I feel sorry for those who’ve organised events for this, the last Bank Holiday of the summer. Most will be a washout, I expect. It was cool but dry and sunny yesterday, though, as we moved out from Skipton. For a change we’ve headed east, back towards Gargrave, for a few days.
I’d been using go-kart tyres as fenders on the Gallows Bridge moorings, and when I lifted one of them I found a stowaway…
This chap was sitting inside one of the tyres, and looked quite put out that I was evicting him. I put him/her back in the canal, which turns out to be the wrong thing to do. Later investigation identified it as a Signal Crayfish, an invasive species originally from North America and responsible for the decline of our own, native, White-Clawed variety.
We filled with water then pushed off, through the two swing bridges and out towards Niffany.
There’s a new building going up on the edge of town, overlooking the rows of terraced mill houses on one side and the canal on the other.
The site was originally occupied by Canal Saw Mill, but I’m not sure what the new building will be.
We made steady progress towards Gargrave, of the five swing bridges we had to negotiate three were opened for us by boats either ahead or coming the other way.
Heading towards Thorleby Swing Bridge, with Sharp Haw rising in the background
This is one of the two I had to open…
With the Gargrave Locks still closed due to the water shortage we turned around in the winding hole just short of Holme Bridge and reversed the couple of hundred yards to moor on the lock landing. It’s not as if anyone’s going to be using it for a while…
We we were joined by a family on a hire boat for a couple of hours, then another Silsden boat turned up and spent the night moored in front of us. They set off in the rain this morning. We’ll be here till Tuesday, I reckon. We’ve a visitor tomorrow, then others coming to see us on Wednesday back in Skipton, probably.
Meg’s latest tests once again proved inconclusive. She’s not being very co-operative. She’s much the same, not eating much and sleeping a lot. She just looks so sad…
We’ve some decisions to make regarding further tests which will be rather more intrusive than those we’ve done so far. I‘ll be ringing the vet tomorrow to discuss things.
Thanks for the comments in support, and those about the leading on the saloon doors. I can’t do the tinting yet though, the doors will have to come off and lay flat for that, so it’ll need to get warmer again! Might be next year then, eh…
Locks 0, miles 4¼
3 comments:
Thinking about all three of you whilst you're discussing and making decisions. Best wishes. xx
Best wishes re Meg, we just wish they could tell us what's wrong. Debby
You two have certainly covered a lot of canal since I saw you at Hurleston. It does feel as though summer has come to a rather sudden end all at once. I don't miss the hot weather though.
I am sorry to read Meg is feeling poorly. May she not suffer unduly in pain and discomfort. she is a fortunate dog to be love by Mags and you who take such good care of her.
Take care,
Jaq xxx
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