Part 5 -

We have now made it to 

Ramsdens Bridge Visitor Moorings is a place on the waterways on the Aire and Calder Navigation (Wakefield Section) between Fall Ing Junction (Junction of the Calder and Hebble Navigation and the Aire and Calder Navigation (Wakefield Section)) (2 miles and 3¼ furlongs and 1 lock to the southwest) and Stanley Ferry Aqueduct (This is a pair of Aqueducts over the River Calder) (1½ furlongs to the northeast).

We are pretty much at the centre of this map or you can click on the link below!!

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6976711,-1.4593578,13.03z?hl=en

We came through Wakefield and stopped for a night at Broadcut Lock and a couple of nights at Fall Ings Lock.  

We wandered around the nature reserve and Minnie had one of the longest swims she's had for a while.  Needless to say she was very happy if a little knackered at the end of it!!

Witnessed some thought provoking graffiti

Breakfasted on cocoa pops (food of the gods!) with the swans

Discovered the Chantry Chapel of St Mary which spans the River Calder almost opposite the Hepworth Gallery.  

The bridge was built around 1342 and the Chapel between 1342 and 1356!  It is one of only 4 bridge chapels left in England.

  

The photo does not do it justice.  I was going to put up a short video but can't get it to upload!!  The blog was not called 'Old Bird on a Boat' for no reason .... technology .... hmmmph!  Apologies for the predictable cliche!!

The following morning was spent at the Hepworth Gallery 

https://hepworthwakefield.org/whats-on/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1NzZBRCoARIsAIaMwuuGS2lskFdfeEWr9fewqsMBRzbld1VQRNwk3mJS5f7XJ0yTRBevNHQaAhMiEALw_wcB

Love this place.  The building has had mixed responses over the years since it was built but I think it just sits beautifully over the river.  The Gallery itself runs great exhibitions and has a lovely cafe, usual gift shop and runs lots of free workshops in school holidays.  A brilliant resource.

The building itself is concrete with massive windows overlooking the River Calder.  

When you come by car you cross the river on a purpose built footbridge to get to the Gallery.

Then it was goodnight Wakefield .......

And on to pastures new 😁

Part 4 Midsummer sanity?

So already it is day 10 and we are in the middle of a heatwave, perfect weather for this new life!!

Some days will be hard ....

Some will be pure joy.  The deed is done!!

First day was plain sailing up to Cooper Bridge where the Huddersfield Broad meets the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6826336,-1.7350976,174m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

The day was fine and sunny.  A light wind which means more manoeuvring of the tiller to hold the boat straight but a nice days' sailing and the shape of things to come ... we got to the outskirts of Huddersfield!!

Snaking round the back of the industrial bits of Huddersfield, past the playing fields and onto the river.  Anchor out, life-jacket, no problem!

We moored, walked up and down the towpath, watched a light rain shower, ate and wondered what next!!

We are heading to Ripon first.  The idea is to travel all the UK Inland Waterways, exploring as we go.  This is estimated to take us up to 2 years but, I suspect, may take longer.  I don't want to dash through to achieve a measurable goal without enjoying the spontaneous discovery of gems - be they natural, man made or, indeed, human 😍 

Day 2 took us on to Shepley Bridge.  We stopped at Mirfield en route to enjoy some of Lidl's pastry delights and stock up.  Walking on to Shepley Bridge found space on the visitor moorings, collected the boat and moored up for the night.  

It was at this spot that we had the boat out of the water a few weeks ago for blacking and to fit anodes .... something to do with electrical current and staving off the inevitable rust when you put a big steel box into water and leave it there!!

Thanks Gordon at Shepley Bridge Marina.  The boat will stand up to a couple of years of my driving!

We were entertained by a local club taking some teenagers out on paddle boards .. I was sorely tempted.

Morning and a taste of life on the canal .....

First job was the Flood lock, levels were all fine and on up the river we went.  We snuck through Thornhill, Dewsbury and stopped for lunch then on through to moor just before Broad Cut Lock between Beeston Lock and Hartley Bank Bridge, still on the Calder and Hebble navigation.

This is the most beautiful place to moor up ... well in my limited experience ... and certainly an idyllic place to spend midsummers day.

So good, in fact, we stayed 2 nights and Midsummers Day we walked back to Horbury Bridge and had a pint, then walked the other way and had another pint at the Navigation Inn and fish and chips for tea.  First day of just wandering, listening to the birds, chatting over a pint, discovering the 'Deliverance' style anglers club pathways, taking photos and then sitting on the well deck in the warm evening sun.  Bliss.  Loving it so far.

Made a break for it at the weekend to see UB40 at Sherwood Pines with old friends and left Jay in charge of Minnie and On A Whim.  That's it for now.  Again, all comments and tips greatly appreciated.  

Looked at it and apparently you can leave comments if you have a google account and sign in?

On our way!

So the day came and, not without trepidation, we filled the diesel and water, emptied the cassettes - one of the 'grim' realities of tenement living on the water!!  you do it, you carry it across the car park

Farewell to Aspley Wharf, our over-winter host.  Thanks for all the hints, tips and guidance; particularly seasoned boaters Alan and Steve.  Thanks for a great Christmas party!!  

For the chats in the smokers den! 

Bye to the lovely Kirsty, Abigail and Annabelle and to birthday BBQ's.  Hope to see you soon xx

And to preparations for Huddersfield carnival.  It's amazing and surreal what you come across on the canal.

With the sun shining high in the sky and the day that was in it we start our epic adventure.  Who will we meet, what will we see, where will we go, what emergencies will we deal with.  Will Minnie, the other old bird on this boat, cope ......  

So many questions!  

Sailing away from the sirens ........

BACKSTORY - PART 2

So, where was I .... Spent a couple of nights in Marsden and then on down the Huddersfield narrow.  It is beautiful.  Meandering through the Colne Valley surrounded by industrial history, what could be better?  And, despite it being October we were blessed with mild, sunny days.

it is such a beautiful part of the world

We made our way to Aspley Wharf Marina, in the centre of Huddersfield where we over wintered working on the boat, sorting out house, spending time with dear friends who kicked our ass to get the boat done!!  But .. before we go .. more pics of Huddersfield Narrow

So ... winter at Aspley Wharf.  Some great people moored there and the Marina out on a GREAT Christmas party with free foor, free beer and live music .... it was very cool.

Once present incumbents' redundancy date was confirmed things began to move.  When we bought the boat it was fine, but like all new boat owners, we decided we needed to make it ours!!!!

We went from this:-

Which is not a great photo but does illustrate how cosy it was!!  To this ....

Which was probably unnecessary but was fun!!

We rented our house, stored lots of 'stuff' and sold our cars (well 2 of them!).  We still have the 3rd which we are holding on to for sentimental reasons (don't ask .... cars? sentiment? strange!!  Don't ask :)

I hope that answers at least some questions Ali x

I hope I will get more fluent as time passes on our adventure.

Today ........................ WE SET SAIL!!

I love it

More to come.  I will try and sort out the platform so that anyone interested can follow AND comment, want loads of comments so I don't feel lonely as an old bird on a boat .... anything is possible for us, we just have to want it enough  :) xx

Back Story Part 1

On A Whim .... here we go

Last year we decided to move on to the canals for a couple of years of 'constant cruising'.  Travelling the UK inland waterways and getting to know more about the country we call home.  We bought the narrowboat On A Whim on 7 October 2017:

An easy transaction with Adele, a lovely woman who was moving on to another life.

We travelled along the Bridgewater Canal, through Manchester stopping in the Castlefield Basin for a couple of nights.

On through the Rochdale 9 and the Ashton Canal with Giddy, a really nice guy, and his crew.  Being with another boat and the extra hands made that journey a lot easier than it might otherwise have been .... so many locks, early days anxiety that the boat would 'break' and the rest!  

Made it to Droylsden Marina on the outskirts of Manchester and rested up for a couple of days!!  Enjoyed the hospitality of a greasy spoon around the corner before heading off again, up the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.  

To get to our intended destination had to book a passage through the Stanedge Tunnel, and wait for about 3 weeks before we could get through.  Winter timetables I assume.  We stopped in Uppermill, which was wonderful.  Great coffee shops, beautiful walks along the canal, no hassle, easy shopping and weekend evenings entertainment watching the party goers of Uppermill going from restaurant to pub, to pub.  All good.

When the time came, headed to the Tunnel.  Had a few beers and a meal at the Diggle hotel en route.  It took a few days in canal time.  Recommend the Diggle Hotel - nice hostelry.   http://www.digglehotel.co.uk/index  My brother joined us and his help was much appreciated once we were on the Huddersfield side of the tunnel!!  Oh, and Minnie of course!

I bottled the tunnel!!  Took Minnie and went over the top (in the car!).  Jay, the present incumbeent, took it through with a CRT volunteer, Trevor Ellis.

And so they left, heading deep into the bowels of the earth ..... well, under the Pennines at least.  Two hours later they emerged at Marsden.  We moored up at Marsden, great village, and headed for the Riverhead Brewery Tap,  mmmmmmmm.... good beer!!  http://theriverheadmarsden.co.uk/

I'm catching up here, giving you the back story to the journey we are about to set out on.  Think that's enough for one session though.

Please don't hold back on comments - not used to this writing shit!  All tips and hints gratefully received