Blackburn and Burnley. Although a little grim and grey, the old mills and chimneys give a glimpse of this once prosperous area.
Following the greyness of Blackburn and Burnley as we emerged from the mile long tunnel, things couldn't be more different and it is one of the most beautiful stretches we have covered so far. The section before the locks at Bank Newton is simply stunning, with the canal running in a series of hairpin bends.
Unfortunately by the time we realised that you could get to moor up in places we were at the top of Bank Newton and dropped down to Gargrave. We moored up for a few days in Gargrave and met up again with Frank and Barbara on Jolie who are weekending it back to Linton. We walked into Skipton from Gargrave to suss out the moorings there and look at a property we had seen on Rightmove. Skipton was chocker blocked with boats as the Grand Depart of the Tour de France was due on the Saturday and the house was not what we were looking for. Ah well our look must change soon!
We arranged a few more viewings for Thursday/Friday and set of to Skipton the following day and were extremely lucky to find a mooring in the centre, just opposite the TdF Hub.
We saw this chap guarding a mooring just outside Skipton and this lovely little garden
The springs branch in Skipton and the spectator Hub of the TdF
Even Luckier we saw a house on Friday that we both loved and had our offer accepted.
Saturday we went early to the high street to watch the tour come through. It was a great atmosphere and the people of Skipton had done the place proud with decorations, yellow bikes and bunting. We made the aliens wear, yellow, green and polka dot jerseys and hand stiched (never again) our own red and green bunting. Of the cyclists themselves we saw very little but the were really flying and everyone was shouting and cheering, an experience we will not forget in a long time. Later as we watched the big screen at the Hub we were amazed by the fantastic views of Yorkshire being beamed around the world and the massive Yorkshire welcome that was given to all the riders.
Could things get any better. Well on Saturday we spotted a boat for sale on Apollo duck and arranged to view on Monday. We hired a car and took ourselves and the dogs to Newark and were smitten by her. Our offer was accepted and we are now the proud owners of JoNi a 60 foot steel cruiser.
So a house and a boat in a long weekend!
We had bumped into (not literally) Barry and Jen on NB Dovetail in Liverpool and they were in Skipton at the same time, so we knocked about with them and travelled with them over the next three days to Leeds. The locks on the five rise were tight for a 60 foot and 58 foot narrowboat. Tralfamadore got hung up in the third at the front end and was tipping and in real danger of sinking. I gave it a big handful of reverse which pulled me off and the lockies and Brian were extremely quick at dropping the paddles to avert what could have been a sinking incident. According to the lock keeper there is a slight lip on the ground paddle that must have caught under the gunnel at the front and it does happen occasionally in that lock. He then informed us there had been another sinking in the Bank Newton Flight the previous day.
In Leeds we moored at Granary Wharf and it was a great mooring just behing Leeds Central Station. If you are ever in Leeds the Muntaz Indian restaurant at Clarance dock is absolutely superb and well worth a visit.
On Friday we set off with Eddie and Shiela the owners of Joni and cruised from Leeds to Woodlesford where we stopped and had a meal whilst we discussed the handover of JoNi, this coming Friday. We can't wait. We are very, very excited that we have found the boat for our European adventure.
We are now in Selby and have been spending Time with Ken and Lyn and their washing machine. It was really lovely to see them there at the basin when we arrived. Tomorrow Grainne will meet up with her Great Great Nephew Tommy for the first time as Janet and Burt, Amber and Tommy are visiting us.
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