now know where Aldi and Macdonalds are for future reference.

Turns out, Patty is also an old  experienced boater - alsas no longer with a boat.  You know when you instantly "take to someone"? ... well we did and it took no time for the wine to begin - preceded by a bottle of bubbly as a "thank you" from us for being the first person to book when I put the website up on line.

We nattered for a couple of hours - hoping the rain would subside but when it didn't, donned our outsidey wet weather clothes and chuggged off. 

We settled for the night a short chug below Bingley which we'll ascend today before hopefully retiring in Riddleson .

Until next time...

Exaggerated reports of "ropes being cut" in Apperley Bridge...

Leaving Saltaire, we set off back to Apperley Bridge on the most beautiful Saturday we could have hoped for...

It was a pleasant cruise and we spent most of it at tick over.  We did have a problem with a local gate on the triple staircase (I forget it's name) and it took me an age to fish out most of the detritus blocking the gate paddle.   We bumped into a few local boaters we know and some others helped us down the staircase... mainly because they were by now all waiting to come up it!

I was able to reciprocate at Dobson's staircase later on as a couple of solo boaters descended.

Since we set off from Wakefield the other week, we've bumped into a few boaters - all keen to warn us about mooring in Apperley Bridge due to boaters having their ropes cut by scrotes.  Now whilst local knowledge IS always important - sometimes, it should be taken with a pinch of salt...

Why am I bleating on about this? - well, IF we'd have listened/acted on the various Chinese whispers (no offence to Mr & Mrs Chinky Chonk intended) we'd NOT have stayed in Apperely bridge for the last couple of days.  HAVING spoken with "proper locals" it turns out that yes ONE boat had it's ropes cut but it HAD been moored above Dobsons Lock and the perpetrators are already known to the boys in blue...  bored dope smoking youths - and whilst being bored /doped up isn't an excuse for anti-social/criminal behaviour, it could  be interpreted as "youthful hi-jinks"... we were all young once ... although I can't remember that far back personally!

ANYWAY - point of order...  Having spent a couple of days moored here AND witnessed Saturday evening  patrols (for want of a better word) by local PSA's  would like to state we've NOT felt unsafe at all.... NOR seen any anti-social behaviour.    IN fact, I'd go as far as to encourage people to come along here and support the local Marina /chandler and coffee Shop...

WHILST I'm on a rant on the subject of the boat yard here...  I'd phoned ahead ( twice as the number in the OLD Nicholson's belongs to the old owners not the current ones) to check the price of diesel - using a fair bit at the moment with the heating coming on early to save keeping the fire in now it's warmed up a bit...  The bloke I spoke to (in Crick as it happens) said he wasn't sure but he thought it was 70p a litre and whatever declaration folk want.

ON arrival (Saturday afternoon I think ) Rob the chap who runs the place (and coffee shop owner) said it was 96p!!!  I explained when I'd phoned I'd been told it was 70p ergo, as we didn't actually NEED any, we'd give it a miss.

Helpful chap - phoned the boss man who explained he'd got muddled and told me what HE pays for it... even that seems dear given we get it from a garage up the road for 64.9p.... I'm waffling.  LONG story short, he'd sell it to us for the "moorers rate" which worked out at 85p... STILL expensive but by then we'd tied up, boarded another craft to get in and  Rob had gone out of his way to be helpful - ergo, we got some.

I picked up a flier for their coffee shop and whilst my photo of it isn't the best, you can read the opening times and their phone number... it's a bright, clean and friendly place.

Having spent the last couple of days here, today we need to do a shop in preparation for our next guest  who joins us tomorrow in Shipley. We'll give the boat a bit of a clean and tidy before we head back up Dobson's lock to fill with water and then end the day back in Shipley .

Incidentally, when on the visitor moorings the other evening, there we were sitting out the back with a glass of wine watching the sun go down and a boat came in behind us (it'd been out for 5 days I think) 

It's crew meticulously cleaned/polished and tidied it before departing the following morning... we  think it's a share boat (Paradigm Spirit) - and if you're lucky enough to be a part owner, we can vouch for how much effort and attention to detail LAST weeks users put into readying it for the next ones.  

we were exhausted just watching them!

Until next time...