Tuesday 31st May
What no rain – there’s a surprise! It has been a lovely day, not scorching hot but rather pleasant. We even managed an hour outside the pub with our aged family pet this afternoon.
We have come just over 3.5 miles and 8 locks from Todmorden to Hebden Bridge. It is a bit busier here with boats, especially as there is a hire base at Sowerby Bridge, but there are more private boats too and there are a lot more people about generally. After so many weeks with so few boats it came as a bit of a shock to have to actually look for a mooring and pace the empty spaces along the bank to see if we could get in!
We eventually found a mooring by the park while B and B went to the sanitary station. As we weren’t desperate for water or loo emptying and mooring spots seemed to be a bit scarce, we carried on to secure a space and find another one for them. With this done we took George in the park which was very busy with all sorts of people. There is a large skateboard and BMX park here and this was very well patronised. We went through the park and into the town and sat outside the Railway Inn. We were later joined by B and B (two days running, we are leading them astray!) for a couple. We then took George back to the boat and returned to the town for some shopping. We seem to always find something we need when we are near a shop!
I have taken a few photos today as the weather has been better, including one of Barbara’s bottom – oops, I mean her very exclusive windlass belt/sling! It looks a useful thing to have so you don’t have to carry your windlass while walking between locks. When doing lots of locks as we have been doing and walking up to half a mile between each, windlasses can become quite heavy after a while. However, as I already have to wear a back brace while locking I may find one of these windlass belts a bit too much round my waist as well, so I think I will just have to keep carrying my windlass.
Tomorrow morning we are meeting the local coal merchant at the next bridge for a delivery of coal. B and B went and found the coal depot and arranged it this afternoon. This is very handy as I am about to start my last bag and I couldn’t possibly stop having a fire just yet! Wimp. Then we are going to Sowerby Bridge.
