Huddersfield

Friday 11 July 2014 – Huddersfield, Huddersfield Broad Canal

An 06:45 start for me with a quick fill-up with water as the tap was just close by.  Priscilla ii was in the first lock by 07:00 and we have decided that it is almost quicker to go through separately rather than risk jamming in narrow locks.  There are only five more to go on the Calder & Hebble navigation.  The first two are at the Brighouse Basin so we were through in good time then it was on to the river which at the moment is wide and peaceful.  At the Anchor Pit Flood Lock there is a barrier of orange floats fixed together to remind boaters not to head for the weir.  The lock was open at the moment as its name suggests.  [A bit of humour – is this a Roman Canal as the depth is marked in Roman numerals.]

In spite of Graham extolling the virtues of Yorkshire over Lancashire, including the lack of rubbish this side of the Pennines I managed to get a large amount round the prop.

The next two locks are close together and the second one (Kirklees Low Lock) has a flood notice but we went on as it was clearly in the green.  At Cooper Bridge the Huddersfield canal heads off to Starboard and the first lock is again very close to a weir with the orange floats as warning.

We thought that it would be easier with both boats in the locks but they seem shorter than on the C&HN.  The routine we have adopted is that Priscilla ii goes in first and with a bit of a shuffle we can shut the gate behind her, then Ice Breaker can get in.  even with a 57ft boat it is a tight squeeze and on one of the gates I caught the ‘Button’ on the bow and managed to snap the chain holding it on.

On the positive side though the wild-life is in abundance and the water is lovely and clear.

At Huddersfield there is an interesting lift bridge, the traffic gates are manual as in old train level crossings, then operated by the Watermate key the bridge rises level but this one uses four wheels and chains to lift the roadway.  Just after this we moored up (opposite another Sainsbury’s).

The weather started overcast but by 10:00 is was warm enough for jerseys off – and the sun has been continuous since then.