Creatures aplenty

 The first staircase locks of the day

We started the day refuelling at the marina in Apperley Bridge and then set off, still with Mary Alice, for the first swing bridge of the day. This stretch of canal has many swing bridges and several staircases of locks. Travelling with another boat makes negotiating these much easier and considerably faster.

 Arriving in Saltaire

We climed steadily north west, rising over 100 feet during the day. Passing through woodland, we saw a snake swimming across the river in front of us. We reached Saltaiure by early afternoon, and Angela and I moored up to visit the town, while Mary Alice pressed on. Saltaire was built by Titus Salt as a state of the art (then) mill and a town for his workers. Mill workers lived in dreadful conditions in Bradford and Salt's plan was to revolutionise the industry and the workers lives. He was hugely successful in this, and much of Saltaire remains relatively intact today.

Titus Salt's housing for his workers

We spent a few hours exploring the mill and its galleries and then wandering around the town. We also topped at a bakery just before it closed, and left with a pile of pies and bread!

Angela outside Saltaire's United Reformed Church

 Salt built some fabulous buildings including the fine church above and a sunday school with facilities for 800 children! He insisted on a policy of no alchohol and so there were no pubs in Saltaire. This has changed now and there are several including one called "Don't tell Titus"! 

 View across Saltaire's park

Tonight's mooring before the geese arrived!

Leaving Saltaire behind, we headed off, now travelling alone through more bridges and yet another staircase. On this last stretch, what could only have been a large fish shot across the river with a tremendous splash and hit the boat - really odd! The last staircase of the day was in a poor state of repair with the bottom lock gates having only 1 sluice gate out of the original 4 working - very slow. We moored up for the night in a village called Dowley Gap, and are back with Mary Alice again, ready to tackly the Bingley Three and Five Rise locks in the morning. We were joined this evening by loads and loads of geese, all shouting at each other - an incredible sight and sound!