2 Pete's in lock

We set off from Horbury this morning in blustery conditions although sunny and quite warm.

The Calder & Hebble navigation is like the Sharpness canal. In sections you leave the river to join a stretch of canal, then join the river again, and so on, avoiding weirs.

Today we had 3 river sections to complete. After the second section we bid farewell to Peter & Lynn our travelling companions for the last 3 weeks, who were going to visit Wakefield tomorrow.

Wendy has also been steering the boat on the rivers, and has done an excellent job, especially her manoevering through the flood lock gate at Wakefield, despite heavy winds and the current, she guided us through with only one lock gate open.

With the delays through bad weather and flooding, we are behind schedule, so we are pressing on.

The locks are now longer and wider and work using a BW key to operate the hydraulic gates. Wendy sold our handspike to a passing boat, as we no longer need it.

We are now at Stanley Ferry near Castleford, after covering over 7 miles today (our furthest distance in 4 week).

Tomorrow we hope to be in Leeds.

Lynn organising the locks

Even on canals there are reminders of family