A much better day now the rain’s stopped!

It rained yesterday, And rained, and rained some more. We stayed put. After three damp days cruising we took yesterday off.
The sky cleared later, the temperature dropped and we had a hard frost.

Stiff ropes this morning!


We were only 200 yards from the top of Field Three Locks, a triple staircase, and Mags stayed inside till I’d got the levels set up. The top chamber has to be full, the middle one half full and the bottom one empty, else there’s not enough water to get over the cills between the chambers, or so much that it’s wasted, overflowing the gates.

Coming down a frosty Field Three.

Care was needed on the icy lock-sides… Although the sun was up the flight was in the shade.

Below the locks the trees still kept the sun off until the first swing bridge.

Heading for a patch of sun.


It’s probably more psychological than physical but it certainly felt warmer in the sun…


Two swing bridges later we arrived at the top of Dobson Locks where we filled with water and dumped rubbish. Ninety minutes later (it’s a very slow tap) we were dropping down these double staircase locks, once again in the shade with slippery cobbles.

Meg kept the locals amused while we filled with water…

Millman Swing Bridge is below the locks, and I always dread this one. Nearly 2 years ago, in January 2016, it died on me in the closed position with the barriers down. It’s a busy bridge, used by the locals to avoid the traffic lights on the main road. The short-cut bit them in the bum that time, it was 45 minutes before the CRT man arrived to fix it!
Today though it behaved itself like a gentleman. Might be something to do with the controls being re-sited to the towpath.

Leaving Millman Swing Bridge with a sigh of relief.


The canal runs past the village of Apperley Bridge, and I pulled in alongside the main road bridge to nip up to Asda for some last minute fresh stuff. Then we pushed on for another 35 minutes, tying up just past Calverley Lodge Swing Bridge.

It’s going to be another cold one tonight.

It’s the big day tomorrow, so I’d like to wish all our readers, boaters and land-bound alike, a Very Happy Christmas. Have a good one, don’t drink too much…

Locks 5, miles 3½