Climbing into the Pennines

The Damart factory at the start of the Bingley 3 Rise Locks and closeup of the chimney!

We were woken early this morning by the geese from last night returning and shouting! They were soon joined by noisy ducks. After breakfast we set off, heading for the Bingley lock staircases. Beside the base of the Bingley 3 Rise Locks, there is a large Damart factory where painters were working on the chimney high above us. 

 About to enter the Bingley 5 Rise Locks

 We climbed the 3 locks without incident and headed up to the 5 rise locks. These make an impressive sight, taking the canal up about 60 feet in a very short distance.

Huge gates with massive leaks

 The locks are truly massive with some amazing leaks gushing water from the lock above in all directions and in paticular, over the front of the boat!

 The view from the top

 Once at the top, the view is fabulous, looking back down into the valley where we had been only a short time ago.

 Angela with Iris, Ken and bacon butties

 At the top, there is a cafe where we treated ourselves to bacon and egg butties - yum! We also filled up the water tank and then prepared to face the long succession of swing bridges waiting for us.

 A field of cows and geese

  

 A cute shiny green beatle

Tonight's mooring in Silsden

We passed some lovely scenery along the way with the canal running high above Kieghley and adjacent valleys. Swing bridge after swing bridge came and went and after passing some fabulous riverside properties, we arrived in Silsden. Here we finally parted company with Iris, Ken, James and Vicky on Mary Alice, as they pressed on for Skipton and a crew change. We explored Silsden in the sunshine, and sought out the house in which Angela's friend Margaret grew up in.Virtually every shop in Silsden was closed - seems a bit odd for 4pm on a Saturday? We met an elderly gentleman on the river bank, who told us that there was a co-op where you could walk round and they had shopping trolleys and baskets too! We did find the co-op and it was open so we bought ice-creams and headed back to the boat. Angela did the washing and I washed Banjo so the boat and us will look lovely tomorrow!

A special hello to Margaret and Bob.