Negotiating a 57.6 ft lock with a 58ft narrowboat 

We have finally finished the Huddersfield Broad Canal and moved on to the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

But not far.

The River Calder is in Amber condition, which means you can proceed with caution.

Whilst in the last lock of the Huddersfield joining the Calder we saw a boat heading towards the lock we were in. The river current was quite strong, and his engine was unable to slow him down in time. So he hit the lock gate.

After we had descended and opened the lock gates to join the river,  the boat awaiting to enter the lock had only tied up using a centre rope. This meant that the back was out, blocking our passage.

As we had to negotiate around this boat and entering a strong current, we also had to go under a bridge.

As we left the current started to take us.We had to use full throttle to enable us to manoever and continue.

The next problem was less than 200 yards ahead. We had to do a U turn to go through the flood lock gates, which luckily were open. Gauging this is always difficult, as you have not become accustomed to the river current. We had gone past the turning as to allow the current to, in effect take us around. However it was so strong we had to once again use full throttle, and going sideways, we went through the gates, only touching the front as we did it.

We then went through a lock to join the river again. This went well.

As we travelled downstream we saw a sign on a bridge. "Weir ahead turn right"

What we didn't see was the right turn straight after the bridge.

So once again we had to turn against the current, and pass the turning going sideways. Full throttle and waiting for the bang, somehow we went through unscathed. 

At the next lock we were informed that the river had once again risen and we could not proceed.

So after 2 miles we are once again waiting for a river to subside.

River Calder

River Lock



We moved from Huddersfield on Monday morning on hearing the Calder & Hebble navigation was open.
After completing 7 locks and 3 miles, we stopped due to heavy rain. We also heard that the C&H had again closed.
So here we are again, waiting for a river to drop in level, so we can continue.
Luckily our new found friends Peter & Lynn are with us on their boat  "Blue on Blue". So we have good company in the evenings.
One interesting point about the Huddersfield Broad Canal is the locks. They are 57'.6" in length. Our boat is 58' in length. But, being a broad canal means that they are wide locks 14'.2" So we have to go in at an angle so we are in diagonally.
Once the boat has descended, the lock gates open inwards, towards the boat. This means we have to open one gate then push the boat across to clear the other lock gate before exiting. All good fun.

PEEWEE & Blue on Blue Moored up and waiting

Calder & Hebble in Flood

Sunday evening and still at Huddersfield.

The heavy rain on Friday has caused the Calder & Hebble to flood.

We have heard that the navigation will be opened again tomorrow. Hopefully we can continue.

Calder & Hebble in flood

Our current mooring in Huddersfield

We arrived at Huddersfield yesterday afternoon, and once again, we had problems.
The first was when we got up in the morning. Because the water had dropped overnight due to leaking locks, we were virtually leaning at 45 degrees.  I discussed this with the people moored up behind us Pete & Lynn, whom we had been travelling with for the last week.
I walked up to the last lock we had come through and it was half full, but the pound above it was empty. I then walked up to the lock before that and it was empty but the pound above it was full. So I filled the lock then emptied it into the empty pound below.
Still no water had entered our section of canal. So I proceeded to fill the lock again.
This time I heard a woman shout that they were coming down. I duly filled the lock and opened the gate for them, although by now the pound they were about to enter was really low, but the water they would release from the lock above would see them through.
I returned to the boat and untied as did Pete & Lynn.
When the other boat had descended we were afloat once again and moved to the middle of the canal once it had passed.
So now it was a hoping game for the 3 of us, to see if there would be enough water in the canal to allow a convoy of 3 boats down.

We did manage to ground ourselves on a couple of occasions, but we got through most of it.

As we entered Huddersfield, the last lock on the narrow section. It was closed.

British Waterways were undergoing repairs.

After a delay of over an hour (In which time Wallace had run off and became a fellow of the University of Huddersfield) We proceeded.

We are moored up an Aspley Basin, and have stayed here all day. The weather has been lovely, hot and sunny reaching 23 degrees.

Below are photographs from our mooring.
Tomorrow we set off on the wide canal up to the Calder & Hebble navigation.

The last lock on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal (after repair) Wendy & Lynn in action

We are now 1-1/2 miles from Huddersfield. Tomorrow we will join the Huddersfield Broad Canal, which means double locks ie 2 boats width.
We travelled 2.5 miles today including 13 locks which took us 4 hours, and we were only grounded twice, which is a record. (The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is only 3ft deep, however with locks opening and closing it can get as low as 1ft 6ins. Our boat is in 2ft of water)
We are really sorry to see the end of this canal as it has been so picturesque, and a real experience, especially standedge tunnel (pronounced Stanedge by locals)

We are moored at Milnbridge, a suburb of Huddersfield. 2 Indian restaurants, kebab house, pizza takeaway and a run down pub, which neither of us want to go inside. Our highlight of the evening is waiting for a fox to appear on the opposite side of the canal, to receive his cheese supper, as eveybody has told us.

We are still in Slaithwaite.
Pete had stubbed his toe whilst opening a lock on Saturday. This morning his toe had become very swollen and was black and blue. We suspect it is broken. So we decided the best bet was to rest it for the day.
Hopefully we will set off again tomorrow.
The Huddersfield Narrow canal is 19-3/4 miles long with 74 locks. We have been on it for 2 weeks and still have 21 locks to go. It is by far the best canal we have been on. The views are stunning and the people are really friendly.