The next locks were Dobson 2 rise staircase with the Apperley Bridge Maintenance yard setting it off. We filled up with water and dumped the rubbish as we left.
Next comes the Field 3 Rise staircase and at the top of it a disused railway bridge. I think it was p[art of the rail system that was used around the massive Bradford sewage works nearby at Esholt. I think that 'products' from here were taken by barge to Kostrop on the Aire and Calder and thence to Goole where they were taken out to sea and dumped until the early 1990's.
This is Gallows footbridge in Shipley and we have just passed the old junction of the L&L Canal with the disused Bradford Canal. It had to be closed a couple of times in it's working history due to excessive pollution but, as with most disused canals, there is a group who are hoping to re-open the length. In the distance is St. Paul's Church.
A little further on and we were at Saltaire where Sir Titus Salt set up his new factory and model town starting in 1850. I squeezed it is as there is a nice bridge that connects the two banks and the River Aire running by below. We just managed to get to the Shipley Glen Cable Tramway that takes you up to the top of the valley. I had wanted to ride on it for years. One to tick off the bucket list!
Saltaire is a World Hetitage site and a highlight on any trip, but the next day we had a slow build up to the main event with regard to the canals. First we went through Hirst Lock then through the two rise staircase at Dowley Gap, just perfecting techniques it seems, as the next set of locks is Bingley 3 Rise which is overlooked by the lovely Damart Mill. We had found a lock buddy so things were nice and easy as we rose up. Now for the next challenge.
Unfortunately there is no four rise set of locks before you get to the Bingley 5 Rise locks. That would have been a full house! There was nobody waiting and we were soon talking with the keepers and heading up. There were plenty of people walking up and down, but it was heaving when we got to the top as there are moorings and a cafe. We managed to squeeze in and top up with water before carrying on as we wanted to get to Riddlesden to visit East Riddlesden Hall.
We had a very nice visit to the Hall with friendly volunteers, and then a walk down by the river. Next day we were off once again and first off was just another swing bridge. This one sort of marks the leaving of built up valley and out into the countryside more.
After passing through the lovely little villages of Farnhill and Kildwick, where it seems you are heading down one of the streets, you come to another swing bridge in a beautiful setting. Up on the hill is a beacon, called the Jubilee Tower, that was set up to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. It is very similar to the White Nancy at Bollington on the Macclesfield Canal.
We had a nice couple of days in Skipton and a nice walk into the hills before we carried on, ever up hill with some locks and more swing bridges. The first lock from Skipton is Holme Bridge Lock that has these few words on the lock beams. The views of the distant hills are as good as you will get anywhere on the system.
We headed up a couple more locks to the moorings at Gargrave. I love the variety of paddle gear and these cloughs are interesting to use. I wonder how much more maintenance they take compared to the more usual ones that are metal construction as they must get broken more often by boaters. We found a mooring in the sun and decided to have a couple of days here. We planned to head off on the bus to Malham Cove for a walk the next day.
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