Friday 5 September
We all gathered at Silsden Marina ready for our fourth barging experience. Our boat was called Sophie's Drum - an 8 berth, 60 footer as opposed to the 70ft we had always been on before. So basically a smaller boat for us.
Chief engineer Sue and the others listened intently to what checks etc needed to be done, where to switch things on and off and all the other info necessary before they could let us loose on the narrow boat.
No Linda as unfortunately Dora (her dog) had been taken ill and couldn't be left - so we were down to a crew of five.
Siobhan came with us 💕
We were soon off - with Adrian taking us up to the first of the 6 swing bridges on the way to Skipton.
The centre rope really did prove be our friend and as long as we could get someone on the towpath - usually Jeanette - we were pulled in by it many times over the course of our trip.
The five of us soon fell into our roles - Carole and myself on steering and throttle, Jeanette on the centre rope and Sue and Trisha on bridge opening and closing. It worked really well but we did miss our other regulars as it meant there was no off duty time whilst we were on the move 😁
It was hard work pushing the bridges open (I was told - wasn't able to get off the boat to help 😕). The footpath bridges were okay as there were usually very few or no people waiting to cross as we took the boat through.
Road bridges were a different matter entirely but we didn't encounter one of those until about the fourth or fifth bridge.
A couple of them had proper lights and barriers to stop the traffic but the bridges still had to be pushed to swing away from the canal.
The bridge was then closed again and they came back over it onto the towpath to be picked up.
It reminded us of a previous time when a similar thing had happened with a longer pole and Sue and Chris had to march along the bank carrying it between them until we were able to pick them up.. 🤣🤣🤣
f
Carole and I had our first walk on a swing bridge when we moored near the Polish memorial at the side of the canal.
This was a tribute to seven Polish airmen who lost their lives when their plane crashed after a routine flight.
There were blue signs at the side of the canal to show where the boat should wait whilst the bridge was being opened.
We soon found out that the swing bridges were very labour intensive. We needed to pull into the towpath at the side at the blue sign to let people jump off so that they could cross the bridge in order to pull or push it out of the way.
This sometimes involved a little pull in on the centre line depending on how close we were to the bridge or how many boats were inconsiderately (or in one case illegally) moored along the bank forward of the blue sign.
Then on the boat we had to manoeuvre back out into the canal centre in order to navigate through once the bridge was open.
It was a very different way of sailing for us.
Sometimes it was easier for the swing bridge swingers to walk between bridges rather than wait for us to find a spot to manoeuvre the boat in for them to jump back onboard.
.. and sometimes they had to walk anyway as we couldn't find a suitable spot to 'dink in' and pick them up.
At one point we had to be pushed off from the bank with the pole. These were shorter than the ones we'd had previously so Trisha pushed - and then didn't have time to hand the pole back to us before we drifted out so her and Sue had to walk with it for quite a while until we were able to retrieve both it and them.. 🤣
It reminded us of a previous time when a similar thing had happened with a longer pole and Sue and Chris had to march along the bank carrying it between them until we were able to pick them up.. 🤣🤣🤣
fWe couldn't remember that knots that Sally had taught us but a quick google solved that.
We tried to moor up at mooring posts where possible but sometimes we had to use the pins. More hard work!
Most people along the canal were very kind and patient with us. One man was not 🤐. As we rounded a bend in the canal we realised that a boat was coming the other way and was gesticulating for us to reverse so that he could get round.
We quite literally hadn't seen the boat at all as it was actually on our side of the water and out of sight until the last minute. We were unable to manoeuvre quickly and couldn't pull over too far as we were at the side of a long boathouse with concrete footings. He muttered and glared and waved his arms but we gave as good as we'd got and sailed serenely on. We'd met several arrogant know-it-alls on previous trips so we didn't take any nonsense from them.. darlin'.. 🙄🤣.. just ask Linda.. 😁👍
Over the course of the weekend we developed our new found skill known by our technical term of 'going for the dink'. As we approached a bridge we would aim the boat at a 45⁰ angle towards the bank, slow down and then count down to the dink where we would gently (mostly!) and deliberately (mostly!) hit the bank and slowly drift in.
It usually worked but sometimes we'd need a bit of throttle paddle (technical term entirely our own) - another new skill as advised by the marina which proved to be very useful. Why on earth weren't we told about this technique in any of our previous trips??!
It involved Carole moving the throttle quickly backwards and forwards a few times which (usually!) took us the final few feet into the bank.
A cross on the opposite side of the canal by the towpath marks the site of the actual crash.
We reached the sign indicating that the pub was nearby and moored up for the evening.
Job done.
Sue identified the hills around us.
We had earned our celebratory drinks!
How many people does it take to pull out and put up a small table and attach two legs? Three apparently.. 🤣 and a lot of laughs.
Later we we wandered the hundred yards off down to the pub for a meal - a lovely end to the day.
Sue and I set off for a little morning stroll before breakfast and went to suss out the next swing bridge which was round the corner. It was the first road bridge.
There weren't many cars so early in the morning and we thought that we maybe should get through it sooner rather than later so as not to hold up any traffic for longer than necessary - we weren't that keen to have lots of observers as we were still honing our positioning manoeuvres.
So we went back to the boat and after consultation with the rest of the crew we decided to motor on and stop for breakfast on the other side so we were off by 7.40am to get towards Skipton before the tour boats started.
Those who weren't dressed slipped a jumper on over their jim-jams and off we went, slipping into our roles like a seasoned crew.. 🙄🤣
We parked up (another technical term 😁) and settled down for our posh breakfast - smashed avocado and poached egg 😋
The advice had been to stop before we got into Skipton as it was busy with boats in the centre so that is what we did. We walked into the centre for coffee and a leisurely wander.
Once back on the boat we motored through Skipton. We had decided not to continue to our original destination of Garstang - for a few reasons. The opening and closing of all the swing bridges was taking a lot longer than anticipated and there were more of them en route after the original six to Skipton. And as there were only five of us in the boat we didn't have any 'spares' to take a spell at any of the posts so we decided not to put pressure on ourselves.
It proved to be a sensible decision.
It was busy in Skipton as we went through towards the winding hole where we were going to turn round for our return journey.
Before we set off we pulled in for water and managed to get fairly near despite a boat being in the way. This was the one parked illegally and it had been there for three weeks but it had been reported so I'm sure the owners would have been hearing about it soon!
There were lots of people out in boats for the day (all helpfully with 'Day Boat Hire' plastered over their sides) some with groups of hens or stags - with quite erratic steering 😁 One be-sashed group of hens with drinks in their hands were steering towards us on the wrong side of the canal so we nipped round them and waved. It wasn't a problem for us - we'd been there/done that.. 🤣
Lots of tour boats out too filled with trippers so we were glad to get out to the other side of the town and out of their way.
It wasn't a huge turning area when we got there but we got round on our first try - aided quite a bit by the current on the canal.
It was tight. Jeanette did a bit of light pruning.. 🤣😁
This is why the longest boat is a 60 footer on this canal.. 😁
When I had purchased the caps I originally had a T for Trisha as that was what I had always called her since school days. But then I couldn't find a W for Wendy but I did find a P for Pat. So it was all change and I became T for Tallulah my original Facebook moniker.. 🤣
We moored up for the night and opened a bottle of wine. It had been a busy but fun day.
A picky meal with all sorts of delicious bits and pieces.
Then an early-ish night for everyone - we were whacked!.. 😴🥱
Sunday 7 September
We decided to make our way back through Skipton before it got too busy. It was a lot quieter than the day before but even before 8am the boat owners were already out preparing for the day ahead.
Once we were clear of the town again we stopped for breakfast. We had plenty of time to make our way back towards the marina and planned our next stop for coffee and cake - perhaps with a little sit down off the boat on the folding chairs we'd brought along with us.
As we had more of an idea of distances between some of the swing bridges Sue and Jeanette (not needed for the centre line as we didn't intend on stopping) set off to walk to the next one so that they would be ready when we got there and would be able to open the bridge so that we could sail straight through - even though we'd perfected a pretty impressive 'hover' technique to stay in one spot.
As there were more boats around I tried to stay a little bit over to the right whilst steering round the bends - just in case another boat appeared from the opposite direction. Then it happened. We got stuck. We tried to go forwards. Nothing. We tried to go backwards. Nothing. Just a trail of churned up mud and water behind us.
We thought about it and tried to reverse again but had to stop as a boat appeared behind us - a day tour boat. 'Are you ok?' they asked. 'Yes' we said 'we're just a bit stuck but we'll sort it out'. Off they went. Then we had to phone Sue and Jeanette to say that another boat would be there before us.
We tried again and were able to move a bit but the wind took us back towards the side again. Still stuck. Just two yards away from the bank.
Then another boat appeared - another small day tripper boat. 'Are you ok?' 'We're stuck' we said 'but it will be ok' we said trying to wave them off. 'Can we give you a tow?' they said. Carole and I looked at each other. 'Err we'll be fine thank you' we said. No idea how day trippers with even less experience than us, in a smaller boat not built for towing were going to do that.. 🤣 Off they went.
We'd been told to rock the boat if we got stuck do we tried that - leaping from side to side. Nothing. We'd been told to move all the weight to the front. There were only three of us and someone had to stay at the tiller but Trisha went to give it a try. But nothing - apart from the funny sight of her head bobbing up and down.. 🤣
Time passed. Another day boat boat appeared. 'Don't know how we can help you' they said. 'It's ok' we said 'we'll sort it'. And off they went.
Another phone call to say that two more boats were on their way. We asked Sue to walk back to us - not sure what she could have done but we sat there to wait. More or less as Sue arrived we tried again - and saw that we were moving! The mud and silt had settled. We were off!
So Sue walked back to the bridge and we followed slowly and sedately behind. We'd been stuck there for about an hour.. 🤣🤣🤣
We stopped for coffee and cake on the boat - we couldn't be bothered getting the fold up chairs out. By the time we were ready to set off again it had started with a few spots of rain.
As the forecast had been for rain in the afternoon we decided that we should put on wet weather gear. This proved to be a good decision and we got mildly wet - until the heavens opened with a deluge of torrential rain and we got VERY wet. We then had a few hailstones, a flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder. We sailed on. No point in stopping we were already drenched.
By the time we found a safe mooring place the rain had mostly stopped so we all disappeared to peel off our sopping wet layers.
We put the kettle on and decided to have a quiet late afternoon as we decided that we'd had enough excitement for the day.
Despite having a huge bright orange buoy on the fob for the lock on the swing bridges it still nearly got left behind at one point. Luckily we hadn't sailed off anywhere as they shot back to reclaim it.. 🙄🤣
Sue and I decided to go for a walk before our evening meal. We had a stroll along to the church at Kildwick then followed the river looping round for a while before finding our way back up towards the canal towpath.
We walked past two abandoned swing bridges - we had both only noticed one on the way out.
As we walked back towards the towpath we came up to the first swing bridge we had gone through on our way out on Friday - lovingly called Cowshit bridge by Sue and Trisha who had wrestled with huge lumps of hardened poop in order to open the bridge.
The cows were crossing the bridge from the farm to get to their field over the other side of the canal. Lots of cows. No wonder it was so poopy 💩
At the end of our walk I saw what I thought was our boat and I said oh someone is drying their shoes outside. I was ready to walk up on board when Sue said it wasn't ours - and it was actually pointing in the opposite direction.. 🤣 Ours was the next boat along. There were only two.. 🙄🤣
After all the different weathers through the day there was a brief but very pretty sunset.
Another early night after all the fresh air and excitement.
It was the night of the red moon and partial eclipse but there was no way I was going to try and step off the boat in pitch darkness to have a proper look.
.. I just hope Barbara doesn't mind me pinching her pics.. 😘
Monday 8 September
A beautiful sunrise.
Time to pack up and head back to the marina.
Back through the last swing bridge - Cowshit bridge - with minimum cursing from Sue and Trisha as the previous day's heavy rain had sluiced the bridge down a bit and softened the larger poopy lumps so the bridge was a bit easier for them to push.
We'd been told to ring the office on our return trip when we were 10 minutes away from the marina but suddenly we were there. 'Oh just bring the boat straight in' they said when Jeanette rang. So we did. Very neatly. Then they took over to do the refuelling and the turn around.
We agreed that it had been a grand weekend even though we were missing some of our regulars. We were tired and grubby and ready for a shower and a comfy sit down but we were already looking forward to our next catch up and get together - ironically on the Seth Ellis narrow boat on Siobhan's birthday.
Cheers to the Class of 67.. 😁💪😘
