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Monday 3 November 2014

Wednesday 29th October.

We didn't have far to go today so we dawdled over setting off and several boats got going before us. We didn't have far to go through the first lock. There were three boats going down so we waited. When we were going down a boat caught up with us.  They had a surfeit of young lads to do the lock wheeling. When we left the lock we found a hire boat sat on the lock landing pontoon. They made it difficult to pick Helen up and if there had been any sort of a current on the river we would have had to clatter alongside a little. There was twitching of curtains but nobody would look at us.

The River Calder after Cooper Bridge Lock.

I love these wide Yorkshire rivers as they have an aura of faded glory about them, especially in their autumn colours. There are numerous signs of past endeavours and riches but now a feeling of waiting for something better to come.

Even the railway bridges are disused, or lock as though they are.

Somebody else enjoying the warm sun on this Indian summer day.

The canal approaching Battyford Lock.

We passed the South Pennine Boat Club and thought that this would make a lovely mooring. We will have to look into it for next winter. We set the lock and just as we opened the gate the boat with the young crew arrived and as they were trying to get to Wakefield for the night we let them take it and we followed after. It was a beautiful morning and we weren't hurrying, trying to make the cruise last as long as possible on such a day.

Once clear of the lock a single hander was waiting to come up and made it look very easy getting in the lock on his own.

As you approach Mirfield there is the pillars of a long gone pedestrian Bridge still in the river. To the right can be seen the floating barrier that guards the large weir and the flood lock is also visible.

Through the flood lock we came across a fishing match that were scattered all over the visitor moorings. We managed to hang a rope on the last bollard on the eastern visitor moorings.

We went for a mooch around Mirfield that is bigger than we expected and has a good mix of high end shops and the more usual. We stopped for lunch  in a nice little place an stuffed ourselves with a ploughman's lunch. We did a bit of shopping and returned to the boat to get some jobs done. Later we decided to go for a walk to find the CAMRA pubs in the town and had an entertaining couple of hours before heading back to the boat and cat. (No that isn't the name of a pub, but perhaps would be a good one!)

This cruiser was moored opposite us and I thought this photo would make a very good jigsaw puzzle.

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