There and Back Again.

 We weren't very early to get going, and we weren't going far so need to be.

When we were ready to leave an empty working boat 'Fenny' pulled away from the moorings just below us so we followed her. As they left Keepers Lock they promptly got stuck aground. They were empty but with a big stern trim so not sure what their draft was. Rather than pushing and shoving they asked for the water from our lock full to be used to flush them off. It worked and they sped off. I think that driving a working boat sound to be great fun, like living ion a wide beam boat, but I can't see either being very good for keeping low stress levels.

After dropping down Keepers, Hunts and Common Locks we winded below Bagnall Lock and moored up opposite the cricket football pitches on the off side. The resident bird life was so engaged to keep No.1 grand daughter amused. She didn't like the fact that the mallards were chasing of the only white duck and made sure that it got preferential treatment. 

Just by where we had moored somebody had carved an owl in the top of this topped tree. There was something lower down but I can't remember what it was! Obviously fairly recently as the wood hasn't weathered.

We crossed the bridge into the village centre and then went off to the right down a ginnel that led to the playing field. Down there were some cute little houses and again this tree carved with a couple of foxes/wolves.

We were heading to the playing fields as on an earlier trip we had spotted that there was a children's playground there with swings, climbing stuff, slides and the like and as the weather was excellent it would spend a pleasant hour or so tiring the grand daughter out. This was the view of the boat as wiled away the time.

The plan to use up some energy worked too well as she now decided that it was craft time and she would ride on the bow of the boat with her Aunty doing drawing and the like. For 4 years old she is extremely good at it, and that isn't just he very proud Pop Pop saying it.

We moored up again opposite the visitor centre and were in good time to pop over and have an ice cream each as a reward for a good day. It was lovely to see this sign at the apex of an old garage next to the first cottage on the way to the junction. 'Dencroft Fireproof Garage, Batley Yorks.'.

The company started in the early 1950's with this prefabricated asbestos sheet clad out buildings. I wonder how many of them are still erect today. The company is still in business today, still with the same name and in the same place, and still making fireproof garages, but now from sections of concrete. I should send them these pictures.

No.1 Grand daughter enjoyed watching the world go by from the side hatch, especially as the sun was feeling lovely and warm in the shelter of the boat.

After tea we went for another walk to make sleep come more easily and the boats up at the top of Shade House Lock were bathed in the late evening sun. It's a shame the fence was there ot it would have made a great picture.

Of course we had a turn round the reservoir on the way back and it made me think about three generations of Porter girls as we wandered along the boardwalk back to the boat.

The sun had just gone down as we got back to the boat and it was getting quite cold, so it was a good job that the stove was in. The dinette was so made up and No.1 Grand daughter readied for bed. For the second night I hadn't got past page three of the book before she was spark out. The trouble was that for the next few hours the three adults were battling to keep the eyes open too. We didn't fight it for too long I can assure you.