Heading for the hills and Reg gets ambitious…

Heavy showers overnight left the towpaths puddled for my morning run, but the biggest hazard was the geese. They’re nesting, and getting very aggressive towards trespassers.

Before we left, we were asked by the chap at Bronte Boats if we needed anything, solid fuel, diesel, pump-out etc. Carol was OK and we’d had a coal delivery yesterday, but I decided to get diesel as we don’t know where the next opportunity will be.

Their facility is a little further up the canal, with the BW sanitary station, so after a quick trip for supplies, we were on the mooring at 11:00.

The tank took 87 Lt at a reasonable 70p/Lt, which is about what I expected.

After filling with water and emptying loos, it was nearly 12:00 before we got into the first lock of the day, the unfortunately named Black Pit Lock.

Black Pit Bridge and Lock
A 10 minute cruise and we arrived at Stubbing Lower Lock, immediately followed by the upper lock.

Stubbing Lower Lock climbing out of Hebden Bridge.

The canal is squeezed between the steep hillside to the south and the river to the north. It must have been difficult to construct.

A couple of Canada Geese patrol the towpath.
A little further on we passed under Whiteley Arches, near the scene of a railway disaster in 1912.

Whiteley Arches
The locomotive and carriages of the 14:25 Manchester to Leeds express left the tracks on a curve, and rolled down the steep embankment. 4 people lost their lives, and 20 were injured.
A couple of contemporary pictures here, and here.

At Rawden, between Rawden Mill Lock and Callis Lock, an impromptu boat “village” has sprung up, with craft of all shapes and sizes, and mini allotments alongside the towpath.
We stopped in Callis Lock for a spot of lunch. If it’s quiet, it’s easiest just to sit side by side in a lock, rather than pull out and tie up. We’d move, of course, if another boat came along. Reg the cat decided to investigate Seyella’s roof for a change of scenery.

Reg getting ambitious
We moved on, the locks getting closer together as we climbed the valley.

Pretty Shawplains Lock

Heading towards Todmordon
Lobb Mill Lock

We stopped for the day at the bottom of Old Royd Lock, at 15:30, after another fine dry day. The rain came on in earnest this evening, though.

Locks 8, miles 3½