A family outing

 Sheep behaving like sheep!

We were awoken this moring at 04:15 by the sound of sheep. Looking out of the window, all of the sheep in the field opposite appeared over the hill, processing in single file diagonally across the field towards the canal. Why, and where they had been we don't know, but if they do it again tonight, we hope they will be quieter about it!

 Angela's Lancashire based family aboard Banjo

Today we finally met the last people we set out to see in Lancashire - Angela's Uncle Bill, Auntie Sheila, Sheila's mum Elsie, Cousin Tracey and Chris. It was great to see them all, especially Elsie who stept nimbly abord and now holds the record for being our most senior passenger, aged 96!

 Off for a pint and a spot of caving!

We travelled back up the canal to Barnoldswick turned around and headed back, stopping at the Anchor for some liquid refreshment.

 Stalactites in an unlikely setting

The Anchor has a famous heritage. When the canal was constructed, the original pub was below the level of the water, and so a new pub was built on top of it. The original building still exists below ground, and has an incredible array of long thin stalactites formed by water from the cana dribbling through the limestone of the building.

 Canoists jubilent at not being rammed!

A tranquil scene tonight

We retured to Foulridge after a really lovely time and had lunch in the Wharf cafe. After everyone had left we spent the late afternoon in the company of many wildfowl and in particular two swans who have adopted us it seems. They are constantly appearing at the windows peering in and tapping, hoping for food. It was still and warm and really quiet tonight - sigh. This is a beautiful spot that we will be sad to leave.

There and back

A cow on a bridge!

We set off with, impending rain, turning round and heading back a few miles, to get fuel and a bit of shopping. As we approached this bridge a black and white cow was walking accross but got over before I could get the photo. As we went under the bridge I was saying how I wanted the shot and a brown and white cow obliged.

Heading back to Barnoldswick

The trip was very dull but stayed fine and we passed a few boats en route, most of which we had seen before as they are local.

Today's creature - a cute rabbit

Barnoldswick aka Barlic

We discovered Barlic to be charming with some interesting shops and friendly people.

 Coffee and rain

Eventually the rain arrived and was torrential with streams running through the streets. We had just got rather large coffees so we sat under the shelter of the shade and watched the world go by.

 The canal swarming with canoists

We managed to get the same mooring back in Foulridge and enjoyed watching these children learning to canoe - a number crashing into us in the process. We later had a lovely dinner at Cynthia's with Bill, Ellie and Elaine. We talked so much, alas we forgot to take some photos. Thanks for a great evening!

Into Lancashire

Heading for the canal summit

We awoke in beautiful surroundings to the sound of sheep and the wind whipping through the trees above us. The sun was shining but the sky looked a bit grim in the distance so we donned waterproofs in readiness for what seemed inevitable.

 Soaked again

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the rains came, this time accompanied by strong wind which drove the rain into our faces and Angela into the cabin, where she could laugh at me from the dry shelter it afforded!

 A double arch bridge

We climbed the last three locks which took us onto the summit level of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, and the highest point of our trip, now some 450 feet above sea level. The part of the canal is really lovely and we will be very sorry to leave it behind. 

 A cute black sheep

 We spotted this black sheep but there was no sign of the three bags....

 Distant views of moorland from the canal summit

 The grand sign heralding our entry into Lancashire!

We have been thinking about this trip for a couple of years now, and finally today, we made it to Lancashire and Angela's county of birth. We are moored in Foulridge on a grassy bank with views across the canal to farmland complete with loads of rabbits and ducks. We met up with Angela's friend Cynthia who lives here, and had a meal in the restaurant on the canalside which made for a lovely evening. Tomorrow we plan to do very little other than seek out some diesel and an Elsan disposal point!

Rain, thunder, hail, more rain and a bit of sunshine

 Graham's new friend

We finally left Skipton this morning, and despite what the weather forecast said about a sunny  morning, it was raining. It kept on raining as we negotiated several wet swing bridges, with just the occasional sunny interlude. We met this duck in one of the Gargrave flight of locks - she was desperate to jump on the boat and join me, but settled for taking a couple of slices worth of bread from my hand.

 The Paparazzi are everywhere!

We sailed on through the rain, watching the sky getting blacker and blacker ahead. We progressively added more layers of waterproofs until we looked like this!

 Angela fighting an unusual lock mechanism

We met a really helpful lock keeper in the Gargrave flight who walked with Angela beteen the first 3 locks and demonstrated how to use these strange top paddles - the caption above says 'fighting' and that is no exageration.

 The start of the Bank Newton flight

As we got stuck into the Bank Newton flight of 6 locks, the sky got really black. We had moored up for a bacon and egg sandwich just before the bottom lock, using eggs bought from a farm a couple of miles back. They were delicious but just as we were finishing them, a wide beam boat appeared. We shoved the rest of our sandwiches down and let loose the ropes and nipped into the first lock ahead of them. The picture above shows them snarling at us from the lock below!

 And looking the other way - the lull before the storm

As we entered the lock show at the top of the photo above, the sky was black. I was scrambling up a greasy ladder when there was an almighty crash of thunder which nearly had me in the water!

 Angela mimicking Gene Kelly

The heavens then opened and it teemed with rain and then hail, with lightning flashes and great claps of thunder continously. We were were waiting for the lock to fill when we decided to take refuge in the boat since we were getting absolutely soaked.

 Can it get any worse?

We were watching the hail building up on the back deck and listening to the thunder when the crew of two boats coming the other way appeared. They appeared to be made of sterner stuff than us or were just plain barking, but we had to leap back into action and move out.Thankfully the storm abated shortly after and we saw a bit of sunshine.

 Today's cute creature is a curlew - we think

We are now very close to the highest point on the journey and the scenery is wonderful. We spotted this bird some way off and having looked at the bird book, believe it to be a curlew?

Tonight's view from the bedroom

We moored up in a lovely spot, surrounded by fields of sheep and with distant views of mountains - it doesn't get much better than this. What time will the sheep on both sides of the boat wake up in the morning and baa?

The Hoodman returns

Banjo in new mooring in Skipton 

We had intended to leave Skipton today, to head northwest, further into the Pennines. However, plans are made to be changed, and so we are still here in Skipton. Some considerable time ago, we commissioned a hood to cover the rear of Banjo. We then 'lost touch' with Lee, the hood maker, until a couple of days ago, when he called to say that he wanted to start work! So, we stayed in Skipton and Lee joined us at lunchtime.

 Lee starting work on the hood

We moved Banjo into a new mooring adjacent to the car park, and Lee got stuck in. He stayed until about 7pm, and plans to return to wherever we are next week - hopefully! We did a bit of shopping and now have a fridge stuffed to the gunnels to see us through the next few days when we will be out in the wilds.

 Moored in the Spring Branch in Skipton

The Spring Branch runs out of the centre of Skipton up around the back of the castle - very pretty but very narrow. Boats over 35 feet long cannot turn round in the branch and so we are moored near the junction where we can reverse out in the morning.

Angela stuffing pidgeons

There are loads of ducks, pidgeons and seagulls here, and Angela became the best of freinds with them all, aided by an endless supply of freshly bought bread! These birds will really miss Angela when we move off tomorrow.

Castles and shops

 The courtyard of Skipton Castle

Today we stayed in Skipton and visited the castle which is 900 years old and one of the best preserved Medieval castles in England. It is fully roofed and in very good condition. A very informative exploration sheet gave a route through the castle and  feel of what it would have been like to live there in the 13th Century

 Angela looking for the shoe department!

 Inside the castle chapel

 An attackers view of the castle

 The private residence to the right

This is a stunning place to live.

Skipton high street

We explored the town, its many shops and the market. The weather was sunny and cloudy but very warm. I consulted the pharmacist at Boots about the bite on my(Angela) ankle, aquired on Friday evening, which looked like yet another horse fly injury. It is very red and swollen but he confirmed it is not infected. He referred to the flies as Clegs and said they are viscious- dont I know it! We installed Mosquito netting in the bow door and bedroom window when we returned to the boat! Andy and Lorraine - have a great holiday in Scotland.

Lovely scenery and old friends

 The Pennines looming large

After a cooked breakfast on the back of the boat accompanied by Sunday papers, we left Silsden behind and headed on westwards. The canal continues to get prettier and prettier, following the valley abot 50 foot above the bottom, clinging to the hillside.

 An impending collision

After several swing bridges, we came to this narrow but pretty stretch. If you look closely, you can see another boat approaching - what you can't see is that it is a widebeam boat, and it didn't stop. We pulled up but it kept coming and the canal just isn't wide enough and so the inevitable bang followed! No damage done, but this is probably the only place on the canal where we could not have squeezed past!

 A beautiful hillside village

We passed some lovely stone villages and houses arranged on steeply sloping roads running up the hillside - all very picturesque and seen in bright sunshine - how lucky are we?

 The centre of Skipton where we are moored tonight

We found moorings in the centre of skipton where trip boats abound. We arrived just too late to see the farmers market which was shutting up for the day, which was a shame. It was apparently Sheep Day but all we saw of that was several people carrying large toy sheep and several children with sheep painted on their faces. We had a pint and an ice cream and then fish and chips for tea - no idea why we seem to be putting on weight!

Angela and Cynthia on Banjo

In the evening Angela's friend Cynthia came over with Bill. and we had a lovely time reminiscing. Angela has known Cynthia since they were both very young and it was great to catch up in person. We look forward to seeing them again this week as we head to Foulridge.