Slaithwaite to Sparth Reservoir

Early start needed this morning, was up and off by 6.30am. The place where we moored last night was impossible to moor at on the way up, we had to go through 2 more locks to the basin before we found water deep enough to stop in.  It also helped that Yogi used his pallet, push boat away from bank tool.  Has proved most useful and made a lot more places accessible for us.









First lock of the day is the guillotine lock. Very hard work it took 128 turns on the windlass to open it, then the same again to close the damn thing!! At least we got it out of the way first thing.  This part of the canal is really pretty, lined with loads of oak and  sycamore trees.  Punctuated by huge rhododendron bushes.  We have a good day today, dry and cool for the duration of our travels.







As I waited for Yogi at the next lock, I spotted a couple of squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree. They were proper funny, I could have watched them for ages but Yog was approaching and we had to get on.  Each lock we fill empties the pound above by apx 6" You can literally see the pound above falling in height before your very eyes and 3 or 4 lock-fulls into the day the pound is about 12" down.  Hence the early start ;0).  The York stone locks and bridges are really pretty all very similar but different in their own way. Health and Safety has completely bypassed these locks.  You really have to watch your feet when you are opening the gates, lose your concentration and you risk breaking something important. It is a long drop!! 


I hate to admit it, and I can hear Yogi laughing in the background, but it is so much better travelling early in the morning on this canal. I just wish I was a morning person.  He has so much trouble getting me out of my pit some mornings.  I am surprised I haven't been dragged out of bed by my toenails yet!!
Since starting to start early we haven't scraped  the bottom of the boat on the canal bed as yet. The way up was horrendous, we hadn't learnt that if you didn't set off for your destination by 11am don't bother setting off.  Because by the time 2 or 3 boats have moved up or down the canal there won't be enough water for you to be able to float. We were seriously considering fitting caterpillar tracks to the boat it was that bad!  But now leaving at stupid o clock we don't have any of that stress, pukka!!